The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!
Testers liked the 2018 Full Tilt First Chair for its snug and thickly padded grip on the foot and a lively feel underfoot. They still feel overly forward leaning but appreciated the cam-lock Cinch power strap for restraining some forward travel.
Testers felt the lower boot was much more snug than the cuff, which offered some unwanted play for slender legs. They liked the strong connection of foot to ski, though preferred it after full liner molding, which allowed the foot to seat a bit more deeply into the base of the boot, due to the thickness of the liner underfoot. Molding the liner with toe caps opened up some needed toe room as the boot fits shorter than average out of the box. The flex feel is even, cushioned and long in travel, testers agreed.
Agility and quickness are the First Chair's forte, according to testers who liked its lateral moves and shock absorbing flex—fun in the bumps and tight spots, they said. They felt the boot was less of a powerhouse than it was a nimble freerider, partly due to the more forward than average cuff angle, which detracted from a more strongly stacked leg position, they said.
Testers like the newer version buckle system with the Widetrack buckles for their improved ease of use.
The 2018 Fischer RC Pro W 90 Thermoshape held its own in a very competitive category against boots that cost as much as $300 more, testers said. This was the highest scoring Soft-Value entry in the medium-width All-Mountain category for women.
Testers said the RC Pro W 90 logged in on the wide side of the medium fit group, especially in the toebox and forefoot where it averaged wide-status fit scores. Testers felt it tapered well to the heel and ankles, enough that ski control was easily managed. Testers called it cozy for its well-padded, plush liner feel and commented that the calf (and lower calf) had plenty of room for average to thicker legs. The team said the flex feel was on the softer side of 90 but with a generally even and cushioned feel against the shin.
All our testers loved how this boot moved side to side in edging transitions—slinky and smooth, very predictable, especially on-piste. They felt its lateral game was on par with the best of the group, though a few mentioned the fore-aft support lacked a bit, with a collapsing flex feel under big loads. For intermediate and advanced skiers or those with a lighter touch, testers felt the RC Pro W 90 was spot on and a huge bargain.
The Thermoshape moniker indicates that this is a straight outta-the-box Fischer boot, no Vacuum process needed here on a polyurethane shell and cuff. GripWalk soles are available as an extra, for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The Fischer My Curv 90 Vacuum Full Fit is the little sister of the 110-flex version of this new, 97 mm straight-lasted boot, and testers liked it for its even fit and balanced stance.
Testers said the My Curv 90 wasn't the most snug of the narrow fit group but that it wasn't too out of place. They found a bit extra room in the toebox and instep, and a snug fit in the calf, but overall they reported that the fit tension was fairly even throughout.
For lighter weight and less aggressive skiers the My Curv 90 offers a tuned-in feel for the snow underfoot, testers said, mentioning that it excelled in clean rolls edge to edge on-piste at less-than-blistering speeds. For those skiing at above the advanced-intermediate level testers suggested the stiffer 110-flex model, as they felt the My Curv 90's cuff collapsed under aggressive flexion.
The Vacuum Full Fit customization system allows both the lower boot and upper cuff to be formed to better match the shape of the foot and leg using compressed air to pressurize a bladder around the warmed boot, pressing it against the body to match shape and achieve the skier's desired amount of fit compression. While we didn't custom test Fischer models at this year's test (Fischer's decision), our past tests have shown this to be an effective fitting system.
Testers said that the 2018 Fischer RC Pro 130 Vacuum Full Fit is a luxury S.U.V. built for big guys with thicker feet and legs looking for the kind of all-mountain performance that stems from a dialed stance and a solid, progressive flex.
Roomy throughout and ultra-comfortable was the tester takeaway on this 100 mm, with most in agreement that it fit borderline wide-ride. They didn't mind this so much, and thought that the fit shape was well matched for a thicker foot and leg, but they placed it well on the wide end of the medium group's fit tension spectrum. The liner feel is well cushioned—more so than most boots at the 130 performance tier—which gave the RC Pro 130 more of a Lexus RX interior feel than, say, Audi R8. Nobody was really complaining about the luxuriant fit, let's put it that way.
