race | all mountain cruiser | new technology | new technology comfort

If you cherish speed, power and quickness but know that running a Formula One car on a neighborhood errand isn't much fun, look no further. All these boots can tame a set of rapid gates but are more likely to do so in a corporate league than a master's race. More importantly, they'll let you ski all over the mountain in everything from mashed potatoes to bumps, and they'll shine in steeps or while cruising at high speed.

Lange Comp 120/W

$675 men/$625 women

No doubt you've heard all these great things about how well Lange boots ski but every time you've stuck you foot in a pair, you've felt like you were crammed in your mama's high heels. No guarantees, but perhaps the 120 will finally do it for you. It is no ark but the boot is uniquely available in a medium volume last as well as the traditional Lange crevasse squeezer. You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the Best Buy World Cup 130 racer and the Comp 120 from the outside—they share both looks and technology but the 120 shell is crafted from a less tenacious polyester instead of polyether. Look closer and you'll discover bi-injection technology on the cuff and a grab loop on the liner spine that make it somewhat easier to get in and out of. Inside, the liner is noticeably better padded which trades some touch for comfort. And unlike the 130, the 120 is available in a specific women's lasted version with a tapered cuff and liner. The women's 120 uses a softer, less expensive plastic hence the lower price. A 120 Freeride version (untested) is also available. It comes in red and uses stiffer polyether shell and thinner, 130style liner.

On the Hill

This is a dynamic, versatile skier's boot. It topped all four performance judgments for boots in this class. It goes anywhere and provides 360 degrees of foot-hugging connection. The trade-off? Many testers experienced harsh barking in various spots. You will need slim dogs and the services of an experienced and patient boot fitter to get this one right. As with all Lange performance boots, the foot sits low in the shell yielding excellent snow feel and sensitivity. Cantable soles simply and elegantly solve stance problems for bowleg and knock-knee skiers.

Be aware of: Selecting the right last. Narrow version built for decidedly slim paws and toe box tends to crunch.

EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Easier, but not easy. Bites on exit.

EASE OF ADJUSTMENTS: Cuff angle adjuster requires Allen wrench and must be completely wound out to effect change. Top buckles also require Allen to macro set.

EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS: Cantable soles a great option for skier with stance concerns. Single cuff cant offers limited adjustment.

LINER:

CLOSURE SYSTEM: Attractive buckles clamp with precision but some testers had difficulties with open and closure. Top buckle hard to release when set close to max closure. Closure of all requires strength.

LATERAL QUICKNESS: Fast to the edge but not overbearing.

REAR SUPPORT: Best in class. Hold you up like a manssiere (you Seinfeld fans know what we're talking about). (Seinfeld fans unite!) Some of our women felt the spine rose too high for comfort.

FORWARD FLEX: Sweet. Hits the spot just right in bumps and steeps.

STEERING POWER: Definitely a driver's boot. You can't just go along for a ride.

DYNAMIC COMFORT: Takes a Lange foot. Those who have it turned thumbs up, those that didn't had some discomfort. Walking is a challenge.

Nordica Beast/W10W

$700/$545

Part of Nordica's Wave collection, The Beast not only roams the mountain with confidence it may also be the best looking boot on the hill. Aggressive cosmetics and “The Beast” logo on the liner are clearly visible beneath its translucent cranberry shell. Without tarting it up, Nordica has tacked on value-added features. The buckles have been engineered to close with greatly reduced effort. A shock absorber in the heel drinks up excess chatter. Using technology licensed from the popular aftermarket Booster Strap, the beefy power strap is partially elasticized for quicker return to center flex. The liner is heat-moldable with a neoprene front to fit outsized toes, and a layer of Outlast for added warmth. You'll appreciate it since you'll rarely want to come in until day's end when your riding The Beast. Our women skied the W10, the first boot down in the Wave family with a specific women's last and sizing. It is softer flexing than the Beast and lacks some features including the shock absorber heel and adjustable spoiler.

