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
Testers found that the ST suited our bigger, taller guys best. Testers who felt that the VFF Pro was a touch too soft, found their fore-aft target in the ST's pinned and reinforced cuff design. The flex feel is still characteristically elastic and long-travel (a DaleBoot trait, we think) but with a firmer starting point that worked well for skiers with longer legs).
This is not to say that the ST couldn't be built for a shorter guy—or even a strong skiing woman—like all DaleBoot models, the lower boot is completely customized to the skier's foot shape and the upper is selected to match the shape and length of the lower leg shaft.
The ST lower can be built to suit the narrowest sliver of a foot (92 mm at size 26) up through gargantuan proportions (110 mm at size 26). The upper boot on the ST is available in two different cuff heights, per size, to suit varying lower leg shaft lengths and shapes.
The liner is any one of six options for volume and density, in two different styles, of which testers noted that the spiral wrapping style did a great job of padding the lower shell's cabrio opening for an easy slide into and out of the boot. The DaleBoot's entry and exit scores remain the best, across the board, period.
At first, testers new to the DaleBoot design struggle with the unique buckle closure system but manage to get trained up quickly and generally approved of the resulting containment. A newly redesigned toe dam "spat," has solved previous pop-off problems, making the buckle-up process much more trouble-free.
Those are some of the comments testers made about the Viper 120, which returns with a complete liner makeover and a cleaner, classy looking buckle set. The Viper is one of those boots that does everything right, and yet by virtue of its classic design and sedate graphics seems to get overlooked in the draft. But the testers who authored the above quotes know talent when they see it. As a group, we found this one of the best fitting and skiing boots at our test and certainly one of the top medium width boots available.
Viper's fit numbers paint a picture of the ideal medium width boot. It’s not narrow class tight anywhere, but there’s also no wide-style slop to be found either. Testers noted that the fit is anatomically smart—extra room for navicular, ankle and the lateral side of the forefoot—which stems from Dalbello's Contour 4 shell shaping. They said the new liner still provided a cushioned fit but with a slightly snugger feel overall and without any pressure spikes or hot spots. Testers liked the calf fit for how universally it struck their leg. It wasn't too tight or too loose for any tester and with its removable spoiler, stands as one of the better big guy, big calf options in the category.
Speaking of big guys, this is a good value for bigger, stronger skiers because most testers gave it stiffness scores that edged up alongside 130 flex models. The flex feel is firm but evenly distributed and progressive, according to our testers. They also liked the amount of forward lean (not too forward, not too upright). The good bang-for-buck here extends to other members of the Viper family like the 110, 100, and 90 flex versions.
This year's Live Fit 130 returned to the boot test with a new Thinsulate laminate in the liner and cooler, new buckles—it remains the same, otherwise, and similarly testers' feedback was positive.
This 102 needs to work on its self-esteem, because Live Fit 130 could claim another few last width digits (or five) according to our test team who say this is the widest wide-body on the wall. And then it has stretchy Live Fit panels at the forefoot to allow even more width expansion. Next, this is also a 130 flex, and one that feels legit, testers say, which would make this boot the only truly wide 130 flex in existence. Last, this boot only has two buckles. So then, should it not stand to reason then that this boot has been designed for the biggest, fattest, laziest Sasquatch ever to roam the land? You'd certainly think so, but then you read what our average sized testers said about the boot and you scratch your head—they loved it as much as the wide foot folk on the team did.
Testers noticed a firm enough heel and ankle fit to allow for skiing movements to happen from the rear control center of the boot, sort of like the fireman driving from the back of the hook and ladder rig. Up front all but the widest of feet floated about in the Live Fit bootosphere, yet the rear foot hold and close-enough fit through the cuff did the trick. All about balance they said, and testers did think the stance was money side-to-side and front-to-back. A couple testers mentioned that the combination of prodigious width, Live Fit stretch panels and the boot shell's 3-degrees of toe-out made this boot especially well suited for really duck-footed dudes. No, really, it would be the shiznit for somebody like that, allowing the feet to seek a naturally abducted position over straight-ahead skis. But then again, it seems that the regular old straight (and massive) feet guys do pretty well in it, too.
