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
We tested the Element 120 last year as a narrow and we tested it again this year (with a cool new sublimated graphic) as a medium—99 mm boots do straddle the fence there—and now we're pretty sure it's a narrow! Testers liked the way the tight fit improved with the molding of the full thermo I.R. Freeski Wrap liner and appreciated the way it padded the smooth slide into the cabrio lower. Our testers liked the Element 120's flex feel and its quick transitions from turn to turn.
Prior to liner molding testers found the fit overly tight at the forefoot and across the top of the foot and into the instep. After molding, the fit was more consistently snug-side-of-medium, they said. The liner feel against the shin was a favored element of the Element 120, and the three-piece shell had a firm but resilient, spring-loaded feel that the testers liked.
Once testers got the fit evened out by liner molding they found the Element 120 an enjoyable, light and lively ride. The all-Grilamid construction make for a lightweight, transmissive boot that provided good feedback from the snow surface, testers said. They liked the energetic flex and rebound provided by the cuff and tongue and said the lateral moves from edge to edge were smooth and predictable. A couple testers felt the stance was slightly inboard and lacked immediate inside edge engagement, but said that rolling deeper into the turn tapped its power stores.
The three different buckle styles make for a little fiddling at first but testers liked the instep retention of the 45-degree middle buckle. The reverse-position bottom buckle keeps the lever from being damaged in rocky hike-to situations. The Element 120 is available with both traditional tongue and spiral wrap style Intuition-Roxa liners.
The all new 2019 Roxa R3S 130 impressed testers with its rigidly solid fore-aft backbone in a lightweight, all-Grilamid four-buckle three-piece. This is a tall and upright bruiser that long-legged experts will appreciate for its serious push-back against a long lever arm. Our shorter testers had a hard time getting out over the front of this feather weight All-Mountain crusher and wished they had the R3S 110 to try.
While the shell and cuff are from the same mold as used by the Element 120, the traditional tongue I.R. Freeride MS liner offers a little more room in the R3S, though testers say this 99 mm falls to the narrow side of the medium width group, as one would expect. Testers say the entry is a little dicey, as the lower shell is very stiff and the traditional tongue style liner doesn't always stay in place to pad the cabrio opening's edges, so taking a little extra time to sneak one's way in was wise, they said. Molding the full-thermo I.R. (Intuition-Roxa) liner is the key to easily evening-out the initially inconsistent fit, testers found.
Full Grilamid plastic is used in the R3S 130's shell, cuff and tongue, so its stiffness is not a surprise. The cuff is tall on the leg and upright in angle, and there's an extra buckle on the R3S, as opposed to the Element's three clasp affair—so this is a beast of a boot that needs a tall, strong skier to truly appreciate what is has to offer. Testers said huge (and mainly untapped, for them) power reserves are what the R3S has to offer in probably the most dramatic raw power-to-weight ratio of the test. This said, the angle and stiffness of the cuff made it tough for our team to take advantage of it, and a few of them surmised that the R3S 110, for $150 less, might be more their speed.
While there is a flex adjustment available, the R3S's D.R.I. Chassis Tuning insert limits the amount of change there, keeping this a stout flexer in both modes. Double liner pull loops and an adjustable rear spoiler offer some convenience and options to adjust for stance and calf fit. GripWalk soles are an option here as well.
Here's one you can take anywhere and be balanced, comfortable and ready to rip, said testers of the 2019 Rossignol Pure Pro 100. Its classy looks go with every outfit, the liner is warm and cozy, it's easy to get on and off—and it skis as well as anything in the category. What's not to love?
Testers say this runs a bit on the roomy side of the medium-fit group, with plenty of room at the forefoot and in the toebox, especially in length—they say if there's a boot you might go down a size in (if you're on the cusp) this one's worth trying. The ankle and heel are snug enough, but slender feet would probably do better in the Pure Elite (the narrow version). The liner's calf is furry and open enough for thicker legs, they report.
Testers put the stance a touch on the upright side, which they liked for a long leg and no quad burn, but a few mentioned they wanted a heel lift to help get out over the front of the boot. They thought the 100 flex was on target, perhaps even a little stronger, with a nice progressive feel on the leg during flexion. Side-to-side moves were rewarded with solid, stable edge power. Testers were split on whether this was a quick boot or perhaps happier in medium- and long-radius turns, so we'll say it's "quick enough."
The fuzzy liner (which testers liked for not being too fuzzy) is made with Thinsulate and Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not imaginary. A set of GripWalk soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with GripWalk compatible bindings only). Testers also thought the price tag was a nice feature--$100 less than many of its direct competitors in the medium-width group.
