Boots that Rip the Envelope

Since the rear entry bubble burst in the early nineties, ski equipment manufacturers have been desperately seeking a magic formula to recreate with boots the wild success of shaped skis. Their mission has been simple but execution has been difficult—create revolutionary designs that raise the comfort and performance bar so dramatically that it makes older boots obsolete and convinces reluctant skiers, particularly those clinging to their beloved rear entry boots, that they absolutely, positively need new shoes. Perhaps they’ve finally found recipe for success.
Rossignol sowed the first seeds—and reaped the first rewards—last year with the successful debut of its Soft series. This season, shops are chock full of radically different boots, including models from Dolomite, Nordica and Salomon which use textiles in place of plastic to dramatically ease entry and exit, provide all-day comfort and just as importantly, improve ski control.

Other manufacturers have continued to create largely with plastic but have integrated significant molding technology improvements with clever new componentry. Tecnica, for example, has a clever hinged cuff on its Entryx line. Head’s Edge has twin flaps that open wide to swallow the foot and the most adjustable, easy-to-latch buckle system on the market. Dalbello’s SGS (Stance Geometry System) boots have a rockered boot sole that can adjust for anatomical aberrations. (Due to time and size restrictions we were unable to adequately test the SGS system but our past experiences show that it is an excellent option for skiers who are seriously bowlegged or knock-kneed.)

Manufacturers say—and our testers generally agreed—that these New Technology boots not only look different but they fit more comfortably and better control shaped skis with their softer flex and emphasis on lateral support.
Many have taken to calling these new designs “soft boots.” but like the semi-accurate term “parabolic skis” that eventually morphed into “shaped skis,” we think New Technology is a more inclusive and accurate term for these boots (partly because Rossignol has trademarked the “Soft” name).

At the very least, the new boots mark a significant departure in philosophy from ski industry norms. For the first time since the Head Standard ski debuted in 1950, new technology is being developed specifically for recreational skiers and not filtering down from race products.

Because there are New Technology models designed both for accomplished skiers with solid front side skills and those who are more likely to cruise the blues for a few weekends a year, we’ve split the New Technology reviews into two categories: New Tech Performance and New Tech Comfort.