The Trinity 95 surprised testers with how much fun it was to ski once they tuned into its unique flexion mojo and they pushed it into gold medal status in the All-Mountain Walk category.
The 2019/2020 Fischer Ranger One 120 PBV was tested in the men’s All-Mountain Walk wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
One tester channeled Jim Nabors as Pile with a surprise, surprise, surprise! The Ranger One 120 garnered the highest total score of the entire boot test and was the only boot to earn a perfect score under the Convenience, Warmth & Features tab. I guess we’re paying attention now! Testers said it skied on auto-pilot, with a better flex feel than its stiffer, tech-compatible brother, and said the liner feel was a dream against the leg and foot. One of the very best wides of the test—with a walk mode!
The 2019/2020 Dalbello Panterra 120 was tested in the men's On-Off Area wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Lighter and more agile-feeling underfoot, the new 2020 Panterra 120 pleased our crew with a re-styled walk mode and a more streamlined exterior. A new mold gives the Panterra a ripped new look borrowed from medium-width DS’s Power Cage construction, and on snow testers thought this new version was crisper and stronger than its predecessor, without the turbo-lag of old. The fit still remains generous in the toebox, forefoot and up through the instep (where it ranks in the top 5 hike mode boots for most room).
The Fit
Dalbello calls this a 100-102 for its set-and-forget, backward latching VVF (Variable Volume Fit) bottom buckle that will close the lower boot from a 102 to a 100 mm via a crafty expansion slot which the buckle can tighten up like a, well, like a buckle. It's cool because once that buckle is set the way the skier likes, he doesn't mess with it anymore, and just gets in and out with it closed—lock it up and throw away the key. But the real point to this is that this boot really fits like a 102 mm. It's a wide ride. It has a tall fit over the instep and a big wide tube of a forefoot and toebox, so big thick feet (and legs) do well in the Panterra—it's one of our testers' particular favorites for a high volume instep fit.
Performance
Last year Dalbello stripped out the unneeded heel inclinator bootboard (it went up and down like an Impala low-rider's rear end), gave it some new grippy soles, tractiony mid-arch cladding and a scuff resistant shell exterior—all useful changes that also shaved excess weight. The switch to an Irfran (polyolefin) shell and cuff material similarly shed some poundage, but testers still say that didn't drastically change the performance character of the Panterra 120. The lighter weight quickened up the pace of turns, they said—an improvement over the previous Panterra's sometimes ponderous transitions, but the lighter package didn't seem to undercut classic Panterra power to the edge, which remains torquey and stable—giving the Panterra 120's Edge Power its highest score of the five.
Cool Features
The cuff release is simple and effective for gaining some stride with the Dynalink buckles undone and testers report that the soft versus hard flex setting adjustment works well, though too soft for most in the soft mode. There are options available to upgrade to an Intuition (I.D.) liner and to swap on rockered GripWalk soles for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The 2019 Roxa R3 130 T.I. takes the classic three-piece shell's flex feel to a newer, more solid level, testers said. Roxa is calls the R3 Next Generation Cabrio, and what testers said means super solid flex feel. The 99 mm BioFit last of the R3 design puts it on the snug side of the medium width group, and the all-Grilamid construction of the lower shell, upper cuff and tongue adds up to a noticeably light feel on the foot.
Painted-on close for a medium width with a particularly snug fit over the midfoot—our lowest volume guys loved it but quite a few of the others were a bit tingly and looking for the heating stacks for a custom Intuition liner molding session. The ankles, heel and lower leg shaft were encased in a well-padded cast, they said. Testers mentioned that the tongue was a bit on the firm side against the shin, at boot top, and the solidly upright cuff didn't budge much.
The test team agreed that the boot's forte was in strong lateral moves where the rigid lower boot and tactile feel underfoot really shined for rolling edge to edge in smooth and tuned-in transitions. Testers said there was a nice fore-aft sweet spot to make these liquid lateral moves from. Testers also agreed that the fore-aft stance started from a slightly too-upright position and offered so little flexing movement that it was hard to do much other than roll laterally from burly arc to burly arc and try to stay in the driver's seat as the speeds increased.
