Dynafit Ridge Pro W Ski Boot Review

Dynafit brought lightweight cult classics to the backcountry boot market with their TLT series before they introduced their wildly successful freeride-oriented Radical Pro. Now, they've taken their first foray into combining lightweight and freeride capabilities with the Ridge Pro. The 70-degree range of motion and feathery weight (1,130g per boot) makes this boot feel right at home on long missions in the hills. The 110 flex (120 for the men's version) and innovative, secure buckle system allow for downhill performance on par with heavier models. In sum, the Ridge Pro is about as well rounded as it gets. Below we outline our experiences with the Ridge Pro W. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best backcountry ski boots.
 

Table of Contents

• Uphill Performance
• Downhill Performance
• Weight
• Key Features
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit, Sizing, and Comfort
• Women's-Specific Adaptations
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Uphill Performance

The Dynafit Ridge Pro W—the women's version of the Ridge Pro—lived up to the lightweight, high-range-of-motion, low-friction dreams promised during its initial release last spring. The 70-degree range of motion (ROM) makes for an almost effortless experience on the skin track, while the innovative (and aptly named) Floating Tongue on the external shell really sets comfort apart from other boots in its class. This two-piece system is made up of a stiff, outer tongue that slides horizontally along the more flexible, inner tongue, effectively boosting range of motion compared to traditional designs (without detracting from warmth). Finally, we found that the beefy Vibram sole—more durable than the Pomoca sole on Dynafit's Radical Pro—along with the boot's rear flex allowed for excellent climbing capabilities and grip on fifth-class terrain.
 

The Ridge Pro's heel and toe bales work with both fully- and semi-automatic crampons, adding to its prowess as a technical uphill companion. To improve climbing comfort, you can release the ankle buckle while keeping the Boa-like closure over the forefoot tight (note: While this closure isn't technically Boa-branded, it operates very similarly). This allowed my lower leg to take full advantage of the high ROM while keeping my foot snug enough inside the boot to feel precise when navigating technical terrain. While I am a longtime user of the Dynafit Radical Pro W—the Ridge Pro's heavier, more freeride-oriented sibling—the Ridge Pro climbed better while having almost identical performance on the downhill. The Grilamid and carbon outer shell did scuff a bit easier than the Radical Pro's pure Grilamid shell (more in "Build Quality and Durability" below), but there was no significant damage after a full season of near-daily use.
 

Downhill Performance

Considering the Dynafit Ridge Pro W's excellent uphill performance, I expected it to make some sacrifices on the downhill, but I came away pleasantly surprised. In fact, the Ridge Pro is just as capable on the down—enough so to inspire confidence when driving larger skis at high speeds. I found the progressive flex to have plenty of fore/aft stiffness and excellent power transfer. To be clear, this boot isn't a touring/resort hybrid, so it doesn't have a true alpine boot-like feel, but as far as lightweight touring boots go, I thought the Ridge Flex was one of the best I've ever skied. While the women's Ridge Pro advertises a 110 flex, I felt it was quite similar to other brands' 115-flex women's boots. The men's Ridge Pro has a stiffer 120 flex, and male testers felt it skied true to other 120-flex boots in their quivers.
 

As a professional who has to ski every day regardless of the snow conditions, I tested the Dynafit Ridge Pro W on everything from trap-door, breakable crust and icy, firm snow to deep powder. In the end, I came away very impressed by the boot's ability to handle variable conditions. As you would expect from a boot in this class, the Ridge Pro is only compatible with AT and non-compliant (e.g., TLT) bindings, meaning it won't work with alpine or hybrid bindings like the Salomon Shift, although that's certainly not a knock on its downhill performance—it's on par with heavier freeride-focused competitors like the Radical Pro. For more information on ski boot and binding compatibility, we've put together a helpful guide that breaks things down in detail.
 

Weight

The Ridge Pro W clocks in at 1,130 grams (g) (2 lb. 7.9 oz.) per boot, making it the lightest freeride-oriented design in its class. For comparison, the next-lightest competitor is Scarpa's F1 XT at 1,145g (2 lb. 8.4 oz.), which isn't available in a dedicated women's version, followed by Tecnica's Zero G Tour Pro W at 1,180g (2 lb. 9.6 oz.). Less weight-conscious in design, Dynafit's own Radical Pro W clocks in at 1,270g (2 lb. 12.8 oz.) per boot, highlighting how much time Dynafit—and team freeride skier Eric Hjorleifson (known as Hoji)—spent tinkering to bring the Ridge Pro's weight down (this YouTube video has some fun background on the boot's creation). It's true that the Ridge Pro is fairly streamlined, including a minimalist buckle layout and a carbon-infused shell, but I feel that Dynafit did an excellent job balancing weight and all-around performance.
 

