The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!
When testers start saying things like: a perfectly perfect all-mountain machine you know they've run out of superlatives with which to describe a stellar boot. This year's boot test offered up more good boots than our test team has ever seen, especially in the All-Mountain Traditional medium width group, but the Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 delivered (again) for our testers, who put the unchanged model back on the podium. It was nudged out of first place by a mere 0.01 point, so essentially it was a tie for the best of the best.
There's virtually nothing our test team doesn't like about the Mach1 MV 130. They unanimously praise the fit for being ideally shaped for the foot and leg with benchmark-style fit tension for the medium-volume audience. Testers say the liner is firm but well-shaped enough to avoid harshness or hotspots, and the gain with the higher density feel is less pack-out potential and a heightened connection from movement to the skis. Testers like the polyurethane build in the upper cuff and lower shell, fitted out with CAS dimpling for more permanently held stretches where needed. We've said this all before, and the boot hasn't changed since its last test, so we'll refer you to our cached, past reviews for more compliments on this boot.
This time around our testers gave the boot's stance a perfect score, which falls in line with the other boots in the Mach1 line (and Cochise line-up as well), and they say that this boot sets the standard for how a top-tier performance boot should handle on snow. They say it's powerful without feeling dull and quick edge-to-edge without ever lacking stability. This is one of those boots that simply makes skiers better, they said, and they reminded that the 120 and 110 flex options are equally good for the lighter, shorter or less aggressive.
When our testers start picking on power strap design (not everyone's hooked on the hook) and color in order to find something negative to comment on we figure it's a sign that things are close to flawless. But yeah, that orange has to go.
Testers were excited to experience Salomon's new BOA version of the medium width S/Pro Supra and their reaction to it was a little mixed, but with mostly good stuff ending up on their test forms. They liked the convenience of the BOA reel's one-click-at-a-time micro-adjustment and the intuitive nature of the gizmo, and they found the S/Pro Supra BOA 105 W GW to be quick to respond to edging and steering moves through a variety of different terrain and snow applications.
Testers were unanimous in their reported struggle to get this one on the foot and they pointed a tsk tsk finger at the BOA for restricting their entry (granted, they all feel like they deserve backstage passes everywhere they go). Once in, testers liked the solid heel pocket grip and firm ankle fit, which they said enhanced the boot's quickness and control over the ski once they were outside, going down. The cuff suited average calves nicely, but our thicker legged testers had some trouble finding enough power strap length to make the roundtrip (the catalog calls the strap style "screwed energyzer Velcro," which sounds exciting).
Testers said the 105-flex rating was understated as it held up dutifully to a severe pounding by our heavier, taller and more aggressive testers. A couple mentioned some bite spots over the top of the foot and at the base of the shin but they expected these would moderate with more skiing time or a liner cook job. Testers liked the micro-adjustment that the BOA cable routing provided but they said it took a little experimentation to find their goldilocks spot--they suggest testers back off tension a few clicks when needed rather than pop the BOA reel completely free to avoid having to re-spool excess cable to regain their happy place for the next descent.
The firm flex feel was coupled with a fairly upright feeling stance, so while this banished any overflexed quad burn testers mentioned that they needed to assertively move forward into the drivers seat to feel centered and a couple mentioned that a little bit of additional heel lift might have helped them out. Occasionally our test team might be guilty of prescribing to a stiffer-is-better ethos, but with the S/Pro Supra they suggested the 95-flex version could be worth a try for good-bang-for-buck and a more easily engaged, forward flex feel. However, there is a spectacular pink colorway available in the 105 Supra BOA, so...choices, choices.
First, forget the BOA business for a bit. Testers say the new S/Pro Supra 120 (see, no BOA) is a fantastic boot, period. They loved the classic, soft and anatomically shaped Salomon liner feel and called it a perfect medium width fit. One tester said it was the best Salomon fit since the X-Wave (that's dating our test team, huh?). Another tester said: Great overall fit. Fits great, skis even better. What about BOA? I forgot this had one. That's a compliment, I think.
