Foot fetish.
EO’s picks for the best boots for the 2011-12 season.
13. Freeride: Scarpa Huricane Pro
We felt just as stable using this AT boot out on backcountry tours as we did bombing hardpack all day on a resort. Credit the comfy Intuition liner with making it easy to wear all day long.
$739; scarpa.com
14. Alpine: Fischer Soma Vacuum 130
Forget custom insoles, Fischer’s new Vacuum series of boots actually allow you to custom-mold the plastic boot shells to your foot. Retailers heat them up in a special oven at 80 degrees Celsius. Stand in them for 20 minutes as they cool to fit your foot shape and set the forward lean between 14 and 17 degrees.
$895; fischerskis.com
15. AT: Dynafit Zzero Green Machine
The four-buckle Green Machine is light enough to feel like a race boot on the uphills but uncannily responsive on the downs. It’s ideal for the backcountry but performs just fine on the occasional resort day.
$1,000; dynafit.com
16. Tele: Black Diamond Custom
BD’s 130-flex-rated Custom is a tele boot with the guts to drive big skis, but an easy-to-tighten Boa liner is what makes it so responsive.
$729; blackdiamondequipment.com
17. Snowboard: Ride Hi-Phy Boa Coiler
Eerily light-yet-powerful this boot runs the strong Phylon material in the sole up into the heel cup for a snug fit that battened down with Boa lacing.
$259; ridesnowboards.com