Key Features

Buckle System

Unlike most downhill boots, which feature a four-buckle system, the Ridge Pro has a decidedly minimalist layout. Deviating from the Radical Pro, which features two crank buckles with a metal toe buckle (three total), the Ridge Pro features a single crank buckle near the ankle with a Boa-like adjustment dial over the forefoot. Both boots boast Dynafit's Hoji Lock system, which connects the ski/walk lever and power strap to the inner structure of the boot and allows you to boost mobility or cinch things down with a flip of the lever, although the Ridge Pro forgoes an upper buckle, which is part of this system on the beefier Radical Pro. Importantly, while fewer buckles usually translates to a significant drop in power transfer on the downhill, I'm happy to report that's not the case with the Ridge Pro.
 

All in all, I found the closure system to be quite effective and efficient after taking the time to dial in my settings. It did take me a couple days to master, but I was quickly able to find a sweet spot for optimizing comfort and performance. While Dynafit advertises their Hoji Lock system needs just a single adjustment to transition from ski to walk mode, I found it easiest to set and forget the adjustment dial, leaving it at the same setting on the way up and down, while keeping the buckle a bit looser and tightening it down at the top of a run. It's important to note that folks like me who spend five to seven days a week in ski boots tend to be quite particular about our settings, and some may find the single lever transition perfectly workable.
 

Ski/Walk Lever

Dynafit's signature Hoji Lock system found on several of their freeride boots remains one of their most standout features, and the Ridge Pro W takes performance up a notch. While Dynafit touts that you only need one hand to transition from uphill to downhill mode by simply flicking the lever down along the spine, we've found it necessary with some other designs—including the Radical Pro—to add a few steps. On these models, it's difficult to pull down the lever to enter ski mode without also detaching and reattaching the upper boot buckle. The lack of upper buckle on the Ridge Pro allows for much easier customization—we're happy to report that it does, in fact, take only one hand, even when wearing gloves.
 

Liner

While I am largely a Dynafit boot fan, the stock liners are always a bit disappointing. The Ridge Pro was no exception, with the Dynafitter 5 W 2.0 liner taking a little longer than I'd like to break in. For reference, the liner became comfortable for me after four or five longer tours, while Intuition liners generally are quite comfortable out of the box. (Note: Those who want to expedite the break-in process or who have foot irregularities can have their liners heat-molded and/or get the shells punched by a professional ski shop.) While the break-in period wasn't particularly short, I found the stock liner to be soft enough to keep the nerve-damaged arch of my foot from having issues. And while not the warmest design available, the modest insulation kept my always-cold toes tolerable on tours in the Tetons that dipped into the negative teens Fahrenheit.
 

Build Quality and Durability

While we know from our lengthy experiences with the Radical Pro and TLT series that Dynafit makes high-quality boots, long-term durability was our biggest concern with the lightweight Ridge Pro. As I touched on above, the design swaps the solid Grilamid shell of the Radical Pro for a carbon-infused Grilamid design to shave weight. While we've only been testing the boot for around six months, our three testers—this author included—are all avalanche professionals who ski five to seven days a week. All of us were concerned about the carbon shell holding up to ski mountaineering, but with roughly 150 days in the boots so far, we're happy to report that the only visible wear is some cosmetic scuffing. The Boa-like adjustment dial may be problematic over the long term, but again, it's shown no weaknesses in our testing thus far. As a final note, the Vibram sole seems to hold up to rocky terrain better than the Radical Pro's Pomoca rubber. Taken together, it's a high-quality design that clearly highlights Dynafit's expertise in the industry.
 

Fit, Sizing, and Comfort

My standard Mondo size 23.5 was spot-on in terms of fit and comfort. While the 101-millimeter last is 2.5 millimeters narrower than the Radical Pro, I found the Ridge Pro W plenty spacious for my wide feet, even on longer tours with lots of flat skinning. Our two other testers had similar experiences, with one noting that the Ridge Pro was the first boot narrower than the Radical Pro that felt comfortable without a shell punch (to make the boot wider). My one complaint is that the same-size Radical Pro has a 10-millimeter-longer boot sole length (BSL), requiring a decently large adjustment on my bindings. If you're the type of skier who's pretty aware of your exact mounting (either forward, centered, or back), the Ridge Pro may call for a re-drill, as the soles are shorter than most similarly sized boots.
 

Those familiar with the wide last of the Radical Pro may feel like the Ridge Pro has a narrower and more performance-oriented fit, but it's still comfortable for average- to wide-footed skiers. However, those with narrower, low-volume feet will likely want to steer clear and instead opt for a design like the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro W, which features a 99-millimeter last. Getting in and out of the Ridge Pro was generally easy due to the Floating Tongue, but once it's on, realigning the tongue and side cuffs takes some attention (similar to Scarpa's F1 series). Still, we would rank the Ridge Pro's comfort as one of its most attractive qualities.
 