For the third year running, the 2019 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 was one of the 3 top-scoring boots for Edge Power and Stability in the women's All-Mountain narrow group, and once again reminded our test team why. Unchanged this season other than a new exterior paint job, the Pure Elite 120 garnered praise for its solid, stable 120-flex horsepower combined with its high comfort-quotient. One tester mentioned that this badass boot is camouflaged by fur.
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.
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.
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).
Testers didn't vary their scores much on the 2019 Rossignol Allspeed Pro 120, using a lot of 3's (medium) and "ideal" checkboxes to describe its fit, flex and stance. A few testers claimed this one was the benchmark model that all other medium-width performance boots should be judged by. In its third annual boot test appearance it found itself in a virtual three-way tie for the silver medal in the All-Mountain medium width group (and dammit, just edged out once again by its factory-frenemy Lange RX 130).
Aside from agreeing that the Allspeed Pro 120 (like most other Rossi's) fits a little longer than most other models in the group, everything else got chalked-up right down the middle for a perfect mediumish fit tension throughout the lower boot, instep and up into the cuff. Testers called the heel and ankle pocket accurately snug and said there was just enough room at the forefoot for the ball of the foot to spread to the floor for balance, but with no remaining slop. Balanced containment, one tester called it—and all echoed that it had a nice blend of cushion and proper grip on the foot.
Complaints on the Allspeed Pro's on-snow performance were virtually non-existent. Smooth and predictable. Muscular and athletic. Lively and nimble. Testers found that it did it all, and without much adjustment. Test forms universally mentioned that it made skiing fun and easy.
Aside from Thinsulate Platinum laminates used in the liner and an option to slap on GripWalk soles (for use with GripWalk compatible bindings), the features are standard fare, four-buckles, Velcro powerstrap, single side cuff adjustment and two liner pull loops.
In another Best of Test performance for the 2019 Allspeed 100, it returned to this year's boot test to rank as the highest scoring Soft-Value boot among all the men's All-Mountain boots. What this means, say testers, is that you can save yourself a couple hundred bucks and still get yourself set up with gold medal fit (it's properly curvy and roomy) and category tops All-Mountain performance (stiffer than 100, they said). So why the heck not?
It's a wide ride with plenty of volume, its liner is cushioned and soft, and yet the Allspeed 100 has enough grab on the foot to enable high-end skiing movements and control big skis. One of our testers last year summed-up the Allspeed's fit like this: "It's like hugging a big, curvy, hot chick and feeling the softness and the firmness in all the right places." 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 for a 100 flex. It's probably a bit mislabeled (110ish is more like it), but testers also cite the dialed stance angles and enough torsional and lateral rigidity to tip a ski on edge and manage 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 really its best feature—best bang for your buck of the entire test, one tester said. But the fact that there's a 120-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 2019 Nordica Sportmachine took the success of the Speedmachine and doubled-down on it last year by adding a 2 to the last width and nailed a great-performing comfort ride. This year our testers said the Sportmachine 110's blend of convenience, high-volume and straight-forward skiing skills found in this affordably priced wide All-Mountain boot made it a go-to for lighter weight and less aggressive skiers looking for the best combo of cost and comfort in a stable cruiser.
Take the roomy toebox and forefoot of the Speedmachine and blow it out a little more—testers said the tapered grip on the ankle and heel is not nearly that of the medium-width here, and they felt that the relaxed fit tension worked well for the meaty-footed target. Testers did not have any fit zone complaints—other than a lack of general contact if they had an average to lower-volume foot—and said that the anatomical shaping matched the foot shape well, just on a large scale. Super easy to put on and take off with an easy to operate closure system—what's not to love here, testers said.
Gets 'er done everywhere on the hill, they said, but maybe not with the quickest cadence turn to turn. The Sportmachine loved its medium and long radius turns and was smooth and stable, which testers approved of, but they said there's definitely a little turbo lag and slight disconnection from the ski when compared with its more slender brother Speedmachine. Stance angles were neutral, if a little bit upright for the guys with average to slender calves. Big calf muscles have room here and will put the leg just a bit more forward, testers ventured.
The Sportmachine 110 has the same trick Infrared shell molding system developed initially for the Speedmachine—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 here, since the boot fits so well (and already huge) right out of the box. GripWalk soles are available as an accessory purchase.
