While the Fischer RC4 105 LV BOA is a Vacuum boot and one of the unique qualities about the Fischer Vacuum molding system is that it can compress the shell around the foot, actually making a heel p
The Gist
The debut of the women’s S/Max was met with widespread tester approval last year and it returns unchanged for another go this season. While some boots are powerful but heavy, and others might be agile and light, yet unstable, testers said that the new S/Max 120 W combines all performance elements in a perfectly even blend. They also like its true to narrow class fit—very snug in all the right places. One tester said, look out ladies, there’s a new boss b!#(% in town--powerful, driven, and tight. Very quick Custom Shell HD molding made subtle but good changes, they said.
The Fit
Testers put this on the tightest end of the narrow class for its fit in the lower boot and cuff. It's a true narrow and testers with slender legs and narrow heels absolutely loved the evenly contoured grip on every nook and cranny. Our thicker legged testers didn't like the cuff fit as much. Testers said that the shape is anatomical in every way, so long as the calf isn't too big, though Custom Shell HD molding could open that up a bit. The instep fit is close and testers said the flex feel is firm (a real 120) but evenly distributed on the shin. A few testers commented that it was not the easiest on or off in the group.
Performance
Our test team loved how this boot skied everywhere on the hill, from firm groomers to dicey crud. They called it light and reactive but simultaneously stout and damp. Some testers felt the flex lacked a little rebound, but all appreciated the 120 flex power and relayed that transitions turn to turn were synaptically quick.
Cool Features
One tester said the best feature of the S/Max 120 W was the fact that it was a real boot without a bunch of girly fluff and B.S. And along those lines, the features are stripped down here. Yes, it can be custom molded--the Custom Shell HD process is fast and effective for subtle shape changes our tests have shown. Testers like the Sense Claw 45mm cam buckle style power strap for cranking the cuff closure and dual liner pull loops are nice for getting this one on.
The Gist
Our test team was stoked to get our feet into the new S/Pro HV 130 to see how the first true performance wide ride from Salomon since the Mission RS would feel. It's design is modeled after the popular S/Pro medium width, but opened up in width, instep height and cuff circumference. Testers loved the way the amplified room along the lateral border of the foot let it sit flat to the floor with room to spread out and said that while the cuff grips the leg closely it flares enough at boot top to handle the bigger calf that probably goes with this foot.
The Fit
The forefoot and especially the lateral border of the foot has a more ample fit than expected from a 102mm last, which, along with an open and tall feeling instep fit makes for a great fit match for the thickest of feet. Testers said the ankles are well-contoured for an anatomical grip but not as snug as the medium width S/Pro. Similarly the HV's cuff fit is slightly more open than the medium width S/Pro, and flared at boot top to accommodate the muscular calf, though testers say the cuff fit sits on the snug side of the wide ride average, while the lower boot sits to the wide end. The Custom Shell HD feature offers easy fit adaption as needed--our tests have shown positive, if subtle, results for opening up the fit in tight spots and improving stance alignment.
Performance
As with S/Max and medium volume S/Pro, the HV is built on the Coreframe chassis which utilizes a stiff insert as a way to provide rigidity and power to the edge in a lightweight, thin shell wall design. In the S/Pro HV 130 the shell and cuff are polyurethane with fiberglass Coreframe inserts. Testers have liked the power to weight ratio in all the Coreframe boots and mention that tactile awareness of the snow surface is very high, but they manage to avoid feeling twitchy.
Cool Features
Kaprolene is the additive to polyurethane that allows for Custom Shell molding. Now in certain models within the S/Max, S/Pro, S/Pro HV and MTN lines the Kaprolene used is pre-mixed in precise amounts into the polyurethane itself rather than as a somewhat random additive at the time of plastic injection. This creates a more predictable and defined molding response which, when used in these thin shelled boots, drastically reduced cook times from ten minutes to only two, molding from five minutes to only three and cool-down to five minutes. Our tests showed legit results without a degradation of performance, post-molding. Salomon now offers a kit for bootfitters to drill out the Oversized Pivot cuff hinge point and replace it with a lateral cuff adjustment for skiers who need more stance angle adaptability than the Custom Shell molding process will provide.