The point is the BOA part of the S/Pro Supra 120 experience was an enhancement of an already great boot, not the headlining feature or raison d'etre. Did the test team like the BOA? Hell yes, they did--they had nothing (pretty much) bad to say about it, and thought that it added a cool new closure element to the mix. Testers think that the BOA lower boot closure functions as billed to incrementally wrap the foot in a snug boot burrito, one click at a time. They think that BOA will be a hit with skiers of all sorts--with the exception of those skiers who are categorically opposed to knobs or twisty things and the generally close-minded folks who wish to live in the past (not that there's anything wrong with that). Testers didn't find that the BOA cabling posed any impediment to entry, except for two guys but they were both Vermonters, so we kinda ignored 'em. Testers suggest that folks don't worry about how many clicks is just right and instead go by feel (though there is a visual tightness indicator at the shell overlap for those who just can't let go and feel it). Testers suggest folks don't over do it because the cranking power is substantial if you really go after some ski town wrist twisting. Reducing cable tension is best done by just backing off the reel a bit, clickety click, rather than pull-popping the reel into full release mode and having to re-spool the slack when it's time to lock 'er down again.
Ski performance was on par with Salomon's best medium width models, or perhaps better, as testers mentioned there was less lag from turn to turn and the response to quick steering movements was nearly immediate. Testers were surprised at the agility of what they thought might be just a comfy cruiser--it's got game for a skier who's able to wring it out of it, they said. However, testers say the comfortable fit is world class. It's Anatomical Fit score was a 4.80 and it's Convenience, Warmth & Features score was a perfect 5.00 after 15 separate tests. The huge number of tests performed on this boot is a testament to what will probably be its shelf appeal this season--testers suggest that good skiers with average foot and leg shapes put this on the short list and say don't wait too long to find one for try-on.
The Salomon S/Pro Alpha 130 EL impressed our test team even more than last year with its nearly flawless combination of narrow class fit and no-compromises downhill performance. Testers scored it well enough for a tied first place finish in the most competitive All-Mountain narrow category and said pithy things like: The ski reacts with subservience to this boot.
We tested the Alpha last year when it was first released, and our love for it was not a fluke, as evidenced by this year's second look and testers' sophomore love fest. What our testers loved this time around echoed their first--a classically Salomon liner feel mated to a powerhouse of a boot without performance flaws.
The fit is shockingly soft and smooth against the sock, from first slide-in to taking it off at the end of the day, testers said. And yet this silky, well padded, anatomically draped and painted-on liner feel didn't equate to a constant re-buckle on pack-out. Testers said it managed to hold fast to the foot and remain consistently tight, while simultaneously caressing the foot. In a boot fit brain tease, our testers were forced to confront the fact that they were calling this boot TIGHT (in all caps) while at the same time calling it COMFY (yes, caps again). There were no mentions of hot spots about the S/Pro Alpha 130 EL. There were multiple mentions of how well the Alpha contoured over the top of the foot and transitioned through the instep and into the boot throat, then on up the leg shaft against the shin. This midfoot to shin transition is one of the best our team's ever felt in a narrow, 130-flex boot. It's snug but somehow ideally shaped for a variety of different insteps and shins. For skiers with chronic instep and shin issues this boot is a must-try-on, according to our testers.
Somehow such comfort didn't deduct from the S/Pro Alpha 130's power on edge, which was given a perfect 5.00 after eleven testers each had their way with it. It's quickness score received a 4.89, so that didn't suck much either. Testers noted that the lateral stance is ever so slightly inside-edgy, which translated into massive trenching power but made for a slightly hooky or locked-up feel in soft snow slithers. These picky testers said it was within the range of an easy cuff adjustment using the eliptical, metal-to-metal adjustment mechanism. Testers say the stance is a touch upright, with a slightly lower-than-average internal ramp angle feel, which leveraged big power to the shovel once a skier made the move forward, but they caution that less assertive skiers will need to get on their A-game to stay out in front of this boot when it's time to go.
Testers dig the bootfitter-centric features, like the moldable Talyn liner tongue and fully dismantleable (totally takeapartable?) buckle and cuff attachment hardware, and they appreciate the placement of the instep buckle closer to the actual instep and with additional adjustment on that location. The 50mm cam buckle power strap does the job for our testers. And the blue? Well, we suppose nothing's perfect. No offense, Smurfs.
