Every winter, alpine touring boots get lighter, stiffer, more comfortable, and easier to use. But it’s not that often that we hear about one being a “game changer.” As a result, we were skeptical when claimed that its F1 Evo boot transitions automatically from a hyper flexy walk mode to a respectably stiff ski mode when clicked into tech bindings. But then we stepped into the boots, clicked into bindings, and became believers.
The F1 Evo isn’t a gimmick. The boot weighs less than two and a half pounds, has so much flex in walk mode that you can easily bend your knee, and is allegedly as stiff as Scarpa’s popular . A Boa closure system tightens the boot below your ankle, and you only have to loosen a single strap on the shin to engage walk mode. At $699, the F1 Evo is a relatively inexpensive option in the high-end alpine touring boot world. This is the boot we’re most excited to use for everyday tours when it becomes available next winter.