Review: Scarpa Freedom RS

These boots are made for skiing, and that’s what I plan on doing in ‘em. Scarpa’s “stiffest freeride boot yet,” the Freedom RS, is a powerful AT boot that can handle all conditions on the downhill, but also gives you a 25-degree walk-mode for a surprising amount of comfort in the skin track. The Freedom RS—or tuned-up Freedom SL—weighs in at sub-9lbs. per pair and features a stiffer cuff for reduced lateral flex, extra-comfy Intuition liners, a beefed-up power strap, all-metal hardware, and rockered soles for smoother walking. The “Mountain Plus” sole comes with Dynafit-certified inserts, and is compatible with all AT and TLT bindings, but can be swapped for a traditional alpine “piste” sole, adding to the outstanding versatility of the Freedom RS boots. Overall, it seems as though Scarpa has found a recipe for maintaining comfort while vamping up the power that many AT boots lack. $830; scarpa.com.