Tour boots
The line that divides the categories is becoming increasingly thin.
- Author: Tommaso Cardelli
- Photographer: Giovanni Danieli
The boots are no exception, following the broader trends of the entire Tour world, but a few more variables can be glimpsed.
There remains a differentiation between more essential and walkable products, crossing over into the Light category, and others that are more traditional and structured. The former (Dalbello Quantum Free Pro, Dynafit Ridge Pro, and Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120, to name three examples) are products that could truly compete in the lightweight segment (we were testing the Quantum Free in that category until last year), with two buckles and great ankle mobility, but slightly more structured. They are perfect when paired with most touring skis for those who prioritize elevation gain. Then there are the three- and four-buckle options, which don't differ much in weight but perform differently: worse when walking, better when skiing.
Three names stand out: Scarpa Maestrale/RS, Scarpa 4-Quattro XT, and Tecnica Zero-G Tour Pro. Even in this case, the new models gain in comfort, with larger volumes, perfectly aligning with the category average: slightly less precision and performance to be even more versatile. This is the case, as you will read in the product sheets, with the Zero G Tour Pro. The 4-Quattro XT stands apart, being somewhat of a crossover with the Free category. There's also a noticeable difference between brands specialized in ski mountaineering, such as Scarpa and Dynafit, which offer more forgiving boots paired with higher-performance products, and more generalist brands like Tecnica, which provide a single option that satisfies both needs.
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