The stance angles of the RC Pro pleased our test team, who felt well-centered in all directions and ready to ski. When compared with other medium-widths, quickness and power scores lagged a bit simply by virtue of the extra space and cushioning that sapped some transmission of movement, but testers agreed that compared with other wide class rides (or perhaps if tested by thicker footed folk) the response and quickness would be right on target.
While most people assume that customizable shell technology is all about making a fit more open, Fischer's unique Vacuum fitting system can tighten a boot's fit by way of controlling the compression rate of the molding bladders during the Vacuum process. The moniker, Vacuum Full Fit, indicates that this boot is Vacuum system customizable in both the lower shell and upper cuff.
Testers were pleased with the all new 2018 Fischer RC4 The Curv 130 for its more neutral stance, comfortable out-of-box fit and its quick edging moves on snow. They also liked getting a 130-flex boot with a Powered by Vacuum customizable lower shell at an affordable price.
Testers say compared to the RC4 of old, the RC4 The Curv 130 is a breath of, well, breathing room! The toebox fits longer and more open thanks to a new seamless liner construction and the entire lower shell and cuff fits with an even narrow-medium fit that testers said sat nicely between the two width categories. Testers noticed a little extra relief on the medial side of the shell wall, at the navicular bone area. The lower boot is made of heat moldable Vacu-Plast which can be manipulated for fit improvements through a variety of different Vacuum methods, while the upper cuff is polyurethane and customizable with traditional bootfitting means.
The stance angles on the RC4 The Curv 130 are more in-line with others in the all-mountain category than was the RC4 of old. The Curv 130 stands more upright and is less tipped-out, laterally. More neutral-feeling all around, said testers. A few of them mentioned the cuff was set-up too "in" for them and they'd perform a cuff alignment tweak using the solid race cuff alignment adjusters to better match their more bowlegged angles. The RC4 The Curv boots are straight-lasted as opposed to abducted, Soma-Tec style, a trickle-down design change from the 92 mm RC4 Podium race boots. While testers may have a particular preference for one stance set-up or another there were certainly no complaints here. Testers did agree that the flex feel was a little shy of the 130 mark but they also concurred that the boot's precise steering and rapid fire edging game was amongst the best.
Bootfitters like the screw hardware for removing cuffs and buckles, and another bootfitting nicety, the RC4 The Curv boots are Cantology compatible. Feeling soleful? GripWalk soles are available as an optional purchase as well, for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The DaleBoot VFF (women's) is DaleBoot's softest model and intended for lighter weight and less aggressive skiers. If we were to throw out this boot's off-the-rack scores, since it is designed and sold as a fully custom-built boot, we'd have the only perfect score in the entire boot test.
One of our testers who skied an un-customized VFF had this to say: "It seems pointless to test this boot off the shelf—if you are going to invest in this boot you will be investing the time to fully customize it as well." Her point was clear, the boot neither fit nor skied properly without undergoing the full process. On the other hand, one of our custom testers said this: "Wow, what a fun fitting process and what a fun boot to ski—I felt in perfect alignment with an excellent, enclosed fit." 'Nuff said. The VFF was tested as a wide last but is available from ultra narrow to ultra wide, as needed.
The VFF's softer flex is able to be adjusted within a 20 point range using the Variable Forward Flex spring-and-cable system which restrains the three-piece shell's forward flexion without fixing the upper cuff to the lower, maintaining a true three-piece shell's flex feel—long in travel and with a progressive resistance against the leg. Testers loved the rangy feel of their flexing movements while skiing, but cautioned bigger, more aggressive gals to consider stepping up to the stiffer VFF Pro. Testers found the same classic, close-to-snow feel on the VFF as with the other DaleBoot models.
An array of different Intuition liner options can be implemented to achieve an ideal fit, the boot's ramp angle is adjustable with the turn of a screw on the three-quarter length internal bootboard and final stance fine tuning is accomplished with DaleBoot's exclusive, snap-on, canted soles.
If we looked only at the 2018 DaleBoot VFF Pro (women's) custom scores it would have been on the podium in the highly competitive all-mountain narrow group. Testers that underwent the complete DaleBoot custom molding and stance alignment process gave it high-fives for fit, balance and performance.
