The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!
What do smart women want when it comes to their gear? Well, the best, first of all. And if they shop for boots like they shop for jeans or shoes, they want the best deal, too. How often does the best and best deal coincide? Not often, but here (and you better go buy a lottery ticket right now) it has. The Lange RX 80 W, a boot that will cost under $400 in most shops, was ranked in the top 5 of all women's boots tested.
The Soft Value category is about testing boots for the way the majority of skiers ski them—not 100-days a season, not all day long, and not at a pro or even expert level. Soft Value boots are for the majority of skiers, and though softer, less expensive models exist under each flagship model we test (we point those out in each model's vital stats), each brand was asked to submit at least one Soft Value model to be tested amongst the big dogs. The RX 80 W was Lange's, and it stomped some serious ass.
It's a true medium width, serving a broad swath of foot and leg shapes. Testers said it has an easy slide on and snug initial fit that relaxes quickly. There’s extra room in the toebox. They liked the closely fitted ankle pockets that mate with the boot's surprisingly able flex feel to produce athletic skiing moves everywhere they drove it. While soft and rangy in its flex, the consensus was that it didn't fail and most said it felt a tad stronger than 80. “Ergonomic and economic,” one said.
Our test team put this one into the top tier for its strong skiing skill set and straightforward fit. It’s a no frills, no fur, firm feeler that grabbed our testers and took them on an all-mountain jaunt. Keep in mind that this medium width performer has a svelte twin, the 97mm Spyre 110 LV. That has tested similarly well in the past but our testers really liked this 100mm version for its fit versatility and on-snow demeanor.
Testers said that the initial fit was vexingly tight in the toebox but that the Intuition liner quickly mellowed to a fit that sits just on the snug side of the medium-width average. A few testers with wider feet performed a full heat-mold on the highly adaptable liner and were pleased with the amount of relief they achieved. The flex feel is firm, our crew said, and they liked that for aggressive pounding on- and off-piste.
The cuff is lower than most and with the rear spoiler installed, some of our testers felt it was a little too forward. Without it, though, they thought it was too upright. What to do? Luckily, the spoiler is easily grindable to half-thickness—or anywhere in between—to achieve a Goldilocks fore-aft stance.
Quick lateral transitions and a snappy flex feel helped propel testers toward higher speeds and through unpredictable terrain with confidence. It also drove performance scores into the highest echelon among Traditionalist entries.
Testers loved how strong this 100 flex skied—the little wide last that could! The Spyre 100 HV's cuff brings a progressive, solid flex that didn't fold to the table and backed it up with solid rearward support that our team appreciated for setting a functional skiing stance that didn't fail to the backseat during unforeseen terrain hits. They liked the snap and energy that the no-rivet connection between upper and lower boot provided and also thought that the lateral transmission of movement to the ski edge was immediate and easy to achieve.
The difference between the K2 medium and wide lasts is subtle, testers said, pegging the HV as a mediumish-wide or wideish-medium, and testers generally found the toebox initially a bit snug for the width group and that the calf was a little tighter than average. On those two points, testers commented that the toebox settled in fairly quickly and opened up substantially after a full cook job on the Intuition liner and that the calf fit could be remedied with the removal or thinning of the fat rear spoiler that comes installed out of the box.
According to our test team, the evolution of the Vector line is now complete. Head has kept the good fit elements from the Vector of old, resolved a couple of fit issues, maintained its skiing power and improved its looks. Testers were unanimous in their praise for the new Vector Evo 110 W. They liked its stunningly good out-of-box fit and the fit-insurance-policy that comes in the form of, well, Form Fit heat moldable shell technology. Nice work, testers said.
“Consistent, even fit” was often mentioned on test forms. The boot wraps the foot and leg with well-distributed pressure and just enough plush for a pillow-like feel against the sock. That’s backed up by a firm liner construction that held testers in a good skiing position. Testers liked the more relaxed fit in the "cankle" area below the calf and above the heel, where the previous Vector squeezed too many women.