Testers liked the R3 130 T.I.'s uphill action—lightweight, easy to actuate mechanism, friction free travel in both directions (terrific rearward, adequate forward) and tech-compatible with GripWalk soles.
Testers agree that the 2019 Tecnica Cochise 130 Dyn is one of the very best of its kind because you don't have to give up descent performance and top-shelf alpine boot fit standards to gain a releasable cuff for hike and skin missions. The 99 mm last width is a smart choice for most good skiers looking for a locked-in fit for the heel, ankle and lower leg shaft while maintaining a little breathing room for the ball of foot and toes—that was especially nice for touring, testers mentioned. Performance-wise, the team unanimously affirmed that it drives a ski well—skinny or fat, on soft or hard.
The ankles and heel are particularly well designed to hold the foot in place for skiing movements, and the forward part of the lower boot offers some forgiveness in fit tension. Testers commented that they liked the padded feel of the liner in the cuff and along the shin, and felt that it maintained the same even, comfortable fit while in hike mode as well.
One key to the Cochise's broad power band and stability on edge, at speed, is its plastic—polyether upper cuff and lower shell—real alpine boot stuff. No skimping for the sake of weight—instead the shell wall thickness is reduced in non-critical areas to shave ounces while maintaining strength. We like that. Testers noted the foot-feel through the boot floor to the ski is exceptional, and while this boot might not compare to piste-centric Frontsiders, it's pretty darned close. For where and how skiers will be using this boot, it has plenty of horsepower for 99% of skiers. You want more juice? Can the hike mode. You want the mobility and touring options? Then this is the best you're gonna do.
As with the Mach1 boots, the Cochise line-up features the Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) menu of boot-guy-approved design elements. The C.A.S. shell is dimpled in common trouble zones to make heat stretching easier, more-defined and better-lasting. The C.A.S. liner is both highly moldable and grindable due to its high density microcell EVA foam exterior. The Dynafit-certified tech fittings (hence the Dyn suffix) enable the use of lighter weight "low tech" touring gear, and a set of rockered backcountry soles is available as an accessory purchase. Lightweight Lift Lock buckles are sweet for locking them open during entry and exit or while touring—no accidental re-latching.
Of the 2019 Tecnica Cochise 85 W, one tester said: "You feel like a cool kid with it on." We figure that's good enough for us. While it was entered as a Soft-Value entry the cool kid still managed to beat up on half the medium-width, On-Off Area class and received the second highest grade of all Soft-Value entries with hike modes. What do testers like most about it? They like that everything fits and works as it should—no surprises, no compromises—and it's priced hundreds less than the others.
Testers said that the fit is luxuriant and easy-going for a medium width, though they felt that the heel and ankle were held well enough for fairly aggressive skiing. Testers also appreciated the slightly more open fit at the forefoot, over the instep and in the calf. The fit along the shin was described as ideally cushioned.
Part of the reason that testers claim this boot skis as well as alpine boots is that it didn't give up alpine boot plastic to shave weight in the lower shell where it maintains polyether and polyester plastic construction. The metal-on-metal cuff release mechanism keeps a direct-drive feel on board, though testers liked how easily it made transitions from turn to turn. Testers were unanimously surprised by this boot's quickness and strength, calling it an 85-flex sleeper.
The same Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) shell features found on the Mach1 boots are found here too. The shell is pre-dimpled in common work zones for better-formed and better-lasting heat stretches. The Ultrafit Merino wool liner was a hit with testers for its warmth as well as its cozy feel.
The 2019 Scarpa Freedom SL 120 WMN returned again unchanged this season and still impressed testers with its combination of light weight, huge touring range-of-motion and downhill skiing prowess. There are few boots in the all-mountain hike-mode category that can match that synergy. Testers remind skiers that the pre-molded liner fit is nothing like the evenly customized feel they got after a full molding session, and that even then it remains on the snug side of the medium group.
