SCOTT Superguide Carbon Ski Boot

Comfort

When we reviewed SCOTT’s Cosmos II in 2014, we lauded its all-day comfort. Take that boot and give it more downhill chops and a Gore-Tex liner (like the Winter Guide), and you get the Superguide Carbon, which has the same wide last (103.5mm) and 60 degrees of cuff articulation as its predecessor. “I spend a lot of time hiking, and my feet stay warm and dry,” says a tester who manages the avy team at Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Downhill performance

Carbon inlays in this boot’s lower shell keep it ultrastiff when muscling through turns, while the wide, clippable power strap mimics a fourth buckle, giving it the security of a true alpine boot without all the weight. That makes them a good choice for people looking for a backcountry boot that feels at home in the resorts. “They drive my fat resort skis better than any other AT boot I’ve tried,” our Lake Louise tester says. Downside: They’re on the heavy side if touring is your main objective—and pricey.