On The Hill

Tangle with this Beast and you'll be pounding your chest and wailing like Tarzan. It's that much fun to ride. An uncanny blend of comfort (tops in class), foot-hugging fit and high-revving performance make this a sure-footed all-mountain ripper that can also handle a few runs of gate banging without missing a beat. One tester said, “Why bother with a race boot when this boot will do it all?” The bungee effect of the Booster is noticeable, providing a buoyant fore-aft rebound. Lightweight feel a plus too. Crazy-easy to get in and out of. Our women liked the W10 version as well feeling it offered sufficient performance for women looking to ski at a high level but not push the envelope to breaking point. They too scored it best for comfort.

Be Aware of: Over-tightening elasticized power strap. Boot board needs work to interface with orthotics.

EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Tongue yawns wide for problem-free entry/exit.

EASE/QUALITY OF ADJUSTMENTS: Innovative use of Velcro patches to attach front and rear spoiler.

EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS: Flex adjuster provides demonstrable change of character. Cuff cant has broad range.

LINER: Double layer of stretch neoprene accommodates prominent toes. Cosmetics visible beneath see-through shell a nice touch.

CLOSURE SYSTEM: Lightweight, variable-leverage buckles are clean and easy to latch. Gotta drill pilot hole to reset macro ladder with screwdriver. A one-time nuisance. Power strap rides high relative to tongue, creating undue pressure for some but Booster technology wraps securely.

LATERAL QUICKNESS: Motion to the edge transfers instantly. Quickness complimented by solid architectural stability of the cuff.

REAR SUPPORT: All there and then some. Keeps you centered and moving where you need to. Anatomically balanced.

FORWARD FLEX: Smooth, progressive and supportive without being too stiff. Set soft for speed; firm set on steeps yielded greater precision.

STEERING POWER: Precise as a nuclear physicist, powerful as tank.

DYNAMIC COMFORT: Scored highest in class. Tight package without discomfort. Teach kids, run gates, pound the bumps. You won't get sore feet. Generous length for marked size.

Rossignol Bandit B2

$579

Hmm, if there's something that seems familiar about this Bandit it's because under its bandana, it masqueraded as the Freeride XX last year. Rossi has tweaked the cosmetics (black buckles instead of white the most noticeable change) and re-badged it to capitalize on the marketing might of its popular Bandit skis. It also better reflects that this was a new boot last year, vastly different from the 2001 Freeride XX. The B2 uses Rossi's Power series architecture with a free-hinged shell with V-shaped slots cut into lower for smoother flex. The cuff uses bi-material construction with rigid reinforcement ribs to improve lateral sensitivity. The liner features heat-moldable padding and a “floating” tongue that adapts to different instep heights. Of course it has Rossi's trademark Inverted Overlap design.

On the Hill

Inverted overlap never ceases to impress, remaining supple and flexible without being shrewish. Even with relatively low, accommodating cuff, it drives energy to inside edge of ski like no other design and received excellent scores in lateral quickness. It engages the ski easily and stays hooked up through entire turn. It is fun and energetic, providing substantial bang without lots of frilly extras at an attractive price. Thin liner provides responsive, close-to-the-shell fit but may be unforgiving to skiers with bony prominences, especially at the ankles.

Be aware of: Remove/adjust rear spoiler if you feel discomfort or awkward forward stance.

EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Not bad. Pull flanges apart with hands on exit or Inverted Overlap will pinch.

EASE OF ADJUSTMENTS: Two-position flex requires Allen key. Buckles also require tool to macro set.

EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS: Floating tongue adjusts for height and instep contact for precision fitting.

LINER: Tongue provides good range of adaptability. Take in and out easily.

CLOSURE SYSTEM: Buckles only OK. Lost fans for difficulty of closure.

LATERAL QUICKNESS: Great ability to edge change quickly. Think and you are there.

REAR SUPPORT: Steadfast. Remember to tune the spoiler height.

FORWARD FLEX: Good and versatile. Play with flex adjuster. You will find a difference. May be too mushy for bigger skiers on soft setting.

STEERING POWER: All there. Ski engages easily and stays hooked up through entire turn.

DYNAMIC COMFORT: May require boot work. Several testers experienced pressure points that affected desire to push limits.

