With 100+ years of combined experience across our staff, we've listed out our staff picks for alpine touring boots of the 2025/26 season. Plus, Doug adds his take on each boot.
Top Pick for Serious Tourers
Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro - $899.99
We’ve been watching Fischer's evolution in the touring space, and this boot represents everything they've done right. The light and strong CARBONFUSED® construction isn't just marketing––at 1,070g, this boot punches way above its weight class for downhill performance. We’ve tested the BOA® H4 system in everything from powder to bulletproof conditions, and have been pleasantly surprised by how bomber it is. The VIBRAM® Litebase sole with Traction Lug tech have held up well on icy and steep bootpacks where one slip means a long slide.
What gives the Transalp real utility is how it skis with mid-fat touring skis—underfoot widths in the 95–105 range—on windboard, spring corn, or early-season faceted snowpacks. The forward lean and cuff height give you something to push against without forcing a stiff liner, and the Grilamid-loaded lower shell keeps the boot from folding up when you’re edging on firm snow or making hop turns down a couloir.
Doug's Take: This is the boot for skiers who've moved beyond "good enough" and want something that performs at the level their skills demand.
The Game-Changer We're Most Excited About
Dynafit Blacklight Alpine Touring Boot - $849.95
Men's & Women's Models Available
Dynafit just dropped the mic with this one. Doug has been skiing Dynafit since the early days, and the Blacklight represents a quantum leap in their quest for the ultimate light, fast and capable touring shoe. At a little over 1,200 grams per boot (in a 27), it’s light enough for multi-lap mornings on Independence Pass or linking couloirs in the La Sals, but it still holds its own on a 95–100mm touring ski when you’re dropping into variable snow.
The shell uses a carbon-loaded Grilamid mix to keep the weight down and maintain torsional rigidity. Dynafit’s updated Hoji-style walk mechanism gives around 70 degrees of cuff movement and locks in cleanly without extra levers or buckles to manage. The lean lock sits high on the spine, so the boot stays supportive when edging on firm spring snow or sidehilling above exposure.
The stock liner is thin and heat moldable, which works well for long climbs and bootpacks where bulk causes pressure points. The fit is wide in the toe box and high across the top of the foot and instep, but the heel pocket is still tight and secure. And the Tech Gaiter instead of a traditional tongue is genius - we've been in enough storms to appreciate anything that keeps spindrift out of our boots.
Doug's Take: This is what happens when a company listens to athletes who actually use their gear in the mountains, not just the marketing department.
SHOP THE BLACKLIGHT ALPINE TOURING BOOT
The Editor's Choice That Actually Deserves It
La Sportiva Kilo XTR Touring Boot - $899
Men's & Women's Models Available
When Backcountry Magazine gives something Editor's Choice, we pay attention, but we also test it ourselves. The award-winning La Sportiva Kilo targets skiers who spend as much time on foot as they do on skis—routes with kick turns, crampon work, and firm snowpack travel. At roughly 1,150 grams per boot (size 27), it slots between true race boots and standard touring boots, making it a practical choice for big linkups in your favorite mountain range.
The shell uses a carbon-reinforced Grilamid lower with a Pebax cuff, which keeps weight down without letting the boot collapse when you're edging on refrozen panels. The external single-throw walk/ski mechanism is easy to flip with a glove, and it engages cleanly without secondary adjustments. Cuff articulation sits near 70 degrees, so it doesn’t fight you on long skintracks or flat approaches. La Sportiva keeps the buckle layout minimal—two buckles plus a power strap—which helps streamline transitions and avoids unnecessary weight.
On snow, the Kilo pairs best with skis in the 80–95mm range—mountaineering boards, spring skis, or light midwinter setups. It’s stiff enough to ski firm chutes or steep settled powder without folding, but it’s clearly built for mileage and tech travel, not charging heavy resort lines.
Doug's Take: At just over 1000g, this hits the sweet spot in uphill efficiency without sacrificing downhill performance.
SHOP THE KILO XTR TOURING BOOT
For When You Need to Send It
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 120/130 BOA - $889.95 - $999.95
When the snow's good and you need to charge, the XTD 130 BOA is a great go-to for those descents that can get a bit rowdier. The Memory Fit molding allows you to dial in the fit exactly how you want it. The 54° range of motion is plenty for any skin track, and when it's time to drop in, this boot skis like an alpine boot. Weighing in upwards of 1800 grams (size 26) it's a beefier boot, but if you're chasing after epic descents, this is definitely a boot worth considering.
