Lange RX 130

Model Year
2017-18
Category
All-Mountain Traditional
Last Width
100
Flex Index
130
Cantology Compatible
YES
Price (MSRP)
$850.00USD

The Gist

The 2018 Lange RX 130's score tops the All-Mountain medium width group—one of the largest and most competitive of boot test categories. What makes it so great? Well, testers simply said Lange took one of the best boots out there and made it better. This year's all new shell shape, new construction and revised liner didn't create any new problems, just elevated the fit and performance of a perennial favorite.

The Fit

The RX is a little bit roomier this year, by design, as Lange wanted to more clearly delineate the difference between the RX LV narrow class gripper and this middle-of-the-roadster. In the past the medium RX got called out for riding the fence between medium and narrow. This year testers noticed the difference, and most loved the extra room. Not that this is a fluffy fit—the well-sculpted 3-D liner is firm and well-matched to the interior of the shell, so the grip on the foot is there, especially in the heel and ankle, but now the shape is opened up for average feet and legs. If this feels too roomy upon initial try-on, then the decision is clear—narrow RX LV for you.

Performance

The flex-feel is firm on the leg (legit 130) but with a new-found elastic quality. In fact, testers made many comments of the boot's snappy, energetic feel underfoot. "There is something about this new plastic that behaves very well on snow…" one tester pondered. And there is. This year Lange debuts a new type of plastic injection molding in the RX and RS boots that sandwiches a less-dense plastic in between higher density plastic within the shell wall itself, throughout both the lower and upper. This differential density creates an energetic internal tension of sorts and gives the boot a new, lively feel that testers loved. All this snappiness has not come at the cost of power or stability, said testers who assure this is not a jittery boot. Steep edge angles, high speeds and all manner of snow conditions were where the RX 130 shone.

Cool Features

The new RX 130 remains essentially the same basic four-buckle overlap it always has—no new frills, bells or whistles here. The Velcro power strap is a nice wide 50 mm. There's a single-side upper cuff adjustment that uses an old-school 3 mm Allen key. The Ultra Grip soles are grippy, hence the name, but not so soft as to wear out or not transmit energy to the ski. You can upgrade to WTR (Walk to Ride) soles for a few bucks and use them with a WTR binding.

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
RX 120, $700; RX 100, $600
Cantology Compatible 
Yes
Total Avg Score 
21.71
  • 2017-18 Lange RX 130 at America's Best Bootfitters Boot Test
  • 2017-18 Lange RX 130 at America's Best Bootfitters Boot Test

Kudos

  • “I can't put my finger on it—wasn't tight, wasn't loose, didn't think about it, just skied great!” -- Stacy Crumpler
  • “Has every attribute that you'd want in this class of boot—a stand out in the category!” --
  • “No frills, no nonsense—a skier's boot with sports car handling.” -- Jack Rafferty
  • “I could sell this boot all day—not bad, Lange.” -- Dallas Goldsmith
  • “More precise-feeling on edge than the previous version.” -- Jim Morris
  • “It's got a better fit in the heel now—super responsive to skier's input.” -- Eric Kipp
  • “Balance, edge power, quickness—they nailed it on all these.” --
  • “Neutral stance and progressive flex are a good combo—strong boot for strong skiers.” --
  • “I felt like I knew these boots, even though I didn't know these boots.” --
  • “Liner fills every void and lets you sense every inch of the shell.” --
  • “It was easy to start the turn with minimal effort—the harder I pushed, the more the edges responded!” -- Jim Schaffner
  • “Reactively bombastic plastic! Playfully energetic!” --

Caveats

  • “Extra room everywhere equals some power loss.” --

This boot available at...

Big Bear Lake, CA
Steamboat Springs, CO
Killington, VT
Plymouth, NH
Princeton, MA
Mammoth Lakes, CA

Special thanks to all of our sponsors!

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