The 6 Best Skate Ski Boots - A Review

Wearing a pair of the best skate ski boots makes skiing a real pleasure.

When it comes to the best skate ski boots, what we mean is high-end racing boots. These skate boots are all tested by the world’s best Nordic ski athletes before they are released for recreational skiers.

If you are out on the ski trails every so often, you know that cross country skate ski boots are designed differently compared to classic ski boots. That's because skate skiing uses a different technique.

The movement pattern in skate skiing is a push off to the side, similar to ice skating. This loads your ankles a lot more than the kick-and-glide motion of classic cross-country skiing.

For this reason, skate ski boots are manufactured with a more rigid and higher ankle brace, which gives you more stability. Today, all the best skate ski boots have their ankle braces made of carbon. Whereas some of the less expensive ski boots still use mostly plastic braces.

Getting the right shoe fit is important

The top skate ski boots have a stiff sole that are also made of carbon. As a result, you can push off with a strong kick with the entire sole.

Whereas when you classic ski you kick off with your forefoot, which requires a softer carbon sole.

It's important that skate boots should fit tight, like a cycling shoe, but not as cramped as say in Alpine ski boots. A good fitting skate ski boot allows you about a thumb’s width of room at the toe, like in a running shoe.

This is especially important in cold weather conditions. Freezing up your toes because of too tight boots isn't recommended.

You will notice immediately that the best skate ski boots made with carbon are not just stiffer but also lighter. This yields you to a better power transfer.

What binding fits your skate ski boots

Depending what skate ski boot you get, will determine what kind of binding you will need. So if you prefer a certain binding platform, you are limited with your boot option.

Most cross country boot brands like Alpina, Fischer, Madshus, Rossignol, and Salomon are on an NNN platform. They come with three NNN-compatible binding platforms — NIS, Prolink, and Turnamic.

The binding systems for skate or classic skiing are the same and bear the same acronyms. There is one exception however in that skate ski bindings have a stiffer toe bumper than classic ski bindings.

The price tags of all the best skate ski boots mentioned here are an estimate only and can change depending on the season. Sure, these boots are expensive and may not suit every recreational cross country skier who hit the ski slopes once or twice during the ski season.

So, let us have a look what the best high-end skate ski boots are:

Alpina Elite 3.0 Skate Boot

What are the characteristics of the Alpina Elite 3.0 Skate ski boot?

Alpina is a top-of-the-range Slovenian booth brand. They are highly valued in the cross country ski world, especially in Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Personally, I never trained nor competed with ski boots from Alpina. But already an hour of testing convinced me that this skate boot is technically very advanced.

And so is its price tag! It's beyond any doubt one of the best skate ski boots on the market and therefore isn't a boot for everybody.

But if you are a enthusiastic Nordic skier, who is looking for a rare gem and are ready to pay the price tag, than go for it.

To take care of your newly acquired Elite 3.0 boots, the company has included rubber shoes for walking. They are included as part of the price so you don't damage your carbon soles.

Unfortunately, there aren't that many elite XC skiers on the World Cup circuit using this typ of boots. It's not a question of quality, but rather of the obligation of the athletes to sign up for pack contracts with skis, boots and bindings.

Who is the Elite 3.0 Skate boot for?

I would say if you're not a passionate and technically skilled Nordic skier, don't buy this boot. A cheaper model may suit you just as well.

But if you are looking for the best, you can't go wrong with the Elite 3.0. They are constructed with Active Edge Carbon, Asymmetrical 45° and the foot beds are anatomically shaped.

So the best skate ski boots like also this model are best suitable for race level competitors or good recreational skiers.

Technical Features

Binding Type

NNN Compatible Sole (Fits NNN Xcelerator/Prolink/Turnamic Bindings)

Gender

Women / Men / Unisex

Weight per Pair

1025 grams (2.25 pounds)

Sizes

Europe from 35 to 50

US from 3 to 15 / Women from 4 to 13

Price

From $ 699.99 / Euro 699.99

Overall Grade

Fischer Speedmax Skate Boot

What are the characteristics of the Speedmax Skate Ski Boot?

I'm very familiar with Fischer ski boots for both classic and skate skiing and have used them for years.

The high-quality Fischer cross country ski boots tend to fit many different forms of feet, which is an advantage. The Speedmax skate boot is a bit narrower than other Fischer boots like the RCS or the Carbonlites.

In front, the toe box is medium to wide built. The instep has a fairly high arch, but the heel width on the other hand is normal.

Like all skate ski boots, the Speedmax boot features a carbon sole. This provides more control and transfers as much energy as possible.

You can of course adjust the carbon cuff, which provides you excellent stability. The liner is rather narrow and it takes a bit of time before you feel comfortable in it.

The Speed Lock quick lacing system offers a precise fit around the foot. And of course, this boot model is light and therefore designed purely for high performance.

It represents the company's know-how and interest for competitive ski racing.

All the Fischer boots have Turnamic standard soles. So, they are compatible with NNN, Prolink and Turnamic binding standards.

Who is the Speedmax Skate boot for?

This skate boot is designed for high performance and precision. Therefore, it is geared for experienced recreational and competitive skiers.

It offers maximum efficiency and support. Depending if fits your foot, you can't go wrong when choosing this race boot model.

Besides, the Austrian manufacturer was the first who focused on boot models designed for women. To distinguish the Fischer boots: the boots for males are black/yellow, and the women ski boots are of white color.

