Salomon Shift Pro - Review 2023

The Salomon Shift Pro boots are built for riders who have some interest in the backcountry, but prioritize stability on descent over an effortless ascent. Salomon very much anticipated the high demand for hybrid touring equipment, and has remained on the forefront with the release of this ski boot, an innovative development that demands looking at their revolutionary bindings.

In Winter of 2018 Salomon rocked the ski industry with the release of the Shift binding, the first lightweight touring binding that offers the same downhill benefits as a full frame or alpine binding. As a match for a do-all option, Salomon has indeed stayed relevant with one of the best ski boots available.

The Shift boot is conceptually a freeride tour take on the S/Max that we reviewed above. It’s primarily oriented towards downhill dependability, with some concessions made for uphill travel. They have a mid-volume, fairly average fit, with the full degree of customization that Salomon affords all of its boots. The toe box is wider than some of their more race oriented options, but the boot has enough grab in other areas that you still get the downhill results. 

It’s more of an all-mountain alpine boot that has tech binding compatibility, and to be fair this set up is going to appeal the most to people who already have the Shift bindings. There’s not as much range of motion for uphill travel as you would want out of a dedicated “fast-and-loose” touring boot. 

This Salomon ski boot is for people who want to work hard on the climb as well as the descent. It’s perfect for people who are more casual backcountry riders who only want to invest in one pair of boots, or for those who want alpine charging capabilities out of bounds.