The boundary between categories is getting ever thinner.
Up until a few years ago, two-buckle models were confined to the Light segment, designed for skiers looking for a lightweight ski to take on epic ascents. These days, however, two-buckle models are finding their way into the Tour category, thanks to stiffer materials and better ski/walk mechanisms. Models like the Dynafit Ridge Pro, the Fischer Transalp Tour and the La Sportiva Kilo XTR are light with generous freedom of movement, and can easily be used in a Tour setup, as long as they’re paired with a light ski; balance is important.
These boots can easily clock up plenty of elevation gain, and are perfect for those who get out on the mountain just a few times in a season. There is, however, another side to the Tour category, that of heavier, stiffer, four-buckle boots like the Scarpa 4-Quattro SL, the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro and the La Sportiva Sender. These models sit at the upper end of the category in terms of weight and stiffness of flex, but offer far superior control and precision in descent. They work best with wider, stiffer skis—perfect for carving a few turns on piste when the mood takes. It’s almost as if they were made for a future Allround Tour sub-category.
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Probably The most accurate ski test out there.
