The Best Ski Boots of 2024-2025

These well-constructed boots provide out-of-the-box comfort with just the right flex — the Ultralon foam liner provides enough cushion and security, and it’s custom-moldable. The boot has a progressive flex and enhanced comfort. The women’s liner is designed with a more cushioned heel area and increased insulation compared to the men’s design. The female boots also have a lower, more scalloped cuff plus a removable cuff insert, so skiers can drop the overall boot height by 1.5 cm and widen the circumference.

Three buckles down the front are adjustable with an easy rotation that helps lengthen or shorten the reach for a more tailored fit. And we appreciate the GripWalk soles for preventing post-ski slips through the icy parking lot. To improve ergonomics, the boot’s tongue was upgraded to provide more rebound yet is still supportive while powering through turns. At the end of a long day at the mountain, these boots are just as easy to get out of as they are getting into the next morning. Ultimately, the ease of entry and exit is a bright characteristic of this boot.

For those who want to head to the backcountry or need to walk to a parked rig, the all-terrain Panterra features a walk mode of 33 degrees. If you’re sticking to a firm budget but still want a performance boot, give the Men’s 90 GW or Women’s 85 GW a try.

Designed for aggressive, experienced female skiers, K2’s Anthem Pro Women’s is a liner and shell-moldable boot designed around a women’s-specific 98mm last. The boot uses four different stiffnesses of TPU and variable-thickness walls to give hard-charging women skiers a responsive, relatively light alpine boot for bell-to-bell laps in every kind of snow.

The custom-fit liner is thicker and denser than the liners K2 previously used in its women’s boots. A PowerFit Pro liner, which is also used in the K2 Anthem 115 ($800), is strong against the shin, with a form-fitting footbed that women felt gave this boot better control. The boot is easily cantable for most stance angles. And the cuff adjusted so we could find a forward lean that felt ideal for different preferences.

In the Anthem Pro, K2 incorporates a Y-shaped spine for maximum lateral stiffness, a feature usually found only in men’s boots. That spine also stabilizes the boot’s fore and aft flex, which upped our ability to control our skis regardless of which ski we were driving.

This rivet-free design connects from cuff to shell, which K2 says creates less stress for smoother, more progressive flex while skiing. The 120-flex Anthem Pro are one of the lightest alpine freeride boots on the market. It skied with the power and drive of heavier boots, and it was easy to slide on for the first chair and slip off at the end of the day. For women’s-specific shredding, it’s our pick for the best ski boot of 2024.

Immediately out of the box, the preshaped liners fit well and feature dual-fit zones with various degrees of rigidity and softness. The same goes for the shell with hard plastic sandwiched around soft plastic.

There are no pressure points, and the feet feel snug. The dual-core polyurethane shell is fairly light with an easy entry, thanks to a softer plastic above the instep that doesn’t make us cringe as we pull on the boot.

The boot sole also has a replaceable toe and heel that offers traction while walking on hard surfaces. The LX 120 is best for an experienced, advanced skier with wider-than-average feet. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a mid-volume alpine ski boot with a 120 flex, check out the Tecnica Mach 1 MV.

The boot’s overhauled liner and cuff, along with a new reinforced backside, better transfers energy to the ski. Inside, the liner’s PrimaLoft material helps thwart dampness to keep your feet dry and warm. The liner is updated with natural cork, which wraps around the ankle for lateral transmission and thermal insulation. On the outside, the new ergonomic buckles allow for an easier grip when snapping in and out of the boot.

In the boot shell, a hard plastic is combined with a softer plastic that’s wrapped around the foot in the throat area. The pliable material helps streamline a pain-free boot pull-on as we head to the ski area.

A special plastic blend in the shell and cuff is also lightweight, weighing 25% less than competitor boots (claims Nordica). The formula, called Triax, also performs consistently across temperature variants and is easy to manipulate by a boot fitter.

While they may not be ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers who require more stiffness, the Sportmachine 3 65 perform admirably — especially for women with a tad wider-than-average feet. Another option: Check out the mid-volume option of the women’s-specific Tecnica Mach 1 boots — if you’re ready for a 115 flex. That could be a brutal jump even for the most athletic. Or, you could try out the Women’s 85 GW Dalbello Panterra, which comes in a 99-101mm last an 85 flex, which would be a more progressive step in boot hardness.

