The women's Rossignol Vizion 4B Elite 90 W returned for its second annual go-round at our boot test and it impressed our veteran test team all over again with its complete package, but they were mo
Smooth encapsulation of the foot. Good fit tension around the entire foot. Contours to all aspects of the foot. These were three different testers’ takes on the fit of the medium width Rossignol Vizion Pro 120—essentially they’re saying, it fits great! A closer look at the aggregate fit data bears this out, showing that out of eight fit zone scores (toebox, forefoot, lateral column, navicular, instep, heel, ankles, calf) the Vizion Pro 120 scored a 2.95. The ideal medium-width fit score is a 3.0, so both the numbers and the words match here—an ideally fitting medium width boot. Some testers went so far as to claim that its evenly anatomical fit and well-cushioned feel against the foot and leg were a benchmark standard for the all-day comfortable fit that most skiers are seeking.
Has a nice predictable feel on snow. Skis as well or better than non-walk-mode boots. A very good overall performer. Now, these were another three testers’ reports on the Vizion Pro 120’s skiing performance, which need no further explanation. Testers said there were no gaps in this boot’s descent resume, and pointed out that it controlled carving skis on hard snow at high speed and powered fat skis through chopped crud in tight trees with equal ease.
Getting excited about how a medium width Rossignol all-mountain boot fits and skis should be no surprise to anyone who’s rocked a Hi-Speed Pro or Allspeed Pro before that, but the two paragraphs above have purposefully buried the lead here, which is that the Vizion boot is currently the easiest boot to put on or take off on the face of the planet (ahem, that actually fits and skis like a real boot). That last caveat, in italics, is important. There are some very easy-to-put-on boots out there, but they may be too wide, they may be too soft, they may be rear entry designs. Only the Vizion range offers a feature that transforms the boot cuff into a foot-gobbling-mega-maw via the flip of a different-colored cuff buckle. The Vizion offers this for men and for women, in narrows, mediums or wides, in a four-buckle overlap design and in a variety of stiffnesses to suit experts to intermediates.
The reason we flipped the script and talked about fit and performance first is because our testers say, at essence, the Vizion is a great all-mountain boot for purely those reasons. That it’s also the easiest boot to get on and off is a separate thing. For some skiers this feature is an added bonus they may never utilize, but for others it is the only way they can continue skiing and skiing well--that there’s a boot to enable it is pretty cool, we think.
Lange has always been hesitant to build a bucket--meaning, a really wide boot--due to their performance-first ethos and heritage. They've got a reputation to uphold, after all! Similarly Lange was hesitant to jump on the BOA bandwagon, representing one of the last alpine brands to do so thus far. And yet, here we are with the Concept boot for men and women. It's a very wide-fitting 103mm last with a lower shell BOA closure, and our women's test team absolutely loved theirs!
The Concept 10.5 marks the the stiffest of three women's Concept models (it's a 105-flex) that sport the new 103mm "Comfort Last," and our test team says, yes, it is--comfortable. And big. They were amazed at the massive amount of room throughout the lower boot, especially in the toebox, and yet there was just enough hold on the ankles and heel to feel in control of their skis in spite of the amount of luxuriant air space around their feet. Yes, the BOA cable closure on the lower shell did an admirable job of reducing the gap between shell and foot but testers say the boot is certainly suited to the high-volume foot and instep.
One of the pitfalls of the BOA system incorporated into the overlap shell alpine boot can be a somewhat restricted entry. Testers say that is absolutely not the case with the Concept 10.5--the cabling spools out enough slack to not restrain the spread of the lower shell, and testers called out the internal grooves molded into the shell that help spread that open for unmatched ease of entry, which one tester described as effortless.
