The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!
The Luna 80 knows its job and performs it well. It’s built for less aggressive skiers who possess wider feet and ample calves. Testers have applauded this one alongside boots 30 flex points stiffer and $300 more at the cash register for the last three years running.
Roomy everywhere, testers say, with a skooch of extra space for thicker ankles and heel. The liner is exceedingly soft but still supportive. It embraces the foot in an open-armed, loose sort of hug. The three-piece (aka cabrio) shell construction eases entry and exit and testers liked its even, long-travel flex.
A fun and poppy ride no matter where you venture. Testers were again pleasantly surprised by how well the Luna 80 skied on variable terrain, in different snow conditions, through a variety of turn shapes and at a wide range of speeds. Not for expert skiers but it might help to make one out of a gung-ho intermediate, testers said. Stance angles are neutral and create a good starting point for a variety of different styles.
Flex and calf volume adjusters and a walk-mode all come with this one for $400. Sweet deal.
The lightest and softest model in the DaleBoot line-up. The VFF is a great option for lighter weight and less aggressive skiers looking for a fully custom boot with a long and lively flex pattern and the warmth and easy entry that come with the three-piece shell and Intuition liner combination.
Both the lower and the upper boots are custom made for every customer. Dealer partners take measurements and tracings of the foot and the boot is built at the Salt Lake City factory and shipped back to the dealer for final fitting of the Intuition liner and fine-tuned stance alignment utilizing DaleBoot's own snap-on canted soles. We tested the VFF built as a wide last, and while our test model hovered in the 102mm range, the boot can be made as wide as 112mm or as narrow as 92mm. You read that right. A whopping 30mm of differential.
The VFF is light and lively with a uniquely tuned-in feel for the ski and snow due to the three-quarter length bootboard. It puts the forefoot in direct contact with the shell floor. The flex is soft and long in travel but progressive. It has a stopping point that can be adjusted from a flex index of 80 to 100 using the Variable Forward Flex cable adjustment. Testers liked the dynamic, snappy feel of the VFF on smooth surfaces and said it handled off-piste challenges well given the soft and comfy ride.
The coolest feature of the DaleBoot is that it's a one-off build for each skier and for one price includes Intuition liner molding (with a variety of styles, volumes and densities), stance alignment and any additional fit fine tuning needed.
The Delight 85 InTemp has a built in heater element that thinly wraps the top and sides of the toebox, not underneath the toes, for creating an all-day, radiant heat blanket over the piggies.
The cuff is low on the leg and much softer than the 85 flex billing, testers said. It has an upright starting position that testers said would be supportive for low-intermediates and beginners. The lower boot fit was inconsistent off the rack, testers said, but mentioned that it evened out to a generally wide fit all over after liner molding.
The Delight 85 is quick and playful in easy-going (low edge angle) turns, testers noted. It failed to control the ski's edge angle at turn finish and when taxed at speed or on harder snow. Testers agreed this is a great cruiser for aspiring skiers seeking a warmth solution.
Did we mention that the Delight 85 InTemp has a bitchen heater system? The battery is stealthily stowed in a compartment at the back of the liner cuff and the large button is waterproof and easy to use.
A good value for thick-footed cruisers looking for agility and ease of use in a cushy package. The RC Pro W 90 Thermoshape received high marks for predictable turns and business class creature comfort.
Testers say this fits much wider in the lower boot than a 100mm boot should. That doesn't make the fit bad, just mis-labeled. Wide, high-volume feet and average to wider calves will do well here. Testers love the cushioned, well appointed liner (fur) and thought the closure system was simple and straightforward (easy buckles with gloves on).
Cruisemobile, one tester called it, saying that the cuff wasn't strong enough for hard-chargers but would respond to less demanding instructions all around the hill just fine. Testers liked the playful flex feel and neutral stance set-up and pointed to the RC Pro W 90 Thermo as a great option for intermediates looking to become better skiers in comfort and warmth.
There are three other RC Pro W Vacuum models available (90, 100 and 110 flexes) and these could be a good step up from the Thermoshape version, but at a premium Vacuum price.
A low volume charger straight out of the box with an option to substantially modify fit with the Vacuum process. The Trinity 110 Vacuum Full Fit's big three for our team was: fit, performance and one pink buckle.
Testers liked the evenly snug lower boot fit and the way the stove-pipe shaft lined the lower leg. Bigger calf testers needed to remove the rear spoiler (which most testers did anyway to straighten up the very forward stance angle). The length fit is shorter than average, testers said, and will remain so. While this is a Vacuum model, based on our previous Vacuum tests skiers should not count on the Vac process increasing length fit much.
