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theabortionator
April, 2025

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In Search of Perfect Backcountry/Park Boot

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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
a bit of backcountry and a bit of park. What boots do it best? Basically I've been riding a pair of old ass SPK and some Duke frames for the last too long and I need an upgrade. Shits way to heavy in the backcountry and kinda dumb to ski frames in the park, plus they broke yesterday so time to get rid of em.

I'm looking at 2 pairs of skis, one park setup on pivots, one backcountry on pins. And I'll always keep my SPK but was hoping there was a boot that can kinda do both out there. Gonna need to be pin compadible, walk mode ideally too but not to skimo to rip park laps at the resort too.

I was looking at Dalbello Cabrio Frees, the gear guide says "THE CHOICE FOR ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME. PURE ALL TERRAIN AND ALL CONDITIONS PERFORMANCE WITH MORE COMFORT." so that sounds pretty good. But has anybody took these in the park?

Is K2/fulltilt any good now a days? I was seeing the Diverge looks like what I want.

Shoot me some opinions / your favorite park/touring boot.
Apr 1 2025 10:22PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5088 - Karma: 18,619
littleman34a bit of backcountry and a bit of park. What boots do it best? Basically I've been riding a pair of old ass SPK and some Duke frames for the last too long and I need an upgrade. Shits way to heavy in the backcountry and kinda dumb to ski frames in the park, plus they broke yesterday so time to get rid of em.

I'm looking at 2 pairs of skis, one park setup on pivots, one backcountry on pins. And I'll always keep my SPK but was hoping there was a boot that can kinda do both out there. Gonna need to be pin compadible, walk mode ideally too but not to skimo to rip park laps at the resort too.

I was looking at Dalbello Cabrio Frees, the gear guide says "THE CHOICE FOR ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME. PURE ALL TERRAIN AND ALL CONDITIONS PERFORMANCE WITH MORE COMFORT." so that sounds pretty good. But has anybody took these in the park?

Is K2/fulltilt any good now a days? I was seeing the Diverge looks like what I want.

Shoot me some opinions / your favorite park/touring boot.


What burlier 50/50 boot fits your feet?

How big are your touring objectives? Are you hoping to go bigger and longer than you're doing on SPK/Dukes?
Apr 2 2025 12:11AM
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HumanGenius
Posts: 393 - Karma: 486
I ride the K2 flex diverge Sammy Carlson model and now I also have a huge ego

(it is a good boot tho and came with intuition liners. Transitioning is slow though because you take the full tilt tongues off so it’s an extra step every time you go to walk/ski mode)
Apr 2 2025 7:23AM
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SurfinCow
Posts: 372 - Karma: 3,278
Get what fits, but I’ve been liking my atomic hawx xtd 130s this season. Got almost 90 days and done everything from backcountry, resort boot packs, park laps and whatever else. The walk mode is nice and burly and can easily be replaced as well.
Apr 2 2025 11:51AM
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xblth
Posts: 73 - Karma: 458
Have been touring in full tilts and gotta say it’s amazing the only problem is you have very little mobility backwards but when you tilt the tongue forward you get incredible range of motion, maybe even more than other actual touring boots.

Edit: I was referring to normal FTs, not the touring version. Tthe diverge/ascendants have an additional walk mode latch thing so there will definitely be some mobility backwards too.

**This post was edited on Apr 2nd 2025 at 12:39:10pm
Apr 2 2025 12:36PM
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kaicycle
Posts: 42 - Karma: 424
Already mentioned but getting something that fits your foot should be no.1 priority.

That being said, I have the Tecnica Cochise 130 and they're decent. Plenty stiff enough for me to ride park in and charge in the resort on heavy skis, while also pretty light and having a decent range of motion in walk mode.

