The BD Factor MX returned to the boot test unchanged from last year, and testers again found it an able performer, both on the down and on the up. Black Diamond's plans for their boot line are undefined, with no plans for a new boot model in the near term and a pending sale of the company on the horizon. That said, BD plans to continue to sell their existing boot line "For as long as we have plastic."
Having a chance to test the Factor MX in the All-Mountain Adventure category with its Alpine DIN sole set up against more on-area style hike mode boots made for interesting comparisons. It became apparent to testers that the Factor's through-bolted foundation made it one of the strongest boots in the group. For as light as this boot is (it and the Scarpa Freedom RS are the lightest of the category) the Factor MX impressed the test team with how well it drives a ski. Hard snow, variable junk—it didn't matter, the Factor resisted twisting off or deflecting no matter what testers threw at it.
The key to its lateral stability is the fact that the modular soles are bolted through the shell and directly into the rigid internal bootboard, solidifying the interface with the ski bindings and providing a more positive and immediate link to skiing movements. Testers called it surprisingly quick and powerful on edge.
The boot's simple, traditional appearances are misleading as the core features are sophisticated and highly functional. The hike mode is solidly engaged for skiing, but when released, the cuff is wide-ranging both backward and forward due to a uniquely engineered internal shell cutaway that allows for softer forward movement in hike mode. This, in concert with a low-friction and unobstructed glide path, makes the Factor MX one of very few boots that can claim a tour mode which operates on the same high level as its skiing performance.
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