First Look: Scarpa TX Comp Telemark Boots

First looks can be dangerous. They invite speculation and projection, along with a sense of unearned (in the long term) success. The Scarpa TX Comp has not taken me anywhere yet beyond some early-season knee-dropping vision quests. For now, the boots have only been hefted, flexed, switched in and out of walk mode, and stared at far longer than is reasonable.

Scarpa introduced the newly redesigned TX Pro last year to mixed reviews. Telemark traditionalists complained that the new boot was too stiff and too close to an alpine boot, especially when paired with stiff NTN bindings. Others welcomed it as something close to a rebirth, the first truly new tele-boot in a quarter century and a sign that tele is not quite dead yet. The TX Pro delivered impressive weight for a tele-boot, a notable range of motion, and strong tourability for knee-dropping heathens who want to earn their turns without suffering quite as much along the way.

Which brings us to the TX Comp, released this season as the beefed-up alternative to the TX Pro’s svelteness. It is (supposedly) stiffer and only marginally heavier (~30g). The question for me is whether the TX Comp is the answer to the backcountry tele freerider’s dream I seek, or whether these Italian-knee-drop slippers will further divide an already fractured telemark world. Do we need another iteration of the new school boot, or should Scarpa have gone in a completely different direction, perhaps toward something like an F1 LT class tele-boot? Let’s go skiing and find out.

The TX Comp comes in any color you want, as long as it is black. Angular and stripped of decoration, it looks less like a ski boot and more like industrial equipment. Darth Vader comparisons arrive immediately. The boot looks purposeful, severe, and faintly intimidating, as if it expects you to know exactly what you are doing, or at least to be a very good faker.

In the hand, the first surprise is the weight. At 1819 grams per boot in a size 29.5, the TX Comp feels lighter than its visual bulk suggests. Pick it up, and there is a brief recalibration as the brain catches up with the scale. For a boot that looks capable of anchoring a small spacecraft, the mass is low. It hints at a design philosophy that acknowledges modern touring reality, meaning lots of time going uphill and long approaches with fewer excuses.

Engaging the walk mode reinforces that impression. The cuff rotates smoothly, offering a range of motion that feels more touring-oriented than traditional telemark orthodoxy might expect. Walking around the house, up the stairs, and across the driveway, the boot articulates cleanly and without resistance. It feels designed to move efficiently through space, not just to dominate on the descent.

Then there is the flex. Even without snow or skis involved, it is immediately clear that the TX Comp sits at the stiffer end of the telemark spectrum. The original TX Comp, introduced around 2008, was the aggressive version of Scarpa’s TX Pro. This new iteration honors that lineage. Flexing forward against the cuff reveals a firm, progressive resistance. This is less about a graceful, deep-knee genuflection and more about deliberate authority. The removable and elasticised Booster Active Powerstrap means business. The bellows barely react with my full weight driven into them. This is, without question, a stiff boot.

Of course, none of this proves anything. First looks rarely do. The mountains will decide whether the TX Comp’s promise holds up, and gravity will remain the ultimate editor. For now, all that is certain is that Scarpa has produced a boot that looks serious, feels serious, and aligns with the new school ethos of aggressive telemark skiing. It also claims to tour well, which we are eager to test.

Some still say that no one cares that you telemark ski.

Standing there in the kitchen, wrapped in black plastic and possibility, it is hard not to think that this boot understands exactly why we keep doing it anyway.

Basic Specs

Intended Use: Telemark / backcountry skiing with high-performance downhill capability 

Shell Material: Pebax® Rnew® — lightweight, cold-resilient performance thermoplastic 

Cuff Material: Pebax® Rnew® (progressive flex) 

Tongue Material: Pebax® 

Liner: Intuition® Pro Flex TK Comp (thermoformable) 

Last Width: ~102 mm 

Closure System: 3 buckles and a Booster® Active Power Strap 

Walk Mode: Speedlock MLT with ~62° range of motion for efficient uphill movement 

Forward Lean: 14° ± 2° (adjustable) 

Outsole: Vibram® EVO LT rugged grip sole 

Binding Compatibility: NTN (New Telemark Norm), Traditional Tele-Tech bindings (TTS)

Weight Reference (per boot): 1545 g (size 27)  claimed— actual weight size 29.5, 1819 g

Size Range: 24.5 – 31 (half sizes included, sizing break on the half size) 

Environmental / Compliance: PFAS-compliant materials   

Price: $939