Technical Features

Binding Type

NNN, Prolink, Turnamik

Gender

Men / the boots for women are in white color

Weight per Pair

900 grams (1.98 pounds)

Sizes

Europe 41 to 47 / Women 37 to 44.5

US 8.5 to 13 / Women 6.5 to 12

Price

From $ 679.15 / Euro 489.90

Overall Grade

Madshus Redline Skate Boot

What are the characteristics of the Redline Skate Boot?

The Norwegian brand Madshus has recently introduced its second version of the Redline race model boot. And so the Redline ski boot has undergone some internal modifications for a more comfortable fit.

Just like the Fischer Speedmax boot, the Madshus Redline fits a lot of different shapes of feet. What is immediately noticable with the new Redline is the wider rounded toe box.

On the other hand, the heel counter feels narrower than on its earlier Redline version. But since this is a top race boot, you will be able to cope with it. Besides, the internal heel piece will adjust over time to the form of your foot when you ski.

Then there were also improvements done on the cuff. Thanks to its better finished foam, it's a lot more comfortable to eliminate pressure points.

Everything else of the Madshus Redline ski boot has remained the same. That means the carbon chassis and cuff, which makes the boot light and very stable when skating.

The lacing in itself is a classic lace that offers secure tensioning. Like all the Madshus models, this boot is compatible with the NNN, Prolink and Turnamic binding standards.

Who is the Redline Skate boot for?

Like all of the best skate ski boots, the Redline skate boot model is dedicated to recreational skiers with good technical skills. These boots are very stiff and therefore offer exceptional support, which requires precision when skiing.

The Redline boots are constructed with an Integrated Carbon Base. It has a membrane softshell and is PVC free. They fit on a standard NNN binding and are designed for women and men.

It meets the requirements of Nordic skiers looking for the most technically advanced equipment available. Besides Fischer ski boots, I also have a pair of Madshus skate ski boots and am pleased with them.

Technical Features

Binding Type

Compatible with all NNN Prolink, and IFP bindings

Gender

Women and Men

Weight per Pair

900 grams

Sizes

Europe 37 to 48

US 5 to 13.5

Price

From $ 637.50 / Euro 599

Overall Grade

Rossignol X-IUM Carbon Premium+ Skate Spirale Boot

What are the characteristics of the Carbon Premium+ Skate Boot?

Like the other top cross country racing ski boots, the Rossignol X-IUM Carbon Premium+ Skate Spirale Boot features a carbon molded structure.

This encompasses the outsole and side reinforcements of the boot and serves therefore two purposes. First, it provides better stability to the foot and second, it also provides more dynamism at the end of the push off.

When combined to the carbon collar, you get astonishing control and lateral stability of the ankle without impeding the bending.

To make this motion even smoother, Rossignol added the Spiral Concept. They designed a zipper, which wraps around the angle to improve the smoothness of the bending.

The thin carbon outsole cares for excellent sensations and perfect energy transfer efficiency. The Speedlace Lock system provides all the precision required for a perfect adjustment. And very important - it stays always tensioned during the training sessions or races.

So to say it briefly, the X-IUM Carbon Premium+ Skate offers great efficiency to face the competition.

Who is the Rossignol Carbon Skate boot for?

This Rossi skate race boot is designed for technically good skiers who ski very often. It is a high-end category model that will satisfy mostly serious skate skiers.

The Carbon Skate boot is made with a new integral carbon chassis as well as a new integral carbon upper cuff. The boot has an adjustable strap, speedlace lock and 2 Turnamic guide rails.

All top Rossignol skate ski boots present Turnamic outsoles, which are compatible with the NNN, Prolink and Turnamic binding standards. These boots are the most expensive in the category "Race", but the high price is justified.

Technical Features

Binding Type

NNN, Prolink and Turnamic

Gender

Women and Men

Weight per Pair

980 grams (2.16 pounds)

Sizes

Europe 38 to 46

US 6 - 12

Prize

From $ 722.50 / Euro 700.00

Overall Grade

Salomon S/Lab Carbon Skate Pro Boot

What are the characteristics of the S/Lab Carbon Skate Pro Ski Boot?

It's the first time that I tried the S/Lab carbon skate race boot. I noticed right away that Salomon's top carbon skate boot has a rather wide toe box, which fitted me perfect.

Even the heel of this high-end skate boot felt comfortable. I would say this Salomon boot model falls between the Alpina and the Fischer skate boot.

Like all of the best skate ski boots, the shell is 100% carbon made. They simply took the old model with a molded block that starts from the forefoot that wraps the heel with the lateral buttresses.

The Carbon loaded anatomical collar is designed new and made of compressed carbon. This supports the lateral thrust transmission, which are exceptional and makes you very efficient.

The liner in the boot has dropped to half price from the old model. Despite that, thew company has managed to keep a thermo-formable and removable liner for maximum comfort.

The Prolink sole is glued over the carbon blade of the frame is thin and provides excellent feel and fast, precise thrust transfer.

Salomon is making this World Cup shoe accessible to those who want a lightweight top-of-the-range model with simply magnificent manufacturing quality.

Who is the S/Lab Carbon Skate Boot for?

This specific Salomon boot model is light and high-tech. It suits experienced and athletic skiers who will know how to use this boot 100%.

The company has made all top cross country ski boots more accessible to average skiers and not just top-level athletes. That means that you have access to their best product and benefit from a precision that few models on the market provide.

As a result, progress is possible with sensations and a finer snow contact and an increased rigidity. You get good value for your money no matter what gender you are.