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.
It might be easy to overlook the 2018 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 more like a 95 or 100 flex.
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 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 2018 Roxa R3W 105 Ti marks a brand new approach to women's boots for Roxa, and our test team approved! It's a very svelte 99 mm three-piece (cabrio), contouring closely along the curves of the foot and lower leg, minimally padded with a full-thermo Intuition liner. The Grilamid shell and Polyurethane cuff combine for an optimal blend of light weight and smooth flex feel. The hike mode's range of travel is impressive, testers said.
Testers say this is a snug 99 mm and belongs in the narrow group. 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.
Characteristic of a three-piece construction, the flex feel is long-travel and springy, eventually coming to a stop, but with a range of movement that lets the skier choose where to be in that range. Hanging heavy against the boot will only over-flex the boot and smoke the quads, testers said, suggesting skiers use a light throttle fore and aft to unlock the boot's performance power band. The boot's 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. Heavy race boot crushers won't like the laissez faire fore-aft attitude here, but those with a lighter feel for flex will find the spot and like it.
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 Ti is tech compatible, and that if a skier plans to use them with alpine bindings, be sure those are GripWalk compatible.
The all new 2018 Roxa R3 130 Ti I.R. takes the classic three-piece shell's flex feel to a new level. Roxa is calling this Next Generation Cabrio, and what testers said is ultra long-travel flex! The 99 mm BioFit last of the R3 design is a snug one, and the Grilamid construction of the lower shell and upper cuff adds up to a light feel on the foot.
Painted-on close with a particularly snug fit over the instep and against the navicular bone—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 padded cast, they said. Testers mentioned that the tongue was a bit on the firm side against the shin, at boot top, but the long and soft forward flex of the shell moderated that bite during skiing.
The test team agreed that the boot's forte was in 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. Unfortunately, testers also agreed that the fore-aft stance started from a too-upright position and offered so much forward travel (think 80-90 flex feel until it hits a stop well toward the tips of the skis) that it was difficult to remain in that edging sweet spot for long.
Testers liked the R3 130 Ti's uphill action—lightweight, easy to actuate mechanism, friction free travel in both directions (terrific rearward, adequate forward) and tech-compatible with GripWalk soles.
The 2018 Roxa Evo 120 I.R. is a soft love-bucket of cush with a cuff release mechanism for enhancing apres ski functions. Testers couldn't wait to start the party!
Testers said the Evo 120 rides the wide side of the medium-width group, with a prodigiously wide toebox for exceptionally warm piggies. The tongue is cushioned against the shin, and entry and exit is top notch, testers said.
Testers liked the easy to operate hike mode switch but were unimpressed with its available range of motion. However, they still preferred its bar stool performance over the on-snow sort, claiming that the Evo 120 lacked rearward support and didn't have much of a forward flex to write home about either. There was a sweet spot to make turns from, balanced over the middle of the foot, but it took effort to find that spot and then stay there.
The intuition liner offers increased molding capabilities and the Rox Grip rubber cladding at mid-sole provides sure-footed travel to the ski bus when the party's over.
The 2018 Rossignol Alltrack Pro 110 W was the highest scoring boot in the women's On-Off Area medium category—for the fourth year in a row! That says something about its combination of fit, performance and tester-favored features for women skiers.
Our test team says the Alltrack Pro 110 W fits like a glove—a medium-width one. No bothersome hotspots, no pinch points, a calf fit that suits average bodies and a flex feel that's cushioned enough and progressive. They love the white fur liner, even if it's a little over the top, and say the boot's a dream to get on and off.
From relaxed cruisers to hard-charging ex-racers, every woman likes the turns they lay down when they're wearing the Alltrack Pro 110 W. They say turn initiation is automatic, deep carves are stable at speed and off-piste carnage is tamed with ease. Some say the cushioned, fuzzy liner might rob the boot from a little quickness, but a happy trade for most. Very few testers have much good to say about the hike mode range of motion when the cuff is released, but they do appreciate that this boot doesn't ski like a boot with a hike mode. They say look at the cosmetics to know the difference—that's a bar mode, not a hike mode.
The Thinsulate Platinum liner is warm as well as fuzzy, which testers liked. The boot soles can be swapped for WTR (Walk to Ride) compatible ones, which will improve walkabouts and require a WTR binding—or they could hit the skin track with an A.T. frame binding.
Rossignol adds a new hike-mode boot to its stable and testers say this one's a prize bull—the Rossignol Track 130 is big. As far as our research shows, the Track 130 is the only 130 flex in a true 104 mm last with a hike mode on the market. Wide, stiff boots made for walkin'.
The lower boot isn't 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 WTR (Walk to Ride) soles are available for use with WTR bindings.
The 2018 Rossignol Alltrack Pro 130 is one of the venerable elder statesmen of the On-Off Area group—meaning it hasn't changed much in the past five years—but it remains a test team favorite for its comfortable fit, solid skiing skill set and convenience.
