BOOT REVIEWS: JUST OUT FOR FUN!Atomic | Dalbello | Dolomite| Head | Lange | Lowa | Rossignol | Salomon | Tecnica Overlooked in the novelty drive is the fact that ski boot makers have taken significant strides in the quality of conventional overlap boots. Like computer chips, you get more power for less money all the time. Features once the exclusive province of expert boots—heat-moldable liners, all-alu micro-macro adjustable buckles, brawny power straps—have trickled down to economically priced models. If you consider skiing one of your recreational activities but not something that’s always on your front burner, these boots will provide you with years of reliable service at reasonable prices. You’ll find they reward good technique when you’re at the top of your game and forgive momentary lapses without severe punishment. With their two-tone styling and translucent plastic Atomic’s Tri-Tech boots are among the most cosmetically distinctive on the market. The C 9 is the most reasonably-priced boot in the Tri-Tech collection that features a floating stabilizer and bolt-on toe and heel lugs to separate the shell from the chassis. Letting the sole flex freely lengthwise eliminates dead spots when the ski is decambered and reduces weight giving the boot a feather-light feel. As with all Atomics, the toe box on the Carve 9 is anatomically shaped and roomy, and the shell is mounted at an angle from the centerline of the sole in a way that yields optimal leverage on the turning edge. With no adjustments beyond the buckles, the Carve 9 is a simple get-in-and-go boot but leaves little room for fine tuning.
The Carve 9 shell wraps firmly around the foot, a feeling improving intermediate skiers will appreciate but beginners may find it a bit startling. It also reacts with greater sense than others in this class, prompting one tester to call it a bargain performance boot. Like an unleashed puppy, the Carve 9 is snappy and energetic so make sure you’re skills are up to its desire to romp. In an effort to set it apart, Atomic engineered a set of buckles with catch nibs that look cool but don’t latch easily. Several testers noted a tendency for the cuff top to pinch the calf. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Slippery liner material lets your foot slide in and out like a hot dog on a mustard slathered bun. Like all Dalbellos, this is what’s known in the industry as a long margin boot. Meaning you’ll probably pay a lot less than the suggested retail price. By no means will you get less. The NX 8.4 narrowly missed being the top overall scorer in this category and impressively swept the performance categories. Gracefully styled in black with two-tone copper buckles (the men’s version only; the ladies is all silver) Dalbello has loaded the boot with numerous useful features. The twin overlap shell is uniquely designed to promote easy entry and exit and a donut-shaped pull tab on the liner tongue helps the cavity split open wide. A dial on the spine provides soft-hard-walk flex resistance and heel height is adjustable by an external screw. That’s a feature women who want to ramp up will appreciate since it eliminates the need to purchase heel lifts. They’ll also appreciate the tapered heel and heat-retaining microfleece liners in the women’s versions. Both men’s and women’s models feature a high-rising rear spoiler that’s easily removed to provide more cuff volume and lower cuff height for skiers with bulky calves. The liner is graced with a layer of heat-moldable foam and pre-wired to accept a Therm-IC foot warmer system although batteries are not included (battery packs are $59 for one that uses 8 AA batteries—which can really add up over time—or $99 for a set of rechargeable packs). This one has the goods. The NX 8.4 is so strong and positive in its turns that some initially felt it might be too much boot for the category. It ran through thickening muck on the darkest of blue terrain with no trouble, a good sign for skiers planning to tackle tougher stuff. But then it also dialed down to an idle and linked slow speed turns with ease. Both casual skiers and those looking to turn it up a notch will find this boot a great friend at a great price. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: As easy as putting on a pair of flip-flops. Tongue tab is a winner. Dolomite Explore 5.4/L [ $400 ] The Explore 5.4 is one of those rare boots that add up to more than the sum of its parts. It scored well enough in each of the individual categories but its top mark was for overall impression where we ask our testers to judge the entire package. That’s a good thing. The second boot in a four-buckle overlap derivative of Dolomite’s Sintesi platform, the 5.4 is a simple, straightforward, well-priced design. But that doesn’t mean it lacks refinements or guts. The buckles are all-alu and micro-adjustable, the top two being macro-adjustable as well. There’s an effective and easily operated cuff cant, a two-position flex adjustment and a removable spoiler—all useful features that contribute to a boot that could be competitive even if it moved up a category. Lewis & Clark look out. This boot is true to its name. It instills the desire and confidence to explore the mountain in skiers acquiring new skills. It has the kind of strong guts improving skiers will appreciate without punishing indiscretions. Its fluid forward flex subtly sinks into every turn and is always ready to attack the next one. It offers plenty of support without ever being burdensome. As with all Dolomites, it fits the higher volume foot exceptionally well. