Scarpa Freedom SL Backcountry Ski Boot Review

At the Start Haus we don't bring in new boots lightly, and when we bring in a new brand, we do it after serious testing and consideration.

This year we brought in Scarpa, specifically for their new Freedom SL. The Scarpa Freedom SL (also available in a women's boot), in our opinion, strikes a great balance between tourability and skiability, perhaps better than almost anything else on the market.

Their are backcountry boots that are stiffer for the downhill, there are boots that are lighter for the uphill - but if you want something that will perform in the skin track on the way up, then feel close to your alpine boot on the down, the Scarpa Freedom SL is worth serious consideration.

Here's Craig Dostie, our backcountry expert and author of earnyourturns.com on the boot:

Here's what James, one of our bootfitters, has to say:

For years I’ve struggled to find a boot to stand up to the aggressive skier in the backcountry, and for years, the boots were sadly under qualified. My biggest complaints were extraordinarily roomy fits, odd shapes that resembled more of a horse’s hoof than human foot, or a cuff locking mechanism that stops the boot from flexing entirely.

The good news is that each year the backcountry boots get better, both in terms of fit and technology, and the whole market has improved in leaps and bounds.

Across the board at the Start Haus our boot fitters are enamored with the downhill performance of the Scarpa Freedom SL. We all noticed a nice progressive flex - about 120 in this case out of the boot.

To reiterate: my problem with many other backcountry boots is when flexing them they simply stop or “hit a wall."

I like stiff boots as much as the next knucklehead, but a point I try and drive home with my customers is this: stiff for the sake of being stiff isn't actually a good thing. The boot needs to flex with the leg in a progressive manner, no matter the stiffness rating.

Scarpa has addressed this directly with a steel block mechanism (see picture) that releases when touring, and locks for downhill, allowing the rest of the boot to flex like it should. With the block released the boot articulates very well with the leg - not relying on loosening the buckles for walk mode.

The P-Bax plastic is lightweight; in fact the whole boot comes in at just over 4 lbs per boot in the 26.5 length.

The fit on the Scarpa Freedom SL will work for a wide range of skiers, with a medium last (Scarpa calls it 101, but we'd say a little narrower). Testers with narrow, low volume feet were, happy, as were testers with wider feet. It has good hold over the instep, and a good heel pocket. Some testers felt the boot opens up in the toe box, while others felt the toe box was average. As with any boot with a heat-moldable liner, the molding the Intuition liner will make a big difference and is highly recommended.

Replaceable Vibram soles come stock on the boot, with tech fittings of course, and replaceable DIN norm soles are available for purchase as well.