Testers agreed that this year’s Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 TD2 was the easiest-on and most approachable Mach1 medium yet, and with its available softer flexes in tow, they felt it could prove to be the best-loved all-mountain boot of the upcoming season.
The TD2 in the name is the droid-like abbreviation for the so-called T-Drive 2.0 cuff-to-shell connection technology. This newest generation of the lightweight and stiff alloy connector both anchors the cuff to the lower shell at the boot’s rear spine but also serves as a spring-loaded lever arm that bends during forward flexion, then snaps back to attention in between flexes, returning to the boot to top-dead-center where it’s locked and loaded for another turn. The solid attachment and flex control of the T-Drive unit also allows the use of softer plastic in the lower shell which enhances both entry and a better shape-wrapping closure.
This latest T-Drive evolution is lighter, stiffer and snappier, and testers say that it pairs well with the new, lighter Grilamid plastic cuff construction to create a more reactive and precise flex feel that amplified the boot’s quickness underfoot. The new cuff plastic’s thin, crisp feel is apparent in one’s hands at the point of initial entry, testers said. The Mach1 MV has always been powerful, damp and predictable, but this year’s shell updates give it a responsive launch and fast-twitch cadence to navigating tight spots that require quick turns. While a Grilamid cuff brings a lively new feel lauded by the majority of testers, some of our heavy hitters (sounds better than saying stocky, right?) preferred the stout, stable polyurethane cuff of the predecessor Mach1.
The Mach1 MV liner is all-new, too, and while it still brings its highly-moldable and even grindable Custom Adaptive Shape exterior material in key fit zones, the internal material above the heel pocket is made slightly softer and smoother for better glide into the boot without rendering the heel pocket slippery. The padding around the ankles offers a deeper pocket and slightly softer material, which is a dream for those whose ankle shapes line up perfectly. Some of our testers did not, initially, but after a simple heat molding session found that the ankle bone fit improved hugely.
For more than a decade we have tested Tecnica’s medium-width Mach1 boots and found them improved with each update made to the range, and they’ve always ended up on the podium (more often than not on the top step). We’ve also tried a variety of different stiffnesses in the line and have always been impressed with how the fit and performance traits were mirrored, consistently, down the branches of the family tree. In the new MV TD2, Tecnica took one of our favorite all-mountain boots that needed no fixes, and made it easier-on, lighter weight and more responsive—that’s going to appeal to a lot of skiers.
