The Gist
Year after year, test after test, the Mach1 MV 105 W has amazed our test team by how well it pairs comfort with downhill performance and this year's all new version is no different. One tester said of the MV, there's a magical power fairy onboard for translating its luxurious fit into deep trenching edge engagement. Another’s comment was that the MV takes any skier to the next level. A third said, cushion that rips. All mentioned that the polyurethane shell felt strong underfoot, and they agreed that it has a bit more instep room than many and now an even better fit across the bony top of the foot—a plus for high arches.
The Fit
The new mold shape for shell and cuff in the new MV boots increased the anatomical sculpting for the average width foot shape and opened up more room in the toebox while straightening and increasing the height of the cuff. Also improved this year is the liner, with more surface area for C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) custom modifications and a larger and better shaped soft area over the top of the foot. Testers have always praised the MV for a nice blend of cushioning and retention and they say that is not lost with this year's revisions.
Performance
As with the MV 105 W of the past, on-snow this new boot takes no prisoners--unless that's what you want. It can go either way--total domination on-piste and off-, or it can simply cruise from late-day start to early-apres toddies. One of the keys to the Mach1 line's success is its neutral stance set up that allows almost any skier to buckle-up, click-in and get to shredding without having to modify style or terrain selection. Testers continue to mention that they instantly felt dialed and recommended it to any good skiing gal looking to up her game—or one who just wants to keep on doing what she's doing.
Cool Features
One of the coolest features of the Mach1 boots is the fact that many of their design elements are created with the help of a few of the best bootfitters in the USA—Project 165 is Tecnica's partnership with select bootfitters and their collaboration has been evident in the last couple seasons for Tecnica. One of their Women to Women crew is an ABB tester—Samantha Tischendorf! The Mach1's Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) shell construction offers pre-dimpled areas on the shell where a heat stretch is more easily accomplished and will hold better over time. The C.A.S. liner this year is more highly shaped to match the foot's anatomy and is both moldable and grindable, due to its firm EVA foam construction. The C.A.S. Cuff Adapt feature utilizes a taco-shaped heating pad that warms the low-temperature plastic calf insert and liner to a molding temperature, and then simply wearing the boot will move the cuff to an ideal position for both slender or thick lower leg shapes.
Kudos
Caveats