The liners are constructed with a layer of woolmetal (wool and metallic polyester) that helps retain warmth as it radiates off the body. The buckles are lightweight, shaving ounces off the set.

Overall, the QST Access is wider-set for broader feet and shafts and average instep, which is common in beginner boots. Out of the box, they provide a comfortable feel to help you improve without unwanted distractions.

There’s also the women’s QST model. While these are certainly comfortable hybrid boots, they do come in a more entry-level flex of 70 and 60. If you’re looking for a hybrid boot that’s more stout, the women’s Tecnica Cochise Pro W has a 115 flex and the Head Kore 130 offers a 95, 110 or 130 flex.

And while this is the only boot on our list that’s technically solely made for the backcountry, we were pretty blown away by the downhill performance of the lightweight hybrid Scarpa 4-Quattro XT, which has a 100mm last, similar weight as the Freeguide Carbon, comes in a 130 (or 120) flex, and costs about the same. The compromise for the 4-Quattro was the resort performance while the boot excelled at a variety of off-piste objectives.

Freeguide Carbon uses a Cabrio hybrid three-piece shell. The top of the two-piece tongue tilts forward and out of the way to make getting the boot on and off pain-free. With the buckles engaged, the two-piece tongue locks down to provide the critical resistance a skier needs from their boot for descents.

The shell overlaps the liner on both sides, which gave it power and progressive flex skiing without restricting movement in walk mode. When we were skinning, the flexible tongue moved comfortably with our foot and ankle.

Inside, the Thermo-moldable liner closed with a BOA dial that let us quickly fine-tune the boot fit and support when we switched from skinning to skiing and back. With the boot buckled down in ski mode, it had a 15-degree forward lean, which gave it the feel of an aggressive alpine boot. In tour mode, it claims 60 degrees of rotation. Lining up a touring boot’s tech fittings with a binding’s pins can be frustrating, but the Freeguide has indicators on the toe to streamline that process.

Efficient transitioning from ski mode to tour mode and back is key to getting in as many runs as possible. The Freeguide’s 180-degree auto-lock buckles stayed open and out of the way in tour mode, speeding the transition process. Then they clipped closed in a flash, though we did have to fully undo the top buckle to get the full range of motion for uphill walking or skiing — a very minor flaw. The Freeguide Carbon offer a confidence-inspiring feel in a remarkably lightweight, versatile package, pushing them up to our picks.

It’s not the lightest boot on the market, but it was so comfortable to tour in and so solid on downhills that we packed it for a trip to Italy where we used it as our do-it-all boot for all-day tours in the Alps that ended on-piste. We took it on a trip to Colorado for bell-to-bell skiing at Vail and Telluride resorts. And in Vermont, we wore it to explore new backcountry zones.

When we ended our day inbounds, the Gripwalk sole gave us traction on snow and ice on the walk across an icy parking lot back to our car. It also prevented wipeouts on the dance floor when the ski day transitioned straight to après, while also having maximum binding compatibility. So, we could safely ski these boots with both touring bindings and Gripwalk-compatible alpine bindings.

The key to the Hawx Prime’s perfect fit is its highly moldable liner inside a heat-moldable shell. The shell plastic is thicker and stronger where the boot may need to be worked (like the ankle and forefoot) and slimmer everywhere else. That kept weight manageable without compromising this boot’s power transfer and downhill performance. Atomic enhanced the boot’s lateral stability and skier-to-ski power transfer by adding a carbon spine.

Atomic’s Thermo-moldable liner looked comfortable even before we had it molded to our feet. It’s preshaped with an obvious ankle pocket and a narrow Achilles. The tongue and liner collar of the Hawx Prime XTD are the same plastic as the shell and are also moldable. Thinsulate insulation in the toebox made this one of the warmer boots we’ve skied.

But we had to keep tightening the buckles on warm days, as the heat from our feet caused the liner to pack out. Jumping on board with innovative closure systems, Atomic also released a model with BOA, the Atomic HAWX ULTRA BOA: read the review.

The best part? There’s a new women’s-specific model that offers the stiffest flex among hybrid boots for ladies on the market, filling a real need. Multiple gals on staff have been testing this boot and so far, we all approve of the updates. Many of the features that we love so much about our team’s top overall alpine boot pick, the Tecnica Mach 1, bridge into this boot.

The Tecnica Cochise is available for ripping ladies in the brand’s MV (mid-volume) last and a stiff 115 flex. The other MV options have a softer flex including 105 ($700) and 95 ($600). If you want a slightly softer boot, try out the Salomon SHIFT PRO AT, which offers a 90 flex.