We asked DaleBoot to submit non-custom-built versions of their boots for off-the-rack tests, even though this is not the way DaleBoot's custom models are sold. It's a full-custom product, built in their Salt Lake City factory off of a variety of measurements and foot shape tracings taken from the skier then further modified as needed and liner-molded by the skier's local DaleBoot dealer. Trust us when we say that trying on a sample will not do justice to the custom model made for you. Our custom tests came back with many perfect scores for fit. The VFF Pro we tested off the rack was built as a narrow, but depending on the skier's foot the last width could vary from a skinny 92 mm to a massive 112 mm—that's more range in one model than any other boot on the market.
Again, the key to the VFF Pro (women's) performance character is the custom process that starts with fit but also ensures that the fore-aft and lateral stance set-up is dialed for each skier individually. Once the alignment was balanced, testers were able to appreciate the close-to-snow feel of the thin-shell-wall lower boot and the improved edge power that comes from this year's new upper cuff construction. The flex feel is tunable (softer and longer or firmer and shorter) using the spring-loaded Variable Forward Flex cable adjustment on the back of the boot.
A variety of different Intuition liner styles are available, in spiral wrap and traditional tongue styles and in several different thicknesses and densities. The final stance tuning is done via canted snap-on soles unique to DaleBoot.
Once again the 2018 DaleBoot VFF Pro's custom test score tops the category, reminding testers that there is only one true custom boot at the boot test. Best-in-test entry and exit may be a reason some skiers might go with VFF Pro, but best-of-category fit and on-snow performance earn it a look for good skiers, too.
There's really no way to go try on a DaleBoot to decide whether or not to buy it—well, you could try on some generic sample at a DaleBoot dealer shop to get a feel for how it goes on and buckles up, but that's about all you'd get. You might even get scared off—the non-customized DaleBoot experience is so different from the full-meal-deal custom program that is their business model. We know because to be fair to other brands at the test we asked them to submit off-the-rack models in addition to their custom-built-for-tester models. Some testers loved the generic test samples, others not so much, but every tester was stoked on the VFF Pro that was built just for him. The shell and cuff are selected to match the foot and leg, then modified as needed prior to leaving the Salt Lake City factory. The pre-selected Intuition liner is molded to the skier at his local dealer shop to finalize the fit. So, the fit isn't a narrow or a medium or a wide—it's you.
This year's VFF Pro comes with a revised upper cuff design (taller with a stiffer, thicker back area) which produced a noticeably stronger feel on snow over previous versions we've tested. Testers noticed a firmer flex feel and a better command over the skis edge on hard snow this year. This did not create any loss of feel in the lower shell, which remains one of the most sensitive and in-tune with the ground of any boot in the test. The lower boot has two unique design features that give it such touch—a very thin but stiff polyether shell wall and a three-quarter length bootboard that puts the ball of foot directly on the floor of the shell. The flex feel is able to be adjusted by the skier with the rear spring-loaded cable closure from long and soft to progressive and firm—laterally the power comes from the rigid plastic of the lower boot and the new more powerful cuff design. Testers unanimously praised the VFF Pro's unique combination of fit, feel, flex and power.
The best feature of the VFF Pro is that all custom fitting, modifications, and stance alignment is included in one price. The stance alignment part of the equation is finalized with the application of snap-on, canted soles if needed—a very effective canting solution found only on DaleBoot.
The 2018 Dalbello Chakra AX 85 is a bargain for intermediates looking for a roomy three-piece boot, testers said. This new AX medium-width fills a gap in Dalbello's cabrio line between narrow Chakra and wide Kyra.
Testers say this 100 mm is on the relaxed-fit side of the medium group and has a well-cushioned, cozy liner. They say the heel is also on the roomy side and there's some extra ceiling height over the top of the foot—so this is a good solution for thick-footed folk who swim a little bit in a true wide fit. The entry and exit scores were excellent, though testers unfamiliar with the three-piece shell closure took a little fiddling to figure out the overlaps and buckle straps.
At an 85 flex, testers acknowledged that the cuff travel was a little longer forward than many preferred, but for the game intermediate, they felt it was right on target. Testers liked the Chakra AX 85's cruisey demeanor but said it also had enough horsepower to roll a ski up on edge with confidence and handle some challenges on- and off-piste
The Thinsulate liner comes with double pull loops and the 45-degree Dynalink middle buckle helps to keep the foot from slipping forward.
