Gear Guide: Women's 2025/26 Ski Boots

The best boot fitters will be able to gain an idea of what flex might work for you by talking to you and watching you flex different boots, but some of it is also up to you to advocate for yourself and your skiing. If you love skiing moguls hard, hitting big mountain lines, and carving with your hip to the ground, odds are you’re gonna want a stiffer boot. If it’s your first year skiing and you’re still working on building muscle, you might be happy learning the basics in a 90 flex boot. 

The other harsh reality of flex index for women’s boots is that the number of women’s boots on the market that come with flex indexes higher than 115 is limited. More and more companies are coming out with stiffer women’s boots and we have more options than we did even last year (is it because I harassed boot engineers at several brands? Probably not, but I’d like to think so). So, if you’re frustrated with the stiffness of your boots, know that you’re not alone. 

Size & Fit

Size and Last are the other measurements a good boot fitter will help you with. Ski boots use Mondopoint sizing, which is a measurement from the tip of your toe to the back of your heel and doesn’t always translate to regular shoe sizing. Oftentimes, boot fitters will take out a boot’s liner and have you step into just the shell to see how much space is left between your heel and the back of the shell. Depending on the brand, women’s ski boots will usually come in sizes 22.5-27.5 and men’s boots often come in 25.5-30.5. If you’re blessed to wear a size between 25.5 and 27.5, the world is your oyster and you should have plenty of options when it comes to size, flex, last, and more. For those of us who live in 24.5 and smaller purgatory, we have less options. 

There’s also the common issue of a true 22.5 shell fit. Making ski boot shells in a wide range of sizes is, well, expensive. So, what many brands have done is make shells for less commonly worn sizes that have a range sizing–something like 22.5/23. They’ll market a boot as a 22.5, but use the same shell they’d use for a 23.5 with a thicker, smaller liner. It’s all well and good until that liner packs out and you’re left trying to fill a whole size worth of space in the boot. So, a boot might say it’s a 22.5, but a shell fit will tell you otherwise. 

A true 22.5 shell sizing versus a 23 shell with a smaller liner in it. There are definitely discrepancies in boot sole length around one size, which is that millimeter measurement, but often 3-5mm, not 10mm.

While size is less subjective than flex, there’s still a couple things to keep in mind. First, if you’re between sizes, a smaller size will offer more control and it's easier for your bootfitter to take boot material away than to add it. A larger size will be more comfortable (probably) but won’t be as high performing, and as the boot packs out, will begin to feel sloppy, meaning you have less and less control.

Second, custom footbeds and aftermarket liners can absolutely be worth the extra dough. A custom footbed is the foundation of a good bootfit because it stabilizes your foot within the shell. An aftermarket liner can help fill in gaps between your foot/leg and the boot shell, add stiffness to a boot, and keep a shell alive longer. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for a full custom fit, at least get a $40 trim-to-fit supportive insole.

I chatted with two expert boot fitters last winter and you can read more of their advice here but this is a good place to start. 

What boots work for you is going to depend on a lot of things, but hopefully knowing a bit more about flex and fit empowers you to go see your bootfitter armed with the confidence to say “I want a stiffer/softer/smaller/etc boot,” when you need to. I asked around about women I know’s favorite women’s and unisex boots and got responses from lots of friends I look up to as skiers, industry gurus, and even a couple professional skiers like Hadley Hammer, Mali Noyes, and Veronica Paulsen. I fangirled too. 

Here are some of the most common recommendations I got: 

Women’s Specific Boots 

Atomic Hawx Ultra S 115 W / Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W

Whether it's the alpine-only Hawx Ultra 115 or the walk-mode and touring ready Hawx Ultra XTD, these low-volume boots deliver a good balance of power and comfort for all-day freeride skiing.

• Sizes Available: 22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.6
• Flex: 115
• Last Width: 98mm
• Features: Walk Mode (XTD version), tech fittings (XTD version), BOA

Nordica Promachine 115 W

Nordica has long been known for aggressive high-performance skis and boots, and the women's-specific Promachine 115 W follows suit. These low-volume and super-stiff boots feature a premium liner right out of the box with heat-moldable cork around the ankles.

• Sizes Available: 22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5
• Flex: 115
• Last Width: 98mm

Tecnica Cochise 115 W

Tecnica's Cochise boots marry the brand's proven downhill performance with uphill capability to create a powerful backcountry and big-mountain freeride boot for ladies. Unlike some other brands' offerings, these feature a more accommodating, wider 100mm last width and higher instep volume.

• Sizes Available: 22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5
• Flex: 115
• Last Width: 100mm
• Features: Walk Mode, tech fittings (AT binding compatible)

Tecnica Mach 1 LV 115 W

Tecnica's highest-end resort boot, the Mach1 LV, got a full rebuild this past season to address some common fit issues and include the new T Drive 2.0 spine. Read the full review on these here to get a sense of their incredible performance and snug fit.

• Sizes Available: 22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5
• Flex: 115
• Last Width: 98mm

Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout W (115)/ Zero G Tour Pro W (125)

Tecnica's premier backcountry boot, the Zero G Tour, is now offered in a full-power version in a women's-specific fit in a whopping 125 flex. Yes, they're touring boots, so they'll flex a bit differently (softer and less damp) than a true alpine boot, but trust us, they ski amazingly well. If you're looking for a less stiff boot, it's still available in the 115-flex Scout version.

• Sizes Available:  22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5
• Flex: 115/125
• Last Width: 98mm
• Features: Walk Mode, tech fittings (AT binding compatible)

Unisex Boots

Tecnica Cochise 120

• Sizes Available: 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5, 28.5, 29.5, 30.5
• Flex: 120
• Last Width: 100mm
• Features: Walk Mode, tech fittings (AT binding compatible)

Nordica Promachine 120

• Sizes Available: 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5, 28.5, 29.5, 30.5 
• Flex: 120
• Last Width: 98mm

Even More Boots

Outside these recommendations, there’s a couple other boots worth mentioning here because they come in a larger size range that includes small feet and have stiffer flex options. Both the women’s K2 Cortex Zonal Boa boot and Mindbender Boot come in flexes ranging from 105 up to 125 in a women’s specific boot, with a size range from 22.5-27.5.

This year, Tecnica made their men’s Mach 1 LV 130 boot available in sizes 22.5-30.5. Like the women’s Mach 1 LV 115, the boot still has a 98mm last which keeps it a viable option for smaller, lower volume feet but offered at a 130 flex.