Salomon

X Max 90 Ski Boot - Women's

Packing up a whole mess of features cribbed from aggressive boots into a comfortable package isn't easy or more companies would be doing it. Salomon's figured out the formula, though, and its X Max 90 Women's Ski Boot is proof that a good boot doesn't have to hurt. With a friendly flex rating of 90, a shell and liner that can be heat-molded to fit your foot, and lady-friendly touches like a low cuff and calf width adjustment, it manages to balance skiability with a plush feel, so you can ski all day without feeling like your feet are slowly dying.

Heat-moldable liners like the X Max's My CustomFit 3D Performance Women's liner are pretty standard these days—and still awesome—but it's the new heat-moldable 360 Custom Shell that's getting most of the attention. With a width that can settle anywhere between 98 and 104mm, the shell can be heated up, put on, and cooled to conform perfectly to the contours of your feet and ankles without sacrificing the lateral stability and control provided by the Twinframe dual-material construction and oversized pivot (the joint where the shell and cuff meet). The lower cuff is designed to fit women's calves, and Salomon also included a cuff width adjuster that lets you tighten or expand the cuffs to eliminate slop and boot bang above the ankle. The buckles are also highly adjustable, so you can dial in the perfect volume and snugness, and the toe and heel lugs are replaceable, so you don't have to worry about worn soles affecting the consistent release and retention of your bindings.