However the walk mode on mine is starting to give out after 2 seasons, despite being pretty burly. Just started noticing a bit of play even when they're locked out. I don't think you'll find a boot with a walk mode which won't have that issue over time though...
Apr 2 2025 5:12PM
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kaicycle
Posts: 42 - Karma: 424
In all honesty there's no "perfect backcou try/park boot". The best boot for touring is not gonna be good in the park and vice versa. Plenty of options for a compromise but don't expect a silver bullet
Apr 2 2025 5:14PM
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deadhead420
Posts: 2101 - Karma: 18,485
It doesn’t exist bro. All hybrid boots are a lie.

Hybrid boots are just heavy backcountry boots while being shitty resort boots. The unfortunate reality is that you need two pairs of boots if you rip. I’d always recommend two cheap used boots over a pair of high end hybrid boots.

Get a used race shell for $100 + new intuition liner for $125. Boom resort boot for $225 and spend the rest of a new boot budget on a used backcountry boot.



I’m definitely neglecting the intricacies of fitting a boot to your specific foot shape but you get the gist

**This post was edited on Apr 3rd 2025 at 12:35:43am
Apr 3 2025 12:32AM
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treebeard
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 3,210
Take a look at the Head Kore line. It's light enough to not totally suck uphill, the walk mode could definitely be better but it's better than nothing, and downhill feels like a typical alpine boot. 110 flex feels just a little soft but adequate for all but the deepest landings, way more than you could ask from an actual touring boot. I like the liquid fit thing they do with the liner.

I wouldn't say it's the perfect boot, or even my favorite I've used, but it works as do-everything
Apr 3 2025 1:50PM
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
Yeah those look pretty cool I think it would inflate my ego too, but damn that seems like a weird con of transitioning. Those would be so awkward to pack in your backpck too. What if you just put em in walk mode, loosen the buckles and go?
HumanGeniusI ride the K2 flex diverge Sammy Carlson model and now I also have a huge ego

(it is a good boot tho and came with intuition liners. Transitioning is slow though because you take the full tilt tongues off so it’s an extra step every time you go to walk/ski mode)
Apr 3 2025 9:26PM
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
I feel like you're right and maybe I should just get a good touring boot and stick to my SPK for park.

But the used race shell idea sounds like a recipe for disaster dude
deadhead420It doesn’t exist bro. All hybrid boots are a lie.

Hybrid boots are just heavy backcountry boots while being shitty resort boots. The unfortunate reality is that you need two pairs of boots if you rip. I’d always recommend two cheap used boots over a pair of high end hybrid boots.

Get a used race shell for $100 + new intuition liner for $125. Boom resort boot for $225 and spend the rest of a new boot budget on a used backcountry boot.



I’m definitely neglecting the intricacies of fitting a boot to your specific foot shape but you get the gist

**This post was edited on Apr 3rd 2025 at 12:35:43am
Apr 3 2025 9:31PM
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HumanGenius
Posts: 393 - Karma: 486
littleman34Yeah those look pretty cool I think it would inflate my ego too, but damn that seems like a weird con of transitioning. Those would be so awkward to pack in your backpck too. What if you just put em in walk mode, loosen the buckles and go?

I’ve done that for walking around parking lots and stuff and I end up getting bad heel lift which while touring would probably give me blisters. They compromise a good bit on the touring side in terms of weight and the weird transition but feel totally normal for regular alpine uses. Think of it like an 80/20 alpine to touring boot. I only tour a handful of times a season so I’m happy with them and can live with the quirks. If I lived somewhere that I was touring more regularly I wouldn’t get them again
Apr 4 2025 7:34AM
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WetViking
Posts: 4 - Karma: 14
You certainly could use a stiffer burly hybrid boot in the park but prepare for the flex to be wall-like. If you have dat wide Salomon foot the Shift pro 130 could work, you won't break the walk mode in those unless you weigh 250
I enjoyed SPKs in the past (until I overflexed them so the lower shell caved in lol) Currently on the Shift pro as my quiver of one but I don't ski park anymore so..
Apr 4 2025 12:34PM
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deadhead420
Posts: 2101 - Karma: 18,485
littleman34I feel like you're right and maybe I should just get a good touring boot and stick to my SPK for park.