Skiing was classically Lange-level, which testers elaborated on, saying the stance angles were ideally neutral for performance skiing on-piste or off-, and the flex feel was solid and progressive, not abrupt. One tester thought the tongue padding was almost too thick but the general consensus was that the shin was happily held and more room in the cuff would come with some wear time and break-in. Quickness was not the top-scoring metric for the Concept 10.5 (Convenience, Warmth and Features was, at a perfect 10.0) but testers said it was quick enough for an all-terrain attack and reliably stable on edge.
Testers loved the look of the blended cuff colors and had no issues with the lighter weight Lyfran plastic utilized there. They appreciated the trickle-down technology of the Suspension Blade cuff-to-lower-boot connection bestowed up on the Concept by the Shadow line, but then again, testers were more impressed with the ease-of-entry, massive space for thick feet and high levels of creature comfort in a boot that could still crush the whole mountain.
Lange was resistant to jumping in line with the other brands and slapping a BOA knob on one of their own, but eventually they did it with the new Concept line for men and women. Lange entered the flagship Concept 12 in our All-Mountain Access category for its show-stopping ease-of-entry shell design, where it was our top scoring men's wide boot--in fact, it was the top-scoring wide boot for men, regardless of category. It earned a gold medal for its trouble, though testers had no trouble at all enjoying this one.
The Concept 12 (the 12 is missing a zero, for its 120-flex, and there's an 11 and a 10 for men) didn't register a single complaint from our test team. Not a gripe about its fit, not about its skiing performance, not about the mere presence of a BOA reel (and there's some staunch BOA skeptics on the team), not about its lava lamp cuff cosmetics, and certainly not about its ease-of-entry. Not a one. All positive commentary. That's a pretty rare phenomenon for our group of crusty, boot curmudgeons.
One tester said that of all the buckles-on-top, BOA-on-the-bottom boots, the Concept 12 was both the easiest-on and the best-wrapping around the foot with each click of the BOA reel. And this guy is one of our most strident critics of BOA boots. While all the BOA systems are the same, hardware-and-mounting-wise, how a boot brand builds the boot to exploit the benefits of the dial is theirs to figure out. Testers thought that the Concept shell's molded-in "passive hinges" (aka easy-on-grooves for bootfitters in the know) both allowed the shell to gape open for hindrance-free entry and close-down in a circumference-tightening wrap when the BOA reel spooled up the slack to lock in the foot.
Testers said the fit was roomy for sure, suiting the 103mm last badging, but they said it evoked the best medium-width Lange fits (a la Shadow MV) but just a little opened-up everywhere. They said that the hold on the heel and ankles was light, but appropriately so for guys who should otherwise be in a medium width boot. For the truly thick-of-foot or those intolerant of high-compression fits, the Concept 12 would fit the bill, they said.
Speaking of the Shadow MV, one tester went so far as to claim that he thought the Concept 12 out-skied the Shadow MV 130. He did a follow-up test with one on each foot (a common testing method) and said that for him it was confirmed--better skiing than the Shadow. While we wondered if he'd escaped to the bar at lunch, the point was not lost on our test team, who unanimously agreed that this wide ride ripped. The best skiing wide boot they've ever tested from Lange was a comment that was repeated several times on test forms.
We're going to leave this review right there.
“A good skiing boot-pillow!” is how one tester described the Fischer Ranger HV 95 and she was not alone in her positive pillow talk. Virtually every tester offered some sort of cushioned commentary—clouds and feathers came up a few times. One tester said it was the silver bullet for the good skier with a thick foot and high-volume calf who’s looking for a real boot at a fair price, and it has our favorite, stealthily-located hike mode switch, too.
We’re fans of under-promising and over-delivering, and that’s exactly what the Ranger HV 95 does, testers said, praising it for a much stronger-than-advertised flex feel that expands its reach to experts as well as perfectly suiting performance-seeking intermediates. It’s a great boot for the casual skier who’s looking for ease of entry, warmth, plenty of creature comforts and the convenience of a walk-mode feature, testers claimed. But, they also said that the all-mountain expert will not be disappointed with the HV 95’s clean and stable control of the ski through all snow conditions and terrain options. One tester commented that she skied some scary, wet-grippy pow on frozen morning coral reef (a spring Mt. Bachelor classic) and was shocked at how well the wide Fischer drove the skis through it—no deflection, no loss of edge contact, almost fun!