The 2019 Nordica Speedmachine 130 returned to our boot test unchanged after last year's revised liner (a more snug heel and stiffer cuff material) and testers gave it the thumbs up, again, but even more up this time for its complete but cushioned envelopment of the foot but paired with a high performance feel on snow. It still skied on autopilot--so easy, testers said. Classic Nordica liner feel topped the comfort score column with the Speedmachine, testers said, but it did so without feeling gutless—winner, winner.
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.
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.
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 2019 Nordica Speedmachine 105 W returned again this year to even higher levels of tester stoke, finding its way onto the podium and into silver medal position among a very large and strong group of medium-width All-Mountain boots. Testers praised its ease of fit (it had the highest score in the category for Anatomical Fit & Initial Feel), warmth and convenience and all-around-the-hill skiing skill set. This one has broad bandwidth and appeal for a variety of ability levels and different foot types, testers said.
The Speedmachine 105 W nails the medium-width fit profile according to testers. Perhaps a little on the roomy and relaxed side of the group, they said, but with enough firmness in the ankle pockets (thin and sculpted cork panels are used on the liner there) and instep to retain the foot for controlled skiing movements. The initial liner feel against the foot is classic Nordica—silky, padded and well-draped against the foot. First fit impressions were universally positive, with comments about fitting a variety of feet well being widespread. Flex feel and stance marks were similarly good. No problems!
Testers thought the Speedmachine 105 W was supremely capable in all manner of snow conditions and terrain, but perhaps not as strong or quick as one or two other models in the category on account of the cushy liner and extra room in the lower boot. They were okay with this trade-off for the Speedmachine's luxuriant feel, and thought it a minor demerit that most wouldn't ever notice. Transitions turn to turn were effortless, thanks to its neutral stance angles, and testers found that it was responsive in short turns and long turns alike.
The Tri-Force shell design keeps thicker plastic where it needs to be for power and stability and thins the plastic of the lower shell in areas where more flexibility and foot-wrapping needs to happen—this shaves some excess weight and also enables the Infrared bootfitting system to work properly. The Infrared heating system warms the thin areas in common fit problem areas to molding temperature, and then a vacuum driven suction cup is placed on the tight spot and the shell stretch is sucked into position. GripWalk rockered soles are available as an accessory purchase.
Nordica has had many dominant narrow class boots in the past—Gran Prix, Dobermann, GPX—but none have brought the whole package of power, quickness and comfort together the way the new 2019 Promachine 130 has. Its debut finally completes the light-but-strong Machine clan's Tri Force construction triad for Nordica (along with medium Speedmachine and wide Sportmachine) and it did so for our test team in commanding fashion, taking first place in the highly competitive All-Mountain narrow group.
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.
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.
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 all new 2019 Nordica Promachine 115 W is the boot that all the girls who normally ski guys' boots said they'd like to take home from the test—and that pretty well says it all. Where some boots are powerful but a bit too damp and dull, while other boots are agile and lively but lack strength, testers suggest that the Promachine 115 W is the perfect hybrid of the two types. In fact testers used the word perfect to describe many aspects of this boot, starting with its fit. It's no surprise that it took first place in the highly competitive women's All-Mountain narrow category.
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.
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.
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 2019 Lange SX 90 W returns this year without update, and apparently that's a good thing because it tied one other boot for the highest scoring women's boot in the test and only one men's boot scored higher. Last year's liner revision gave the SX 90 W a slightly more open-feeling forefoot and toebox and testers still noticed the difference and approved. They liked that the SX was distinctly different, fit-wise, from the medium-width RX boot, but liked even more that it skied virtually as well for 200-bucks less!
As with all the other Lange boots, the SX 90 W tapered fit to a more-snug heel and ankle pocket, testers said, though it did so in a softer, more relaxed sorta way than found in the medium and narrow Langes. One tester said that it was like the perfect burrito wrap—so long as there's enough foot filling. It is a high-volume fit with a particularly roomy fit in the toebox, instep and calf—all the spots where the high-volume skier is looking for a little extra relief. Testers said that in addition to an open calf fit at boot top, the cuff is slightly upright in its forward lean angle, which will even better suit women with larger calf muscles.
Testers liked the easy, no worries roll from edge to edge in the SX 90 W. Neutral, predictable, stable and quick enough to get it done all around the mountain was the consensus here. Testers said the 90-flex was as billed—not a powerhouse, but neither was it a pushover for good skiing girls. At a list price of $550, the SX 90 W hits the value mark, but doesn't ski like a cheapskate.
The top buckle catch offers quick, tools-free adjustment that's helpful for getting it buckled around a muscular calf. The replaceable Max Grip soles are slightly cushioned and have great traction for getting to and from the snow.