The Gist
The Pure Elite 120 has always earned its highest marks for its balanced stance, rapid-fire quickness and its high level of comfort, warmth and convenience. Testers remind not to let its fuzzy, furry liner fool you into thinking that this isn’t a top tier performer. They say it’s one of the stiffest and strongest of all the women's all-mountain boots, and while it is the roomiest of the narrow class in virtually every fit parameter, it doesn’t stray into true medium volume. Ease of use, good looks (testers like this year's graphic update) and great skiing get it perennial gold.
The Fit
Testers agree it's one of the roomiest of the narrow category—borderline medium—with a tall and upright feeling cuff and a roomy toebox (length, width & height). A few of our low-volume testers successfully dropped down one size in this model. On the whole, testers don't mind the extra room, and they say that the anatomical shaping is spot-on for the human foot and leg. They all love the faux fur, and universally praise the evenly progressive flex feel, if firm, at a legit 120.
Performance
Our taller, more aggressive skiers loved the Elite 120's tall, upright and stiff cuff in their normal size—they had the long leg leverage to get over the top of this boot and uncork its raw power and quickness. So too, did the shorter testers who were able to size down and get a lower cuff fit. Average height and shorter testers who stuck with their normal size felt a little pushed back onto their heels by the cuff and commented that they wanted a little heel lift to help put them in the driver's seat. Every tester, to a woman, agreed this is one powerful and responsive ride.
Cool Features
The fuzzy liner is made with Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not a figment of testers' imaginations. A set of GripWalk soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with GripWalk bindings only).
The Allspeed Elite is narrow, the Allspeed Pro is medium and the Allspeed is wide. Every year testers comment that while the lasts get wider, they maintain the performance lineage across the board--stance angles, closure, energy transfer to the ski all remain standard for each model, and a skier can choose the best match for his foot and leg. Testers dig the Allspeed 120's tallish cuff against the leg and a strong but energetic flex feel--not rigid, not soft but somewhere right in between with a proper stopping spot, short of feeling overflexed. The fit over the midfoot and into the instep is generous and combined with the well-flared calf fit produced enough room for some real manly men here, they said. As always, the polyurethane construction in shell and cuff equated to damp stable skiing that adds up to confidence in all conditions.
It's a wide ride with plenty of volume, its liner is cushioned and soft, and yet the Allspeed 120 has enough grab on the foot to enable high-end skiing movements and control big skis. One of our testers summed-up the Allspeed's classic fit like this: "It's like hugging a big, curvy, hot chick and feeling the softness and the firmness in all the right places." Regardless of the hashtags we still think that's a good way to say it. Testers also say the cuff is tall, upright and that its fit is open enough for big-dude legs.
Testers are impressed with how strongly this boot skis--a toughened up 120 flex they said, but testers also cite the dialed stance angles and high torsional and lateral rigidity that tips a ski on edge and manages it there through a variety of terrain at virtually every speed. Several of our testers mentioned throwing everything they had at it and it never failed.
The price is one its best features—best bang for your buck of the entire test, one tester said. But the fact that there's a 100-flex and a 130-flex version of this (oh, and an 80) means the options are many for high-volume foot and leg guys. It does have a Thinsulate liner, but if you're buying this boot we're betting you don't get too cold. This year GripWalk soles are available as an improved strolling add-on, for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The Gist
Our test team liked the step up to the 115 flex women’s Speedmachine last year, saying the additional horsepower drove big skis well without feeling unmanageable—and so stepped it up to a second place finish in the group. This year they still love the vertical room over the top of the foot and said that the ankle pockets are firmly performance oriented (read: mold the 3D Cork Fit liner). They appreciated its useful features, like the Power Driver power strap spoiler, adjustable calf and a functional cuff adjustment for dialing lateral stance angles. Ratio of comfort to performance is surprisingly high, given that they said this one goes everywhere and does everything.