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Uninhibited entry and exit. Pull tab on the tongue top makes getting the boot on stupid-simple. Images of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson pop up every time we review a boot from EZ-On collection. Then we start humming, “Got to, ease on down, ease on down the road…” Sorry. We digress. Head calls this collection EZ-on (pronounced Ease On) because of the way it slips onto your foot, not because of any connection to the 1978 African-American remake of the Wizard of Oz film. The company’s claim of no-hands entry—facilitated by a clever shell geometry—was substantiated by our testers, who placed it second in Ease of Entry/Exit. It’s also roomy, using Head’s widest last. But the 9.5 will help you ease on down the hill with comfort and conviction. It scored solidly in all the performance criteria categories. It has a clever cadre of features including the award-winning Double Power Buckle with a super-macro adjustment at the top and a single cuff cant. The Auto Ski-Walk mechanism built into the heel releases the cuff for easy walking when off the ski and locks it back up when the binding heel clicks down. We’re not partial to ski-walk devices—they weaken the spine and you can achieve a similar walking ease by flipping the cuff buckles open—but if you do a lot of walking or standing around at the bar, this is the best conceived design out there. The liner is heat customizable and features a malleable toe box for great comfort and broad fit characteristics. The low cuff makes it a good choice for skier with prominent calves.
This boot will make you want to ski more because you’ll do it better. It is solid, trustworthy and among the quicker boots in the category. Still, it is versatile and will not scare beginners. You can stand up and gently steer or get down and drive it harder. It offers the dependability that an improving skier appreciates at a great value. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Cuff tips back for breezy in/out and there’s a pull-tab at the tongue top. Lange has shortened the nomenclature on this brother/sister pair that used to go by the names Vector and Venus. We’re not sure why the company abridged the names but we can guess. It might have something to do with the fact that our female tester used to wretch when told they were to ski the Venus. And then they proceeded to make vulgar, obvious rhyming nicknames for the boot. Anyhoo… Lange has made extensive use of muti-injection plastics technology in the Vec/Ven to tailor fit and performance in all the right spots. The effort has yielded a lightweight boot that still has guts and stability. The all-alu buckles offer exceptional adjustability with two ways to macro set--flip-and-move plus screw-positioning—as well as micro fine-tuning. The cuff adjuster has limited travel but the ski/walk mode actually works and makes it easy to hoof around the base lodge and parking lot. Women will appreciate the volume reduction shims integrated into the boot board to snug fit in the lower shell for their narrower feet. The liner is typically Lange lean with less extensive padding than others in this category. That makes for greater precision but with an increased chance of a hot spot or two. This boot is as quick as a Florida retiree to the early bird dinner specials. It promotes a strong stance and transitions from turn to turn with reliability. The Vec/Ven is ideal for more aggressive casual skiers (is that an oxymoron?). Stick you nose down the fall line and trust these horses to come back home. They will. More volume from instep rearward than typical Lange but tightness in toe box had some testers bailing out early with sleepy feet. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Not as easy as others in this category. If North American skiers know the Lowa name at all, it’s as a maker of rugged telemark and outdoor boots. The brand has a following here but its popularity positively soars in the Alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. When it comes to Alpine skiing, however, Lowa possesses a market presence similar to Suzuki’s in the automotive industry. Not much. It uses a lot of steady, tried-and-true technology and try to aggressively value price. And sometimes they stick their bats out and, lo and behold, hit an excuse-me homerun inside the foul pole to the opposite field. That’s the SC 400. The classic overlap makes good use of bi-injected plastic in the shell and has an impressive compliment of features. The buckles are all-alu and micro adjustable. The cuff latches can be macro set but only with an Allen key or Torx driver. No biggie, since it’s a one-time operation but not easy in a shop try-on situation. The cuff adjuster is impressively two-sided and provides a good range of travel. A ski/walk lever makes it easy to go from tooling around outside to standing at the bar. A useful and impressive feature on the woman’s model is the expandable cuff that increases diameter with the twist of an adjustment lever. All the features of a high-end boot with a very forgiving flex and a good dose of lateral support. Skid or carve—albeit at low speeds—depending on your mood, skills or stamina. The SC 400 will go along with whatever you desire. A beginner-low intermediate could keep this boot for a long run before topping out the improvement ladder. