Buying Right: The Best Boots Not to Race In
By Glenn Randall

Keep your mind open to the variety of new skis, but better close it up when it comes to boots. Racers belong in racing boots. Everyone else, from experts down to ambitious intermediates, should look for front-entry, overlap boots that are at least one step down from top-of-the-line World Cup armor. High-performance recreational boots will give you the precise control of racing models--and they won't give you buckle bite, shin bang, or black toenails. The boot for you is always the one that fits you best, with a flex pattern that suits your skiing style. Here are four front-entry boots that did it for me. Unless otherwise noted, they're available in both men's and women's models.

Nordica's Next 97 ($465) is a good example of a high-performance boot that's also comfortable and convenient. Flipping a lever on the back lets you change the forward flex from firm to soft--or select a walking mode that lets you stand as upright as you do in your socks. Many boots now offer flex control, but the Next 97's is the easiest to use because it's sized to be friendly to gloved hands. From Nordica, 802-879-4644.

I preferred Tecnica's TC3 AVS ($415) over the company's stiffer, top-of-the-line boots for its softer forward flex, which let me use my knees to absorb the shock of a double-black bump run. The price is easier to absorb, too, and you can adjust the forward flex, forward lean, cant (angulation of your knees inward and outward), and arch height. From Tecnica, 800-264-4579.

It takes some serious leg muscles to get into Salomon's Integral 9.2 Super Force ($560, unisex), but once you're in, you're ready to rip: This boot transfers your every movement immediately from leg to ski. A simple molded rib on the back of the boot eliminates any possibility of rearward flex should your weight shift too far back. The forward flex isn't adjustable, but I found it just right. From Salomon, 800-225-6850.

My overall favorite was Raichle's Flexon Comp-T ($550, men's only), which uses the company's custom-molded, inherently comfortable ThermoFlex inner boot. A ski tech pops the inner boot into an oven for ten minutes or so, wraps it around your foot, slips your foot into the shell, and then buckles you in for a perfect fit--which translates into superior on-snow performance. The Flexon Comp-T also offers a full range of adjustment options. From Raichle, 914-279-5121.