Change is good! And yet we humans innately fear change. So it’s understandable that the bootfitters on our test team who were fans of the Hawx boots were worried that their go-to ride (and slam dunk sale) might have gone away. It only took one run for these concerns to be laid to rest. relax, people, the Hawx 2.0 isn’t dead—it fact, it still got a killer set of talons. And while it impressed testers with its new personality, there is one striking similarity with the Hawx of old, which one tester summed up succinctly: "This boot is great for a lot of different skiers."
First big difference. There's more room in the forefoot and over the midfoot than previous versions. Testers felt the Hawx, like many others in the medium width group this year, had shifted its fit toward the wide end of the spectrum. Because of its redesigned toebox it also fits a bit longer at the first toe, which allowed more than a few testers to step down a size for a snugger fit. So, the new shape offers some new versatility depending on chosen size. Testers were unanimous in that the fit was even and comfortable, with snug heel and ankle pockets that allowed for precise skiing movements. The liner retains its Dynashape laminate, which reduces a packed-out feel over time, and adds a Thinsulate layer for added warmth—fully wrapped around the lower portion of the liner in the 120 and big brother 130 but just in the toebox on the softer versions.
Second big difference—gone are the gill-like iflex zones, but the concept of underfoot flexion is not. The increased flexibility in the boot directly under the forefoot has been relocated now to the boot sole itself, along the lines of how the Redster achieves it. This change allows for longitudinal flex along the boot sole for supple pressure control movements but maintains slightly stronger lateral and torsional stability. Testers noted that edge power was plenty solid and liked that the boot wall was now a solid material for internal shell grinding if needed.
Third big difference—the Memory Fit shell is heat moldable after only a five-minute cook in a convection oven. The liners get loaded into the hot shells and the skier wears the boot for only two-minutes to allow the shell to adapt to the foot and lower leg's shape. A five-minute cool down is all it takes to set the modified shell shape. We tested this feature on the Hawx and were impressed with how malleable the plastic became in such a short time. We felt that the customizing action was subtle but useful as a fine-tuning fit tool. We don't know exactly how the Memolink plastic additive works (Atomic won't say), but we are impressed with how well it skis.
Mach1—just the name sounds fast and powerful, and testers said the name fit. They found themselves skiing faster and harder in this boot than most of the others they tested in the category. Its athletic, balanced stance, appropriately firm 105 flex feel and strong lateral power combined to drive the ski's edge with authority, rendering a more aggressive line easily accomplished. Testers said this is no cushy soccer mom gutless mini-van affair, more like an F-150 SuperCrew with custom exhaust. This all new model is built for skiing and for skiers who will appreciate its top end.
What testers also noticed was a lot of open space for their feet to stretch out and relax—length, toebox, forefoot and instep fits were all roomier than the average medium-width boot, but with more snug ankle pocket and heel grip scores. Testers were surprised at how well this boot skied given how much room there was for the wider, thicker parts of the foot. The Mach1 fit many different feet well, but higher volume feet will do very well here.
Though the liner's initial fit is excellent and well-mated to the interior of the boot shell's shape, testers were stoked on the new Custom Adaptive Shape design for enhancing fit down the road, whether by heat molding or even grinding on the liner's firm, Microcell exterior material.
We tested the Fling as Tecnica's "soft-flex and value" test entry. At an 80 flex in a 98mm last, it is one of very few women's boots to combine narrow fit with soft flex at a more palatable price-point. Testers thought it suited this target well—aspiring advanced skiers and lightweights with narrowish feet.
While testers loved how this boot performed on snow (amazingly quick and strong for an 80 flex they sais), a few had problems with a sharp and hard-feeling shin fit, which has also plagued big sister model, Crush, at previous tests. If the initial fit is even and comfortable along the tongue the abovementioned skier will love it, testers said.
The G2 gets a full re-boot and creates a new option in the Scott line-up at a widely usable 90-flex in two cuff heights, a lower "M" cuff (for medium), and a more traditional height cuff, "H" (for high). This makes this a utility crossover player for both men and women as well as teens looking for a performance low-volume fit at an appropriate flex and great price.
