The Roxa R3W 115 TI I.R. is a perennial favorite of our women's test team and this year was no different. It's a stand-out in the All-Mountain Freeride category for its snappy, lightweight Grilamid construction throughout (shell, cuff and tongue), a full-thermo Intuition-Roxa I.R. liner and top-of-class quickness and lateral responsiveness (it received the category's only perfect score in the Quickness and Steering criterion).
Testers were blown away (several of them used those exact words) by the R3W's side-to-side reaction time--instantaneous edging response and ultra-precise steering was the consensus. The combination of snug fit in the lower boot, rigid Grilamid plastic and a firm liner feel put testers in direct connection with the skis' edges. They said the transitions between turns were lightning quick and the stability while on high edge angles at speed was commendable (and surprising for sometimes bouncy-feeling Grilamid plastic). They did like the high levels of rebound energy that the boot generated but they said it remained easily managed and not nervous or twitchy.
The snugness of the lower boot was either boon or bane, depending on the tester. The most slender footed folks loved it and the more medium-ish volume testers thought it was too tight for a 99mm boot. This is the nature of the 99mm last--right in between narrow and medium--but most of the test team agreed that it fit more closely with the narrow group, out of the box. That out-of-box fit, while pre-molded and acceptable for skiing straight-away, will change substantially with a full-thermo custom liner molding session, which we did not perform as part of our testing procedures. Testers attributed some of the boot's notable shock absorption to the I.R. liner, which they said had a dense but padded feel that worked in tandem with the liveliness of the shell.
Where testers were 100-percent in agreement about the boot's elevated edging game and lateral move skills, they were less unanimous in their appraisal of the fore-aft balance and flex feel of the R3W 115. Each had their own unique take on the cuff's fit and feel, and while there were no deal-breaker issues there, there was a lack of consensus, which means it will be up to each skier to assess how the boot shaft accommodates their leg, front-to-back.
A point of agreement, though, to finish, was that the light weight and ease of uphill use was a highlight of the R3W resume. Testers said the cuff's release function was straightforward and simple and the resultant range of touring or hiking movement was both substantial and natural-feeling.
A truly versatile and fun hybrid boot for good skiers was their unanimous takeaway.
Kudos
Caveats