Scarpa Freedom 100 Women's AT Boots

Since 1930’s, the family-run Scarpa brand has been coming out with top-notch ski and hiking boots, like the Scarpa Freedom 100s, for people who love playing in the mountains. Scarpa boots and shoes incorporate Italian craftsmanship with the kind of features and attributes that only come with almost a century of experience. The women’s Freedom 100s are a woman-specific boot, best suited to people like me who ski tour occasionally but mostly shred lift serve.

There are a bunch of other Scarpa boots that have been reviewed over the years since the launch of this site. For a sampling, check out the Scarpa Maestrale Alpine Touring Boots, the Maestrale RS, the beefier Scarpa Freedom SL, the way lighter Scarpa F1 Evo and a video on the updated Scarpa F1 (if you’d rather, you can hear what Kim, the boss, has to say).

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I have skied in these boots for a full season and love 'em. I have worn them mostly for list- service skiing at Whitewater Ski Resort but have also been out on a handful of day tours and two weekend-long hut trips. In all cases, they have been better than any boots I've ever owned.

The great thing about the Scarpa Freedom 100's is that they are comfortable for walking around and touring and also strong and sturdy enough for shredding the hill. I chose these boots for that exact reason. I go to the ski hill every weekend but I also want to go for an occasional tour—these boots make all that doable. Up until now, I have only had alpine boots—the Freedom 100's are more comfortable and definitely as stiff as I need. I am 16 years old, about 5'6" and weight about 140 lbs. Let's look a little more closely at the boots below.

360° view. Are they a touring boot or an alpine boot? We'd say 65% alpine, 35% touring. Hey! Maybe that's what's meant by freeride!??

If you've had Intuition liners in your boots before, you know what a pleasure they can be. The Speedride Liner, featured in the Freedom 100s, pictured here, are thermoformable, warm, and super supportive where they need to be. Note the bellows flex point (in purple) to make your touring stride easier.

Strobel liner, with no foam on the bottom, for easy walking around the hut and good power transfer.

Below you can see that the Freedom 100's are outfitted with the tech-compatible sole block. There's an all-alpine block available for the boot also. Dynafit manufactures the tech toe and heel inserts for Scarpa. Good idea, Scarpa.

Here's the beefy external walk/ski mode lever. We like to see this on the outside—it seems like internal versions tend to ice up or break down. And here's the underside of the Vibram Mountain Piste sole block. Not a super deep tread but nice, sticky rubber.

Another bonus with the Scarpa Freedom 100 is the power strap. Reinforced with a rubber-like material and with a finger slot (in purple) if you want to reef on them. Note the "oversized" buckle with touring latch as well.

Features:

Intuition Speed Ride Liner
Mountain Piste Sole
Oversized Buckle
Oversized Power Strap
Ride Power Block

Verdict:

These boots are in Scarpa’s Freeride category but they are at the bottom of the category's stiffness range. I ski mostly soft snow at the lift-service area and powder in the backcountry. I am relatively new to touring so didn’t want a boot that was more of a touring boot than a lift-service boot. I am also not a super aggressive skier (at all). The Scarpa Freedom 100 suits me to a tea.

As my first touring boot, I really appreciated the comfort the thermoformable Intuition liner provides. My feet have gotten cold in other boots, but not these. The liners are definitely one of the best things about these boots and going to a store and having them custom fit for your feet is a really good idea.

Last season, I rented a pair of touring boots for a trip to Kootenay Pass. By the end of the first day I had blisters and couldn’t ski anymore. Serious bummer. With the Freedom 100s, I’ve been on weekend touring trips and my feet feel fine—warm and comfortable—no blisters at all.

The external walk mode “switch” is easy and not as finicky as those on boot models I have tried before. I’m thinking of transitioning to tech bindings so I am stoked that the grippy Vibram sole has tech-friendly Dynafit inserts. I also got an alpine sole which I can use if I need it.

I heartily recommend the Scarpa Freedom 100s for girls like me who want a 65% ski hill, 35% touring boot. They look cool too!

PROS:

Very comfy liner
Stiff as I need them
Warm
Look cool
Power strap rocks

CONS:

Maybe a little heavy
Cuff rotation is not huge

SPECS:

Price: $549 US
Sizes: 21.5 - 27 mondo
Flex Index: 110
Range of Motion: 27°
Last: 101mm
Buckles: 3 + power strap
Forward Lean: 10° & 18°
Weight: 1710g; 3lbs 12oz (1/2 pair size 27)

RATING: 9/10

Fit/Comfort       2/2
Cuff Rotation     1.5/2
Function            2/2
Weight               1.5/2
Quality / Price 2/2

Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in below and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation. You'll need to login or register before you can comment but it only takes a few seconds, then you're good to go.

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