Laterally strong, quick and precise, they said, the boot drove a ski with unflinching precision through crud and arced crisp groomers equally well. Testers were in agreement that the cuff's fore-aft position was quite upright. That’s perfect for gals with bigger calves, but more average to slender legged testers felt like they could use a little spoiler action between the liner and shell to get where they wanted to be (an easy bootfitter install).
Testers also mention that the boot felt softer than 110—which it is, it's a 100-90 flex, though that does nothing to explain why Head calls it a 110 (other than it sounds better when you’re plunking down $700). A few of our stronger testers also mention that the boot failed rearward at times. Head says that production boots will be 5-7% stiffer than the models we tested
“It has a level of performance simply not found in other women's boots,” wrote one tester. The Raptor 110 RS W again found a top spot in a very competitive category. It is the most race-like of our test crop, with its solid sole construction, rigid internal bootboard and thin, dense liner construction. Our testers unanimously approved. The Raptor fits shorter and narrower than most other narrow women's boots and with a slightly closer instep fit. Our testers approved of that too. They also concurred that it's one they had to work to get in and out of but they were okay with that, too.
It skis with stiletto sharpness so testers were willing to put up with a little entry effort and perhaps a trip or two to the bootfitter if it were their own in order to get drive this thing on snow. They loved that the Raptor rewarded good skiing and an aggressive attack. It's a girl-power dominator that performs at such a high level that it earns it a pass on any minor demerits.
Stance-wise, testers say it loads a skier up with a little extra inside edge but the dual cuff adjuster offers enough range to suit any skier needing less (or more) inside edge feel. Testers also mentioned (unanimously) that the stance was much too forward-leaning with the spoiler installed; so rip that out, they say. If the cuff fits loose without it, have your bootfitter install a shim on the front of the tongue to take up the room and achieve a more upright stance.
There are few boots more cushioned, comfortable and warm than the Adapt Edge 95 W, testers said. Geared toward thick feet and legs, the 102mm last is more spacious than most, making for a relaxed fit for all but the highest volume folk. Though, with a turn of the under-sole Allen wrench adjustment the Adaptive Fit mechanism, a skier can narrow the lower boot by 2mm. This is an easy fit solution for someone right in between the medium Vector and the wide setting of Adapt Edge. It's also a way to snug-up the fit after the liner breaks in a bit down the road.
Testers said the boot was more sensitive than anticipated, given its highly cushioned and roomy fit, but they noted that the boot's forward flex felt much softer than the 95 index level and correspondingly, the lateral strength of the boot lacked a bit when asking for solid carves at speed. The Vector Evo would be a better bet for more aggressive skiers—the Adapt Edge is reserved for cruisers and comfort seekers, and it nails that target all day long.
The Soul Sister returns for an encore performance at our boot test and our women's team re-discovered extra room in the toebox and forefoot (a result of the Soul shell redesign that opened up the shell's shape, mainly near the side of the big toe). Also remaining from the Sister's makeover are grippy sole plates that continued to make for a little more dampened off-piste ride and more cushioned walking for testers.
Our test team likes how agile and able this boot is all around the mountain—they say the snug fit in the lower boot (except for the very front) helps make accurate steering moves on skis. They also like the full and cushioned feel of the Intuition spiral wrap liner for maintaining good contact all along the shin. Testers felt the boot was a little soft in forward flex to compete with some of the other more traditional boots in the category on edge power, but gave the Soul Sister props for its lightweight and precise feel underfoot.
Testers say the upper cuff of the Soul Sister is designed for average to slender legs, and some of our well-muscled calf gals had a hard time finding enough cable and powerstrap to get locked in. They had better luck in the 102 mm Plush 6 on that matter.
The new Plush 6 is the replacement of the former Mary Jane and takes up the top stiffness spot in Full Tilt's wide-last women's line. The boot is completely new, and testers loved the wide but anatomically contoured fit in the lower boot and applauded the well cushioned tongue that distributed pressure along the shin nicely.
