Tecnica Mach1 130 MV

The Gist

At a time when many medium width boots achieve “comfort” by being too roomy, Tecnica creates comfort and performance through a more anatomical shape. From the inside to the outside of the liner and to the closely mated shell shape, careful attention has been paid to matching the contours of the foot and lower leg. Testers approve across the board: comfort is performance here.

Fit

The Mach1 130 MV resides on the snug side of the medium category average, meaning it fits the way a medium width used to not very long ago.  It offers an evenly distributed squeeze on the average foot with a skooch more room at the bony points of the ankles, navicular and the forefoot.

The liner's interior has a firm but cushioned feel that wraps the foot well. It transitions seamlessly through the instep and throat of boot up into the cuff where the shin fit is firm but evenly matched to the leg's shape. Testers wrote many "made for me," and "perfect," comments in their fit notes.  One simply wrote: "I love you."

Performance

Frontside category edge grip and stability at speed are paired with off-piste design elements (grippy toe and heel plates) and a thick-enough liner to help moderate off-trail chop. Testers noted confidence-inspiring accuracy and power through all terrain and snow conditions.

It steers with no loss of movement and rolls the ski onto edge with a no-compromises torsional strength that makes your ski edges feel instantly sharper. Several testers mentioned skiing better in this boot than in their own.

Cool Features

In many ways the best bootfitting is the bootfitting that you don't need to do. This is a boot, as many bootfitters will attest, that doesn't tend to need much babysitting, fit-wise. It sells, goes out the door and spends its life skiing bell to bell, not hanging out in the shop getting punched and grinded.

That said, The C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) shell and liner are designed to make bootfitting modifications targeted and effective. Make more room exactly where needed, not in a sloppy wholesale fashion that renders key fit zones too-loose as a byproduct. Bravo Tecnica (from all us bootfitters).

Oh yeah, most testers dig the cam lock power strap hook doodad that lets you disengage the strap without having to pull the strap end through the cam.