Kilian Jornet’s Ultra-Fast Boots
A purpose-made shoe for your next (or first) FKT
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Salomon’s limited S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX mountaineering boot ($300) is designed for the one percent—those rare ultra-athletes, like Kilian Jornet, who are shattering records on traditional mountaineering routes using less equipment than most of us take on a long trail run.
The boots are crampon compatible for high-alpine climbing but also light and flexible enough for running across glaciers, navigating rocky spines, or traversing tricky scree fields. A Gore-Tex liner and gaiter keep rocks and snow out, so you’ll never have to suffer through hours of wet feet. The X Alp might not give you the power to knock off fastest known times before breakfast, but it’s a great lightweight mountaineering option—even if you’re not superhuman.