The Fit
The Cork-clad exterior material on the liner ankle pocket area is highly heat moldable, but on initial room temperature try-on felt pretty aggressive to our testers. Just a few runs warmed them up enough to relax to a tolerable firmness, but liner molding was the recommendation for a fully comfortable, all-day fit there. The toebox remains roomy, especially over the top of the toes, which most testers liked but a few felt it allowed for too much shift into the backseat at times. Testers say the dreamy Nordica liner feel remains fully intact still and found it one of the easiest performance mediums to get on and off. The calf fit is open and can be adjusted for a larger calf, so that feature was a test team favorite.
Performance
Shockingly strong on edge for how comfy it is, was the tester takeaway on average. Plenty quick, they said, for having so much luxury liner wrapping the foot. The stance angles were right on the money, and the straight up polyurethane construction pleased our old school rippers who like a strong and stable boot for dominating the downhill off of chairlifts. Hell yeah!
Cool Features
The thin shell wall in areas where common prominent points live makes it easy to modify the boot with a heat stretch, while keeping the boot thicker in areas that generate power and stability. The Nordica Infrared Heat stretching system is unique in that it uses an infrared heater to get the shell to temperature, then employs a suction-cup device to suck the shell punch into place, like a dent-puller at an auto body shop. It's got double liner pull loops and comes mounted with GripWalk soles and ISO 5355 ("DIN") alpine soles in the box--that's a nice add on.
The Gist
Edged for first place by a mere two-hundredths and sporting a nearly perfect score for edge power and stability, last year testers said the Promachine was an absolute powerhouse that needed not a single fit modification out of the box. Lively and balanced, they said it’s also tall and firm against the leg, and they liked that just fine. This is a real skier’s boot, they said, the kind that appeals to an all-mountain shredder who might often opt for a stiffer men’s model. One tester said, this boot has your back! This year, the teal highlights are gone--oh well.
The Fit
Testers used lots of evenly sprinkled 2's (1 tightest, 5 loosest) to rate the Promachine's fit in both the lower boot and the cuff. It's not race boot tight, but just right tight for the category, they said. Its tightest score was for the heel pocket and its roomiest was for the calf—that's a fit blueprint that will work for a lot of women. One tester whined about the heel pocket being too tight around the Achilles tendon, but our custom tests showed the 3D Cork Fit Primaloft liner did a good job of opening the fit where needed without losing a firm grip elsewhere, so we told her to quit whining.
Performance
Though testers called it the perfect mix of power and agility, it received a perfect score average for Quickness, Steering & Feel so apparently testers corroborated Nordica's claim that the thin shell wall Tri Force construction lightens the boot and provides better ground feel without a loss of torque. While the boot's lightness was noticed, it wasn't the primary element that testers were attracted to. They were far too focused on how well they skied everywhere on the mountain on the Promachine 115 W to worry about the boots myriad other good features, of which less weight certainly is one.
Cool Features
Testers like the rolling, grippy stride of the GripWalk soles that come mounted on the boot and noticed (and appreciated) the soles' aqua highlights that matched the rear spine and Power Driver power strap plate (which they also liked for its shin pressure displacement). Our techie testers also appreciated the full complement of useful stuff, like dual lateral cuff adjustment, a removable Velcro rear spoiler, two liner pull loops and four easy to use buckles (yes, with aqua highlights).
The Gist
Last year's Speedmachine 130 returned to our boot test beefed up with a revision made to the 3-D Cork Fit Primaloft liner that tightened and firmed the interior feel throughout. Testers said that modification transformed the formerly fluffed Speedmachine to a fully hardened All-Mountain medium width warrior, as evidenced by its highest score in the edge power and transmission category. However, testers assured that it hadn’t lost its signature easy entry and well-loved, evenly draped Nordica initial fit, it’s just toughened-up enough to be perfect--and remains so this year with only a graphic update, which testers appreciate.
