All Mountain Women
Women don’t wear men’s jeans or shoes so why buy a men’s boot? These boots are the top non-race boots in each manufacturer’s line that are tailored for a woman’s unique needs. They are designed for women who are serious about their skiing but not necessarily hyper-competitive speed seekers. While the lower shells are identical to their male/unisex counterparts, the shell cuffs and rear spoilers are tapered to accommodate a women’s typically lower, larger calf muscle structure. The liners better match the classic women’s foot shape with a narrower heel. Often the boot boards incorporate a slightly elevated heel which helps some women \ better balance over the ski’s sweet spot. Overall, the boots flex easier to better match women’s lighter weight and are engineered to provide greater warmth. All comments and observations in our On the Hill sections are from our female testers.
Second down Atomic’s new M family, the 10 utilizes the Tri-Tech platform. By separating the toe and heel from the shell, the flat spot under foot is minimized and the ski flexes more naturally. The M 10It has a sexy and masculine look thanks to the tiger stripes of grippy material on the toe and heel lugs. A beefy Power Strap wraps the cuff like a boa and cleverly integrates a holder for Therm-ic boot heater battery packs which can be purchased separately. That’s all you need to generate on-board heat since the insole is pre-wired. The boot board has been honeycombed to increase warmth retention.
On the Hill
Responsive and perky, it’s ideal for a rip it up kind of girl. It’s certainly not a “lodge” boot. The M10L moves dynamically with the body and seems to anticipate what’s needed for a successful run. Stiff enough to hold its own on the steeps, its soft enough to slip through the bumps without being tossed around. It fits like a women’s boot but with the responsiveness of a men’s model. Aggressive women will love this boot. The other women on the gondola liked its appearance.
Beware
Tight on the Achilles. Boot board not removable preventing ramp angle modifications.
Transparency is good for corporate governance and apparently for ski boots this season. The S 10 see-through orange is bold in looks and performance. It’s loaded with quality materials and useful features including optional Full Custom Frame chassis (a former Bootie Award winner) that reduces shell width dramatically when the bobsled-looking insert is plugged in. The acclaimed Race Double Power flip-out buckles boost leverage and make closure a snap even with the bail set on maximum throw. That’s quite a feat. Other features include: Flex adjustment (by removing screws from the spine), adjustable rear spoiler and single cuff shaft adjuster. The heat-moldable liner is teched-up with numerous reinforcements, an asymmetrical ankle frame and neoprene stretch toe box. The Double Power buckles were extremely appreciated by our female testers. The leverage they provide made them feel imbued with “super strength.” A gummy insert under the heel facilitates easy walking. A snap-in/out heel wedge is included with the ladies version for women who prefer increased ramp angle. The optional Custom Fit insert makes this boot especially attractive to women with low volume feet.
On the Hill
A good choice for active women who prefer an upright, softer flexing boot. Laterally, though, it stands solid with the best. “I kept pushing looking for flaws but it laid over and rode solid,” said one. It’s very comfortable but roominess and cushy feel deaden steering power and dynamism a bit.
Beware
Logo appliqué on liner snags sock on entry. Will wear in after use. Fleece liner will pill quicker than conventional material.
Women shouldn’t be scared off by an encounter with this ferociously named boot. Despite its mannish color scheme, it has many female-friendly features to boost warmth, fit and performance. The buckles have a “lift up” feature that prevents inadvertent re-closure when opened and are uniquely hinged to reduce closure effort. The 12 also has goodies such as two-position flex adjuster, elasticized Booster Velcro strap, twin cuff alignment, adjustable rear spoiler and a panel of slick material on the liner spine for easier entry.
On the Hill
This animal delivers a complete package of performance and function. Laterally responsive, it offers a high level of return on input and moves the ski swiftly from side-to-side. It’s gradual and smooth flex provides good energy transfer to the skis.
Beware
May be too roomy for many women. “You could host a party in here,” said one tester.
In a move to sharply delineate its women’s collections, Salomon has re-badged all its female-specific products with distinctive names this season and embarked on a communications and community-building projects. The Rush 9.0 is no drag queen version of the X-Wave 9.0, though. It is thoroughly stocked with attributes useful to its female audience. It utilizes the Spaceframe technology found in its best race boots with a shell cuff and liner tailored for women. An optional heel wedge with volume reducing wings helps snug rear foot fit, a particularly troublesome zone for many women.
On the Hill
“Send these my way,” wrote one hard-charging tester. “I’ll ski them any day.” Solid and eager yet classy, the Rush 9.0 will appeal to women who tend to rage with the guys. It screams from one turn to the next with firm directional control. It’s a bit snug and the liner less cushy than others in the group but that’s the price you pay if you want rip.
Beware
Tight and demanding.
Tecnica too has cloaked its women’s offerings with a dedicated moniker. Attiva (the feminine form of the word “active” in Italian) is attached to all of Tecnica’s women’s models. The Attiva Flame is similar to the men’s model (see AME/Freeride) but with distinct changes in liner shape and materials. A soft velvet fleece lines the upper while a warmth-enhancing shearling sheaths the toe box. The liner also has an accordion feature for calf adaptation. A removable Velcro rear spoiler and double macro-adjustable buckles provide further calf accommodation. An optional heel lift wedge with narrowing wings comes with the boot.
On the Hill
Our female testers loved the sky blue/white pearl color combo on this boot and the blue-to-white fade on the buckles. Like its male counterpart, our tester gave high marks to the Attiva Flame for comfort, convenience and consistency but felt it geared more toward women who like to cruise the hill rather than attack it. Despite the many modifications available to temper cuff fit, most felt it was calf tight up top and would be a tricky fit for many women.
Beware
Liner is tricky to remove. Heel tends to catch.
