The Gist
Warning: not for newbies! Testers say the 2018 Nordica GPX 105 W is like a fine wine or a 911 Carrera S--easily wasted on the uninitiated—so strong, so fast, so elemental in its design. If you're good, then you're good. If you're looking for thickly padded, warm and sadly compromising, well, then, keep on looking.
The Fit
This narrow lasted, four-buckle overlap fits like a glove everywhere but the heel, where testers were a little disappointed in the lack of retention. Easily solved with some L-pads and a bootfitter's help, but come on, right? We mean, the GPX W is descendant of heel-nipping Dobermann stock. For shame, Nordica! But seriously, we pick on this one fit zone because everything else here was just so damn good, fit-wise. Testers felt like they were cybernetically merged with this boot, connected to their skis by it like no other. Yes, the flex feel is firm. Yes the liner is thin and the shell's right there. And yes, testers liked both those things.
Performance
Quick, light, responsive, accurate, powerful, solid, aggressive, they said. Testers dig the way this boot digs trenches--without too much fuss. For as strong as this boot is, they said it has an easy, forgiving and obedient attitude underfoot. Several testers mentioned that the forward lean angle was too aggressive with the rear spoiler in—so they pulled it out and felt dialed. A miracle!
Cool Features
Yeah, sad to say, one tester wanted a fuzzier liner. This is not that boot. But it is bitchen in black with some powder blue buckle highlights. And the Full Motion Pivot cuff adjustment is a cool alignment tool that can help better balance knock-kneed and bowlegged skiers under the guidance of a skilled bootfitter.
Kudos
Caveats