The Gist
So many good elements come together here. The out-of-the-box fit was among the best, testers said, if a bit too roomy in the toebox and forefoot for a true medium width. The flex feel is dreamy and the cosmetic touches impressed. As did the Speedmachine 105 W's dedicated Infrared custom fitting system.
Fit
While testers felt a little disconnected in the toe and forefoot zones, they mentioned that the cork liner heel and ankle pockets retained the foot well and that firm contact at the instep held them where they wanted to be. Flex was long travel with well-distributed pressure along the shin. Testers thought it a little softer than its 105 rating, some noting they would probably opt for the stiffer 115 flex model.
Performance
Laterally, there was no shortage of stiffness with which to lever the ski up onto edge and hold it there. Testers were impressed with its speed and hard snow game, but were just as keen on how well it dialed it back and feathered on-and-off edge with finesse. This is a boot with a wide performance bandwidth that will work for many different types of skiers, they said.
Cool Features
The new, stiff Tri-Force shell spine and lower rail construction (like a cuff-to-sole "L" shape) work well to maintain a rigid skeleton while shedding overall weight. The lower shell is molded with thicker areas for a strong power link and thinner areas for weight reduction and easy shape modification.
Using a proprietary Infrared molding system, the thin areas are heated where needed for additional room and a suction cup is affixed to the area. It pulls the shell material outward, rather than the traditional push from the inside, to accommodate for bony prominences.
Kudos
Caveats