The Fit
It's still on the wide side of the medium group in the toebox and forefoot, and plenty dreamy, creamy, cushy upon one's first slide-in (which is super easy), but the fit quickly narrows to a firm wrap around the ankles and on the heel, which is much improved over its debut year, testers agreed. The fit is evenly medium, testers say, through the instep and into the lower leg zone, which has a more locked-in, athletic feel due to the stiffer liner cuff construction. The flex feel is dead-on for comfortable (but high-end) skiing moves and testers liked the Power Driver plate that slides on the power strap for spreading pressure across the tongue.
Performance
This is the Volvo XC 90 of ski boots, one tester said. Sure, why not--all-wheel-drive, 250 horsepower, paddle shifters and plenty of leg room! Testers say the Speedmachine 130 practically skis for you it's so well-balanced and reactive to the surface underfoot. The thin-walled Tri-Force shell puts the foot in direct-feeling contact with the ski, though without a lack of padding or creature comfort, and it maintains a solid feel while on edge at all speeds. This is a boot that shouldn't ski as well as it does based on the high perceived level of comfort, but it does, and testers weren't complaining.
Cool Features
Testers liked the 3-D Cork Fit Primaloft liner construction for its firm, transmissive feel, insulating quality and molding capabilities. We really like the trick Infrared shell molding system developed initially for the Speedmachine (and now for Promachine, Sportmachine and Strider boots)—the infrared heater brings the shell up to ideal molding temperature and a suction-cup of varying sizes and shapes is applied to the hot shell and the suction pulls the punch into place. The only real disappointment in the system is the fact that it will be rarely used, since the boot fits so well (and roomy where most need it) out of the box.
The Gist
Last year one tester said, as you buckle, the engine revs! And out of more than 20 individual tests the comments about a tight yet perfectly-mapped fit were virtually universal. The combination of a tightly, deep-seated heel fit with just enough room over the top of the foot for circulation and uniformly snug contact throughout the rest of the boot had testers fired up to ski. Testers said the light-but-strong Tri Force shell construction did not disappoint while on edge (trenching) or in rapid fire transitions to set the next rail. It was the highest scoring boot in its category and this year remains unchanged outside of cosmetics.
The Fit
One tester said of the Promachine 130, just trying them on sets high expectations, and that sums up testers' fit impressions pretty well. They were excited to get this one on snow as soon as they buckled up, because they felt that this narrow fit like a narrow should. However, testers were simultaneously shocked that it did so with such well placed curves following the foot that it avoided the usual narrow boot hot spot map. Only testers with high, bony insteps and prominent styloids (base of the 5th metatarsal) had any complaints that would require a bootfitter's assistance.
Performance
The slimmed down, thin-shell polyurethane shell and cuff gives the Promachine 130 a light feel in hand, but testers assure that there is no resulting deficit in the power department. That it scored an average of 4.86 (out of 5) for Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support after 16 individual tests is a validation of the fact that lightness doesn't only mean quickness—though its scores there bear out that it wasn't a slouch there, either. Testers repeatedly commented that the Promachine 130 had race boot guts, especially on hard snow at high speed, but maintained an easily moderated throttle feel and could feather and smear on demand, a skill which Frontside boots often lack.
Cool Features
The Tri Force shell and cuff construction utilizes a mix of thinner and thicker plastics in different stiffnesses to create a rigid, transmissive boot that still wraps the foot and goes on and off easily—good features. The IsoTherm 3D Cork Fit liner is well sculpted to match the foot and the shell's interior incorporates its namesake wicking laminate to keep this slim boot warm and dry. Testers liked the GripWalk soles which come mounted on the boot, as well as the standard feature stuff you'd expect at this trim level like dual lateral cuff adjustment, dual liner pull loops, 45 mm power strap (with the Power Driver plate) and removable Velcro rear spoiler.
