Garmont Masterlite Thermo Ski Boot

Editor’s Note: This is the first post in a running series where we ask professional athletes to highlight a few of their all-time favorite pieces of outdoor and travel gear. First up? JT Holmes–skier, BASE jumper, wing suit flier, outdoor pioneer, and all-around great guy.

www.garmont.com, two pounds, 11 ounces
At 1,150 grams Garmont’s Masterlite is one of the lightest ski boots in existence, and it skis above its weight class.  It has a patented Pebax Webframe shell that is thin yet strong, rigid, and ultra-light.  It comes stock with a liner that you custom mold easily in your own oven to provide a fit that is comfortable and surprisingly warm for the liner’s thinness.  The diagonal placement of the lower buckle eliminates the need for a third buckle and adds to the boots ease of use and simplicity.  Since I often tour with the extra weight of airborne toys, it is essential that the rest of my set up be as light as possible, but I can’t sacrifice the reliability on high-speed landings and steep skiing.   The Masterlite is the first boot that I have owned that totally kicks ass going uphill, but does not give me “gear fear” for the descent.  I credit the shim in the back that gives me just enough support in the back seat as well as the power strap, which they kept fairly normal, so I can crank it down just before I drop to achieve the support I need.  The Masterlite won my heart when it provided critical landing support on fast and firm speed riding landings off the North Face of Aguille Du Midi and then allowed me to walk comfortably for a few hours while descending a dry forest and hoofing it back to town to eat and après.

-JT Holmes

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