Ambition is a funny thing. Most of us are bubbling with early season ambitions of splitting our time evenly between the resort and the backcountry. Maybe - maybe this year - we'll even log more time out of bounds than in! Life has a way of pumping the breaks on even the most thrilling ambitions, which is to say, most of us spend a lot less time off piste than we'd like. However, if you're like most freeriding backcountry devotees who tick a lot of days in the resort but cherish those backcountry outings, Salomon's Shift Pro120 AT is for you. Landing squarely between the power of an alpine boot and the versatility of a touring boot, the Shift Pro 120 AT shreds in all categories without sacrifing performance along the way.

With a medium volume and a stiff flex, the Shift Pro 120 AT features a thinner shell material to decrease weight while maintaining an efficient power transfer directly into the ski. Four buckles and a power strap ensure a customized fit, locking your foot into place to further exacerbate that oh-so delicious energy transmission. Add a seamless liner to ensure a warm and precise fit, and you've got a boot that rips but doesn't punish you with crunched and numb toes.

Of course, you have to reach the peak before you can bomb back down. With a simple flip of a switch on the heel of the boot, the Surelock Skiwalk Mechanism provides a generous range of motion when you're finding your groove on the skin track. Once you've ripped off your skins and queued up some epic Van Halen for the downhill, the Shift Pro's 120 flex will ensure an absolute shredder of a descent.

Specs

• Versatile boot that excels when driven like a race horse at the resort or in the backcountry where the mountain could throw anything at you
• Core-Frame shell brings lightness and increases power, guaranteeing the boot's stiffness after the Custom Shell HD process
• Thinner shell wall construction and new shell materials allow the foot to be closer to the shell and provide enhanced sensations, more power, and direct transmission
• Low-tech inserts are integrated into the shell, making it complementary to touring bindings, providing reliability and direct power transmission
• Soft PU Sensifit insert on the external side of the shell delivers easy step-in and anatomical wrapping of the instep
• A Contagrip piece between the toe and heel and GripWalk pads improve the boot's grip in difficult terrain such as a rocky summits, ice, and other uneven surfaces
• Polyolefin is a more durable material for the cuff, cutting weight while providing stability
• Polyamid spine in the cuff provides a good range of motion in hike mode and a true alpine flex in downhill mode
• 360° 45mm Velcro power strap secures the foot and optimizes power transfer
• Surelock ski/walk mechanism enables a great range of motion for walking and locks down for downhill performance
• My CustomFit 4D Pro liner features a softer part which bends easily to follow the natural movement of the leg while walking
• GripWalk pads are premounted and their specific shape improves walking comfort and grip whatever the conditions
• 4 riveted aluminum 3D buckles allow a choice from 3 different positions of the instep buckle for optimum in-step comfort, full customization, and personalized foot hold
• Two additional hiking hooks placed on both cuff's buckles expand the range of motion and mobility of the boot when in hike mode, improving comfort when heading up towards a peak
• 2 year warranty