Testers place the Freedom SL 120 WMN on the narrow side of the medium last spectrum, and point out that the front half of the lower boot fits like a lot of narrow lasts, while the ankle pockets and heel were more relaxed. The cuff is a bit narrow—not ideal for thick calves, testers said—and the tongue has a firm feel against the shin at boot top. All of these fit specifics were evened-out somewhat with full-molding of the Intuition liner, but a few testers mentioned that some shell work would probably be required at the forefoot for most medium-width feet.
The Freedom SL boots are characterized by a snappy flex feel and a strong move to the inside edge. The Pebax Rnew shell and cuff construction accounts for the snappy, elastic energy feel of the boot's flex—that's the nature of Pebax. The edge power testers feel comes from a slightly bowlegged cuff geometry and an "over-molded" carbon fiber rail in the sole of the lower shell—inside-edgy and stiff underfoot added up to trenches for testers, even on hard snow. Many testers mentioned needing a cuff adjustment to make the cuff angles slightly more neutral for their stances.
The simplicity and functionality of the Freedom SL's hike mode mechanism is a category benchmark. The range of travel in hike mode is long and without resistance both forward and rearward. It's these qualities that separate it from its competition for skiers who are serious about actually using this for tours off-area. The Freedom SL boots for men and women come fitted with tech-compatible Vibram Mountain Plus soles, though alpine Vibram Mountain Piste soles are available for purchase.
The 2019 Scarpa Freedom RS 130 returns unchanged again this season to reclaim its spot as one of a very few boots in the On-Off Area category to match the downhill muscle of a fixed-cuff boot and the touring range of motion of a backcountry long-tripper. The carbon foundation of the lower boot is its power plant and the hike mode switch is bomber. Is it the perfect all-mountain boot then? Almost, said testers, who found only a few minor flaws.
Last Width 101: according to our crew this ain't no 101. The Freedom RS 130 fits like most of the narrow class boots we tested, with a particularly tight toebox, forefoot and heel. The cuff fits tall along the leg and has a firm feel on the shin at boot top. So, it's not an easy peasy medium fit out of the box. However, heat molding the Intuition liner helped even-out the feel here, although testers said that for most average feet, some shell work will probably still be required to open up some space for the ball of foot's width.
Impressive is the word here. Pebax Rnew (the more enviro-friendly Castor bean oil based stuff) plastic in the lower shell with an over-molded carbon fiber rail in the boot sole sets the powerful foundation for energy transmission to the ski. Add to that a stiff Grilamid upper cuff linked to the lower with a bombproof metal-to-metal cuff release mechanism and you've got a powerful beast of a boot that's packaged with much less weight that similarly strong skiers. It's got a snappy, resilient flex feel say testers who loved the way the boot loaded the juice on skis of any width. The cuff's a bit tipped out (bowlegged) as well, said testers, which gives the set-up a bias to the inside edges—good for railing carves on-piste, but a bit hooky and unpredictable in the junk, testers said.
The simplicity and functionality of the Freedom RS's hike mode mechanism is a category benchmark. The range of travel in hike mode is long and without much resistance both forward and rearward. It's these qualities that separate it from its competition for skiers who are serious about actually using this for tours off-area. The Freedom RS 130 comes fitted with rockered, tech-compatible Vibram Mountain Plus soles, though alpine Vibram Mountain Piste soles are available for purchase.
The 2019 Salomon QST Access 80 W wowed testers with its supremely comfortable feel on the foot—a perfect score for Anatomical Fit & Initial Feel—and said that it was Caprice Classic cruise-worthy, back when the seats were extra cushy and the ride was extra smooth. A perfect fit for the wider foot with a softer touch on the throttle, testers said, and it comes with an easy-to-use cuff release for cross-lot walks and apres shots.