Because Fischer didn't provide a Vacuum system for the test, we had to focus our Trinity test effort on straight out-of-the box fit and performance. Testers almost across the board chose to remove the rear spoiler and many moved it in front of the tongue as a way to straighten up the too-forward stance. Once they did, performance scores rose.
In the real world the easy way to solve that problem would be to Vacuum mold the Trinity 110 using the 14-degree forward lean setting during the process. Testers love the energetic, snappy flex feel of the Vacu Plast shell. It’s lightweight and lively from turn-to-turn, they said, affording precision execution of expert level moves with plenty of horsepower on tap.
The 2Zone Vacuum Full Fit system allows the skier to determine how snug or how relaxed the fit will be in both the rearfoot (heel, ankle, instep) and cuff as well as in the front of foot (toebox and forefoot). It's possible to exert different levels of pressure on the rearfoot for a snugger-than-stock fit while achieving a more-open fit up front. Stance angles are altered to suit the skier's anatomy automatically, but it's critical to select the right forward lean angle (we've almost always liked the 14-degree setting in past tests) and a proper, neutral stance width (the width where you want your skis to be flat).
To achieve truly wide-last room, skiers may need to go a size up in the Plush 6. Testers said it runs a snug-medium in the lower boot and big calf skiers had trouble getting it buckled. Custom liner molding was key, testers said.
Short and tight with snug closure over the top of the foot and a means-business wrap on the lower leg shaft—testers were happier with the overall fit after full liner molding using toecaps and pre-padding prominences. After molding testers still called this an easy going medium—wide last status is achievable by going up a size and molding the liner, they said. Testers liked the molded feel of the thick liner underfoot—good shape adaptation for skiers without custom footbeds.
The Full Tilt M.O.—too forward and too soft for our testers. One of our custom testers swapped on a stiffer tongue (a #8 that comes stock on the men's Descendant) and was immediately impressed with the taller stance and firmer, more supportive flex. Lateral moves were consistent and easily engaged, but the Plush lacked the turn finish of narrow sister Soul.
There is an adjustable forward lean mechanism, but with limited range to straighten the cuff. There is a lateral cuff adjustment that could be tweaked for more edge power and the shock-absorbing bootboard could be swapped (via the spare parts order sheet) for a rigid one for a bit more power under foot.
Slender legged, skinny-footed lightweights who seek the bumps and pow will find this boot their, well, Soul Sister. It wiggles its way from summit to lift maze with quick lateral moves and a super long travel and soft flex that benefits from a light touch to the front of the boot.
Length fit is short and narrow-class snug throughout the lower. The spiral wrap Intuition liner rings the leg shaft like a boa constrictor. Testers liked the fit better post-molding. The process helped the foot seat into the floor of the shell and relaxed the bulk along the lateral side of the leg where the liner overlaps double up. Testers got used to the old-school Flexon style buckle adjust tracks and swinging cables after some fussin’ and cussin’.
Light and agile with a long-travel flex, said testers. Lighter weight testers with low volume feet and slender legs liked it best. Bigger testers folded the boot over like a soft taco. Those with thick calves had a hard time buckling the boot and were pushed too forward into a semi-wall-sit position.
The petite testers in the “like” column said the flex was super soft and the stance overly forward. They liked the boot for its quick lateral direction changes and ability to absorb mogul hits. Switch skiing and jib-centric testers approved its park-quotient but similarly wished for a more upright stance and stiffer flex and suggested upgrading to a stiffer tongue and removing the rear forward lean wedge at the base of the cuff.
Testers loved the look and the Intuition liner's extreme moldability. The cuff adjustment mechanism is old-school and a little tricky to set. Enlist professional bootfitting help to make the adjustment and don’t lose the bag of parts that come with it.
The new Advant Edge 85 W was a pleasant surprise. It’s roomy and upright yet skied joyfully all over the mountain with unflinching confidence. A big value for big feet and legs.
The cuff is tall and upright but its open fit accommodates larger calves. In fact, skier with larger volume calves will find themselves in a slightly more athletic and forward position in this boot. The liner lower is well padded with a cushy, easy-going feel. A "guaranteed no hot spot" fit, testers said.
Stouter than its advertised 85 flex. Combined with the upright and tallish cuff, that made ankle flexion a challenge for some of our lighter weight testers. One took advantage of the two-position flex adjuster to soften it and reported good results.
Laterally, the Advant Edge 85 W was a beast; testers were impressed with its strength and stability on edge at high speeds, even on harder snow surfaces. It wasn’t super quick but testers said it’s a tactile boot that follows commands accurately.