It was called a big girl as a compliment, multiple times. Testers say the Ranger HV’s toebox, forefoot, instep and calf fits were all, how shall we say it--very accommodating. Our thickest calf tester mentioned that both the cuff’s buckle catches are mounted on circumference-expanding sliders which she appreciated for quickly gaining a struggle-free closure and the ability to tighten or loosen as needs arose. A few testers thought that the heel pocket could have been a little more snug but considered that the high volume foot may be just fine there and acknowledged that tightening up the heel pocket would be an easy ask of a good bootfitter.
Testers are always intrigued by the Ranger’s small and unobtrusive cuff-release lever tucked against the top cuff buckle—it’s often missed completely by the uninitiated due to its cleverly hidden design. They are similarly impressed with its ease of use and convenience, though they said the cuff’s range of motion in walk mode is nothing earth shattering—though perfect for enjoying an apres beverage after crushing it all day, everywhere on the hill.
Also of note, the Ranger HV 95’s lower shell is able to be Vacuum fitted for additional room (or to tighten the heel, a modification unique to the Fischer Vacuum system) and it also offers the still-in-line Soma Tec stance that allows for a slightly more toed-out (abducted) foot position in the boots.
Testers said that the "space" in question, when it came to the Dalbello Veloce Space 95 W, was the space made available to the toes and forefoot in the lower shell of this new BOA-laced, all-mountain, do-it-all model. They also said the lack-of-space found in the heel and ankle pockets paired nicely with the luxury forward cabin as the performance engine of this surprisingly capable 95-flex.
First, the tester takeaway on the flex feel was that it felt more stout than advertised at 95 and they said that the lower shell's medium-width fit map and BOA-powered snug wrap helped to control the skis with quick, responsive and intuitive moves no matter what snow or terrain they pointed them at. Lots of room to wiggle toes and spread out the forefoot put testers in tune with the boot floor, ski and snow surface, and the locked in feel at the rearfoot drove the power home with clean turn finishes.
There were some reports that the cuff didn't share the same anatomically pleasing shape as the lower boot, with several testers mentioning that the boot top was overly constrictive and some said the medial calf area became bothersome while skiing. Most testers were pleased enough with how the Veloce Space 95 W skied and fit around the foot that they gave the cuff a pass, but most suggested that a good liner cook would be the place to start if calf concerns cropped up.
Similarly split was the group think on ease-of-entry, with half of testers saying it was standard for the category or even easier, while others thought that the lower BOA impeded some amount of shell overlap spread and hindered entry a bit. Even then, it was a minor issue for those testers who considered it an acceptable toll in exchange for the performance and lower boot fit they garnered at what they felt was a fair price.
The Veloce Space 95 W was tested in the All-Mountain Access category because of its on-board walk mode feature. Testers liked the convenience that offered for standing in line or trekking from parking lot to lift but they mentioned the cuff's functional range of motion when released was a bit limited.
This year at our boot test we instituted two different test parameters for overall fit—one for the “dry” fit or initial try-on and then another for the “dynamic” or on-snow fit. We did this because sometimes a boot that fits great in the shop may not fit so well once it’s clamped into bindings and pushed around. The best boots fit great, both ways. The Dalbello Veloce Space 110’s initial fit scores were high, but they actually improved in the on-snow test. This fit anecdote starts to tell the story about the Veloce Space 110—it’s understated in both flex and in price, but once testers got this boot on snow they realized it carries a pretty big stick, even if it walks softly (and yes, it has a walk mode too). One tester called it the sleeper ripper bargain of the test.
