Gearing up to hit the slopes? One of the most important pieces of equipment is the boots, providing warmth, comfort, and bridging the connection between you and your skis. There are so many skiing boots to choose from, including many multi-functional boots for climbing, hiking, etc. As with many things, the different builds in these boots are tailored to match the needs and experience of the user. Some of the most important variations from boot to boot is found in flex, liners, foot design, material, last, cuff shape, and additional features.
Top Ski Boots Comparison Chart
Ski Boot Buying Guide
It is also worth factoring price and durability into the equation. One of the biggest points of emphasis on buying skiing boots is the differences in flex. The flex rating in the boot is designed to give the user a sense of how stiff the boot will be. There are generally three houses flex categories fall into, soft, medium, and stiff. These flex ratings also coincidentally correspond to progressive experience levels, beginner, intermediate, expert.
Flex Ratings
A soft flex rating will typically be for brand new skiers and the composition of the boot will heavily reflect that. These boots will be designed for comfort and warmth and will be much harder to control than boots of a higher caliber flex rating. Typically soft flex is defined by being under 80. In regards to sizing boots of a soft flex rating, it is recommended to look for a size or ½ size larger than your street shoe size. A mid flex will typically range between 80 to 100, and these boots are geared to be responsive and improve control for the purpose of higher speeds and more difficult terrains. You should aim to size mid-flex boots at ½ a size smaller than usual. With stiff flex boots, you will want to go a whole size smaller. These boots have a flex rating over a hundred and are designed for expert level skiers who will ski aggressively and fast. These boots are usually high performance all around, more expensive, and the remain features in the boot will reflect their high-performance quality.
Liners & Temperature Protection
If you are going to be skiing, odds are you will be in a cold environment. Naturally, it is best to avoid being too cold, and one of the best benefits boots can provide you is warmth. The warmth of the boots will be heavily derived from the makeup of the liner. Liners in skiing boots very immensely. The way the boots will mold into your foot happens in one of four ways. The boot could be made of heat moldable material which will simply break-in as you use it. Another very similar for the sake of functionality purposes is foam liners which are tailored to be a little more specific to the foot shape as you use break in the boots. Non-moldable liners will be pretty much exclusively found in cheap models. These liners are definitely want to avoid as a lack of customization can heavily deter the control of your skis in addition to the insulation in the boots and overall comfort. These liners will simply provide cookie-cutter, generic padding and stability. Finally, there are customized molds which will be specially engineered for your needs.
Narrow, Medium, or Wide
In order to achieve a quality fit with your boots, you need to understand the variations of footing construction. Skiing boots will fall into three groups, narrow, medium, and wide styles. The sizing of the feet is heavily correlated with the performance quality of the boots. For example, a narrow boot is almost definitely a racing boot and a wide style is probably a beginner boot. These shapes are designed to fit your unique feet and if you have a certain obscurity it is important to seek customizable options instead of being stuck with a wide boot for your narrow foot or vice versa. The nice thing about ski boots its that you can easily release from your bindings during falls and avoid many of the ankle and knee pain that snowboarders commonly endure. Once you have found a perfect fitting boot with the right liners, sizing, flex, and footing, you should evaluate the material of the outer shell.
The shell is the solid outer layer of the boot. The materials of skiing boots usually consist of a hard outer shell for support. Adult boots will usually open in the front and kids’ boots will open in the back. This shell is usually made of hard plastic, and frequently it is made of many different plastics combines to create additional strength.
Best Ski Boot Reviews
1. Atomic Hawx 90 Ski Boots
These boots feature one of the more unique designs in the entire collection of ski boots. Featuring a very cool black and red colorway pattern, the Atomic Hawx comes equipped with many signature and unique capabilities as well. Widely praised for the comfortability. They have a memory foam interior fit with 3M insulation designed to fit perfectly with the user. The boots also offer many buckles across the bottom of the leg up to the cuff of the boot to ensure a tight fit without sacrificing too much ventilation. These boots have a medium flex rating, so they are probably best to be used by an intermediately experienced rider. They also feature a nice 2-year warranty from the Atomic brand in case of damage. These are also great boots to consider if you want a pair that can very easily be taken on and off. In conclusion, these boots are a little pricey but they are one of the best in performance and comfort, especially great quality in regards to obtaining a perfect fit.
