As innovations in Alpine Touring binding technology have increased in recent years, boot manufacturers have followed suit and raised the bar substantially. AT boot choices now range from low-top touring boots to high performance four buckle monsters, and everything in between. Unlike your alpine boots, all AT boots are built with rubber soles and have some rocker underfoot for hiking. Also, upper cuffs can be unlocked for greater comfort and movement while skinning. Sure you can use your big, heavy alpine boots with some AT bindings - but if you plan on spending much time in the backcountry, you'll want an AT boot. Which boots should you buy?

First, decide which boot characteristics are most important to you. Lightweight, low top boots are very comfortable to tour and climb in, but lack the support and performance of a bigger boot when skiing downhill. These boots are great when skiing in soft snow conditions, in terrain that isn't too steep, or when skiing a softer or lighter weight ski. Conversely, tall and stiff boots offer downhill performance closer to that of an alpine boot. They can drive the biggest freeride skis out there and can handle steep, icy conditions. Of course, these boots are going to weigh more and be less comfortable to hike in.

Dynafit Compatible Boots: Both Scarpa and Garmont make a few different models of Dynafit compatible boots. New for the 07/08 season is the NTN system that will also be Dynafit compatible for some models. Originally, each manufacturer would make one model that was Dynafit compatible, but it's become necessary to diversify as people are skiing bigger skis and harder lines on Dynafit bindings. The Garmont Mega-Ride is the tried and true Garmont boot and this year they are making a women's specific Mega-Star which is essentially the same boot--(slightly narrower last). Garmont also makes the Mega-Lite--a lighter version of the Mega-Ride for more tour oriented people. Scarpa makes several models of Dynafit compatible boots from two buckle super light F1's to the new burly/stiff Spirit 4. They give you plenty of options from a Randonnee specific boot, to something that you'll really be able to move big skis with. Essentially, you need to consider your skill level with what you value as far as touring comfort when choosing between Dynafit boots. Note that almost every Dynafit compatible boot is also compatible with a step in binding, giving you greater flexibility with different set ups. Two exceptions are the F1 and the new NTN boot the Terminator X, both of which you should not use in a step in binding. The bellow incorporated into the boots are great for more flexible touring, but could potentially pop you out of a step in binding. You can browse all of our Dynafit compatible boots here.

Touring: People who are more concerned with touring comfort will lean towards a lower profile, softer flexing boot. These are people who like to do long days over multiple passes and who are out there to see how many miles they can log, not necessarily for the turns they're going to get. Also people who are lighter weight, or who are just starting to get into Alpine Touring without a strong background in alpine skiing will want to go with a softer flexing boot. You also want a good match with your set up. If you have a slimmer lightweight ski, you want a boot that's going to compliment your ski. Some good options for tour oriented skiers are the Scarpa Spirit 3, Scarpa Matrix, Scarpa Star Lite, Garmont G-Ride, or the Garmont She-Ride. Both the Mega-Ride and the Mega Star could also fall into this category, but these two are leaning towards the stiffer side.

High Performance:Some people with a strong skiing background, who have been Alpine Touring for years may, or who are moving into bigger and wider skis may find that their 3 buckle boot isn't getting the job done. While you sacrifice some in hiking comfort, moving up to a four buckle stiff boot will give you more control in thicker conditions, on steeper pitches, or more aggressive skiing. Of course, these are more appropriate for a step in binding and are typically not Dynafit compatible anyway. The only boots that we would put in this category that is Dynafit compatible is the Spirit 4 from Scarpa and the Zzero 4 from Dynafit. A couple of these boots have even taken out the 'walk-mode' like the Garmont Shaman, the Garmont Astral or the Scarpa Hurricane. If you're wondering why someone would buy any of these instead of a regular alpine boot, the answer lies in the sole and the weight. All of these have an (interchangeable) rockered Vibram grip sole and have taken measures to reduce overall weight--always a factor when traveling in the backcountry. If you are an aggressive skier but want something that still has a 'walk mode', there are plenty of options: Garmont Adrenalin, Garmont Endorphin, Garmont Xena, Scarpa Diva, Scarpa Denali and the Scarpa Tornado Pro. Most of these boots have interchangeable soles--one with Vibram rocker and the other a flat sole for use in traditional alpine bindings-- as well as interchangeable tongues to give some extra stiffness when you need it.

Randonnee:It's worth mentioning the super light boots meant for lightning fast ascents. Randonnee isn't as big in the US as it is in Europe, but it's slowly gaining popularity. These people know who they are and what they're looking for. . . like the Scarpa F1 the F3. If you don't see the boot you're looking for, give us a call; we may be able to special order it for you.

When choosing which boot manufacturer to go with, the most important consideration is fit. While AT boots don't have as wildly different fit as tele boots, there are distinct differences in manufacturer lasts. Narrow feet are best off with Scarpa, but would also be happy in Garmont. Wider, higher volume feet will be most comfy in Dynafit boots, but unless they are real wide, will be just fine in Garmont boots too. Scarpa AT boots, similar to their tele cousins have a little lower volume, but fit great for most "normal" mid-volume feet. Garmont AT boots are generally narrower than their tele boots, especially in the toe-box, but maintain their overall higher volume characteristics, especially in the insteps. . These differences are subtle, and with a little customization or a thermal liner, all of these boots can be made to work with just about anyone's feet.

At this point, almost all of the boots that we carry have a heat moldable liner. They provide a custom fit to your foot - great if you have problem feet or are trying to take up or reduce volume in a shell. Keep in mind that your boots should feel extremely snug out of the box, with the exception of Scarpa's new Intuition liners that feel fairly true to fit out of the box. The heat moldable liners are meant to be molded before skied, and should be comfortable and secure after they are molded. If your boots feel like hiking boots out of the box, chances are you're in too large of a size. Visit our boot fitting page for more info on getting the best fit in your boots, and our size chart for help figuring out which size you need. For more information on liners,check out our moldable liner page or our how to shell fit page.

As you are checking out the boots on our site, remember that every boot we carry has an individual product review that can help you make your decision. We recognize that purchasing boots on line can be a difficult task. Many people chose to buy two different sizes to compare fits at home, and then return whichever one doesn't work. We take returns on boots due to sizing, no problem, within 14 days for sale boots, and 30 days for new boots. We cannot take boots back if you have molded the liners.

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