Looking for some ski equipment advice: I've skiied one season in rentals, looking to buy this year, but am aiming to eventually ski some easy backcountry in my area. I also want to be able to ski inbounds, on groomed trails.

My idea is to buy these boots and use them for both AT and occasional trips to the resort. Any thoughts on that? The boots fit great, but just wanted to ask some opinions out there. Thanks in advance!

By the way: I am very familiar with the binding systems needed for inbounds vs. AT. Just wondering if the boots themselves are less suited for one type of skiing.

Thanks, Got the Shivas and LOVE them. FYI for anyone deciding between the two (Shivas or Swifts) the fits are TOTALLY different. I tried on both and the Shivas are much more like a downhill boot, Swifts seem lighter to lean my shins against, definitely more for touring. AND...the fit on my foot was a lot different. The Shivas are tight, fitted in the ball of the foot up through the arch, whereas the Swifts were definitely a lot roomier through the mid-foot. Both seemed like great boots, just try them on. BD always mades great stuff, just figure out which product suits you best!

I can't speak specifically about these boots, though I dearly wish I could as I am eyeing them keenly as a new backcountry boot. I have the Black Diamond Shiva boot which I use as a backcountry and inbound boot, though I spend most of my time in the backcountry. If you are going to be spending most of your time inbounds you might look at the Shiva and see if it is a better match for the Alpine skis you are considering. It is a heavier boot than the Swifts but you may find them to be more like a regular ski boot in terms of stiffness. Also you can buy alpine ski sole blocks for the Shiva should you ever get a pair of downhill skis with non AT bindings. I frequently ski my AT boots and bindings in the area on powder days, and I find the Shiva to be a solid enough boot to drive the ski once the powder gets chopped up. On groomer days I switch the sole blocks, which is a bit of a pain, and take out a pair of heavier, shaped skis with 'regular' bindings. A friend with years of backcountry experience has the men's version of the Shiva and told me it skis and feels like a regular Alpine boot. Hope this helps.