GripWalk vs Alpine vs Touring Soles

The three sole types explained

As of July 2021 the International Organization for Standardization defines three ski boot sole norms: ISO 5355 (Alpine), ISO 9523 (Touring), and ISO 23223 (Improved Walking, e.g. GripWalk) (evo). Each is shaped and made from different materials, which is why they don't all fit the same bindings.

• Alpine — ISO 5355 (also called DIN). A flat, hard-plastic sole built for power transfer and a consistent release value. It skis precisely but is slippery and awkward to walk in, with no rocker and no rubber grip (Switchback Travel, Snowfeet).
• GripWalk — ISO 23223. A lightly rockered rubber sole with a convex, ribbed tread. The rockered toe rolls forward for a more natural stride and far better grip on icy parking lots than an alpine sole, while stiff integrated pads preserve power transfer and a consistent release value. GripWalk boots require a GripWalk-compatible binding — they will not work safely in a plain alpine-only binding (Switchback Travel, GripWalk).
• Touring — ISO 9523. A fully rockered rubber sole built for walking and skinning uphill. Most ISO 9523 boots also have lateral pin-insert divots at the toe for tech/pin bindings. They trade some downhill power and precision for uphill grip and light weight, and need a touring, frame, MNC, or tech binding — not a standard alpine binding (Switchback Travel, Snowfeet).

The rockered toe is the key visual tell that separates GripWalk and touring soles from a flat alpine sole. GripWalk's rocker is subtle; a touring sole's rocker is more pronounced and the rubber is softer and grippier (GripWalk reference guide).

The compatibility matrix

This is the core of it. Read down for your boot's sole type, across for the binding you own or plan to buy. Cells use words, not just color, so it stays legible. "Inserts only" means the pair works solely through a tech/pin toe interface, which is not an alpine release-certified pairing (DIN calculator).

Sources: DIN calculator compatibility matrix, evo ski boot & binding compatibility chart, GripWalk official system page, Switchback Travel compatibility guide.

A few practical reads from the matrix: alpine soles are the most universally compatible, fitting everything except pure pin bindings (and those only via tech inserts) (DIN calculator). GripWalk soles are not backward-compatible with plain alpine bindings — a GripWalk boot in an old alpine-only binding will not release predictably in a fall and is a safety risk (DIN calculator). And a GripWalk binding, by design, accepts both GripWalk and standard alpine soles with no height adjustment, which is why GripWalk-ready bindings have become the modern default (GripWalk).

How to tell which sole your boot has

You don't need to guess — the boot tells you. Turn it over and check the heel and toe for stamps and logos:

• GripWalk boots carry the official GripWalk logo (often shortened to "GW") and are stamped ISO 23223. The toe pad is rubber and slightly rockered (GripWalk, Switchback Travel).
• Alpine boots are stamped ISO 5355 (sometimes "DIN"). The sole is flat hard plastic with no rocker and no rubber tread (evo).
• Touring boots are stamped ISO 9523. The sole is fully rockered rubber, and the toe usually has two lateral divots — the pin-insert holes for a tech binding (Switchback Travel).

On the binding side, look for the same GripWalk logo, or an MNC (Multi-Norm Certified), Sole.ID (Marker), or AT (Tyrolia) mark on the binding housing. If your binding shows none of those, treat it as alpine-only and pair it only with an ISO 5355 alpine sole (DIN calculator, Reddit r/Skigear).

Buying guidance

If you're buying new boots and bindings together, the simplest modern path is a GripWalk boot paired with a GripWalk-compatible binding. GripWalk soles are quickly becoming the norm across both alpine and alpine-touring categories, and a GripWalk binding will also accept a standard ISO 5355 alpine sole with no height adjustment — so you keep flexibility if you later swap boots (Switchback Travel, GripWalk).

• Resort-only skier, new gear: GripWalk boot + GripWalk/MNC/Sole.ID/AT binding. Best walking comfort, full alpine release certification, and the broadest future compatibility.
• You already own older alpine-only bindings: buy an ISO 5355 alpine boot, or buy a GripWalk boot whose sole blocks can be swapped to an alpine block — never force a GripWalk sole into an unmarked alpine binding (DIN calculator).
• Mixing GripWalk and alpine soles in one quiver: a GripWalk binding handles both. A plain alpine binding handles only alpine soles. Plan around your least-compatible binding.
• Backcountry / touring: an ISO 9523 touring boot with an MNC, Sole.ID, AT, frame, or tech binding. Note that a pure GripWalk-only binding will not take an ISO 9523 touring sole — use MNC/ID/AT or a dedicated touring binding instead (DIN calculator).

Whatever you choose, have a certified technician mount, adjust, and test the release values. An incompatible or untested boot-and-binding pairing can lead to a premature release or to skis staying on at forces that should eject them (Switchback Travel, Outdoor DIVAS).

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