Black Diamond Shiva (2010)

All of Black Diamond’s women’s boots come with a spacious lower cuff, thick padded foam over the toes, and a narrow heel area. The Shiva also comes with a walk/ski mode switch, interchangeable soles for AT or alpine bindings, and a snowboard-style ratcheting system on the liner that locks your feet in. PLUS: At just over eight pounds per pair, they’re light enough to tour. MINUS: Our most aggressive testers wanted more stiffness.