The Roxa R/Fit Pro W 105 caught testers' eye with its Ocean Blue cosmetic and Coral highlights, but they ended up liking it most for its solid lateral movements game, saying it was both quick to transition and solid on edge through varied terrain and snow surfaces.
Testers thought that the fit map was unique in that it trended to the snug side of the medium boots tested alongside it and it had both a short toebox feel coupled with a less-than-tight heel pocket. Testers wondered if adding some fill pads at the front of the liner's instep area might better hold the heel in place and simultaneously open the fit, lengthwise. They said the ankle pockets were nicely located and sculpted and testers liked the snug but comfortable fit through the instep into the lower leg shaft. The calf was on the narrow side of medium for our test team.
The R/Fit Pro W 105 came with some useful features like double sided cuff adjustments (though testers liked the boot's stance straight out of the box), dual liner pull loops and GripWalk soles that came mounted on the boot but with Alpine DIN soles in the box as well.
Testers liked how easily the boot skied in a variety of turn shapes and sizes and thought that it would be a great option for a lot of different skiers once the liner got heat molded.
Testers who had tested the R/Fit boot previously said that this year's R/Fit 130 was the best version they've tested. They liked this year's clean finish and well-executed details like the quick-release rip cord on the cam buckle power strap, dual sided cuff adjustment and dual pull loops on board the Ultralon 4D Biofit liner, but what they liked best about the R/Fit 130 is how well it motors through whatever they point it at. It's a polyurethane-powered all-mountain damp destroyer, they said, citing its unflappable, dependable attitude in both short and long turns.
Testers found the fit was a little less polished but it got the job done for most of our average volume feet and legs. Testers said that the fit is slightly shorter in length than the norm and slightly cramped in the toebox, but had ample room at the forefoot. Testers noted that the cuff accommodated medium to large calves quite well but left our slender-legged guys clanging around a bit, searching for support from buckles and straps. A few testers mentioned that the flex feel was firm (as expected for a 130 flex) but also started out with a bit of shin bite at the boot top. They followed-up to say that after skiing a few runs this fit zone did improve.
Testers extrapolated that the 120-flex R/Fit might offer a slighter softer feel against the shin and still punch well above its weight class based on the solidity of the 130 we tested--and save an extra 75-bucks. Another option Roxa offers at the 130-flex level would be to opt for the Intuition (I.R.) tongue-style liner for a $50 up-charge.
Our women's test team is an open-minded bunch--they've given lots of different types of boots a fair shake over the years, whether they were overlap designs or cabrio-style three-piece constructions, or even removable soft boot exoskeleton affairs. They're an inclusive crew, and now it's clear that they are also, absolutely not, flexist. The Rossignol Pure 80 was far-and-away the softest model tested this year, but testers said that for its intended target it delivered on all criteria: fit, performance, stance, features and convenience. They gave it a near-perfect 4.80 (out of 5.00) which put it in the company of the test's best perennial performers.
With only two caveats (they hated the grey color and said it was a little more snug than expected for a 102-mm) lobbed in the Pure 80's direction, testers overwhelmingly loved this boot for how it over-delivered in every way, but with particular regard to it's flex-index rating and price tag.
They said that the shape was well-mapped for the wider foot and thicker leg, though a couple testers said it trended to the snug side of the wide ride group. They thought the heel and ankle pockets were appropriately snug for the target and liked the flare at the boot top for a thicker calf and the room at the forefoot for a broad spread there. They thought the liner's fur accents were a nice touch but not quite enough to compensate for the dull grey exterior--though, they did say the color-way played into its stealthy price-point sleeper persona.
Testers loved how well this boot skied, with virtually all testers registering some level of surprise over how strongly the supposed 80-flex drove skis through a variety of terrain choices and snow surfaces. They said the stance was balanced, the steering response was near-immediate and the stability was confidence-inspiring. They said the Pure 80 is a no-brainer for any thick-footed intermediate or cost-conscious advanced skier looking for a comfy-warm slam dunk boot buy.
Of the Rossignol Pure Pro 100, one tester commented that it was easy to find one's balance in this boot, and sure enough it's Dynamic Balance score came out to a perfect 5.00! Virtually every tester commented on the Pure Pro 100's instant comfort and ease to get on and off, and whatdya know, another perfect 5.00! There were no deal-breaker issues here, nor any unwanted surprises. Many testers called it a perfect medium width fit and said it was exactly what they expected out of a 100-flex all-mountain boot.