The Plush, like the rest of the Full Tilt gang, runs shorter than most, which had many testers considering stepping up one size to gain toe room and also a bit more width and a taller fit against the lower leg, which testers said was a bit lower than average for the category.
The flex feel is well, plush, and long travel. So long, that our testers thought they were dropping a knee to make a tele turn at times. In its present form the Plush 6 is for lighter weight or less aggressive skiers, but with a stiffer aftermarket tongue this could be an all-mountain option for thick-footed rippers.
The light feel underfoot, warmth and supreme ease on and off impressed our test team, and for the right skier, this could be their dream boot, and perhaps a firmer flexing version will show up down the road.
The Zephyr 11 impressed testers with its even, medium off-the-rack fit, feel and clean connection to the ski. Testers really got wound up after the Vacuum molding process. That’s when they started recording super-dupers and phenomenals on their test cards. And these are serious, professional skiers. It racked up serious scores too—a perfect average score in the custom testing component drove its aggregate score into the top 25% of all boots in the category.
The medium width Vacuums have historically done well without Vacuum molding. Their stance set up is neutral from the get-go and the fit works for many feet. So it was interesting to see what really changed to make it go from great to super-duper-great.
One tester’s form explained it well; her fit scores got more in-line, meaning that looser spots got snugger and tight scores mellowed. She noted that while the out-of-box skiing feel was really good, after molding she noticed a "flatter" feel underfoot and better translation of movement to the ski. Those comments are consistent with our Vacuum tests on other models, too.
A couple of stock mode testers mentioned an upright stance. One liked it and one felt a touch back. Vacuum molding fixes that; stand where you want to ski and there it will be.
The Trinity 110 remains a top level performer for women with a variety of foot and leg shapes. Our custom test team was comprised of women with slender and higher volume lower legs, and all of them found a comfortable fit in the upper cuff of the Trinity (which off the rack favors a skinnier leg). Though the boot is slotted as a narrow last, our wide forefoot folks did great here—a testament to the shell-widening skills of the Vacuum Full Fit process.
Testers who were fitting fairly snugly in the heel and ankle to begin with (prior to Vacuum molding) were able to feel a subtle increase in tightness in those areas when electing higher molding pressure settings. Testers who were in too large of a fit to begin with didn't perceive a noticeable difference—the takeaway there is that for the Vacuum molding's tightening affect to be useful the boot needs to fit pretty close from the outset.
Stance alignment improved with Vacuum molding in all our custom tests, both fore-aft and laterally. The hard plastic inserts that allow for lateral cuff adjustment should be set up for the skier's leg angles prior to molding to achieve the best results, stance-wise.
As with previous tests of the Trinity, testers love the way it moves on snow—strong on edge and lightning quick through transitions turn to turn. A light feeling boot with heavyweight power, testers say.
The Fischer Thermoshape models are not Vacuum technology boots but designed to fit well and ski well right out of the box. Our test team agreed. The fit is even and consistent, if fairly roomy as one would expect for a 103mm last, testers commented. The stance is upright and the flex is stiffer than billed, so testers put this at the top of their list for intermediate skier value.
Easy to get on and off with a plush-feeling liner that sports a seamless tongue design for smoothly contouring over the top of the foot, testers gave the Cruzar W 8 high marks for creature comfort and warmth.
Our test is always sprinkled with good deals and sleepers that surprise testers with unexpected performance. The Luna 80 was both: a shocking, stunner-sleeper of a good deal. A Soft Value entry, it scored fourth highest of all boots tested and you'll find it in most ski shops selling for less than $300.
This is the little three-piece that could. Our testers couldn't believe the agility and straight-up power that this 80-flex exhibited in all sorts of conditions and turns. They loved that it made slow speed skids, medium cruise-carves and flat-out railed screamers. An 80 flex!
Testers said it slid on easy, buckled up cleanly, fit like a well-contoured wide boot (bigger than its 101mm tag would suggest) and came off like butter when it was all over. Luna means moon. That’s fitting as our test team was over it for this one.
