Lange RX 130

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.