Skiers should not be lulled into a lazy dream state by the Pro 100's easygoing entry and exit attitude and silky, teddy-bear-soft liner feel (one tester said the boot was so comfortable she needed to head to the bar), because this boot skis with the best of them. In fact, its performance metrics were higher than most of the medium width all-mountain group's entries in the 105 to 115 flex index range. Testers said it's not a sports car but rather a luxury sedan that has a sport mode you probably won't ever use--but you could. Their favorite thing about this boot (aside from their love for the liner's furry luxury) was that it was just completely problem-free. There wasn't a thing about it that wouldn't let them recommend it to a friend. Okay, a couple said that the heel pocket could be a little tighter, but that's an easy fix with a bootfitter's help, so we'll ignore that.
Testers loved how they skied in this boot, from the stance to its stability on edge, and they didn't call its cosmetics boring--black and chrome works fine for them, apparently. Simple, comfy, good-looking--and it skis well too. That was enough for our team to put this one on the category podium.
The Rossignol flagship, narrow women's All-Mountain model has created a bit of a niche in the last several years among our crew--testers have come to expect a graphically stunning boot (be it luxuriant fur, sophisticated accents or flashy wall colors) that also happens to shock with how strongly it skis. The Pure Elite 120 has been a boot skied by the best athletes on the hill but also committed intermediates that are looking for a step-up without hampering their fun with the status quo. Add the fire engine red coloration and let's include confident to the mix of adjectives that describe the current Pure Elite 120 skier--you better either ski as good as this boot looks or think you ski as good as this boot looks when you click into your bindings.
Our testers were very impressed with the Pure Elite 120 last year and that didn't change at this year's test, nor should it have, as the boot returned to the test unchanged as well. Last year testers were immediately drawn to the vibrant red cosmetic (we said then, like hummingbirds to a feeder) and after skiing it made it the object not just of their affection but also of their attempted thievery. When testers were thwarted in their larcenous plans at the end of our test period a few of them went out and bought the boot for themselves--know that this act is borderline heresy for ski industry veteran insiders who can usually finagle an angle on equipment freebies or at the very least steep discounts--and we think that paints a very clear picture of the allure of this boot. Voting with one's dollars may be more telling than giving high scores.
All that hype aside, this is just a ski boot after all, and that's one of the things that testers like--for all its flash, it still fits right, stands right and skis right. Testers gave its stance angles a perfect score and a near-perfect 4.83 for Edge Power as well as its Convenience, Warmth & Features score. Our thick-legged testers say that while it's a properly snug narrow, there's enough flare at the boot top to caress (rather than crush) the calf. This is one of those boots that testers wait to test until they're going out on a photo shoot or a three-run backside mission with some hard chargers--they know it won't let them down or bring them to tears and they can just enjoy the ski experience. And isn't that what any good skier wants--a tear-free epic day, all around the mountain?
Testers remain split on the split power strap, with some finding the dual pulley Velcro useful in its varied placement options and others calling it silly, gimmicky, stupid and fiddly. They all do like the little rooster logo on it, though. Other features are refreshingly spare for our team: single cuff adjustment, single tongue pull loop, GripWalk soles (white!). Steal one if you can, testers suggest, but they assure that it's worth the money if you have to pay for it.
Over 70% of our test team awarded the Rossignol Hi-Speed 130 HV GW a perfect score of 5.00, and we think that's saying something. Not only did it top the wide last field in the All-Mountain Traditional category this year (well, there was only one entry there) it was the second-highest scoring boot of the entire men's field, across all categories--and we know that's saying something.
Testers agreed that the Rossi Hi-Speed 130 HV is exhibit A in our current evidence box that supports our contention that now is the best boot era ever for the thick-footed, skilled skier. Wide-lasted boots continue to get better and better, offering the right fit for the wide side without a lot of bootfitting effort and without sacrificing proper stance and on-snow performance. Most brands offer 102-mm boots, but only a handful offer an all-mountain line-up of narrow, medium and wide lasts that hang together in well-differentiated fits but mirror-image performance levels, per stiffness. Rossignol is one of those, testers say.