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Judged second easiest in category. Tongue loop helpful but could be larger. Rossignol Salto STS/Saphir STS [ $389 ] It’s hard to put a finger on what makes the Salto (for men) and Saphir (for women) combo a winner. Certainly, it’s not their names which rivals sister company Lange’s Vec/Ven pair for goofiest in class. And they didn’t score big in any specific categories. Instead, they took the tortoise route and were steady in all phases, earning respectable scores in every column. The liners make generous use of thermo-moldable foams to personalize fit and polar fleece for warmth and comfort. The shell extensively employs bi-material construction with softer plastic at critical fit junctures and a rigid frame for power transfer. There’s also a standard compliment of personalization features--cuff cant, macro buckles (that require a tool to set), a walk mode switch--that all work adequately. One stick-out feature is the replaceable, rubber toe and heel pieces that make walking a breeze and provides superior traction. Fit and finish quality does nothing to hurt Rossignol’s stature as one of the leading ski equipment manufacturers. Both the shell cuff and the liner in the Saphir respect female morphology with a lower, wider profile and a narrowed heel. Extraordinary pillow-like comfort with oodles of toe room. But don’t be fooled. The tranquil environment belies a good degree of nimbleness and strength. The Salto and Saphir are very capable when challenged and provide spicy, spirited rides on a variety of terrain from groomers to dancing through widely-spaced trees. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Easy slider but no special tricks. Salomon Performa 7.0/L [ $425 ] The name says it all (albeit with a Brooklyn accent): This boot is a performer—tops in the Out for Fun bunch, a mark earned by capturing four individual category titles and scoring near the top in every other one as well. The 7.0 has been the benchmark in this group since its introduction four years ago and it hasn’t lost a bit of its appeal as it settles into middle age. The original no-hands-entry boot—the instep flaps flower open like hibiscus on a sunny summer day—it topped the Entry/Exit ease docket. It’s blissfully free of gimmicks, relying on a well-tailored shell and liner and bulletproof, all-alu micro-adjustable buckles to wrap the foot. Its single cant adjuster is among the more effective in this category. Its flex adjuster truly makes a difference. The simple adjustable spoiler effectively tailors cuff diameter and rear support. The liner has a layer of thermo-moldable foam for customizing fit. The women’s version is graced with a variety of small but effective accommodations including changes in the cuff and tongue shape, built-in heel lifts and longer buckle travel. Polished as a British butler, it’s the best seller in this category and deservedly so. The well-balanced combination of comfort and performance will bring a smile of exhilaration to weekend warriors with high aspirations. While it has enough spunk for adventure forays on powder days, it is also highly mannered. Its flex is soft and forgiving but definitely there and doesn’t fold under load. Laterally, it’s gentle yet responsive. It provides room to grow but will not punish you for mistakes committed along the way. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Slide in like a greased pig. Stop wincing. We’ll spare you the Culture Club puns we heaped on when we touted the big bro RX version of this boot in the New Tech Performance group. The X8 is the most expensive boot in our Out for Fun category but we gave it a pass to the dance because it’s the last boot down in the Rival collection that still has Dual Pivot. Yes, we think the feature is that important. How you stand in a boot may be the most important factor to skiing success. With Dual Pivot, you simply have more ways to achieve good balance, especially if you run a tendency to bowlegs or knock-knees. Truth be told, you don’t give up that much moving from the RX to the X8—and you pocket $100. The spine stays solid since it doesn’t have the ski/walk feature found in models below and you still have all the attractive features including anti-vibration sole and heel adaptable liner. You give up the forward lean adjustment (a marginally useful feature) and the plastic and buckles are of step-down quality—but not so that most skiers would notice. The liner, however, is noticeably more spongy. Overall, it’s sort of like going with the six-cylinder engine instead of the eight in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It does the job very well except in serious jams. If your feet are wide and beefy as Texas steaks, this boot will serve up all-day fun and let you get as good as you want to be. Its air carpet smooth ride lets you noodle along just fine on the gentle tilt but does the deal when you ratchet the needle up a notch—or even two. EASE OF ENTRY/EXIT: Slides on and off like butter on a hot roll. A tongue loop would be nice but that’s like asking Audi for more cup holders. |
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