The Gist
Testers this year reiterated that the RX 110 W is the industry standard for how a medium width performance boot should fit and ski. Last year one tester said, The boot’s best qualities? All of them—the RX delivers every year, again and again. There have been virtually no negative comments about this boot for the past three years running, with unanimous agreement on its super neutral, dialed stance angles and near perfect scores for edge power and stability at speed. They call its V-shaped fit (party in the front, business in the back) flawless.
The Fit
Testers say the RX 110 W is a benchmark for medium width fit characteristics without giving up on performance goals—meaning Lange hasn't blown-out the toebox and forefoot and fluffed-up the liner just to attract the wannabes. Testers say this top-shelfer fits like a Recaro seat built around the foot—firm and close in the heel and ankles and boot throat, like a custom foam liner a couple testers said. There's just enough room elsewhere to suit the average, medium-volume foot and leg, but without namby-pamby down comforter pandering. This one grabs on and holds ya. You're skiing all day, not mucking around in the lodge, right?
Performance
It's Lange's story again this year and it's where this medium has really elevated above the rest in the past--the pre-sculpted 3-D liner's exterior matches the interior of the shell in a mirror image, mating the foot and leg to plastic and transmitting every skiing movement to the skis. Testers said the boot knifed through all manner of junk off-piste and drilled hard snow like a power tool. The delivery to the edge was impressive, they said, but easily matched by the boot's snappy energy and feel for the snow underfoot, too. This power and agility combo can be attributed to the RX (and RS) line's Dual Core polyurethane shell and cuff which utilizes a unique production method to sandwich a less-dense plastic within the shell wall itself to create a more energetic, resilient feel—testers gave the nod to it again.
Cool Features
The RX 110 W is about what matters and nothing else—so you get a 40mm Velcro power strap, 4 aluminum buckles (2 are easy-open ones on the bottom, nice with gloves on), an upgrade to a dual-side cuff adjustment mechanism this year and replaceable Max Grip soles. The option is there to upgrade to GripWalk soles for 50-bucks if you have appropriate GripWalk bindings to suit. Oh, and the Dual 3D Pro liner has Thinsulate in it. Sure, warmth matters.
In the past ten years of testing the RS 120 SC off and on our women's test team has appreciated one thing most of all--Lange has never ruined this boot by changing it too much! Yes, it's seen a shell mold change and a variety of liner upgrades in that time, but those changes have come incrementally and have always enhanced an already great boot. Now, four years after our team's last go-round, the RS 120 SC comes made with Dual Core polyether in both the shell and cuff--our team doesn't know what might possibly improve the boot going forward, but they're sure it's one of their favorites as it is.
The firm Dual 3D liner reminds you how a narrow performance boot is supposed to feel--it's tight, but without unbearable peak pressure at common prominent spots and moldable enough to get a lot of work done just by cooking the liner. The toebox is modern in its oblique shape, with plenty of squared-off space for the little toe and the forefoot is open just enough for some circulation--though most of our testers said they would probably still grind a little extra space for the tailor's bunion. The fit over the top of the foot is as roomy as it has been in the past decade, but high-arched feet with bony midfoot joints may still want a bit more room via bootfitter's tonguectomy treatment. Most of our testers like the fit of the namesake SC (short cuff), though some taller-legged testers say they'd prefer the unisex RS 120.
Testers say this boot has always been one of those few that not only delivers what's asked of it, but regularly makes skiers better. This is the boot that more of our testers want to take home at the end of testing week than any other. Its only performance demerits for all-mountain skiers are its lack of a grippy sole (it's solid) and its rigid boot board. And yet those design elements are what make it an uncompromising frontside boot as well--highly transmissive of movement and powerful on edge. If the Max Grip sole and rubberized boot board are deal breakers, a skier will need to move to the RX 110 W LV and lose 10 flex points, or go to the men's 120 version, with a taller cuff.