In addition to the lower price tag, the major differences are that the Pro includes RECCO and a wishbone-shaped grip that stretches between the heel and toe on the underside of the boot. That additional grip offers extra traction while riding a snowmobile, climbing metal ladders, or hiking terrain. The Pro model is a bit lighter, too.

While carving groomers, the Cochise is a super-comfortable boot that’s stiff and steadily drives an alpine ski. A quick flip of a vertical low-profile lever on the back of the boot lets us transition to uphill mode. Climbing also felt great in this boot in part due to that healthy 50-degree range of motion.

One of the most unique aspects of this hybrid boot is a small dial on the walk-mode lever, which turns 90 degrees to lock the setting in place. The optional lock improves the downhill performance of the boot and adds more security, which is confidence-inspiring. The boot was warm, too, thanks to the roomy toebox and the anatomically shaped liner, which uses Celliant and wool insulation.

Celliant helps stabilize circulation and maintain warm feet through the integration of 13 heat-reactive minerals, which turn body heat into infrared energy. In our experience, these boots really help do just that — even in hair-splitting cold temps. If you’re looking for a hybrid boot for aggressive days at the resort and mild tours, or need a one-stop boot for trips, the Cochise Pro W  might be the best ski boot to get your feet in.

As we parsed through the hype of the 4-Quattro XT, the first thing we noticed was its exceptionally low-volume fit, which was surprising given the 100mm last and the often generously cut boot models Scarpa has previously produced. But that almost uniformly narrow and low volume fit was easily fixed with a very effective liner made of the stock Intuition 4Pro Flex XT. 

The 4-Quattro XT required minimal tweaking over our first few tours, something not common given our temperamental feet. What we did notice was how awkward it is to put on and remove this boot, thanks to its effective yet perhaps over-engineered shell design and layering system. Once in the boot, touring was quite pleasant, regardless of the high cuff design.

Thanks to the smooth and extensive range of motion when the walk bar is flipped up, neither our knees nor hip flexors felt like we were touring in a freeride or hybrid boot, which can often feel inhibitive. The moldable liner proved to breathe quite well. These days, it seems like many classes of touring boots are built with very impressive walk modes. Still, the challenge of making a lightweight boot that skis like an alpine boot seems to persist.

Finishing the transition to ski mode with the cinch of the booster strap, we tried to clear our heads of preconceptions. On days where snow conditions were soft and forgiving, the 4-Quattro XT skied similarly to boots like the Head Kore 130 or Tecnica 0G Tour Pro: a supportive cuff that enables precise application of pressure, very good rearward support, and a true-feeling 130 flex at the top of its range.

When conditions became more variable, the boot suffered, most of which we would attribute to the thin touring-oriented liner, which does not seem to provide as much support or precision as compared to the shell. The Grilamid material of the 4-Quattro XT also felt fairly temperature sensitive, which meant on colder days the boot flexed truer to its intended rating, while on warmer spring days it became squishy, especially at the bottom of the flex pattern.

Under these conditions, the boot felt a little vague. Yet, one of our testers liked the 4-Quattro XT so much that they spent an entire backcountry season wearing them.

Few boots of this low weight perform well in the backcountry. Worries about a less durable walk bar were quickly put to bed as pillow lines were skied and cliffs dropped. Ultimately, we found that this boot worked for a huge range of backcountry skiing from freeriding to mountaineering. 

The remaining piece of the puzzle was resort skiing in the 4-Quattro XT. After a few days of skiing by chairlift, we found that our expectations were merely met: A boot weighing similar to boots used solely for ski touring (~1,450 g) just doesn’t quite have the suspension or multi-directional support that a pure alpine boot does. That is not to say some skiers won’t be perfectly fine using the 4-Quattro XT for both resort and backcountry skiing, but keep in mind the potential compromises with this (or really any other hybrid) boot.

Based on our experience in the 4-Quattro XT, we’d recommend it for advanced or expert backcountry skiers looking for a versatile boot to ski a range of lines. The design may also be an effective choice for that person wanting one boot to do everything with, as long as they reign in their resort skiing a little bit.

The first hurdle to clear is sizing: A resort-oriented fit is often too tight for a touring. But thanks to Head’s fully heat-moldable shell known as “Form Fit,” choosing the smaller more precise resort fit is completely appropriate.