Pros
- Design
- Comfortable
- Memory Foam Interior
Cons
- Ventilation
- Price
2. Tecnica Cochise 90 Ski Boots
These boots are pretty similar in design and visual appearance to the Atomic Hawx 90 boots in many ways. However, the Cochise separates itself with many distinct features. For one, these boots are a little bit more affordable than the previous model. These boots are medium flex like the Atomic Hawx, (90 is short for the flex rating). This will provide great support and power transmission for skiing purposes. A unique feature of this boot is that it offers adjustable angles for skiing versus walking. This can be very helpful if you are casually walking around in the boots and would like to avoid having your foot locked in place and opt for more mobility. In order to tighten the boot and ensure a quality fit, this boot comes with 3 buckles starting from the toe to the base of the foot and then another buckle positioned around the ankle region of the boot. This boot also comes with a two-year warranty. These boots can be tough to get in and out of if you have a high arch foot. These are great boots for easy buckling, they’re comfortable, lightweight, have good ventilation, and are made of durable materials.
Pros
- Design
- Additional Features
- Support, power transmission
Cons
- Fitting
3. Rossignol AllTrack Pro 130 Ski Boot
One of the top of the line premium ski boot models, the Rossignol AllTrack Pro with a 130 flex rating for advanced riders, features an awesome black and yellow design with four buckles, (two on the foot, two from the ankle to the cuff), and great interior material and technology. This boot comes equipped with a stiff heel cup to allow for better control. The insulation is designed for optimal fit in the boot, as well as quality insulation. The insulation in lining is designed for added warmth as well in order to combat extremely cold circumstances. The boot is also adaptable to a hiking mode versus riding mode. This allows for more flexibility in the ankle of the boot to facilitate walking during use. There are few things more important for your ski boot decision than finding a boot that will fit perfectly on your foot, and there are few boots on the market that are competitive with this model. If you are looking for great fit, warmth, insulation, and material quality, this is the boot for you.
Pros
- Massive Flex Rating
- Fit
- Warmth and Insulation
- Material Quality
Cons
- Will take a little bit of time to break these in
4. Tecnica Cochise 120 Ski Boots – 2020
Another premium model designed for expert-level riders, the Cochise boot rivals any pro-level performer on the market. These boots look like the badass child of Redbull and Monster energy drinks hit the freeriding world. They have a very solid outer and inner shell that ensures maximum protection to your foot. This can provide great protection, but it does raise concerns about the quality of insulation within this boot. This boot also comes with one of the best fitting and buckle systems available. It features an additional strap to tighten the boot at the top of the cuff.
The slightly lowered flex rating of this boot compared to the 130 model will make it a little easier to adjust to for riders who do not have any experience with a very stiff boot. Although, if you really have zero experience, this is definitely not the boot for you, 120 is still a very high flex rating. For fitting purposes, Technica recommends this boot for people with medium width feet, high instep high, and normal calf volume. In conclusion, the quality material of this boot, power lock strap, and incredible fitting options make this a great boot to consider for those looking for a very stiff boot that is easy to enter and exit.
Pros
- Cool design
- Outer shell protection
- Fitting adaptability
- 4 Buckles (aluminum)
Cons
- Price
5. Kamik Men’s Greenbay 4 Cold-Weather Boot
These boots are not specifically designed for the purpose of fitting into skis, but they do have a similar pattern from cuff to toe that could allow for this adaptability. You can use any number of methods to use them with skis like THIS ski boot frame meant to turn NON-ski boots into “ski boots”. We included them in this list only because we really like them, and unless you’re a 100% city-dweller in the Winter, we think you’d love them in your Winter gear stash! One major benefit to these boots is their price, and that their design is not too over the top if you plan on purchasing ski boots with the intent of using them for casual purposes as well. Unfortunately, they do miss out so many ski boot features such as top quality fitting options, and this boot has very very poor stiffness, (flex) in it. It does come with a little strap at the base of the boot. These boots are probably not the best option for skiing purposes, but worth looking into nevertheless if you want to get a boot that you can use for many activities.
