The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!
For intermediate and low-advanced skiers with big feet and big calves, the Cruise 75 W is tougher than it sounds, flexing more like and 85 or 90 flex and stable enough at speed and through chop.
Huge everywhere, with a slightly more snug heel (good thing), especially at the calf where there is also more room available via a calf fit expansion adjustment (good thing). Some testers said the buckles got tangled with each other, but all said entry and exit was a breeze. A couple testers complained about a sharp shin fit.
Firm flex feel loads some gumption to the ski, testers said, and with enough foot to fill the fluffy container, quickness isn't out of the question. Just fine for tooling around the groomed with the occasional jaunt off piste, they agreed. Plenty of power for $349, that's for sure.
The ACP (Adjustable Calf Profile) is a sweet feature that's easy to use for further opening the calf fit to massive proportions. The Cruise line-up features Nordica's Natural Foot Stance, a slightly more duck-footed (abducted) stance, which works well for more duck-footed folk. If when standing you make your feet parallel (like a parallel skier) and you feel instantly knock-kneed or heavy under the little toe side of your feet, this is for you.
Longer legged, slender calved, narrow forefoot ripper girls will say yes to this address. The GPX 105 W features a charger's cockpit that strafes all snow and terrain.
The boot received evenly narrow-ish fit scores across the board, with recurring comments that the heel felt a little loose. That’s easily solved by having a thicker heel or a bootfitter installing custom L-pads. Testers felt the boot cuff rode a little tall and fairly tight on the calf with the rear spoiler installed. A few thought the stance was a bit on the forward-leaning side, so pulling or thinning the spoiler could resolve both issues.
Descended from the Dobermann, the GPX 105 W can, of course, ski with the best of them. Technical, aggressive skiers liked this boot best. It responded well to a firm tone and skilled movements. Testers liked its stiff even flex feel against the leg. It's powerful but light, quick but stable.
For alignment range of motion, it's tough to beat the Full Motion Pivot upper cuff adjustment mechanisms. It rotates the cuff or tips it laterally with the same gizmo. We like it. Shock absorbing bootboard and grippy soles make for a damp, off-piste ride at speed.
So many good elements come together here. The out-of-the-box fit was among the best, testers said, if a bit too roomy in the toebox and forefoot for a true medium width. The flex feel is dreamy and the cosmetic touches impressed. As did the Speedmachine 105 W's dedicated Infrared custom fitting system.
While testers felt a little disconnected in the toe and forefoot zones, they mentioned that the cork liner heel and ankle pockets retained the foot well and that firm contact at the instep held them where they wanted to be. Flex was long travel with well-distributed pressure along the shin. Testers thought it a little softer than its 105 rating, some noting they would probably opt for the stiffer 115 flex model.
Laterally, there was no shortage of stiffness with which to lever the ski up onto edge and hold it there. Testers were impressed with its speed and hard snow game, but were just as keen on how well it dialed it back and feathered on-and-off edge with finesse. This is a boot with a wide performance bandwidth that will work for many different types of skiers, they said.
The new, stiff Tri-Force shell spine and lower rail construction (like a cuff-to-sole "L" shape) work well to maintain a rigid skeleton while shedding overall weight. The lower shell is molded with thicker areas for a strong power link and thinner areas for weight reduction and easy shape modification.
Using a proprietary Infrared molding system, the thin areas are heated where needed for additional room and a suction cup is affixed to the area. It pulls the shell material outward, rather than the traditional push from the inside, to accommodate for bony prominences.
With a tall cuff, an upright stance and 120 flex stiffness, the Pure Elite 120 demands a good skier be at the controls. And it doesn't hurt if she's taller and stronger than the average cruiser. Testers especially noted the strong power delivery that comes from engaging the tongue.
Testers said the fit is roomier than expected for a narrow category boot. Several felt the toebox, forefoot, ankle and heel all fit a touch generous, and considering a size-down or a thicker sock. Our average and thicker-footed women liked the fit as is. True low volume feet and legs may not get the grab they're looking for, but just about anybody else will be comfortable here; don't be scared off by the 98mm tag.
Edge power and stability through variable terrain was without comparison. If you can get into the front of this boot and drive it (a few testers said they wanted a bit more ramp in the bootboard), you will be well rewarded, said testers of many shapes and sizes. Those that filled the available volume thought the Pure Elite 120 was quick as a whip; the slim-footed swam a bit edge-to-edge.
The stiffness can be detuned by removing the rear spine anchors. Ankle pocket fit is enhanced greatly with liner molding.
Rossignol's flagship medium-width women’s model is versatile in fit and performance, testers said. They gave the Pure Pro 100 top marks for its furry (but not overly slippery) liner feel, fore-aft support and balanced stance.