But the used race shell idea sounds like a recipe for disaster dude


Why are people so scared of race boots?
They come in all different flexs and widths. You don't have to get a 160 flex 92mm plug boot there are lots of options. And they are by far the easiest for bootfitters to punch and grind to make adjustments. And there are always good deals to be found on them. Best price to performance you can get. Unless you have a stupid wide foot... then definitely don't get race boots. But the average foot will fit into a 96mm or 98mm race boot comfortably with minor adjustments.

this post made by race boot gang
Apr 4 2025 6:22PM
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SweetishFish
Posts: 91 - Karma: 258
The Roxa r3 TI I.R. I ride them as a mainly park boot and they work great. they are super comfortable and easily the lightest boots ive ever felt. I have never toured on them personally but I know people who have and the have enjoyed them. I have boot packed on them if that means anything and they were great.
Apr 7 2025 10:22AM
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
SweetishFishThe Roxa r3 TI I.R. I ride them as a mainly park boot and they work great. they are super comfortable and easily the lightest boots ive ever felt. I have never toured on them personally but I know people who have and the have enjoyed them. I have boot packed on them if that means anything and they were great.


Damn yeah those seem pretty high end. Definitely seem like a great boot from what I was reading. Crazy one of these weighs about 4lbs I can’t believe that’s possible.


good shout thanks for the suggestion man
Apr 7 2025 10:48AM
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cali_invader
Posts: 48 - Karma: 320
Boomer answer but seriously consider zipfits if you have skinny ankles/calves. I've put over a dozen boots but I won't ski any of them without my zips. Currently tour in the older hawx ultra 130 xtds with a GFT liner, and it's basically identical to a resort boot in the winter. With warmer temps the non-PU plastic gets a bit too flex-y for hard resort riding, but still perfect for BC.

Fit will make or break your boots, which is why zips are such a cheat code if you have narrow/low-volume feet.
Apr 7 2025 10:05PM
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
Huh, I always thought those were for keeping your foot warm. Yeah I’m realizing boot fit needs to be my #1 priority. I’m thinking gotta go visit a shop and try on all their boots to get an idea of what will fit nice.
cali_invaderBoomer answer but seriously consider zipfits if you have skinny ankles/calves. I've put over a dozen boots but I won't ski any of them without my zips. Currently tour in the older hawx ultra 130 xtds with a GFT liner, and it's basically identical to a resort boot in the winter. With warmer temps the non-PU plastic gets a bit too flex-y for hard resort riding, but still perfect for BC.

Fit will make or break your boots, which is why zips are such a cheat code if you have narrow/low-volume feet.
Apr 9 2025 10:47AM
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cali_invader
Posts: 48 - Karma: 320
Zips are actually a bit colder than the stock liners for some people, but the heel lock is unmatched *if* you have narrower heels or skinny feet/legs. If you have typical feet it might not make a big difference - only way to tell is to go talk to a shop and see what they think.
littleman34Huh, I always thought those were for keeping your foot warm. Yeah I’m realizing boot fit needs to be my #1 priority. I’m thinking gotta go visit a shop and try on all their boots to get an idea of what will fit nice.
Apr 11 2025 2:42PM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2784 - Karma: 12,650
First off go to a bootfitter
most freetour boots work fine in the park, i rife lange xt3 120 for everythibg and it’s great. Only downside is the walkmode doesn’t have that much flex
Apr 12 2025 3:55AM
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No-Skill-Phil
Posts: 94 - Karma: 441
Go to a fitter, etc. etc.

As a skinny ankle guy, I totally agree on the zipfits, heel hold for days. However I do find that they run a tiny bit colder than foam liners and also stiffen up a boot quite noticeably for whatever reason.
cali_invaderZips are actually a bit colder than the stock liners for some people, but the heel lock is unmatched *if* you have narrower heels or skinny feet/legs. If you have typical feet it might not make a big difference - only way to tell is to go talk to a shop and see what they think.
Apr 14 2025 2:10AM
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