Last tested

2024

Status:ongoing

2025

DNA by Pierre Gignoux

The first, with the most technical fit, but also the softest flex and lowest weight

Buyer’s Guide reviews
In words
Technical specifications

Buyer’s Guide reviews

Performance by context

Ascent

Skiing

Walking

Climbing

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The charts show our impressions from testing

Product info

Category average

Recommended use

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Recommended level

Technical Level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

High level

Weight

lightmedianheavy

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In lab

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In words

Intro

The full carbon boot designed in collaboration with the French former champion has remained unchanged for a few seasons now, sticking firmly to a winning formula popular with top athletes. Though one of the lightest boots on the market, it uses less extreme methods to keep the weight down than some of its competitors, and the liner is a little more substantial. The heel, for example, is filled with expanded foam. The flex also feels softer than that of its rivals.

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Walking

Despite the decidedly technical fit, especially around the forefoot, where it holds the toes firmly in place (more so than the competition), entry is easy with the liner in the boot. The internal lacing system, fixed to the shell in direct contact with the liner, is excellent. The strap keeping the heel locked into place between the cuff and lower part of the shell is effective but pretty tight, worth bearing in mind for those with a pronounced instep.

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Lab

Entry is relatively easy with the liner in. The technical fit is the most nuanced in the category, and the best at holding the toes in place at the base of the liner. The lace closure fixed to the interior of the shell flaps, in direct contact with the liner, works very well. The heel is held in place by a strap positioned between the cuff and back of the shell. Crampon compatibility is good thanks to the prominent toe box and barely rockered sole.

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Skiing

The cuff and shell feel quite different to each other. It has the right amount of freedom around the forefoot, with the toes pressed down, providing perfect power transmission to the binding and ski, as long as you have slim feet. The low cuff flap and fairly soft flex for a race boot gives an altogether different sensation further up, even after tightening the cord that runs down the spine as much as possible; you need to accept a few compromises if you want maximum power and precision. To compensate, the foam in the cuff has a nice consistency, halfway between the Alien 4.0 and Stratos VI, providing balance to the overall structure.

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Technical specifications

LINER MATERIALS

carbon fiber

SHELL MATERIALS

carbon fiber

INSERT TYPE

Pierre Gignoux

Buckle description

race-ready ski/walk mechanism with Dyneema cable + power strap

Sole description

Pierre Gignoux

Liner description

Race400

No. of buckles

Lean forward

12°/18°

Available sizes

23–30 mp

Made in

France

Price

2100 €

Declared specsMeasured by us

We measured the measure 26 to get all the details

510 gr

Individual weight

XXXXX

N/A

Liner weight

XXXXX

N/A

Shell weight

XXXXX

N/A

External shell length

XXXXX

N/A

External shell width

XXXXX

N/A

Inner shell width

XXXXX

N/A

Pin distance

XXXXX

N/A

Force to 20° back

XXXXX

N/A

Force to 20° forward

XXXXX

75 °

Cuff ROM

XXXXX

N/A

Maximum cuff height

XXXXX

N/A

Maximum tongue height

XXXXX

N/A

Maximum forefoot width

XXXXX

N/A

Maximum ankle width

XXXXX

N/A

Sole thickness at toe

XXXXX

99 mm

Last

XXXXX

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