Salomon Mountain Lab Ski Boots - 2016

Salomon has long been a producer of solid, hard-charging alpine boots, while their AT offerings have been little more than slightly lighter versions of their alpine boots with a walk mode and lugged sole. And while the downhill performance of the Quest was solid, wearing them on a long tour would likely leave you at the back of the pack, sucking wind. Well, that's all changed with the MTN Lab Ski Boot, which totes a backcountry-specific design that will fly up the skintrack, tackle steep booters, and crush the descent like a proper pair of Salomons should.

Designed with input from Salomon athletes, Chris Rubens and Greg Hill, the MTN Lab has the backbone to aggressively drive big skis down even bigger lines thanks to a stiff 120 flex, narrow 98 mm last, and a rigid carbon fiber spine. And while stiff AT boots are nothing new, what sets the MTN Lab apart is the boot's ability to flex progressively thanks to Salomon's Sensifit shell technology. These small ridges direct power to the lower shell for a progressive feel—combine that confidence-inspiring feel with the metal-on-metal Surelock ski/walk mode, secure heel pocket, and the 98mm last and you have a pair of boots that are not only fun, but will charge as hard as you want them to during the descent.

The MTN Lab weighs just over three pounds per boot, making them competitive with most stiff AT boots you'll find on the market today. The boot saves weight through its high-end shell, which is composed of Pebax at the cuff, Grilamid+ along the lower shell, and a carbon fiber spine. What you won't find on any other boots, is the the waterproof textile panel, which not only shaves ounces from the boot, but allows for a comfortable and natural walking feel. Transitions are smooth with the MTN Lab thanks to an intuitive design that consists of a horizontally engaged walk mode, two lightweight buckles, and a single 50 mm hook and loop power strap. The Chevron Winter Contragrip sole is aggressively lugged to put the handle on narrow ridge line hikes and steep bootpacks. Inside you'll find Salomon's heat moldable My Custom Fit 3D liner, ensuring a comfortable and performance oriented fit.