While you can still manually spot-stretch the Kore 130, having an experienced bootfitter heat the entire shell and liner and then mold it on your foot removes much of the trial and error that is standard for many other ski boots. Ultimately, this allows for a tighter, performance-oriented fit in the places it most counts in a boot, while maintaining enough space to keep the boot comfortable on long days of walking through the mountains.

And as a bonus, the Form Fit fitting process tends to significantly reduce the number of return visits to the bootfitter. On snow in the backcountry, the first thing we noticed was the impressive range of ankle mobility when climbing, especially in the forward direction, which probably outdoes every other boot in this midweight class. This forward range of motion also negated some of the downsides of touring in this higher alpine-performance style cuff. Otherwise, the friction of the walk mode and rearward range of motion felt as good as its competitors. 

We did tend to get cold feet on many tours in the Kore 130, which was perhaps a symptom of the lighter, breathability-oriented stock liner. But because cold tolerance is such a personal thing, we are hesitant to chalk this up as a guaranteed downside. More on the thinner liner later.

Once ready to ski, transitions from tour mode to ski mode felt comparable to other four-buckle hooking-mechanism boots we’ve used — there are faster and slower transitioning boots in this category but the Kore 130 still clears the bar of being able to switch to ski mode with your gloves on. 

What stood out for us once actually skiing in the Kore 130 was its impressive rearward support and progressive flex pattern. Often, touring boots suffer in both of these categories. But across a range of backcountry conditions, this boot delivered predictable performance commensurate with what you want from a 130-flex touring boot.

On cold hardpack, the Kore 130 provided impressive suspension (especially for a midweight boot per touring standards) and a supportive bottom end of its flex pattern. Dare we say, skiing hardpack in the backcountry was actually fun with this boot. This brings us back to the thinner liner we mentioned. Part of a boot’s performance is a function of shell design, but the other aspect of that is liner performance, and the stock liner of the Kore 130 falls short of this boot’s shell capabilities. It occasionally felt unsupportive, too squishy, or imprecise, especially in more challenging conditions. 

With backcountry performance in mind, we come to the question of one-quiver-boot viability — and this is always a difficult question to answer, especially with an expert flex rating of 130 attached to a boot. While there are certainly compromises with using a single boot in both the backcountry and resort, the Head Kore 130 proves to be one of the best options on the market.

Its comparatively low weight didn’t seem to negatively affect its suspension as much as low weight often does in other boots. The very progressive flex range allowed us to push this boot hard across many snow conditions. The Kore 130 is a strong contender for supporting aggressive backcountry skiing and advanced resort skiing. If your budget says no to two pairs of boots, or if you’re just looking for a boot you can push hard in the backcountry, with the added bonus of being easily fitted, definitely consider the Kore 130.

You may have noticed we’ve included a number of hybrid boots in this guide. In part, that’s because almost every boot manufacturer is making one these days, but it’s also because there are a ton of great options in the category that can hold their own at the resort and on the skin track. While Nordica claims a 130 flex, we found the flex progressive and reliable but noticeably softer than other 130s, including some of Nordica’s dedicated alpine 130-flex boots. Though they never felt underpowered at the resort, hard-chargers should set their expectations realistically if they’re hoping for race boot performance in an ultralight package.

As with any hybrid boot that tries to pull double duty, there are unavoidable compromises, such as the fit. Most backcountry skiers accept higher volume and a more relaxed fit to make touring comfortable at the expense of responsiveness on the downhill. If you can make the fit work well enough, however, this fairly pricey boot can save you a bunch of cash if it can replace two pairs of boots. It’s also impressive enough in terms of mobility, weight, and downhill performance as a backcountry boot to warrant consideration as a dedicated touring option.

The 50/50 Unlimited LT 130 DYN keeps the weight low enough to be a serious option for serious backcountry skiers, instead of just another heavy resort boot with tech binding compatibility. If you can compromise on fit and flex, it’s a pricey boot that’ll save you money in the big picture.

For most skiers, the standard Maestrale, which we tested in the Alps, gives power for charging steep terrain. With a flex rating of 125 in the Maestrale and 120 in the Gea, this boot can handle what most skiers throw at it. A 60-degree range of motion in the Gea (61 degrees in the Maestrale) gives lots of room for comfortable hiking uphill. And the fast Speed Lock XT ski/walk mode lever is easy and intuitive. The cuff is adjustable, offering a more tailored height, as well as a tailored forward lean of up to two additional degrees.