Doug's Take: This is the boot for skiers who tour to access great skiing, not just to get exercise.
SHOP THE HAWX ULTRA XTD BOA TOURING BOOT
Race Weight With Real-World Touring Function
Dynafit DNA Boot- $1,399.95
The latest Dynafit DNA boot is built for skiers who count grams but still want something usable outside the course tape. At under 900 grams per boot (size 27), it’s squarely in the race-weight category, but it has enough structure for missions that blend fast skinning, booting, and efficient descents—think the Grand Traverse, Mount Shasta in a day, or spring routes in the Gore Range where you’re moving light and covering real distance.
The lower is carbon-reinforced and the cuff uses a minimalist Pebax build that cuts bulk without turning the boot into a soft slipper. The walk mechanism is a single-throw lever tied into the cuff and buckle system, so transitioning doesn’t involve any fiddling. Range of motion pushes past 70 degrees, which shows up on long skin tracks or flat exits where resistance adds up over hours.
Doug's Take: This is the ultimate boot for fast and light tours that push distance and speed.
SHOP THE DYNAFIT DNA ALPINE TOURING BOOT
The Carbon Fiber Revolution
Tecnica Zero G Peak Carbon - $1,079.99
Men's & Women's Models Available
The Zero G Peak Carbon is Tecnica's first sub-1000g boot, and they nailed it. We remember when breaking the 1000g barrier seemed impossible without major compromises and this boot is proof those days are over. The semi-overlap shell design wraps your foot like a race boot but walks like a touring boot, giving you the feeling of unlimited mobility. The carbon fiber cuff provides stiffness you can feel immediately as you flex for sweeping arcs or jump turns. Yes, it's pricey, but when you're 2000 vertical feet up a skin track, you'll understand why.
Doug's Take: This is engineering at its finest - every gram saved serves a purpose, and every feature enhances performance.
SHOP THE ZERO G PEAK CARBON ALPINE TOURING BOOT
A Women's Boot Done Right
Fischer Travers Tour Women's - $699.99
Too many "women's" boots are just men's boots in different colors. Not this one. The Slim-Liner addresses the anatomical differences in women's feet, offering a snug fit for low-volume feet. With class-leading 80° cuff rotation, the Travers Tour is nimble on steep skin tracks and long approaches and the 1,150g weight makes it hard to say no to another lap. The BOA Fit system with a single throw lever is dependable and easy to operate and the Vibram full-rubber sole lets you mountain goat confidently on rocky ridges. With its women’s focused fit and level of performance, the Fischer Travers Tour is a no-brainer.
Doug's Take: Fischer listened to female athletes and boot fitters. It shows in every detail.
SHOP THE TRAVERS TOUR W TOURING BOOT
The Sweet Spot for Most Skiers
Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 - $889.95
The Backland series has been a shop favorite for years, and this carbon version takes it to the next level. That 74° range of motion is proven - we’ve sold hundreds of these boots over the years. The carbon-loaded shell bumps the flex to a true 120 without adding weight. At 1419g, it's not the lightest boot here, but it is the most versatile.
Doug's Take: If you're buying one boot to do everything, this is probably it. Proven platform with meaningful upgrades.
SHOP THE ATOMIC BACKLAND XTD CARBON 120 TOURING BOOT
Why 2025 Is Different
After three decades in this business, I can tell you that we're in a golden age of ski boot design. The integration of carbon fiber, BOA systems, and advanced liner technology isn't just incremental improvement - it's transformational. These boots perform at levels that would have been impossible just five years ago.
The key insight? Weight savings without performance compromise. Every boot on this list proves you don't have to choose between going uphill efficiently and skiing downhill confidently.
My Advice: Don't get caught up in gram counting. Get the boot that fits your foot, matches your skiing style, and inspires confidence. A 50g difference won't matter if the boot doesn't fit properly or match how you ski.
Want to try any of these boots? Come see us at the shop. After 30+ years of fitting boots, I can usually tell within five minutes if a boot is right for you. And remember - the best boot is the one that fits your foot and your skiing, not the one that looks best on paper.
- Doug Stenclik, Cripple Creek Backcountry
P.S. - If you're serious about backcountry skiing, invest in proper boot fitting. It's the difference between loving your days in the mountains and enduring them.