Review: Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit Ski Boots · 2024
By Ski Expert
Colin Grey
Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit Ski Boots · 2025
$799.95
$975.00
18% off
7 photos
The Curated Take
4.4/5
The 2024 Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit Ski Boots are ideal for backcountry enthusiasts who prioritize lightweight gear and uphill performance. These boots are notably stiff for their class, enhancing their reliability in various conditions. They are particularly suitable for those using pin-binding ski setups, as they are not compatible with frame bindings. The boots feature a grippy sole for stability on rocky surfaces and a BOA dial for an adjustable fit. The overall design offers excellent uphill efficiency and responsiveness in backcountry skiing conditions. These boots are best for advanced skiers focused on touring and lightness in their equipment.
Ideal for
- Stiff as any touring boot
- Lightweight and makes a noticeable difference when skinning or hiking
- Soles are very grippy on rocky surfaces if scrambling
Not ideal for
- Liners are not the best
- Only compatible with pin bindings
Heel Hold
The BOA dial makes for a good fit on the foot and is easy to adjust in small increments. If I overtighten, I need to pop the dial and start...Read more
Claimed Stiffness Accuracy
This boot will never be as stiff as a 130 flex resort or hybrid boot like the Salomon Shift boot, but it doesn't need to be. These boots are meant...Read more
Durability
I have had no issues with any parts of the boots that could break. The BOA dial and walk mode have functioned flawlessly so far, which is a common failure...Read more
Walk Mode
The walk mode functions well in this boot. It is easy to toggle between walk and ski mode, and the cuff articulates satisfactorily. I have used these boots with the...Read more
Versatility
These boots perform well in any type of backcountry skiing. The grippy rubber sole and crampon compatibility are great for someone interested in ski mountaineering. The S/Lab is ideal for...Read more
Waterproofing
These boots have kept my feet dry so far, so I have no complaints about their waterproofing. The built-in internal gator around the cuff seems like a possible failure point...Read more
Weight
These boots tip the scales at under 1kg for most sizes, which is crazy light for a ski boot that goes downhill this well. Going uphill, it barely feels like...Read more
Responsiveness
The boot is responsive in any backcountry skiing condition and is roughly equivalent to a 100-flex boot. It does not feel as responsive if I am at the resort and...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Colin Grey
About the boots
- Model: Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit Ski Boots · 2025
Test conditions
- When I bought these: January 2023
- Where I’ve used them: Backcountry around Park City, Utah, and Steamboat
- How many times I've used it: 10
Expert Reviews of the Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit Ski Boots
Colin Grey These are great backcountry-specific boots that really excel going uphill in any form. This boot is great for anyone who wants a dedicated backcountry boot for their pin-binding ski setup since it will not work with any frame binding. They are lightweight, and the cuff has a wide range of motion for going uphill. The sole lug is also a grippy rubber that provides good traction on any surface.
I have used these in the backcountry and immediately noticed how good they felt climbing. It made me instantly faster on the skin track, and my legs were less tired at the top than they would have been with my Lange XT3s. They perform better going downhill than expected and are plenty stiff for backcountry snow conditions. At the resort, they are too flexy for carving turns, but that is not what these boots are meant to do, so I can't complain. The BOA dial provides a great, adjustable fit across my foot, and the system seems durable.
My one complaint about these boots is that the liners could be better. They are light but feel thin and pack out very quickly. I replaced the liners in these boots with Zipfit touring liners and would recommend that to anyone.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Model year | 2025 |
| Ski boot type | Alpine touring |
| Walk/tour mode (Y/N) | Yes |
| Skill level | Advanced, Expert |
Review Ratings
Heel Hold
5/5
Colin Grey gave 5 of 5 stars. The BOA dial makes for a good fit on the foot and is easy to adjust in small increments. If I overtighten, I need to pop the dial and start over. I have had no problems with heel lift in these boots, and heat-molded liners should help lock the heel in.
Claimed Stiffness Accuracy
5/5
Colin Grey gave 5 of 5 stars. This boot will never be as stiff as a 130 flex resort or hybrid boot like the Salomon Shift boot, but it doesn't need to be. These boots are meant for the backcountry and are designed to go uphill well. The S/Lab is light but as stiff as I could expect it to be, given the weight and buckle/strap configuration. The power strap is a great option for making these boots feel stiffer through the shins for the downhill.
Durability
4/5
Colin Grey gave 4 of 5 stars. I have had no issues with any parts of the boots that could break. The BOA dial and walk mode have functioned flawlessly so far, which is a common failure point on other similar touring boots. One potential concern for durability is the soft rubber sole, which is not replaceable. If this wears out and the tread is gone, I am not sure Salomon could fix it without me buying a new boot. That being said, I have had no signs of serious wear on the soles of my boots.
Walk Mode
5/5
Colin Grey gave 5 of 5 stars. The walk mode functions well in this boot. It is easy to toggle between walk and ski mode, and the cuff articulates satisfactorily. I have used these boots with the stock liners and the Zipfit touring liners, and both worked great in walk mode. The difference between the walk mode on this boot and a hybrid resort/touring boot is night and day. After skinning in these, I didn't want to return to touring in any other boot.
Versatility
3/5
Colin Grey gave 3 of 5 stars. These boots perform well in any type of backcountry skiing. The grippy rubber sole and crampon compatibility are great for someone interested in ski mountaineering. The S/Lab is ideal for a skier who wants lightweight ski boots for mellow skinning laps.
Waterproofing
4/5
Colin Grey gave 4 of 5 stars. These boots have kept my feet dry so far, so I have no complaints about their waterproofing. The built-in internal gator around the cuff seems like a possible failure point if I take my liners out frequently, but I have had no issues so far.
Weight
5/5
Colin Grey gave 5 of 5 stars. These boots tip the scales at under 1kg for most sizes, which is crazy light for a ski boot that goes downhill this well. Going uphill, it barely feels like I'm wearing ski boots.
Responsiveness
4/5
Colin Grey gave 4 of 5 stars. The boot is responsive in any backcountry skiing condition and is roughly equivalent to a 100-flex boot. It does not feel as responsive if I am at the resort and skiing groomers.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Colin Grey I love how these boots feel going uphill. I had never had a touring-specific boot that was this light and was blown away by how much better it felt skinning and hiking than my Lange XT3s or Atomic Hawx.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Colin Grey My favorite moment was on my first tour. I felt great on the skin track, and my legs felt really fresh at the top, probably due to how light these boots are. Fresh legs and stiff boots made skiing in new snow an absolute joy. I got to the bottom and wanted to do another lap.
Why did you choose this product?
Colin Grey These boots were a good width for my foot compared to some of the available Dynafit options. I also really liked the BOA dial for getting a precise fit.
