The flagship women’s narrow Fischer offers a unique host of features that will appeal to a hardcore and specific-fit-focused cohort of skiers. There are a lot of moving parts to the Fischer RC4 Carbon Pro LV ZF BOA 115+ and they’re hinted at in the coded and extensive model name.
The RC4 range is known for its assertive, forward-leaning stance and rapid response to side-to-side edging movements—this year’s tests confirmed that remains the same, and testers liked this set-up for aggressive cord-carving on smooth surfaces, saying the boot shined in high-edge-angle arcs that left deep trenches in their wake, powered by its polyurethane construction and added carbon fiber infused cuff construction. The sensation of the boot working laterally in tandem with the lower leg shaft was one of confidence-inspiring connection, testers said.
Testers like the ZipFit (ZF) liner for how its dense, upper construction and lace-up closure connects the leg with the carbon-PU upper cuff in a closely-matched fit that improved with wear time, testers said. Ideally, a liner cook that heats both the interior and exterior material of the ZipFit will enhance the bond between leg and liner, as well as between liner and shell. Testers say the heat mold is the best way to unlock the full potential of the ZF flagship for women—without some heat to accelerate this marriage of liner to shell testers report that there is some slippage between the two while skiing.
Testers say that the liner fits tall against the leg, and it’s tipped forward, which testers took a little time adjusting to, but claimed it offered fun, poppy, dynamic skiing.
Testers are always split on their love or consternation for donning a boot with the liner on the foot, plug boot style, but all testers agree that it’s an entry and exit method that gets easier with practice. Those testers with bony, high-arched feet like how the liner protects the top of their feet during the entry phase where often the shell overlap can bite their midfoot bump on the way past the throat of the boot. Once in the boot, testers were fans of the lower BOA cabling for bringing the plastic to bear against the ZF liner to wrap their foot in minute but accurate, click-at-a-time adjustments.
Testers note that for skiers with low-volume feet and legs who may not need or want the 115-flex and ZipFit liner combo, the non-carbon-cuffed 105-, 95- and 85-flexes offer traditional liners and substantial discounts of $350, $450 and $700 off the tested model, respectively.