We had to ask Dalbello what the Space naming scheme is all about—we figured it could have to do with having space where you need it, which the Veloce Space 110 has, in the toebox and forefoot zones especially. On the flip side, testers said it was snug where it needed to be too, in the heel and ankle pockets, where it was performance snug for direct control of the ski but not pinchy for the average volume foot. Testers loved the well-shaped and nicely cushioned transition from the instep up into the shin and they said the flex feel was both even against the leg and comfy but also firmer in flex than the 110 labeling—most said it skied at a performance level on par with most 120-flex boots.
Many of our testers start testing a boot assuming it’s a perfect 10.0, and then subtract demerits as they find those dealbreakers, be they in fit, flex feel, stance or performance. Testers didn’t apply too many deductions to the Veloce Space 110. They gave its entry a super-easy double thumbs up, They loved the ease of the lower shell’s BOA-spooled closure and the straightforward wrap of the cuff via two standard buckles. They said its stance was neutral and comfortable and they liked the simple cuff release for a short boot-pack attack or an apres ski chillax.
Two veteran testers almost mirrored each other in their wrap-ups. One said “I gave this boot a perfect score--Dalbello has absolutely nailed it. This 110 does feel like a strong 120 though.” And the other echoed, “Super convenient, easy entry, with a lower shell BOA and simple buckles on top--adds up to a winner for me! Skis very strong for a 110-flex.”
The Dahu is a unique boot that our testers have enjoyed in the past for its ease of entry, great flex feel and fantastic walk-around options and this year's updates to the 02AM MV 90 got a positive response.
The most noticeable change for the 02AM was the newly fixed buckle straps. Where before they were fully releasable from the boot outer shell to facilitate unobstructed access to the liner but to the detriment of an easy buckle-up, now the two buckle straps stay where they belong for straightforward closure and without any hindrance to entry or liner access. Testers continue to dig the one-of-a-kind boot entry options that the Dahu offers, and that bears some further explanation.
The inner boot, liner, or so-called Cambium Boot in Dahu parlance, is designed to be easily removed from the outer shell and left on the foot as a fully functional (and pretty damn fashionable) winter boot but that's not necessarily what has to happen. A lot of testers prefer to leave the liner mated with the shell and treat it like a regular (sort of) boot--enter, buckle, click-in, go ski. The first part of that, entering the boot, is shockingly easy given how the shell's tongue hinges away from the inner boot which can be unlaced to offer a smooth-as-silk slide in. Alternatively, the inner boot can be donned separately from the shell and then slid into place within its rigid confines when it's time to ski, and vice versa. As far as so-called walk modes go, there isn't a better walking system than being able to stroll about in a form-fitted but comfortable lace-up winter boot.
The beauty of the Dahu is that the comfort of the inner boot when it's on outside the shell environment remains largely the same once it's mated with its hard exoskeleton--testers agree the 02AM MV 90's shell shape is properly contoured to suit the average medium width foot, instep and lower leg. They particularly like the room along the outside border of the forefoot, where the shell's shape arcs widely to offer ample room for the foot to spread out and find balance against the floor of the boot.
While the shell's boot sole length runs longer than traditional boots of the same size, testers mention that the internal length fit runs slightly shorter than the norm, per size, and they recommended that skiers be sure to go to a Dahu dealer where they can try on both their possible sizes.
Testers like the liner tongue's tall feel against their shin and the smooth-wrapping closure it offers through the lacing system. Coupled with the shell, testers thought the flex feel was firm for a 90-flex and reported that the fore-aft stance offered was a good starting point for skiing movements. Several testers commented that the ramp angle of the combined liner and shell felt steeper than current norms, which would work best for folks with limited ankle flexion.
Testers appreciated the improvements made to the Dahu 02AM MV 120, especially the newly anchored buckle straps that stay affixed to the cuff on its medial side for a more convenient and fumble-free buckle-up process. Their past full-disconnect mode was intended to aid in freedom of entry to the boot but testers didn't find that there was any new impediment to getting into the boot with this less fiddly redesign.
