Black Diamond Quadrant

Black Diamond has done well with the overlap alpine cuff design. Their boots all seem to have a consistent drivability that has earned them a loyal following. And the Quadrant definitely fit the mold. With a 120 flex index, the Quadrant had a moderately stiff, but consistent flex through a variety of turns. For me, I don’t mind a soft-ish boot if the flex is smooth and consistent, which the Quadrant was.

Putting them on, the Boa Closure system allowed me to fully open the liner, and then crank down my heel and shin. This was cool because the liner remained snug while I made my stride, and allowed me to take it in full gait. The Boa liner might not be the lightest, but walk mode ergonomics are such that I didn’t mind. Skinning and bootpacking were not an issue, but a pleasure. To be honest, I didn’t like the Boa closure at first. The twisting knob had me suspect. What if it breaks? That said, I’ve spoken with scores of people who have used Boa in various capacities, never had issues, and prize its durability as one of its highest virtues.

What I thought was genuinely suspect were the buckles. They were nimble, looked really cool, but the clasps were grabby, problematic and dialing them in left little to be desired. Call it a steep learning curve, as they weren’t that bad. If I’d spent more time with them maybe our relationship would’ve bloomed.

Overall, I liked the forward lean on the Quadrant. Many AT boots I tested were stiffer than the Quadrant, but were also more upright so I never felt like I could get into the front seat. The Quadrant sat me in the front seat, in a position where I enjoyed driving my skis. Laterally, the boots were responsive, and the Boa closure worked in concert with the upper cuff to provide me a harmonious swing from edge to edge, even in breakable crust. At $660, they’re certainly not the most expensive, but perform just as well.