Dynafit TLT8 Expedition ($750)
The TLT7 was so different from its predecessor that it bombed on shelves, despite expert accolades and exceptional performance. So the brand took the best parts of versions six and seven and merged them in the new TLT8. With a lighter fiberglass cuff, easy switching between ski and walk mode, 110 flex, and 60 degrees of walking range, the TLT8 does it all. 2.2 lbs
La Sportiva Skorpius CR ($799)
Drawn up from the Italian brand’s winning skimo-racing line, the Scorpius CR carves out a new sweet spot between price and weight. With its easy-to-operate closure system and a walk-mode lever activated with the brush of a hand, it switches gears in a flash. Testers felt the CR could drive far bigger skis than its svelte looks indicated. 2.2 lbs
Scarpa Gea RS ($795)
Scarpa’s Gea and corresponding men’s Maestrale are the bestselling AT boots on the planet. The Gea RS features Scarpa’s Web Frame, a carbon and Grilamid lower boot for stiffness and low weight. The power strap acts as a fourth buckle and is equipped with Recco technology for avalanche recovery. 2.8 lbs
Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout ($960)
The Scout has downhill chops (115 flex) and what a tester described as “one of the flexiest walk modes I’ve ever experienced.” The polyurethane upper makes it a natural for soaking up any terrain at nearly any speed. But like all four-buckle boots, the Scout can be tricky to get off. 3 lbs
Dalbello Lupo Pro HD ($950)
Dalbello’s three-piece design is known for its progressive flex. But the Pro HD is lighter than the previous iteration, with a carbon-injected polyamide cuff. One tester noted, “The polyurethane lower shell absorbs terrain no other AT boot can even think about.” 4.4 lbs
Dynafit Hoji Free ($900)
As if last year’s new Hoji Pro Tour wasn’t tough enough, Dynafit went back to the drawing board to create an even stiffer, alpine-inspired power boot. The Free’s Grilamid cuff is infused with fiberglass, boosting flex to 130. And a new insertable spoiler adds six degrees of forward lean. 3.4 lbs