Women's-Specific Adaptations

The ski industry isn't always the most progressive when it comes to women's hardgoods, especially in backcountry gear. Some touring boots have no equivalent for women (like the Scarpa F1 XT), which leaves them to either use the men's version or opt for a different design altogether. While some women can comfortably wear men's boots due to being taller or having longer legs, shorter women like me (for reference, I'm 5'2") often cannot due to the taller cuff that's too narrow to fit around our calves. We're psyched to see that Dynafit made a women's-specific Ridge Pro, which features a shorter cuff, has a wider fit around the calves, and comes in smaller Mondo sizes (23 to 27.5 vs. 25 to 30.5 for the men's version). Our only complaint is that the flex was reduced to 110 compared to 120 for the men's model—this is in line with the unfortunate "shrink it and pink it" mentality that's plagued women's gear for years. Even so, offering a technical, lightweight, high-performance boot in women's sizes is a step in the right direction.
 

Other Versions of the Dynafit Ridge

I tested the women's Ridge Pro for this review, which is also available in a men's model for the same price. As we touched on above, the men's version is largely similar but slightly stiffer with a 120 flex. It also features a taller cuff, has a narrower fit around the calves, and is available in Mondo sizes from 25 to 30.5 with a listed weight of 1,250g (2 lb. 12.1 oz.) per boot. The series also includes a standard, non-Pro model for both men and women, which retails for $800. Compared to the women's Pro model, the Ridge W is 20g heavier per boot, features a softer 100 flex (the men's version is 110), and boasts a solid Grilamid shell that omits carbon. Otherwise, the two designs are very similar.
 

What We Like

• Incredible 70-degree ROM and innovative Floating Tongue make uphill travel smooth and almost frictionless.
• Downhill performance rivals much heavier freeride-oriented competitors.
• Construction is top-notch, with no manufacturing defects and sturdy parts that have held up well to extensive use by three avalanche professionals.
• Vibram sole is durable and contributes to the boots' excellent climbability on technical terrain.
• Premium materials and minimalist buckle system make these the lightest freeride-oriented boots on the market.

What We Don’t

• Stock liners take some time to break in and pack out faster than some alternatives (we prefer Intuition liners).
• Shorter BSL than many similarly sized boots, which may require re-drilling to adjust your binding mount.
• Floating Tongue and cuffs take some attention to realign before buckling when taking the boot on and off.
• While we haven't had any issues yet, the Boa-like adjustment system gives us some pause from a long-term durability standpoint.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

The Ridge Pro offers dreamy uphill performance while still holding its own on the way down, but the market for lightweight freeride boots is growing. Tecnica's Zero G Tour Pro W is one of the Ridge Pro W's top competitors, and for good reason. The Zero G has a stiffer, progressive 125 flex for the downhill (130 for the men's model) while being slightly more limited on the uphill with a 65-degree ROM (compared to 70 degrees for the Dynafit). The Zero G Tour Pro is 50g heavier per boot due to its fully Grilamid shell and more traditional, four-buckle layout, giving it a less streamlined feel than the Ridge Pro. The deciding factor for many will be fit: The Ridge Pro is on the wider end of the spectrum with a 101-millimeter last, while the Zero G is on the narrower side at 99 millimeters. The two boots offer comparably well-rounded performance, so the shape of your foot may end up dictating which one you go with.
 

Another lightweight, freeride-oriented boot for those who like to walk far and ski fast is the Scarpa F1 XT. A newer offering born from Scarpa's legendary F1 boots, the F1 XT is slightly heavier than the Ridge Pro (by 15g per boot) due to its fully Grilamid shell, although both are decidedly lightweight designs. The F1 also manages to exceed the Ridge Pro's impressive ROM at 72 degrees, making for a very cruiser experience on the skin track. Fit-wise, the F1 XT slots in between the Ridge Pro and Zero G Tour Pro above with a 100-millimeter last, although the 95 flex is noticeably softer than what you get with both the Dynafit (110) and Tecnica (125) boots. The F1 XT is still a solid downhill performer, but we think the Ridge Pro balances its priorities a bit better. Plus, Scarpa doesn't offer the boots in a women's-specific version, and the men's fit may not work for some.
 

Last but not least is the Ridge Pro's elder sister: the Dynafit Radical Pro W. While this boot falls more into the freeride category, Dynafit took a lot of inspiration from the design in creating the lighter Ridge Pro. Checking in at 1,270g per boot, which is 140g (5 oz.) heavier than the Ridge Pro, the Radical Pro became a fast favorite among working professionals like ski guides and avalanche forecasters. The extremely wide and comfortable 103.5-millimeter last (2.5mm wider than the Ridge Pro) makes spending back-to-back long days in the boots entirely tolerable. As we mentioned above, the Radical Pro also features a three-buckle layout and solid Grilamid shell, which contribute to the weight increase but provide solid downhill performance. The Ridge Pro is a slight step down in this regard, but those looking to maximize efficiency on the skin track may not mind that trade-off (plus, the Ridge Pro offers better ROM). Finally, the Ridge Pro's Vibram rubber has proven to be more durable than the Radical Pro's Pomoca sole in our testing, but both are quality Dynafit designs that lived up to our high expectations.