When testers start saying things like: a perfectly perfect all-mountain machine you know they've run out of superlatives with which to describe a stellar boot. This year's boot test offered up more good boots than our test team has ever seen, especially in the All-Mountain Traditional medium width group, but the Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 delivered (again) for our testers, who put the unchanged model back on the podium. It was nudged out of first place by a mere 0.01 point, so essentially it was a tie for the best of the best.
There's virtually nothing our test team doesn't like about the Mach1 MV 130. They unanimously praise the fit for being ideally shaped for the foot and leg with benchmark-style fit tension for the medium-volume audience. Testers say the liner is firm but well-shaped enough to avoid harshness or hotspots, and the gain with the higher density feel is less pack-out potential and a heightened connection from movement to the skis. Testers like the polyurethane build in the upper cuff and lower shell, fitted out with CAS dimpling for more permanently held stretches where needed. We've said this all before, and the boot hasn't changed since its last test, so we'll refer you to our cached, past reviews for more compliments on this boot.
This time around our testers gave the boot's stance a perfect score, which falls in line with the other boots in the Mach1 line (and Cochise line-up as well), and they say that this boot sets the standard for how a top-tier performance boot should handle on snow. They say it's powerful without feeling dull and quick edge-to-edge without ever lacking stability. This is one of those boots that simply makes skiers better, they said, and they reminded that the 120 and 110 flex options are equally good for the lighter, shorter or less aggressive.
When our testers start picking on power strap design (not everyone's hooked on the hook) and color in order to find something negative to comment on we figure it's a sign that things are close to flawless. But yeah, that orange has to go.
Kudos
Caveats