Testers noticed a lot more room in the toebox and forefoot than many of the other mediums we tested. It’s also tall over the top of the foot, making it a great option for skiers with high, bony insteps. It was snug at the ankle and heel but not uncomfortably so. Across the board testers liked the tongue contact; it’s well-contoured with a cushioned shin feel.
They gave it high marks for warmth, noting the additional toe room and Merino wool liner construction.
With forward lean slightly more upright than the category average, testers found it ripping happy in softer snow and making long drawn-out arcs on groomers. They widely praised the Pure Pro's on-edge facility and tenacious lateral grip. Some testers felt the upright cuff and low ramp angle put them a bit in the backseat, nothing a little heel lift couldn’t easily solve.
Ah, the furry liner. Some liked it for its looks, others for how it facilitated a smooth glide on and off. So everybody said OK to fur. Fake fur, that is. It’s a changing world. Flex can easily be softened with the removal of a spine anchor screw. Single-sided cuff adjustment provides adequate stance adjustment range.
A good option for cost-conscious cruisers looking for easy access to all-mountain terrain, the Eden 85 handles itself well under an intermediate's guidance.
Testers gave the Eden 85's fit the most-improved award this year, though there were still some fit zone gaps in the ankles and heel and remained a bit tight in the toebox, they said. The liner feel is slipper-like and the closure was straightforward with easy to use buckles. Warmth was at a premium given the cushy, thick liner.
Testers said this was a great steery, schmeary model that cruised groomers and light crud just fine so long as the speed was kept in check. The stance was fine and neutral, though the flex range was blocky and limited, preventing smooth flexing moves for dynamic skiing. Testers said if you gave it the right direction, it followed instructions, but it wasn't leading the charge down the hill.
There's a flex adjustment here that can be used to free up the flex range—worth trying.
A fit pleaser. The X Pro X80 W has enough handling capabilities to take intermediates anywhere on the mountain. Warm as can be and a breeze to get on and off, testers said.
“Pro” in Salomon-speak indicates a medium width model. But with Custom Shell’s ability to expand its volume, this boot suits many more feet than average. The off-the-rack fit is evenly medium with a snug heel and ankle. If this causes a bit too much tingling, the full shell molding procedure should be undertaken to even fit tension. The upper boot molds as well, so large calves getting an initial squeeze will find comfort post-molding.
Soft but with a flowing, even flex feel that makes for smooth skiing. It's upright and relaxed, but testers thought that appropriate for this target skier. Bigger calves will push that lower leg a bit more forward and still find a good balance point. Great for cruising and a good platform for improving, they concurred.
Custom Shell molding can open the fit throughout. The process is simple and straightforward. Heat for 10 minutes, wear-and-mold for 5 minutes, cool down for 5 more. Our CS tests have shown subtle stance improvements can occur as well.
The G2 100 Powerfit M (for “m”edium height cuff) is a compact alpine assault vehicle for chargers with low volume feet. It’s a sleeper that performs at top-of-class levels while selling at a bargain basement price.
Tight in the way of a bygone boot era, especially at the toebox and forefoot. The thermo-moldable liner will open up a bit after heat customization but this boot is definitely best for the slender-footed and those with a trusted bootfitter.
The rest of the lower fit is tight too, but not in a bad way. Testers with low volume feet were big fans, citing improvements in anatomical shaping and liner feel compared to previous versions. The cuff fits snug but isn’t overly high on the leg, so skiers with average volume calves will do fine here, testers said.
Minimalist all-mountain ripper was the on-snow consensus. There was never any hesitation launching into turns and it inspired confidence without being overly demanding. Testers said this was a fun boot to ski, everywhere. Quick steering moves born of the snug fit were evident. They liked the lively, snappy flex that popped them back to a neutral position with every turn.
Stripped down, no-frills. The G2 looks down its nose at extravagances like cuff adjustments and such. It does, however, have a double pull loop liner and grippy replaceable soles.
A slimmed-down version of the well-liked MV, this 98mm width performer suited our aggressive skiing testers who like it tight and don’t mind getting a little boot work done. The clever C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) technology makes it easier for your bootfitter to dial the fit spot-on.
Testers thought the toebox was roomy for a narrow-targeted boot but they felt appropriate 98mm grip on the 6th toe, ankles and navicular bone. That’s as it should be for this category, they said. The cuff runs a touch high on the leg, a fact our taller testers applauded. All liked the sculpted feel of the liner.
Persistent control and predictable power. Strong but not overly aggressive, quick without feeling twitchy. Testers liked the leverage the cuff exerted on the edge laterally; it was easy to engage and keep it locked-in at high speeds on hard snow. Some testers had first-fit shin feel issues; it was overly firm at slide-in but eased into a comfort zone after a little hill time.