Speaking of ease-of-entry, it remains one of the Dahu design's best features for any skier who struggles with getting a ski boot on--and it provides two ways to achieve this! The most straightforward way that testers get the boot on isn't so different from any three-piece style boot. Unbuckle, pull the exterior tongue away from the cuff to the amount that's convenient and loosen the long lacing along the tall inner liner--then stuff the foot in that thing. It goes on like a nothing-but-net swish because the foot encounters no hard plastic on its way down into its well-shaped home. The other way to get the Dahu on is to don the liner, which Dahu calls the Cambium Boot (from the internal structure of plant tissues--the soft part inside the bark, specifically), and then slide it into the exterior shell. This second way takes a little practice to perfect the angle of attack needed for a smooth glide into place, where ultimately the liner outsole's tread design interlocks with the ribbed floor of the shell in a no-slop connection between the two. It's also the way that skiers can exit the shell and mosey-about in the Cambium Boot for any walkabout needs.
Once in and closed-up with the two oversized buckles and a power strap, testers unanimously applaud the well-sculpted medium-width fit of the 02 AM MV 120. it has a remarkably anatomical feel all along the lateral side of the forefoot, where the shell shape visibly arcs around the foot. Testers agree that the toebox and forefoot offer a generous amount of room for the foot to spread as needed but mention that the fit tapers incrementally to the rearfoot where it locks in the instep, ankles and heel in a well-crafted grip. Testers suggest that most minor fit issues a skier might encounter would be ironed-out by a proper liner heat molding session--and that's good news, as the bootfitter's grinders and stretching tools are less effective on the Dahu design than more traditional boot builds.
Testers unanimously love the tall and well-padded liner tongue that displaces shin pressure during flexion in a very even and comfortable manner that mates well with the stiffness and flex pattern of the shell. Taller testers found better fore-aft balance in the slightly high-on-the-leg-feeling cuff but our shorter guys could also choose to change the forward lean with the swap of a circular bushing mounted on the rear spine of the boot to gain a little more aggressive positioning. Testers mention that skiers with chronic shin bang complaints should do their best to get a Dahu on their feet for its flex feel alone.
Testers new to the Dahu boot were pleasantly surprised by how effectively it communicates with the ski and essentially skis like any other traditional boot design once they're sliding on snow. Testers with more experience in the Dahu are a little more critical and point to the longer-than-typical boot sole length as something that felt a little clunky to walk in and rendered quick moves on snow a bit muted. That said, these were minor complaints that didn't prevent anyone from enjoying their descent in the Dahu.
Testers were surprised by the high turn-linking fun-factor to be had with the Roxa Element 95 W once they got out the door and onto the snow--one tester commented that she forgot she was testing boots and found herself rallying around the mountain, playing through all terrain and snow conditions she could find. With the ease-of-entry offered by a softer-flexing, three-piece shell design and a straightforward walk mode switch, testers said the Element 95 W was an Access category solution for skiers with slender to average width feet.
Testers said the initial fit was inconsistent in its tight spots and relaxed fit areas--neither of which were exactly where they wanted them. But testers who took the time to heat mold the Element's liner found that most of these issues were resolved after some wear time--so, prospective buyers should plan to give the boot a little extra time during try-on to let the liner warm up, or ask the salesperson to put in on a liner cooker for a few minutes. Testers said the 99mm last was an accurate numeric rating for how it felt--medium-snug, or snug-medium, though they also pointed out that the oven-cookable Biofit shell can open up some additional volume as needed.
It's a 95-flex cabrio boot, so testers say tall, aggressive chargers are going to do better to consider one of the stiffer, men's Element models, but for lighter weight skiers and those with a softer forward touch on the cuff it's a dream for how well it handles edge-to-edge. Testers said its lateral game was right on the money for a neutrally balanced starting point, quick transitions turn to turn and more power against the edge than they expected from a 95-flex. Smooth and reliable skiing, all around the mountain, was their thumbnail on the Element 95's on-snow program.