As with all the Rossignol boots, the Alltrack Pro 130 trends toward the roomy side of the width group but without feeling sloppy or poorly shaped. Testers say the roomy toebox and forefoot tapers back to the heel and ankle pocket nicely and the transition from the instep up through the lower leg and calf is anatomically seamless and well contoured. The liner feel is full and well-draped around the foot—an element so lacking in many boots in the On-Off Area category (but this luxury comes with added weight). Entry and exit is a slam dunk, and the buckle-up is straightforward.
Smooth, AWD SUV style all-terrain utility is what testers appreciate about the Alltrack Pro. It may not be the quickest off the start or through the corners, but it might just be the easiest of the group to just put on and go skiing, slaying all in its path, with little adjustment to technique or line selection. Damp, forgiving and plenty strong, testers can't deny that it goes everywhere and does everything. Our crew is not particularly impressed with the Alltrack's sidecountry acumen, citing a limited hike mode range of motion and alpine boot weight class, but for mainly area-based sorties it's right on target, they said.
The Thinsulate liner is a warm one, by all accounts, and testers like the option to swap on optional WTR (Walk to Ride) soles for better hiking-walking grip and roll (WTR binding or A.T. frame binding required). Testers were split on the new Sky blue hue (or is it Caribbean blue)—if you don't like it, the 120-flex version is lime-green.
The all new 2018 Nordica Strider Pro 130 Dyn takes the award-winning Speedmachine lower boot, makes some slick touring modifications to it and bolts on a light and stiff Grilamid cuff to create this year's favorite medium-width hike mode enabled All-Mountain do-everything boot.
There were a lot of tests conducted on the Strider Pro 130 and so few negative remarks on its fit. Right down the middle of the medium-fit target for appropriate fit tension was the consensus. Some testers mentioned an overly snug heel and ankle for a medium fit, but noted that after skiing a few runs the liner relaxed just enough to even-up the fit throughout. The flex-feel is firm but on target for a 130, they said, with just enough cushion for the shin. The Cork LIte liner is articulated for touring and is light weight, but still manages to both cushion and control the foot. The Tri-Force design polyurethane lower shell can be molded with Nordica's Infrared molding system, but there weren't many testers calling for it.
One tester said, form has high-fived function here, and the rest of the crew agreed. Testers were surprised by the Strider Pro 130's power-to-weight ratio as the thin-shell-wall lower boot and Grilamid cuff teamed up to produce a noticeably light weight boot that pumped out remarkably strong and quick turns. It didn't take many of those turns for a tester to forget it wasn't his own daily driver and go start looking for fresh lines. The hike mode got pretty decent marks for mobility range and quality of movement—one of the best of the alpine-strong tourers for sure, testers agreed. The wire-bale cuff release actuation was simple and effective, they said.
The lightweight, Spartan Velcro power strap was a favorite—no silly pulley-buckle B.S. here, thank you Nordica. The wire-loop-hooky buckles were disdained by some and loved by others, but they got the boot buckled just fine with a little fiddling about along the learning curve. The combination of Dynafit certified tech inserts and GripWalk soles made this boot viable in a variety of different bindings: low-tech, alpine GripWalk, or A.T. frame, and testers appreciated that versatility (as will retailers). Testers were divided on the boot name's coolness, since it sounds an awful lot like an elliptical trainer found on the Home Shopping Network—but hey, you can get exercise with this one too, and with way better views.
Testers said that if you're looking for a lighter weight hike mode boot with tech binding compatibility that skis as well as an alpine boot, the 2018 Lange XT Freetour LV should be on your short list. New this year is the ability to swap on grippy alpine (ISO 5355) soles for your on-area alpine set up or roll with the sticky Ultra Grip rockered WTR (Walk to Ride) soles on an A.T., low-tech or WTR binding.
Testers were aligned on the fact that the LV moniker is a little exaggerated—they say it's a roomy-narrow at best, or a nice-tight-medium perhaps. At any rate, average feet shouldn't be scared away by the 97 mm labeling. Testers like the lightweight, cushioned Ultralon liner (full thermo-moldable) and said that the fit was firm enough in control areas without feeling harsh. Testers liked the fairly tall instep fit—good for blood flow and maintaining warm feet while touring, they said. A few testers mentioned an uneven fit against the shin at boot top but most noted that it settled in with some time on snow. Entry to the XT Freetour 130 LV was not a favorite with some testers who found the compliant liner crumpled down around the heel. They mentioned considering using the liner as a lace-up (laces come in the box) for entry as well as for snugging the fit.
For the weight and the mobility features here you won't do much better for a solid descender. Testers liked the Lange-family stance angles here—slightly upright but with enough travel of flex to move through the downhill power band and find dynamic balance turn to turn. The Grilamid lower boot proved surprisingly strong on edge, testers agreed, who easily found a stable platform in the midst of deep carves at speed. A few testers mentioned a jittery, springy feel to the boot's flex character that they found a little unstable in off-piste sorties, but they were of the minority opinion. Testers are somewhat unimpressed with the touring range of motion found here—not great to the rear and fairly limited in forward travel, was the consensus.
