Tecnica

Zero G Guide Pro Alpine Touring Boot - 2017

Tecnica's known for its ability to build burly resort-crushing boots, and it's officially bringing that expertise to the backcountry. The Zero G Guide Pro Alpine Touring Boot is Tecnica's newest backcountry offering and is built with all the high-end tech to deliver a precise and comfortable fit, big-line-crushing stiffness, and solid tourability for those bigger days in the backcountry.

First of all, the Zero G Guide Pro sits at the top of Tecnica's Zero G line and weighs a full four ounces (115 grams) less than the Zero G Guide. Weighing right around three and a half pounds per pair in a 26.5, this boot is by no means an ultralight boot, but it is light enough to tackle long tours and steep skintracks, without compromising an ounce of power on the descent—besides, you did hike all that way to actually ski, right? The Zero G houses a burly 130 flex that will inspire confidence in and out of the resort and Dynafit-certified tech inserts that will fit your touring setup. Skiers looking for a boot that will do it all will also appreciate the interchangeable sole system that will fit standard alpine bindings with the purchase of additional soles. Out of the box, the Zero G comes equipped with Skywalk rubber soles that grip everything from wind-blown ridge lines to icy resort parking lots.

Where the Zero G Guide Pro really stands out, though, is with its C.A.S. shell. The shell is pre-shaped to fit most feet well out of the box, but also features a dimple structure that makes punching and shaping the shell easier on bootfitters, so you get a better fit with less help from the experts. The Power Light Design consists of a bi-injected frame that is 30% stiffer and 2.5 times stiffer than traditional boot material, which translates to less weight on the uphill and more power on the descent. 44 degrees of cuff rotation allow for easy skinning, and the metal-on-metal connection locks the cuff into ski mode. The minimalist buckles save weight, but also feature an innovative design that keeps the buckles elevated away from the shell to eliminate catching when you're taking the boot on and off. The Palau liner is thermomoldable at the shin, and the the Aqua Stop Protection shell structure ensures you don't end your tour with a pair of wet socks.