Testers applaud the classic Salomon initial fit—one that caresses the foot and leg from the first moment and provides plenty of room where needed for a no-tingle, warm boot experience. Great for a wide forefoot and calf, they said, but the QST Access 80 W manages to hang onto the heel pretty well too. Easy on, easy off, easy buckles—it's the big easy, all around.
Speaking of easy, testers say the 80 flex is on the mark—and easy—so ideally suited to less aggressive, less skilled, less heavy types. Testers found it surprisingly apt in lateral moves from turn to turn, hailing its quickness and ready turn initiation. They also agreed that the cuff had a tendency to fail to the rear, meaning that it was a bit too easy to get into the backseat. So, lighter and well-balanced skiers are perfectly suited.
The steel and wool microfiber liner construction is used here for optimum warmth and the large hike mode switch makes it easy to flip into strolling stance with gloves on. The Contagrip soles are high-traction affairs for secure stair ascending.
The 2019 Roxa R3W 105 T.I. returned to our boot test with only minor changes, and our test team approved again! It's a svelte 99 mm three-piece (cabrio), contouring closely along the curves of the foot and lower leg and minimally padded with a full-thermo Intuition liner. The Grilamid shell and Polyurethane cuff combine for a unique blend of light weight and strong flex feel. The hike mode's range of travel is impressive, testers said.
Testers say this 99 mm rides the fit fence between the medium width and narrow groups. The toebox is snug, and the shell feels very close to the navicular and ankle bones—most testers had a full liner molding on their to-do lists. The heel pocket is tight but right. The calf offers a bit of relief from the squeeze, so average legs attached to slender feet will do well here. Testers noted a sharp feeling tongue against the shin, and again were hopeful that liner cooking would put that to bed.
Uncharacteristic of a three-piece construction, testers said the flex feel is stout (stiffer than the 105 labeling) and because it starts from an upright position it required some push to find a fore-aft sweet spot. Testers liked the power that the solid cuff generated in lateral moves and said it tipped all manner of skis onto edge and held them there well. The boot's performance sweet spot is in the lateral moves, testers agreed, allowing the stiff, thin-shell-walled lower boot to feel the snow surface and sink its teeth in. Transitions between turns were lively and quick and edging response was immediate, testers said.
Testers like the collection of gadgetry here. The power strap buckle is wide and easily dialed in for tension. The 45-degree second buckle retains the foot at the instep effectively. The ski-hike cuff lock is simple to actuate, and in conjunction with a long and friction-free range of travel in hike mode, they liked the easy roll of the GripWalk soles when walking. Note that the R3W 105 T.I. is tech compatible, and that if a skier plans to use them with alpine bindings, be sure those are GripWalk compatible.
Testers once again said it might be easy to overlook the 2019 Roxa Kara 85—with a name like that you could simply mistake it for a license plate or a gmail account—but this unassuming boot was a surprising contender against boots much stiffer and more expensive! Testers said the 85 labeling is understated, skiing easily like a 100 flex and putting skis on rail with the big girls.
Roomy, cushy, comfy—for thick feet and thicker calves—but without feeling like you're wearing the box they came in. Testers concur that the anatomical shaping with shell and liner did the trick for comfort and enough containment at control points to manage the skis. The tongue was cushioned and the flex feel was even (if much firmer than advertised). No drama spa slippers, is how one tester described them. So there you go.
Testers were shocked at how well this boot drove their skis—it has a great feel for the snow underfoot and enough gumption to manhandle arcs when required. Testers did admit, however, that the Kara 85 was happiest in the cruising zone making nice turns on the groomed or in some light off-piste chunder. Hike mode? This is what you call a walk mode, or an apres mode. Nobody gets this boot to traipse off out a gate somewhere. But it'll help avoid quad burn while tailgating in the parking lot!
The liner does sport some highly moldable Ultralon foam in places, three nicely appointed aluminum buckles and a Velcro powerstrap. What more can you ask for at a street price (MAP) of $350?