In addition to a full-thermo Ultralon liner, removable rear spoiler, easy to actuate Power V-Lock cuff release, rockered WTR soles and Dynafit-certified tech fittings, the XT Freetour 130 LV also sports grippy mid-arch cladding for secure scrambling and boot-packing.
Of the 2018 K2 B.F.C. W 90 Heat, one tester circled all 5's (the widest) and wrote, Huge! Another circled all 5's and wrote, Big! Big! Big! So this is a wide one, get it? And testers loved it—it was their favorite in the On-Off Area wide group. And it has a built in heater!
The fit is so oversized that testers wrote warnings on their test forms that only truly wide, high-volume feet need apply, but they also had no hotspot complaints or shape concerns—it was foot-like in its shape, as best they could tell. The entry and exit is worth mentioning here—as easy as it gets (and pop the walk mode and it gets even easier). One tester claimed she could put it on with no hands and with all the buckles still done up. Flex feel was even and comfortable they said, and they agreed that the calf is comfortable here—even a grown-up cow's worth of leg shaft would be at home, they figured. Did we mention it has a heater?
Testers were shocked at how well the B.F.C. 90 W Heat wide load rode—the stiffness was on-target, the stance angles were neutral and enabled athletic movements, the edge power was solid and the quickness was there (if you could fill up the space with foot). Testers got aggro' with the Built For Comfort and found that, apparently, it was built for crushing it too. And did we mention that it has a heater?
Yes, it has a built-in heater integrated into the toebox of the liner. It's designed in partnership with Thermic, the aftermarket footbed heater company, but this is a woven heater element that encapsulates the toebox for more surrounded warmth. Testers tried it and liked it—easy to use buttons and they said it warmed up fast. The Apres Mode (that's what K2 calls it) cuff release is easy to use and testers report its range of motion is actually pretty good.
The 2018 K2 Minaret 100 LV returns with solid upgrades this season—two buckles up top this year bump its cuff closure quotient up and over its previous single, oversized buckle on the upper boot, which testers liked. The new LuxFit Tour Lite liner shaves weight over its predecessor and is better articulated for smooth touring.
Testers like the slide-on slipper feel this year—easier entry and softer, cushier initial feel. They say it fits roomier than expected for a low-volume boot, and most agreed that its off-the-rack fit was somewhat disconnected in the heel pocket, which was worrisome, they said. Our custom tests showed that the lower boot fit was evened-up nicely after the liner (Intuition partnership with K2) was fully heat molded. The flex feel was cushy on the shin, which testers liked.
The softer-than-100 flex feel and extra room put a rev-limiter on hard off-piste charging, but testers loved the smooth, predictable transfer of power edge to edge, which they said was stable and easy to tap into. Damp and reliable turn to turn seemed more the Minaret's M.O. than were snappy, rapid-fire transitions, but testers said for on-area, off-area options this one would suit many skiers well. They loved the easy-to-use Syncro Interlock cuff release mechanism, which offers more travel than most in the category and has a smooth, gliding feel.
Tech-binding compatibility and an option on rockered, Vibram soles open up lots of avenues for different touring equipment that might lighten the load for uphill treks. Dual-side cuff adjustment is a nice alignment feature not found on many hike mode boots, and testers liked the double pull loops on the liner for more convenient entry.
Testers say the new 2018 K2 B.F.C. 120 isn't just Built For Comfort, it's built to house the most massive meat-dogs ever to maraud the slopes! Mega volume in both the lower boot and upper cuff and a new, stiffer 120 flex should provide the sort of room and support the highest of volume human has been waiting for.
One tester summed up the B.F.C.'s overall fit this way: Soooo huge! However, he went on to say that the fit seemed congruent and well-shaped for the thickest of feet and legs (a sentiment echoed by other testers as well). And then he then pondered whether there are actually feet this big. We know there are, and we know that some folks simply don't like tight fitting footwear of any sort—and as such, this boot will appeal to fans of Uggs, Crocs and flip-flops.
The stance is upright for those with average calf volume—a larger calf will push the lower leg more forward and be just right, our testers guessed. The 120 flex is a bit overstated, testers reported, and they wondered if it would be enough support for the XXXL dude attached to such a foot. However, those who had tested last year's 90-flex said this was a big improvement, performance-wise. Generally, testers all agreed that the B.F.C. 120 was strong enough and quick enough for just about any decent skier with as balanced a lateral stance as one could want. Performance scores exceeded testers' expectations on this one.
The Apres Mode (that's what K2 calls it) walk feature is adopted from the other more serious hikers in the K2 boot line, but if nothing else, K2 knows its target customer. This cuff release mechanism is all about strolling parking lots, tailgating, beers at lunch (maybe breakfast too), and its ease of use and range of motion is fantastic, testers said. GripWalk soles can be purchased to make the strolling even more sublime (if you have an appropriate GripWalk binding).
