The Best Ski Touring Boots: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro

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The Zero G Tour Pro pairs the stiffest listed flex in this group with the lowest listed weight and the most cuff range of motion. The Radical gives up stiffness and weight for a wider 104 mm last and a lower price tier, which makes it the easier first touring boot.

A touring boot has two jobs that pull against each other: it has to walk uphill for hours without rubbing you raw, then lock down and drive a ski on the way back. The numbers that tell you how well a boot balances those jobs are listed weight, cuff range of motion, flex and the sole and insert standard, and makers publish most of them. We compared the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, Dynafit Radical, Scarpa Maestrale RS and Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA using each maker's own spec sheet. If you only ski lifts, our resort ski boot comparison is the better place to start.

RBE top pick

Tecnica

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro

Buy it

A 130 flex touring boot that Tecnica lists at 1285 g with 65 degrees of cuff range of motion and a 99 mm last.

Best for: Experienced backcountry skiers with average-width feet who want a stiff boot that still climbs well on long days.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Tecnica lists 1285 g, a 130 flex and 65 degrees of range of motion, the strongest mix of stiffness, weight and stride in this group.
• The sole is a glued-on Vibram touring sole to ISO 9523 with Dynafit tech inserts, so it suits tech bindings, and other bindings only where the binding maker lists ISO 9523.
• The C.A.S. shell and Quick Instep are designed for fit work, and the C.A.S. Ultralight liner carries a Recco reflector.

Know before buying

• It sits in the premium tier.
• The 99 mm MV touring last will feel tight for wide forefeet.
• Tecnica does not state which size the 1285 g figure refers to, so compare weights across brands with care.
• There is no GripWalk sole listed, so check carefully before pairing it with an alpine binding.

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Dynafit

Dynafit Radical

Buy it

An all-round touring boot with a 110 flex, a 104 mm last, 60 degrees of cuff rotation and an ISO 9523 sole.

Best for: Newer tourers and skiers with wider feet who want a capable first touring boot at a mid-range price.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• The 104 mm last is the widest in this group, which helps skiers whose feet do not fit narrow touring shells.
• Dynafit lists 60 degrees of cuff rotation, a walk release on the forward lean and its Quick-Step-In boot-binding system.
• The UNI EN ISO 9523 sole marking and Pomoca Climb (TOUR) sole make it a straightforward match for touring bindings that accept that standard.

Know before buying

• At a listed 1520 g it is heavier than the Tecnica, partly because Dynafit uses PU for the shell and cuff.
• A 110 flex will feel soft to heavy or aggressive skiers on big skis.
• It uses a velcro power strap and the simpler HOJI Single Lock, where the Radical Pro steps up to a stiffer, lighter build.
• Dynafit does not state which size the listed weight refers to.

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Scarpa

Scarpa Maestrale RS

It depends

Scarpa's stiffest Maestrale, a 130 flex boot listed for both tech and AT bindings, at 1570 g per half pair in size 27.

Best for: Strong, heavier skiers who prioritise the descent or already own AT frame bindings, and accept extra weight on the climb.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Scarpa lists the binding system as AT + TLT and says it works with both tech and AT bindings, useful if you already own a frame touring binding.
• The 130 flex Grilamid shell, Pebax Rnew cuff and Booster Active Power Strap are aimed at hard-charging descents.
• The thermoformable Intuition Pro Flex Performance liner and an insulated zeppa suit cold days and long tours.

Know before buying

• Its 1570 g per boot at size 27 is heavier than the Tecnica's listed 1285 g for the same 130 flex.
• Scarpa does not publish a range of motion figure for this version, so you cannot compare stride on paper.
• It sits in the premium tier, alongside the Tecnica.
• The 101 mm last sits between the Tecnica and the Dynafit, so very wide feet may still need shell work.

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We'd skip it

Atomic

Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA

Skip it

A hybrid freeride boot with tech inserts and a BOA dial that Atomic lists at 2004 g per boot with 54 degrees of range of motion.

Best for: Resort skiers who only skin occasionally and want one boot for GripWalk and tech bindings, not regular backcountry tourers.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Atomic lists Complete Tech inserts for hybrid and TLT bindings plus GripWalk pads to ISO 23223, so one boot covers resort and touring bindings.
• The BOA Fit System, heat-moldable Mimic Platinum liner and Memory Fit shell give a lot of fit adjustment on a 100 mm last.
• Free/Lock 4.5 offers three forward lean settings, 13, 15 and 17 degrees.

Know before buying

• At 2004 g per boot (MP 26/26.5) it is over 400 g heavier per boot than the Scarpa Maestrale RS, which Scarpa weighs in a larger size.
• The listed 54 degrees of range of motion is the shortest here, against 60 to 65 degrees for the Dynafit and Tecnica.
• A PU shell and cuff help downhill feel but add weight you carry up every climb.
• It is priced in the premium tier, so you pay touring-boot money for a boot built mostly for the descent.

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How we judged the field

Five things decide whether a touring boot works for you. Fit comes first, and the last width is the best paper clue to it. Listed weight matters because you lift each boot thousands of times on a climb. Cuff range of motion sets how long and natural your stride feels in walk mode. Flex tells you how much boot you have for the descent, though numbers are not standardised between brands. And the sole and insert standard decides which bindings the boot can go into, so we only repeat the binding systems each maker names on its own page.