Testers liked the easy walk mode that coupled with GripWalk soles for a nice, rolling stride through parking lots or a smooth approach to apres ski time. Double pull loops on a slightly furry liner in nice greys with lavender highlights worked for our team, who called this good bang for the buck for less-than-Amazon-sized skiers.
The revised Roxa Element 120 IR impressed our test team with its classic, three-piece-powered ease of entry and exit and a neutral (if a little tall-ish) stance that enabled smooth and balanced skiing movements. Testers said that this was also a good value for the performance level, making this an Access category podium sitter.
The initial fit, without any liner heating, was consistently snug, our testers said, with the caveat that the fit over the top of the foot was aggressively so. Testers who performed some subsequent IR liner heat molding said that fit glitch smoothed itself into non-issue status after a little wear time. Testers said the 99mm last width was accurately represented by the medium-snug fit throughout the lower boot and upper cuff, and testers liked the tall tongue fit against the leg (especially the taller guys). They said the flex feel was good and comfortable against the shin but came to a pretty abrupt stopping point. Testers mentioned the fore-aft positioning started from a fairly upright position, and utilizing the Element 120's new forward lean adjustment range could be helpful to get skiers in their personal balance zone where they won't need to flex so far as to find that brickish end-point.
The Element 120 received a perfect 5.0 for its Edge Power quotient, a rare accolade for a cabrio boot coming from this test team and a welcome surprise for testers who might associate ease of entry and a long-travel flex feel with three-piece boots but often don't find the same edge control as overlap shells--not so here, this time around. The crew also liked the neutral lateral set-up that provided equal access to both inside and outside edges, with no modified movements required to go skiing in balanced form.
They liked the simplicity of the cuff release mechanism and commented that it offered a secure lock when in ski mode, with little discernible freeplay in the cuff, and when released offered a decent-enough stride length, a la the cabrio's external tongue flex. No tech fittings here, but part of this Access model's appeal is its value, and tech fittings do drive up the price. Testers mentioned that the included alpine sole set that comes in the box is a welcome addition for skiers who might not be ready to update their bindings to GripWalk compatible models--but testers remind they're gonna have to someday....
The Roxa R/Fit Hike 90 got some mixed reviews at our boot test, which dropped it just out of gold medal territory but the testers in the "pro" camp liked the easy slide into this polyurethane overlap, hikeable wide-ride and appreciated its open, airy fit and tougher-than-expected stance and flex attitude.
The cuff is upright in its stance angle and both tall against the leg shaft and firm in tongue cushioning--so testers thought it suited the taller skier best and would handle a larger calf muscle without issue. The flex feel was much stiffer than testers expected from a 90-flex (they gave it a 110-120 guesstimate on stiffness), but aside from a firm feeling tongue at boot top, they said the flex feel stemming from the cuff was ideal.
Testers all liked how the boot rolled side to side, with a reactive foot feel in the lower shell--small ankle movements translated directly to the ski and the R/Fit Hike 90 offered a clean, connected feel underfoot, they said. Power and quickness were not category tops, but more than adequate for the flex tier and skier looking for convenience of entry, fit and a competent descent.
Testers gave it a perfect score for it's Dynamic Balance and its Convenience, Warmth and Features scores, which indicates that they also liked the functionality of the cuff release for enhanced walking and hiking applications. Testers say that for the Access category's goals the R/Fit Hike 90 ticks all the boxes.
Some of our team got stuck in the "con" camp by fixating on what they called an overly snug and lumpy fit over the top of the midfoot. This fit inconsistency was noted by all testers but most commented that, one, it got better with wear time, and two, it was a workable fit issue most likely solved with a full liner heat mold or possibly a shell oven-cook (the Roxa Biofit shell can be heat molded after warming in a standard bootfitting convection oven). So, scores were dragged down a bit in the Anatomical Fit criterion but prospective buyers shouldn't be disuaded from getting this one on their foot, especially considering a street price of 400-bucks.