What's so special about the Hi-Speed HV? Well, nothing really and everything because of that. It is not a fancy-featured model, testers assure. It has a Velcro power strap, four buckles, a cuff adjustment and GripWalk soles. It goes on and off easily without having to manage any cables or laces. It closes up using a traditional buckle configuration with a similarly traditional liner to pad the inner workings of the shell. It stands in a balanced and therefore inconspicuous way. It matches the movements of the lower leg while skiing, hinging properly at the ankle joint during flexion and it engages the skis' edges predictably, in both directions. It is black with a little bit of red. That the boot is unremarkable in these ways primarily means that it is not problematic in any way. Said another way, the boot is flawless in its simplicity, and our test team liked that a lot.
Yes, a couple testers thought there were some spots that were more snug than expected for an HV model, like against the navicular bone and over the top of the foot, but theirs was a minority opinion and they were admittedly minor level complaints. Some testers still wish for flat Alpine soles instead of GripWalk, but again, a minority viewpoint at this stage in the game. The majority of testers overwhelmingly loved this one and suggested that any skier with thick feet should put it on his short list.
Testers say the Rossignol Hi-Speed Pro 130 Carbon MV GW is consistent in fit and performance--it's a no-surprises, bankable boot sitting square in the middle of the Hi-Speed range, between the narrow Elite and the wide HV. Testers say that this three-model line up is ideally spaced, or differentiated, from each other fit-wise but virtually identical in how they each ski. Testers say the idea of "pick-your-width" boot shopping is exemplified in the Hi-Speed line, as there is no performance trade-off for increased width or warmth.
The Hi-Speed Pro sets a standard for medium width fit for many of the test team, who praised the boot as virtually flawless in fit for the average foot and leg. They like the balance the liner strikes between its soft address of the foot with more firmly structured and sculpted pockets for the ankle bones and heel. Testers had virtually no fit issues that would require a bootfitter's help, other than one tester who thought it ran a touch looser than he liked--in this situation a shift to the narrow Elite would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Testers say this is a legit 130-flex that offers an evenly distributed pressure against the shin and a flex feel that doesn't collapse, even under a serious pounding from a large driver. Stance-wise, testers also found no fault, enjoying the position the boot placed them in for front-to-back and side-to-side movements. Quickness, power and balance scores were all 4.63's, further supporting testers' assessment of the boot's reliable on-snow attitude.
Features were simple but useful: liner pull loops, GripWalk soles, cuff adjustment, Velcro power strap. Testers liked the subtle but stylish Rossi striped pull loops and power strap graphic.
So few complaints from our crew on this one--what's not to like about that?
The Rossignol Hi-Speed Elite 130 Carbon LV GW returned unchanged to our boot test and our team again put it at the very top of the competitive narrow All-Mountain Traditional group. Well, it was fourth down from the top, but it was out of the first spot by only 0.03 points, so we're calling it a virtual four-way tie for first there. Last year's debut of the Hi-Speed line impressed testers with a closer, more anatomically sculpted fit and quicker, more energetic response to the edge. Those elements struck testers again this year.
The Hi-Speed Elite offered a tightening-up of Rossi's narrow performance offering (predecessor Allspeed Elite) and yet testers say that the Hi-Speed Elite still trends toward the slightly roomier side of the narrow last group. Not by much, testers said, but Rossi has not lost its comfort and warmth edge over the competition, even as it hammers a ski through variable terrain or drives it in a gouging arc against hard snow. Testers love the just right liner that's firm enough in the heel and ankle without offending bony points, and they said that the feel against the foot from the first slide in was top of class.
The closer fit of the Hi-Speed Elite bumps its quickness scores--testers awarded it a 4.83 there, but it's A-game is in its brutish power against the ski edge where testers gave it a perfect 5.00. This is one of those boots where testers mention that it skis surprisingly powerfully in comparison to its pleasant fit and entry-exit demeanor. Its carbon infused polyurethane cuff is stiff and transmissive and the polyurethane lower shell remains damp and stable. This is a solid-feeling boot that reminds good skiers what real boot plastic in proper shell wall thicknesses feels like (feels good, is what they say).