The Rossignol Track 130 returned sans-change to retain its spot in the top group of wide last boots with a hike mode. As far as our research shows, the Track 130 (and Track 110, 90 & 80) is the only true 104 mm last boot with a cuff release on the market. Wide boots made for walkin' and talkin', but probably not a lot of touring—this is a convenience or "apres" mode on a well-made cruiser that will handle what gets thrown its way, said testers.
The lower boot isn't just boat-like, it's a shipping-container ship of a boat, with maxed-out width available in toebox, forefoot, navicular area and along the lateral side of the foot! Testers liked the shape—it was foot-like, just not much like their feet. It will take a lot of hoof to fill the shoe here, but there are plenty of guys looking for just that, and often they can use a stout 130 flex cuff. Speaking of the cuff, we found it slightly firmer and narrower at the boot top than might suit a big muscular calf but liner molding helped relax that fit zone, as well.
As with other Rossignol boots, testers love the stance angles (if a tad upright) and can bank on a predictable turn initiation and finish regardless of terrain or snow surface because even if the boot is roomy, the heel and ankle are always held properly. The Track 130 utilizes the same Posi-Block cuff release as the rest of the Alltrack family, and testers like the simplicity of the actuation and the solid way it connects upper to lower for performance skiing but they gave it demerits for the cuff's lack of range of motion when released.
The Track 130 offers a larger, co-molded soft plastic insert at the shell's instep for even easier entry and exit—stuff 'em in there no-handed in the parking lot and kick 'em off later in the bar! Unique to the Track line-up for men and women, WinTherm "active" thermal insulation (micro-perforated aluminum membrane) is incorporated in the liner to reflect heat back toward the foot. For enhanced walkability, aftermarket GripWalk soles are available for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The all new, all Dual Core Grilamid Alltrack Elite 130 LT was the highest scoring narrow hike mode boot and the third-highest scoring hike mode boot, regardless of width. So, it's good. How was it so good? Testers liked that it shaved the weight without losing its boot-ness. It still fits and skis like a Rossi (meaning anatomically contoured, strong and quick), just a lightweight one, they said.
Testers said the fit was best described as a roomy narrow in the toebox and forefoot and a narrow the way they expect a narrow to fit from there on back, with a little extra shape at the top of the cuff to contour around the calf muscle. The Alltrack Elite 130 LT's score for Anatomical Fit & Initial Feel was the highest in the entire On-Off Area group. Testers noticed a rapid break-in of the liner to the foot upon skiing and the tightest spots relaxed just enough to forego immediate calls for a bootfitter. Easy on and off with neutral stance angles was the call, with some testers noting a slightly more upright fore-aft position without the spoiler installed (it comes loose, in the box) and others citing a slightly more forward position with it in—so we guess that's about where it should be, then. As with other Rossignol boots, testers found the length fit generous--which isn't a bad thing for a boot with hiking and touring intentions.
Testers issued zero demerits for the use of Grilamid in the shell and cuff—there were no comments about a lack of power, stability or dampness. There were, however, comments about quickness edge to edge and rapid reaction to foot steering movements. The lighter weight of the boot (1660 grams) was very apparent to testers, who approved once they got confirmation that it could ski. A couple testers thought the lateral stance angles were a touch under-edged making for a steery schmeary ride until the skis were rolled up a little steeper, where the power became evident, but the majority felt the edge power was on tap from the get-go. Testers agreed that the LT cuff's touring range of motion is much improved over the other Alltracks, but still not as good as a few others in the category.
Dual Core plastic injection is a shared technology with Lange. Testers appreciated the performance and fit enhancements that derive from this new process at last year's test when the Dual Core Lange's blew their own predecessors out of the water. We don't have the benefit of non Dual Core Grilamid Alltracks to try in head-to-head tests, but our test team is confident that Dual Core is for real, and now it's available in light, stiff Grilamid as well. Bravo Rossignol. Testers like the simple and straightforward features kit: power strap, upper cuff adjustment, Velcro spoiler, Grip Walk soles (separately), Dynafit certified tech fittings, four light weight buckles.
