The Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro's dark green foreshadowed its inner Hulk edge power but neither its color nor its skiing skills made our testers angry--far from it, they were pleasantly surprised by its t
The new Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 115 W lived up to its alpha-female billing for a snug lower boot fit (that's one part of being Alpha in Salomon lingo) and apex-predator-level skiing performance. Testers were equally impressed with the bold "ultra violet" purple cosmetics paired with the speckled flecks of recycled plastic in the lightweight, polyolefin upper cuff.
Alpha is the model line badge that indicates narrow, and this one is, at least in the clog portion (that's the lower, shoe part, not the cuff). We score fit tension on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is World Cup race boot tight and a 5 is as wide as a packed-out rental boot. A 2 on our scale would be the typical fit target for a consumer narrow, like this one, in the 96-98mm last range. Our test team gave the Shift Alpha Boa 115 W's lower boot fit an average of 1.73 for all fit zones from the toebox back to the heel pocket. Its tightest scores were logged in the heel at 1.5. Just for some perspective, the tightest boot of the entire women's test was also a Salomon--the all-mountain S/Pro Alpha 110 W--that had a slightly tighter heel at a 1.44, so that says pretty clearly that this freerider is a perfect match for the skier with even the most slender feet. We probably could've told you that without all the numbers, huh?
The upper cuff offered a more relaxed fit and a fair bit of boot top flare for a larger calf. To hear testers say it, the cuff fit was huge by comparison to the foot grip, but in looking at the calf fit scores they were only slightly roomier than the narrow target, coming in at an average of 2.5. Testers noticed this differential, though, and made a point to highlight this fit map as one that's often hard to find for skiers with narrow feet and thicker legs--a lower-to-upper shape combination that's actually pretty common among skiing human female types.
Testers say this boot skis like a top-of-the-food-chain kind of beast with more on-edge stability than expected from a lightweight Freeride model. It was also quick to pounce, to milk the predator comparison a bit more, and it pleased testers with its accuracy of steering and quick pressure control movements. Testers were unanimous in their appraisal of the boot's lateral responsiveness and rigidity--the Shift Alpha put a big ski on edge and held it there without fail and was quick to transition between powerful arcs.
Testers were less enthusiastic about the fore-aft positioning and flex feel. Most felt that the boot was on the upright side of neutral, which they were fine with for a comfortable all-day skiing position, but several also mentioned an uncomfortable and inconsistent fit along the shin which made it hard for them to push through the upright stance to a position they wanted to attack from. Testers mentioned that a full-temp liner molding session would be on their to-do list if they took this boot home with them. Salomon also issued an update after our test concluded that they made some changes to the cuff release's internal design to further reduce a very small amount of play in the cuff, so there's a chance that this will indirectly improve the general flex feel for prospective buyers trying on the Shift Alpha BOA 115 W this Fall.
Testers liked the BOA's incremental closure on the already snug lower shell and a few mentioned that they appreciated the graphic rule for better quantifying the tightness of the fit (for those folks who have to know what catch each buckle should be on, we suppose). The gliding ExoBelt BOA cable anchor at the boot's "45," or throat, was commended by testers who liked how it moved to a stable position as the cable tension was increased.
The Shift Alpha's molded GripWalk outsole was nice for a secure, rolling stride, if not replaceable, and testers said that the sideways Twinlock cuff release mechanism remains a favorite for its ease of use and a solid connection in ski mode--with an even more-solid linkage to come with the mechanism update we didn't get to test.
The new and narrow Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 130 is a feature-rich powerhouse according to our test team who were split on the purple, but of a single mind on how strong on edge and quick in transition these performed on the downhill. The fit favored low volume feet and average to muscular calves, according to our testers who couldn't find a weak link in its performance chain mail.
The lower shell's polyurethane construction and close wrapping fit (secured by a BOA cable and reel system) helped power accurate steering moves and quick direction changes, yet maintained a damp and stable feel underfoot that testers liked. They said it's tight the way a narrow should be from toes to heel, with a little extra emphasis on the tightness over the top of the foot--which testers said moderated after some wear time. They liked the BOA closure, especially given that the foot was already held closely, and a few commended the graphic tightness meter at the shell overlap for identifying the boot's level of reel crankage. Testers were intrigued by the floating ExoBelt cable attachment at the throat of the boot, which allowed the cable anchor point to travel slightly and seat where maximum pull into the boot's 45-degree (throat) was achieved.