While the Maestrale boot is excellent on the skin track, we love its progressive flex on the downhill. The boot uses excellent Intuition Cross Fit Pro liners that shops can heat mold for a custom fit. The 102mm last proves comfortable for modestly wide feet, but it may be a bit sloppy for those with very narrow feet. It works with most AT bindings, but do verify your bindings before purchase. Modest updates back in 2022 included replacing Grilamid with a more sustainable “bio” version. The material utilizes polyamides from castor oil instead of petroleum, reducing CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.

For heavier or more aggressive skiers, this boot is a solid, hard-charging choice. Overall, the fit of the Maestrale is comfortable, feels good on the uphill, and still offers fist-bumping power transfer.

The SHIFT PRO 130 AT boot uses a seamless race liner Salomon says is warmer than other race-focused liners. Saloman also says it won’t cause pressure points because it’s seamless. The heat-moldable liner and shell were highly customizable and an excellent choice for skiers who usually get their boots ground or punched.

The 100mm last worked well for medium-width and medium-volume feet without heat-molding the shell. The shell is thin and sensitive to help skiers feel their ski and the snow beneath it while also putting the skier’s foot in as close contact as possible with the binding for best-in-class power transmission.

The SHIFT PRO AT’s Surelock walk mode was easy to operate and had a good range of motion for skinning. Salomon added a Core-Frame element under the midfoot of the boot to stiffen the shell where the foot pressures the ski for best edge engagement and power transfer. A polyamide cuff spine added lateral stability and forward drive.

The boot was easy to get in and out of, but it was ready to charge once buckled down. Because the SHIFT PRO’s Gripwalk soles were highly compatible, we wore this boot as our resort-focused alpine boot. But when the side country filled in, the snow was stable, and the gates opened, we didn’t have to go back to the car to change boots before we booted or skinned out of bounds.

Whether we were on a rocky ascent spine or back in the resort parking lot, the slightly rockered, snow- and ice-gripping soles always made walking a slip-free event. Overall, the SHIFT PRO AT are some of the best hybrid ski boots on the market today.

Read Review: Salomon Shift Pro 110 AT Women’s Freeride Ski Boots Review: A Hybrid Boot for Powder Days and Experienced-to-Expert Skiers

This boot will overpower lightweight and less experienced skiers, but it’s a breath of fresh air for hard-chargers and big bodies who’ve been let down by supposedly stiff boots that don’t live up to their proclaimed flex ratings.

That 140 flex claimed here isn’t hyperbole, but it’s also not out of reach of most expert recreational skiers, especially those with a racing background that are comfortable driving stiff boots hard. Unlike a true “plug” race boot, the medium volume edition of the RC4 PRO we tested was surprisingly comfortable and even ran a little longer in the toe than the LV version we also tried on. If you’re in search of a vice-like fit to relax as-needed via professional boot fitting, you might want to at least try on the LV before committing to the roomier MV. 

The RC4 PRO MV BOA tested best when paired with Fischer’s frontside carver CURV 85 GT skis where their heft and stiffness felt like the proper steering wheel to have on your feet. The RC4 PROs can feel like they are overdriving softer all-mountain skis, but if you’re shopping for this grade of boot, you’re not likely spending much time noodling at slow speeds on soft skis. Playful freeride skiers may want to look elsewhere as the boot’s stiffness and fairly thin liner is unforgiving if you’re frequently spinning, leaving the ground, and absorbing impacts.

For precise control and feel, the ZipFit liner is a welcome add-on that’s normally a $500 additional purchase. For the uninitiated, ZipFit liners use bits of cork within a leather exterior for a fit that subtly adjusts to your foot shape through use. (Cork can also be added or removed if needed by a bootfitter that carries ZipFit.) The $1,000-plus price tag of the Fischer RC4 PRO reflects this inclusion a bit, but there’s still value here if you plan to swap in a ZipFit liner to your boots anyway.

The inclusion of BOA is new for Fischer, but is something becoming more common in ski boots after years of use in snowboard boots. The cable-driven system delivers on its claim to more evenly distribute pressure over the forefoot, but we found it could require a tediously high number of twists to get the compression we wanted. You’ll likely either love or hate the BOA, and if it’s the latter, the LV version of this boot uses traditional forefoot buckles.