Ski mountaineers have a common problem. Ice climbing approaches and talus field traverses require boots with high ankle mobility, while high-risk ski descents demand absolute ankle support. With long days and heavy gear, carrying two pairs of boots is out of the question, and most ski mountaineers choose an uphill or downhill pair and suffer through half of their trip. After one too many long, uncomfortable approaches, I decided it was time to solve the problem by combining the best elements of both boots to make the Off The Cuff. The boot performs identically to a hard-shell mountaineering boot on the uphill and, once transitioned, becomes a bomb-proof traditional ski boot. The simple and hardy construction means it won’t break or freeze when you need it most.