The X-Alp Explore is like a good friend when you wrong them in a moment of weakness - very, very forgiving. Indeed, this boot boasts a mind-bending 75° fore and aft movement and 35° laterally, meaning you may just confuse these with your winter trail running shoes. This is nearly unprecedented range of motion and comfort for a backcountry boot, allowing more efficient and longer strides.

Because the X-Alp doesn't meet traditional alpine boot standards, talking about flex can get a little sticky. Basically, you're getting a boot that feels like a dream on the uphill and a boot that will match your skills on the downhill, but probably won't accentuate them. In other words, if you're eyeing an objective that demands a ridiculous amount of climbing - where excess weight can become a serious issue - and you aren't concerned about making the cover of a magazine on the downhill, the X-Alp will tick all of your boxes.

Specs