Head’s Form Fit shell can be molded to open up volume in tight spots. Testers said it would take a really wide foot and big calf to need it. Nonetheless, a great option for some. The Perfect Fit liner also heat molds to the foot and inside of the shell for a locked-in match between foot and boot.
The Vector Evo 110 W combines a silky interior feel with a silky on-snow demeanor. It’s a well-balanced comfort and performance package that will work for a wide variety of skiers looking for a medium width boot.
Dead-even medium fit tension scores throughout the lower boot and upper cuff with the exception of the heel pocket. Several testers mentioned it felt a little looser than it should.
It also had a touch more room at the calf as well (a good thing there, testers said). The liner is exceedingly cushioned and has a smooth, slippery feel that most testers liked. Some felt their foot sliding around a bit while skiing. Team with a grippier sock material.
Testers said the boot felt a little softer than billed. Note that the flex adjustment comes set at the softer 100 flex out of the box. If more resistance is preferred, it’s easy to make the adjustment in shop during try-on.
Most testers felt the cuff angle was quite upright. They liked that fairly straight stance angle for long swooping carves and softer off-piste conditions but some yearned to be a little more forward to speed up the turn intervals on firmer snow. Testers liked that they didn't have to unbuckle at any time; it’s ultra-comfortable, they said.
The Form Fit shell and Perfect Fit liner work as a team to match the foot shape. They also mate well, marrying the exterior of the liner to the interior of the shell for a more secure translation of foot movements to ski. Testers said out-of-the-box fit is so comfortable it requires a pretty thick foot to need shell molding. Most testers found the Spine Tech buckles cumbersome to fiddle with.
For all-mountain skiers who refuse to sacrifice performance, the Spyre 100 is a strong skiing medium width for shredding steeps and stomping landings (with a few easy trades made on fit and convenience).
Initial fit for most testers was tight in the toebox and tight over the top of the foot. The Intuition lower portion of the liner opens up substantially with full thermo-molding, and our custom tests showed that both those issues were greatly improved by the process. The liner tongue is well cushioned and testers liked the progressive flex feel of the Spyre 100. Testers were unanimous in their opinion that the K2 is not one of the easy ones to get on and off.
Stance-wise many testers thought the boot too forward-leaning with the thick rear spoiler installed and pulled it out for a more upright stance in line with category average angles. Once they found their fore-aft sweet spot, testers couldn't say enough about how well the Spyre skis—light and agile underfoot coupled with a damp and easy power band for accessing power throughout the turn.
Testers like the dual-sided cuff adjustment mechanisms and the fact that the thick rear spoiler is made of an easily grinded material for dialing in a perfect fore-aft set up. The Intuition lower liner is very moldable and with toecaps and pre-padding for bony spots the comfort factor skyrockets.
Returns unchanged except for updated paint job. And that’s for very good reason, testers said. One tester wrote, “[The RX 110 W] blows away the competition." It was neck and neck at the top of the medium-width division with Tecnica’s Mach1 105 W MV.
The RX 110 W has classic Lange medium-width RX line fit profile. It’s on the tighter side of the medium group with a noticeably firm grip on the heel and ankle and welcome additional room over the top of the foot and in the toebox. Testers said it's not super easy to get on but the glove-like fit makes any tussling worth the effort. One called the initial fit “locked and loaded, ready to go off.”
How many ways to say, "It rips?" We're not sure but testers used these descriptors: OMG, buttery, efficient, eager, perfect, nimble, solid, fluid, consistent and bam. We'll just go with that.
Our test team thinks the coolest feature of the RX boot is its virtual lack of cool features. They liked its elemental nature. It just fit well out of the box and skied well from first turn to its last.
Testers said the SX 90 W was the best performing of the All-Mountain women's wides. They liked that a boot with extra room at the instep, calf and forefoot can put a ski on edge and perform all over the hill.
Volume-extended versions of the medium width RX boots, SX models are more open in the toebox, forefoot, instep and calf. This works well for good skiing women with higher volume feet and legs who want secure heel and ankle hold for precision skiing.
Flex was on target, testers said, and comfortable against the shin throughout its range. Not the easiest boot in its class to get on, testers said, though they felt the performance it delivered was a more than fair trade off.
Shines in all turns, all snow conditions and terrain. Testers found zero flaws with its performance game. Solid on edge and in quick in transitions, it steers accurately given the generous volume. Testers said the Lange performance force is strong in this one. Stance angles are neutral and on the upright side. Women with thicker calves will put the leg shaft right where it belongs. Otherwise the slender-legged can have their bootfitter add a custom spoiler.
Testers loved the colors and the clean, simple cosmetic scheme. Pretty basic design: single sided cuff adjuster, 35mm Velcro power strap with four buckles.