Pros
- Cheap
- Multipurpose
- Fits a Ski Boot Frame like the one below
Cons
- Very, very poor flex rating
- Not designed for skiing
6. K2 SpYne 130 LV Ski Boots
Another intermediate-expert level hybrid boot, these boots feature a 130 flex rating. They are specifically designed to maximize shock absorbance for extreme speeds and power during use. It comes with a padded mid-grip and a tough outer shell that should ensure the durability of the boot and make sure that you do not end up tearing up the boot or your leg in extreme circumstances. For fitting purposes, the K2 SpYne follows a classic model with two straps positioned on the foot and another two straps positioned on the leg of the boot.
The inside of the boot is heat moldable, meaning that these boots will definitely need to be broken in for a little while before they will have a perfect fit with your foot. The PrecisionFit Intuition liner is included which is fully heat moldable and is the highest performance liner K2 offers. They come with a two-year warranty and are priced about the same for boots in the expert level flex rating echelon. The design of these boots is hit or miss with a hard white shell on the top and a yellow, see-through exterior on the foot.
Pros
- Great intermediate-expert boot
- Heat moldable interior lining
- Easy to break in and fasten on foot
- Very tough outer shell
Cons
- Hate it or love it design
7. Salomon X Pro 100 Ski Boots
With an eye-popping price tag, you are probably wondering why in the world these boots are so expensive. These boots are the prodigy child of all the best ski boot technologies. It is composed of a heavily engineered interior shell and a very tough and durable outer shell with fastened buckle straps across the foot and top to ensure a tight fit, (it also features a strap covering the circular length of the cuff). The interior is heat moldable and designed for perfect downhill performance features. This boot prides itself on having the fastest custom fit process of all boots on the market with a thermal formable foam interior lining. The boot features a flex rating of 100 meaning that it is probably best for intermediate skill level skiers. One of the main features of the boot is an oversized pivot to provide the best control and stability for downhill performance. This boot is one of the best performance boots for intermediate skiers, although it is very expensive.
Pros
- Perfect flex rating for intermediate skiers
- Fast custom fit
Cons
- Price
- Ventilation
8. Apex Antero Big Mountain Performance Ski Boots
One of the best high-performance boots available, these boots feature 20 points of closure to guarantee the best fitting possible. This is an actual “walkable” ski boot. This boot is made of an inner and outer boot shell. You can take off the outer shell and walk around in the inner boot if you would like to use the boot for multiple purposes where a thick protective layer is not really necessary. The Boa closure system is a unique feature of the Apex boots. This closure system will wrap around the foot and provide optimal heel hold down and help with energy transfer as the boot is angled downhill. This boot features adjustable flex and forward lean.
It also has a heat moldable insole in addition to molding options in the top lining of the boot. These boots have been heavily praised for their comfort. They are similar to a snowboard boot with a shell to clip into. When you are sizing these boots, it might be best to get a size larger than you would usually get. Apex Ski Boots are the only boots that skiers can buy online fairly easily because their sizing system lets Apex dial in the right fit for anyone buying ski boots online. Because these ski boots have adjustable volume, the key to getting a good fit is to know your longest foot length.
These boots are one of the best high-performance botos available and one of the most comfortable as well.
Pros
- Great Fitting
- Walkable boot
Cons
- Weight
- Ventilation
9. Head Next Edge XP Ski Boots
Diverging from the expert model boots, the head Next Edge XP Ski Boots are a great boot for beginner to intermediate level skiers. These boots feature a very sleek black design with a red tint features on the inside of the cuffs, straps, and logo. These boots feature classic fitting options with four positioned tightening straps, two on the foot, and two from the base of the ankle to the top. The material of this boot is very unique. It does not feature the usually heavily distinguishable inner/outer shell demonstrated by most models. It has the same foot to toe platform you will find in many ski boots.
This boot has a tough outer shell located around the ankle of the boot. This is a really interesting design, and will definitely offer additional protection. This boot is very heavily insulated, but it majorly lacks ventilation options. It has a flex rating of 70 which is quite low. That means it’s a softer boot that allows for more flex. This is a great boot (and flex rating) for a beginner who is just starting to figure out foot movement techniques and how they affect overall control, and it’s also a good boot for a freestyle skier or a smaller/lighter skier.