And testers say it is a low-volume fit that grips firmly everywhere (except for the roomier toebox), so slender feet will do well in this true-to-form narrow class favorite. This year's G2 90 Powerfit comes outfitted with a completely redesigned, fully thermo-moldable liner that shaved weight and offered a more plush feel and better initial shape than previous iterations. Though testers felt the liner moving around a bit inside the shell in off-the-rack tests, once they heat-molded the EVA-foam-based liner it better matched both foot and shell interior for a locked-in fit and feel.
Though the new cosmetics gave the G2 some much needed pop, testers say that it's the way it skis that seals the deal—family G series traits of lively flex feel and agility turn to turn were plain as day, they said, and the 90 flex performed with more tooth than most other similarly rated boots.
Testers were impressed with how solidly this 80 flex handled whatever they threw at it, claiming that it stood up to firm inputs like a boot 10 to 20 flex points stiffer. They were fans of its flared boot top, great for wider calves, and felt that the medium-wide fit elsewhere made this a versatile go-to for a lot of different skiers.
Stance angles got a thumbs up from the test team, though a few noticed that the stance was a little tipped-out, providing some extra inside edge bias that may or may not suit a skier's anatomy. While there is no lateral cuff adjustment on board, the 360 Custom Shell material will allow for some stance angle adaptation during the five minute molding period (after a 10 minute oven-cook).
Testers were surprised at the on-snow performance of this three-buckle, 75 flex powerhouse, and applauded its price-to-power ratio. The felt that the Roxa overlap stiffness worked well at the 75 flex level, since all of these boots seem to feel stiffer than their listings.
With a tall feeling cuff and an upright stance angle, the Kara 75 is a great all-day cruiser, testers said. And while the flex was soft and cushioned feeling along the shin, our team found that the lateral rigidity was better than expected for a three-buckle at this price point.
If Angus Young were a chick who skied, this would be her boot. You following this? That's right, because the Electra SI 110 is back in black, get it? This analogy may be a stretch, but it's perfect because this year's murdered-out version of the perennial favorite deserves an ear-splitting, hard rock anthem to accompany its rock-star performance at this year's boot test. The hard charging, high speed, crud-killing shredder took testers on adventures all over the mountain to unanimous applause, and high scores for ease of entry and exit as well as overall comfort to balance out all the badass it brought back to the table this year.
Testers loved the springy, energetic flex feel of the Electra SI 110, citing that flexion as the key to the boot's agility and responsiveness. Solid on edge with a firm, narrow-last grip on the ankle and heel for driving a ski, the Electra got medium-ish scores for its toebox and forefoot fit. Testers loved the small dose of fur on the newly revised Thinsulate liner, but they were glad that it was black.
Testers thought this boot (and the rest of the Rossignol line that shares the same stance platform) was spot-on for stance angles--unanimously agreeing on the neutral and comfortable position the boot placed them for making turns of every sort.
Our women's test team gave this value/soft entry double-thumbs-up for how well-balanced, comfortable, and dynamic the Electra Sensor3 80 felt. Yes, it's a softie, but with a stronger-than-80 feel while skiing and a progressive flex feel that came to a firm stop rather than collapsed—the key to its snappy feel from turn to turn, they said. The polyurethane upper and lower shell construction is a rare thing at this price point and no doubt part of the flex-success testers cite.
It has a sleek and stealthy black graphic that mirrors big sis Electra SI 110 and impressed testers as classy and sharp. The Sensor Fit liner's pre-molded construction provided a snug-enough grip on the ankle and heel for in-control moves through varied terrain without being overly constricting of blood flow. Comfort and convenience scores were high across the board and testers also approved of the sparing but stylish use of faux fur.
The little sister to the Patron Pro, the La Nina takes the Dobermann platform and makes it a little more user friendly for performance skiing all around the mountain. The cuff is on the low side of the category norm and at 90 is a little softer than some. Testers thought this was a great option for lighter weight chargers and any skier with a shorter or thicker leg shaft looking for a snug fit for a low to mid volume foot. And at a full $100 less than a Dobermann 100 the value factor is high as well.
The liner and bootboard is slightly softer, more shock absorbing, than the Dobies in the same way that the Patron Pro is off-piste modified to handle some rattle and bump off the groomed. Testers felt that the boot rolled right through everything in its path and had plenty of juice to the edge on firmer, smoother surfaces too. A few testers mentioned an overly firm or edgy feel at the top of the tongue while others had no issue.
