Brand: La Sportiva Gear Reviews
Model: Sytron
Our take
Set your ankles free with the Sytron, which has best-in-test 75 degrees of articulation. “It’s more than you’d ever need for a leisurely tour, but it might come in handy if you’re going for speed,” one Colorado tester says. Mind you, it’s not a full-carbon race boot, but the Grilamid shell makes it considerably cheaper and wearable all day for longer missions. We thought it handled medium-angle slopes in the Indian Peaks fine, but add a power strap if you want to push the Sytron into more aggressive downhill use. Note: It’s stiffer than its predecessor (the Syborg), thanks to a beefier lower shell and liner.
The details
The ski/walk lever connects to the ankle-cuff buckle, so you can lock everything down by switching to ski mode. A cable-style buckle on the forefoot disperses pressure when you’re descending.
Trail cred
“My heel felt really secure in the footbed,” our tester says of the heel cradle. “No blisters and no sliding around when all buckles were open during climbs.”