Testers like the firm but well-sculpted Dual 3D liner for its initial fit and moreso for how well it conformed with a few runs, and it has a liner pull loop on the tongue. Testers still appreciate a dual cuff adjustment and one's found here. Most testers are fine with the 40mm Velcro power strap, though many like the cam lock 50mm found only on the 130 flex RS and on the plug boots as well. Dual Core injection plastic remains a hit with testers who say it helps hook up the turn earlier and somehow makes a rounder feeling arc--they don't know how, but they do know it works.
The Gist
Lange always said they’d never build a bucket of a boot, and while testers said the LX 130 was the second widest fitting boot of the group last year, they also proved Lange right. Coupled with the comment that it fit like a warehouse one tester made clear that he had no problem controlling the ski. Testers said things like huge width but with definition, and assured us that the classic Lange fit, stance and performance heritage lives on here—just in outsized proportions! The comfiest Lange we’ve ever tested, and one of the very best performance wide rides we've found.
The Fit
Testers gave the LX lots of 4's and 5's in their fit scoring for its toebox, forefoot, instep & calf--that's a homerun fit map for the typical high volume foot and leg. Testers loved that each of those key fit zones addressed the target customer, while keeping the ankle and heel just slightly more snug to maintain a connection between skier and ski. Entry and exit is at its best here, as testers said it was the easiest on of any Lange they've tested in recent years. Straightforward four-buckle overlap construction pleased our easily confused test team--they like simple.
Performance
The LX surprised testers with how accurately and strongly it skied through a variety of terrain. Often the widest boots require testers to crank buckles to create stability (and safety!) but testers said they could roll with a lightly buckled set-up and the boot found its own way due to its super dialed stance angles and transmissive polyurethane lower shell. For skilled skiers with thick feet and legs, the LX 130 is one of the very best on snow.
Cool Features
The DIN MaxGrip soles can be replaced with GripWalk soles as an aftermarket purchase. Testers loved the feel of the Dual 3D liner for it's cushioned drape against the foot, coupled with firm and sculpted ankle pockets--an ideal blend of comfort and rearfoot hold, they said. The cuff adjustment is a simple, single-sided job and there's a single liner pull on the tongue along with a 40mm power strap.
The Fit
The RX remains a little bit roomier than in the past, by design, as Lange wanted to more clearly delineate the difference between the RX LV narrow class gripper and this middle-of-the-roadster-ripper. In the past the medium RX got called out for riding the fence between medium and narrow. Last year testers again noticed the difference, and most loved the extra room. Not that this is a fluffy fit—the well-sculpted Dual 3-D liner is firm and well-matched to the interior of the shell, so the grip on the foot is there, especially in the heel and ankle, but now the shape is opened up for average feet and legs. If this feels too roomy upon initial try-on, then the decision is clear—narrow RX LV for you.
Performance
The flex-feel is firm on the leg (legit 130) but with a energetic, elastic quality. In fact, testers made many comments of the boot's snappy, responsive feel underfoot. "There is something about this Dual Core plastic that behaves very well on snow…" one tester pondered. And there is. Dual Core plastic injection molding sandwiches a less-dense plastic in between higher density plastic within the shell wall itself, throughout both the lower and upper. This differential density creates an energetic internal tension of sorts within the material and gives the boot a lively feel that testers have loved across the board. All this snappiness has not come at the cost of power or stability, said testers who assure this is not a jittery boot. Steep edge angles, high speeds and all manner of snow conditions are where the RX 130 continues to shine.
Cool Features
The new RX 130 remains essentially the same basic four-buckle overlap it always has—no new frills, bells or whistles here. The Velcro power strap is a nice wide 45 mm. There's dual-side upper cuff adjustment that uses an old-school 3 mm Allen key. The Max Grip soles are grippy, hence the name, but not so soft as to wear out or fail to transmit energy to the ski. You can upgrade to GripWalk soles for a few bucks and use them with a GripWalk compatible binding. Testers loved the RX's Dual 3D liner for its firm but sculpted ankle pockets and heel grip.