The dimpled areas of the C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) shell and liner are designed to make bootfitting modifications targeted and permanent. Bootfitters can grind or punch exactly where needed, not in a sloppy wholesale fashion that renders key fit zones too-loose. Bravo Tecnica.
The two top-scoring women's boots in our 2016 test were both Tecnicas and this is one of them. The Mach1 105 W MV received unanimous thumbs-ups from our testers. It had a universal fit and skied exceptionally well. Wide feet, narrow feet, big calves, little calves all seemed to welcome riding in it.
Works well for many different foot and leg types. The anatomical shape of the liner and shell match the curves of bony prominences like bunions, navicular bones, ankles and heel bumps. It contours nicely around those common trouble spots and holds the rear part of the foot snug for solid skiing. Fit scores were right down the middle medium, and "ideal" boxes were frequently checked in the cuff height, tongue cushioning and flex feel categories.
Eager quickness and a powerful edging acumen flowed from a centered, neutral stance. Testers said the spot-on fore-aft and side-to-side balance was the key to the Mach1 MV's superior on-snow performance. It inspired “eyes-closed” confidence in all conditions. The 105 flex worked for all testers. It’s suitable for race bred chargers looking for an easier fit package as well as intermediates looking to step up their game.
The beauty of the medium width Mach1 is that most skiers won't need to employ the C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) technology available in the liner and shell; it fits that well right out of the box. But the liner is capable of being heat-stretched in specific locations as well as ground to ease peak pressure points. The dimpled shell areas help bootfitters make well-defined punches in key locations that stay put.
Make more room exactly where needed, not in a sloppy wholesale fashion that renders key fit zones too-loose as a byproduct. Bravo Tecnica.
So many numbers, letters and punctuation it’s a wonder our testers remembered the name of the boot they were testing. What they definitely remembered was how well it skied. Super performance for the thicker foot and calf at an unbeatable price, the Ten.2 85 W C.A. was a top volume and value combo.
Open in the toebox, forefoot, instep and calf, right where skiers with wide last feet are looking for extra room to maneuver. Yet it remains snug enough for performance skiing at the heel and ankle pockets. Testers liked the additional room available at the boot top provided by the calf adjustment mechanism.
When a boot fits like an extra wide slipper, high performance isn't typically the first association one makes. But testers though this 85 flex held up just fine on high speed groomers and crud bashing missions. Several noted that the fore-aft stance is a little more forward than most other wides, so it teams best with a flatter-ramped binding. That will prevent an accidental over-flexed set up and the resulting burning quads. Talk to your bootfitter about this if you are unsure about the proper marriage.
Pretty basic but pretty effective. Three buckles, a 45mm Velcro power strap and a Merino wool liner.
Far and away the best Apex we’ve ever tested. Boot sole lengths have been trimmed by a whopping full centimeter for better responsiveness. It sports a re-designed, easy-entry boot toe-to-chassis interface. Testers were impressed with the improved skiing performance and mobility from the XP's more compact form.
The inner boot's new dual Boa serpentine lacing system was re-designed to provide better instep retention. It pulls the foot deeper into the heel pocket and in doing do improves the toebox length fit. In past Apex models, testers had to upsize a full sole length; most skied their normal test size in the XP.
Fit still runs shorter than the average boot, so trying on both size options is wise. In addition to liner lacing revisions (and new construction utilizing foot-warming Thinsulate) the chassis’ instep buckle is likewise re-designed. It now has a three-point sliding attachment that allows the buckle strap to home in on the instep for better foot retention in the frame. Testers liked the fit and feel of the inner boot but some had ongoing problems with hot spots at the navicular, outside ankle bone and styloid process. Liner molding helped but several testers noted they'd need to make frame modifications to ski the XP regularly. Minor grinding and stretching of the nanofiber reinforced nylon chassis is possible.
Testers agreed the XP was the best skiing Apex they'd tested. It’s laterally strong. Power resides in the tall rear spine of the frame; tipping and ripping was the name of the game when the innerboot remained centered in the rear-spine's grip by way of working off the back of the boot.
Testers said that the flex, while tunable for stiffness with elastomer bumpers, has a limited travel range. They found the best success piloting with side-to-side moves rather than driving hard toward the front of the boot.
Testers skied the boot both stock and customized. Most found the stock lateral stance set up slightly looser (less inside edge grip) than average. Some liked the slippery, steery feel out of the box; others found that making a simple lateral shaft adjustment unlocked the XP's latent horsepower on edge.
For many, the walkable inner boot is the Apex concept's best feature. It’s a lightweight, warm and comfy shoe that’s suited for après-ski activities and easy travel from car to lift and beyond. The innerboot’s dual, coiler Boa reel closure system is quite effective. Testers used the Boas to fine tune fit tension to their foot and leg volume.