Our testers liked this new member to the Dalbello cabrio family—the 2018 Dalbello Krypton AX 120 brings a new traditional (non-hike) cuff, medium-width three-piece option to all-mountain skiers. For skiers who've always liked the strong skiing style of the narrow Krypton but didn't like the fit so much will be stoked with what they find here.
Testers say the lower boot fits so comfortably that they were a little suspicious about how it was going to ski (it was fine, it turned out). They liked the easy entry cabrio lower and most found the closure system straightforward after some minor fiddling with overlaps and straps. The liner is well-cushioned against the foot and the overall fit tension of the lower boot trended toward the more-open side of the medium width group, though they said the cuff tapered a bit toward a more-snug closure at the boot top. A few testers complained about a too-loose heel pocket and mentioned they'd utilize some L-pads on the liner to snug that up if it were their own.
The Krypton AX 120's flex feel is characteristically cabrio-soft initially, then it comes up against a firm stopping point—three-piece shell fans will like this freedom of travel at the top of the flex range and those coming from a stiff, overlap shell background will take a little time getting used to it. But testers liked the way it skied—the polyurethane powered shell and cuff combination ripped crud off-piste and laid trenches on the groomed equally well, they said.
For 50 bucks more you could upgrade to an Intuition-build I.D. liner for the Krypton AX 120. Testers thought the 45-degree Dynalink middle buckle performed as billed for helping to comfortably retain the foot at the instep.
The 2018 Atomic Hawx Magna 90 W wowed our test team for its big bang for the buck, saying that this boot skied better than many they tested which cost two- or three-hundred dollars more. They put this boot on the podium with a silver medal in the women's All-Mountain wide category.
It's a wide ride, but not excessively so, testers said. They all loved the plush and inviting liner feel on first slide-on (which is super easy they said) and comments about all-day comfort, no unbuckling required and extra warmth were abundant. Testers checked the like box on the cuff's upright stance and highly cushioned tongue fit against the shin. While the fit is roomy-slipper all the way around, testers sensed enough contact at the heel and ankle to suggest that this one could ski.
And ski the Hawx Magna 90 W did, testers said, who were all pleasantly surprised at this so-called Soft-Value entry's ability to go anywhere and do anything at all performance levels other than that of the full-on, expert hard-charger. From beginner to advanced all-mountain skier, our test team had nothing but praise for how this boot handled. The stance is neutral (if a bit upright). The power on edge is adequate. The quickness turn to turn was shockingly good, they said. And the flex, while soft, had a progressive feel and a functional stopping point.
Testers agreed this boot's best feature was its price, but they also like the Memory Fit auto-molding capability of the shell once it's been cooked in the Atomic convection oven—not necessary but a great solution for the thickest of feet and legs for finding an even, comfy fit. Helpful stance adjustments are also found here—for forward lean and for lateral cuff balance.
The 2018 Atomic Hawx Prime 100 W remains one of the go-to's for a reliable combination of easy fit (for lots of different feet and legs), neutral stance and a commanding downhill skill set.
Testers found a substantial amount of room in the toebox and the forefoot, but teamed with an evenly snug fit in the heel pocket and ankles—a good blend of warmth and comfort where needed with control at the rearfoot for good skiing moves. There's a little extra height over the top of the foot—again helpful to reduce cold feet and numb toes—and the calf is flared enough for the bigger calf without a loss of fore-aft positioning, testers concurred. The stance is a touch upright—no quad burn here—and the cuff rides a little higher on the leg than average for the group.
For women who had longer legs and a more aggressive downhill attack, the solid (firmer than the listed 100 testers said), upright, tall-feeling cuff worked like a dream for driving the ski at speed through on- and off-piste challenges and supporting a hard-charger's fore-aft home base. For smaller, less aggro' testers the cuff itself was a hindrance to finding fore-aft Nirvana and they wanted a bit of heel lift or perhaps the softer-flexing Hawx Prime 90 W (and available in black or white, nice!).
For women with a high instep and a bigger calf, the Hawx line-up deserves a close look—it fits generously in those spots to begin with and the Memory Fit shell-molding feature allows those normally hard-to-modify areas to be expanded using just the skier's foot and leg in the boot to get the job done in a matter of minutes.