Salomon X Wave 9.0/W

$595

Salomon has elegantly outfitted this boot with everything it needs, and nothing it doesn't. The heat-moldable liner is firm without being painful. The 3D buckle obliges both low and high insteps. The top cuff buckles are macro-adjustable and the very top one has a hidden latch extension for meaty calves. The women's version comes with a softer flex, a female lasted liner and shell cuff, a strip of slippery fabric on the liner spine for extra easy entry/exit and polar fleece lining for extra warmth.

On the Hill

Topped the closely grouped pack with excellent performance marks but most stellar scores were earned in finish quality and ease of use categories. “Why can't all boots be like these?” questioned one tester. It is a like a good parent: supportive when necessary, stern when required and oh so comforting. It's not as quick as others are laterally but it is oh-so-smooth and gets the job done with surprisingly little effort.

Be aware of: Women's version in milky white see-through plastic got cosmetic thumbs-down. Slippery to walk.

EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Sets the standard. Absolutely no problems reported by any of our testers.

EASE OF ADJUSTMENTS:adapts very easily. Dual cuff adjusters click into one four detent position with ease. 3D Instep buckle

EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS: Substantial. Small increments go a long way.

LINER: Super comfortable. Good heel pocket.

CLOSURE SYSTEM: Bombproof, simple and efficient.

LATERAL QUICKNESS: Not as quick as others but oh so smooth.

REAR SUPPORT: Firm. Provides good exit from turn.

FORWARD FLEX: Balanced, progressive and efficient.

STEERING POWER: Dives into every turn with surety.

DYNAMIC COMFORT: All-day comfort. And then some.

Tecnica Icon ALU Hotform

$875

When it comes to fit and finish Tecnica is at the head of the class. The Icon Alu Hotform is loaded with a wealth of effective features and adjustments to enhance fit and function. That means it be tailored to match a variety of skier types and foot shapes but it isn't an out-of-the-box affair. You will need to work with a good boot fitter to wring all the benefits from what you're paying (considerably) for. Among the most important goodies: The Hotform customizable liner, Tecnica's swinging gate Rapid Access cuff and the elegantly effective Dual Pivot system, which anchors the cuff to the lower with offset hinges. That lets the boot precisely match the flex arc of the cuff to the skier's lower leg shape for more accurate steering.

On the Hill

Thanks to clever Hotform custom liner, this is the kind of boot you can spend the entire day banging hard on the mountain and still go out and night and party up at a dance club. Yes, it's that comfortable (it finished tops in class; several testers called them “bedroom slippers.”). It will plow through the muckiest conditions, shining on slippery, icy tracks. It is not afraid of speed. Several testers noted that steering input came more from leg, less from foot providing great stability in long, high-speed turns. Unisex (read:men) sizing left some of our women feeling it was too voluminous and tall to effectively pilot with their slender feet.

Be aware: Of your credit line. This is one pricey pair of shoes. It runs large; downsize! Liner hangs up on spoiler during removal.

EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Rapid Access cuff and cutthroat shell yawn open wide but limited use of bi-injection material and rigidity of Hotform material hinders entry/exit. Steady the tongue pull tab for easy slide in-out.

EASE OF ADJUSTMENTS: Bring your tool belt. Cuff adjuster, FF and spoiler all require Allen wrench. They are, however, one-time adjustments.

EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS: Dual Pivot cuff is only alignment system to address bowleg/knock-knee biomechanical variances and it does it extremely effectively.

LINER: Hotform easy and quick for shop techs. Sets new level in modification and comfort of custom liners.

CLOSURE SYSTEM: “Swinging cuff” wrap securely. Buckling system is as mechanically sound as a Subaru.

LATERAL QUICKNESS: Much of the power comes from the upper shaft, not the lower foot. It is slick and smooth but not as twitchy-fast as XT monoblock. Really shines in long turns.

REAR SUPPORT: Solidly structured, well-shaped, adjustable.

FORWARD FLEX: A solid, well-balanced suspension system.

STEERING POWER: It will get quickly and efficiently through all turns in all conditions but cruising is definitely its forte.

DYNAMIC COMFORT: Pressure is well-distributed. Ample room at heel (insert heel stays if you slosh around) and in toe box.

back to top