The field splits into light touring boots, all-round touring boots and hybrid freeride boots that add tech inserts to an alpine-style shell. We picked a premium all-rounder that is both stiff and light, a mid-range all-rounder with a roomier last, a stiff descent-first boot with frame binding compatibility, and a popular hybrid that many resort skiers buy for touring. None of these repeat the boots in our resort ski boot comparison, which covers lift-served skiing.

The Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro is the boot to beat in this group because it does not make you pick between climbing and skiing. Tecnica lists 1285 g, a 130 flex and 65 degrees of range of motion, which is the lowest listed weight, the stiffest flex and the most stride on paper here. The shell is Grilamid with Tecnica’s C.A.S. shape and Quick Instep, the cuff is co-injected Grilamid and carbon, and it closes with four light magnesium buckles with a touring lock out plus a 35 mm power strap. The sole is a glued-on Vibram touring sole to ISO 9523 with Dynafit tech inserts. The trade-offs are the premium price, a 99 mm MV touring last that will pinch wide feet, and a weight figure with no size attached. It is for experienced tourers with average-width feet who want one stiff, light boot for long climbs and serious descents.

The Dynafit Radical is the value pick and the easiest boot here to recommend to a first-time tourer. Its 104 mm last is the widest in this group, and Dynafit lists 60 degrees of cuff rotation, a forward lean of 11 degrees with a release for walking, and its Quick-Step-In boot-binding system. The sole is a Pomoca Climb (TOUR) sole marked UNI EN ISO 9523. The shell and cuff are PU, which explains a listed weight of 1520 g, and the 110 flex is softer than the Tecnica and Scarpa. Closure is buckles with the HOJI Single Lock and a velcro power strap; the Radical Pro, listed at 1400 g with a 120 flex and Grilamid shell, is the step up if you want more. For newer tourers, lighter skiers and anyone whose feet do not fit narrow touring shells, the Radical covers most days at a mid-range price.

The Scarpa Maestrale RS is a strong boot for a specific skier. Scarpa lists a 130 flex from a Grilamid shell and Pebax Rnew cuff, a 101 mm last, a Booster Active Power Strap and a thermoformable Intuition Pro Flex Performance liner, plus an insulated zeppa. Its binding system is listed as AT + TLT, and Scarpa says it works with both tech and AT bindings, which matters if you already own a frame touring binding. The sole is a Vibram Cayman LT to ISO 9523. The catch is weight: Scarpa lists 1570 g per boot in size 27, heavier than the Tecnica’s 1285 g at the same flex. Scarpa also does not publish a range of motion for this version, and it sits in the premium tier. It suits heavier or aggressive skiers who care most about the descent or own AT frame bindings, and it is the wrong boot if light weight is your priority.

The Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA is a capable freeride boot, but it is a poor choice if touring is a regular part of your season. Atomic lists 2004 g per boot in MP 26/26.5, over 400 g per boot heavier than the Scarpa Maestrale RS, which Scarpa weighs in a larger size. Its 54 degrees of range of motion is the shortest here, against 65 degrees for the Tecnica and 60 for the Dynafit, so every stride on a long skin track is shorter and heavier. What it does well is versatility: Complete Tech inserts for hybrid and TLT bindings, GripWalk pads to ISO 23223, a BOA Fit System, a Mimic Platinum liner and a PU shell on a 100 mm last. That makes sense for resort skiers who skin a few times a season, but at a premium price a dedicated touring boot serves anyone who climbs often far better.

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro vs Dynafit Radical: which should you buy?

The Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro and Dynafit Radical are both all-round touring boots with tech-ready ISO 9523 soles, but they suit different skiers. The Tecnica is stiffer (130 against 110), lighter on paper (1285 g against 1520 g, though neither maker names the size) and offers more listed range of motion (65 degrees against 60). It is built from Grilamid and carbon where the Radical uses PU, which explains much of the weight gap.

Choose on fit and ski style first. If your forefoot is wide, the Radical’s 104 mm last is likely to be the more comfortable starting point than the Tecnica’s 99 mm touring last, and its softer flex will suit lighter skiers and newer tourers. If you have average-width feet, ski aggressively or plan long days with a lot of vertical, the Tecnica is worth the premium. Either way, try them on with your touring socks and have a shop check the shell fit.

What to look for

• Last width first: match the boot’s listed last to your foot, because no feature makes up for a shell that does not fit.
• Listed weight and the size it refers to: several hundred grams per boot is a real difference on a long climb, but makers weigh different sizes.
• Range of motion: more degrees of cuff travel in walk mode means a longer, easier stride on the skin track.
• Sole and insert standard: check that the boot lists ISO 9523, GripWalk (ISO 23223) or tech inserts that match the binding you plan to use.
• Flex for your weight and style: a 130 flex suits strong skiers on big skis, while a 110 flex is friendlier for lighter skiers and new tourers.
• Shop fitting and binding setup: budget for liner molding and shell work, and let a certified shop mount the bindings and set the release value.

Our final take

For most skiers who earn their turns, the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro is the boot to get: Tecnica lists it as the lightest and stiffest boot here, with the most range of motion. The Dynafit Radical is the smart value pick, especially for wider feet and first touring setups. The Scarpa Maestrale RS makes sense for strong skiers who want maximum descent performance or need AT frame binding compatibility, as long as they accept the weight. Skip the Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA if you tour regularly, because its weight and short stride work against you on every climb. Then pair the boots with bindings and skins from our ski binding and climbing skin comparisons.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro vs Dynafit Radical.

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