This boot is likely to increase fatigue quickly and cause you to accumulate sweat inside the boot, resulting in horrific foot odor! In conclusion, this boot is priced great, comes with good adjustable fitting options, has a tough outer shell, and is great for combatting cold weather conditions.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Fitting options
- Tough outer shell
- Heavily insulated
Cons
- Ventilation
- Very soft and flexible (as far as stiff ski boots go)
10. Rossignol Evo 70 Ski Boot
If you are a beginner skier looking to jump into a premium boot model, this is definitely the option for you. Featuring only a flex rating of 70, these boots are very manageable for beginning level skiers who are probably not comfortable with some of these massive flex ratings of 100+. One of the things that stands out about this boot is its awesome design! The boot features a very cool metallic grey, black, and neon green colorway. The fastening straps are also very well designed, although they do look a little bulky. This boot does appear like it might be a little heavy, so be warned! The lining of the boot is designed for comfort with sensor technology to minimize the time required to break these boots in and get them in action on the slopes! They only have 3 adjustable straps, but they do feature a velcro strap around the cuff of the foot that will guarantee that snow or water does not get into the boot. This boot has a very tough outer shell made of polyurethane material. This boot is known for having great fitting options and being very true to size, however, it is always recommended to try the boot on before buying these online. One of the only cons to this boot is that it is somewhat expensive for a beginner level boot! However, these boots provide great insulation, protection, and look very cool!
Pros
- Great beginner boot
- Outer shell protection
- Fitting
- Sleek design
Cons
- Ventilation
- Pricey for a beginner boot
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
In Conclusion, do not let your skiing experience be ruined by poorly fitted boots! Arguably the most important consideration you should have when you begin your search for the perfect pair of boots will be finding a flex rating that you can handle. If you have never skied before, it is probably not a good idea to get a boot with a flex rating over 100. A softer flex rating will be easier to control while you build up the skillset to graduate to a more advanced boot.
If you are going to be skiing for hours on end, it is probably best to find a boot that has quality ventilation. Poor ventilation will destroy the quality of your trip, cause you to fatigue quickly, and the boots to accumulate a disgusting odor due to trapped sweat in the interior of the boot. Find a boot that balances insulation and ventilation. It is obviously very important that your boot offers quality insulation, as some skiing terrains can come packaged with shockingly cold weather conditions!
One of the biggest problems damaging the durability of boots is snow or water getting inside of the boot. If you find yourself in the snow frequently, you might want to get a boot that has some kind of strap or adjustable fitting option located very close to the cuff of the boot.
Many boots have a very similar four strap model for fitting systems. Your decision amongst these should probably be solely motivated by aesthetic quality. Find a boot that not only matches your performance needs but also has a design that will give you the swagger in your step to tackle your adventures! Like any footwear, each boot has a unique relationship with the publicly defined sizing scale. When you have narrowed down the boots you like to 2 or 3 models, make sure you read about what kinds of sizing limitations they have, ex: half size up, down, etc.
Choosing the right pair of ski boots will make or break your trip. If you are a regular snowboarder you might want to opt for a pair that has great heat-moldable fitting options, because you will have allocated more time to break them in. However, if you are just planning a weekend ski trip, it is definitely best to go for a boot model that already fits a broken-in mold that you can just take out of your boot bag and hit the slopes. Make sure you find the pair of boots that match your style on the slopes. You do not want the bulkiness or colorway of a certain pair of boots to throw off your mojo and leave you feeling uncomfortable.
Just like most things, you should expect the boots designed for higher intensity levels to have a correspondingly higher price tag. Some beginner models can be very pricey as well, but they do come with so many great features, it will certainly enhance your experience and perhaps expedite your skill progress. I really hope that this guide helps you find the right pair of boots for your needs! The most important things to look for in a ski boot is flex rating, insulation, and warmth, and ventilation, everything after that including universal things such as fitting, price, and durability, should be viewed as additional features. Good luck, have fun hitting the slopes!