The upper cuff is an interesting mix of polyolefin plastic and recycled flecks of Pex plumbing pipe (those bits are responsible for the speckled appearance of the cuff). Testers liked the response it offered to lateral movements, tipping the skis on edge without delay or give and held them there without fail through a variety of terrain and snow surfaces. The rigid but lightweight FreeSpine bar links upper to lower and is released for walking or touring by flipping the sideways SureLock lever--testers liked the solid connection offered by this paired technology, and that was before they learned that Salomon revised it further after our test concluded to eradicate some persistent free play in the cuff at the top of its flex range. Testers also liked the easy release of the SureLock switch and said the walking and skinning range of motion is more than adequate for the hard charger looking for a tour-capable boot that won't disappoint on the descent.
The skiing part was where the Shift Alpha shined for our test team, especially in clean, lateral edging movements where the cuff and lower shell worked together to drive the ski edge with power and precision. Several testers were bothered by the boot's flex feel, which some characterized as abrupt on the lower shin and also disconnected from the shin at boot top, allowing for a "spilling out of the top" sensation. Testers tried to crank the 50mm Energyzer up-hooking cam-locking power strap to gain a better connection between tongue and shin while others suggested a full-temp liner cook might solve the issue for them.
The solidly lugged, permanently bonded GripWalk outsole offered a more-direct linkage of foot to ski, by minimizing extra bulk and potential movement in a trade-off for replaceability, and testers were mostly fine with that. They were mostly fine with the purple, as well, especially when they heard it was actually ultra violet--which is way cooler.
The Lange XT3 Free 115 W LV was one of the two highest-scoring boots in the entire women's boot test at 4.85--and the other boot was from sister brand Rossignol. There was only one men's model that scored higher. So, the XT3 Free 115 W LV is on the mega-podium this year, and for good reason, say testers who loved the boot for doing exactly what it's supposed to do--everything!
The Freeride category is really defined by the presence of tech fittings for compatibility with light weight touring bindings, but in addition to a releasable cuff and GripWalk soles the other expectation from the Freeride group is the boot's downhill skiing ability. There are lighter weight boots with better touring features in the Backcountry category but those uphill amenities come at a cost--skiing down can suffer there. Not so in the Freeride category, where the premium is placed on fit and descent performance. Testers say that the XT3 Free 115 W LV crushes those two essential elements--it fits and skis like the best alpine boots on the market. And, it has an improved range of motion in touring mode this year they said. And it looks amazing! Another win, win, win for the brand, one tester said.
The XT family tree has always been known for its alpine roots--however, the current XT3 is the strongest skiing of the bunch, testers agreed. They love the tall-feeling cuff that doesn't collapse under load and its strong rearward backbone for setting a good fore-aft balancing backstop. Laterally, testers said the boot was snappy in transitions and solid on edge with big skis on hard snow at high speeds--keep in mind these are alpine-level ratings from testers who don't sugar-coat it if a Freeride category boot has phoned-it-in with regard to its skiing performance. Testers were surprised that the XT3 Free 115 W LV both skied better than in the past and also toured better--usually those two things are mutually exclusive, but testers said that the range of motion and quality of cuff rotation were both improved in this better-skiing version.
Testers were very impressed with how well the XT3 Free 115 W LV did everything--there didn't seem to be a blindspot on its all-around resume, they said. It received a perfect score for its Dynamic Balance, which always sets the foundation for successful movements, whether up or down. One tester called it a utility player and another called it a workhorse. All of them made some complimentary comment on its cosmetics, generally agreeing that it won for unofficial best-looking-boot of the test.
Testers had three things to say to say about the Lange XT3 Free 130 MV. One was, damn this thing is blue. The second was, damn this thing skis well. The third was, damn, I gotta get one of these things.
Well, they had a little more than that to say, but those three comments were shared by testers across our team. Many of the other comments of note focused on the stellar snug-medium width fit throughout the lower boot and cuff, which testers said got better with some time spent in the boot as the liner relaxed just enough to hit the bullseye on what they considered the medium-width fit tension target. They loved the fit of the tongue against the shin and the boot's flex feel and said that while there was enough room in the toebox and forefoot for a warm and comfortable tour, the instep, heel and ankle offered a performance-oriented grip for controlling the ski in even breakable crust with a pack on.
Other comments touched on the XT3 Free's improved touring function. The cuff release switch is glitch-free and simple to use, they said, and they remarked that when locked into ski mode there was no perceptible cuff freeplay--it was ready to rip at the flip of the switch. The range of motion available in the cuff for hiking or skinning was noticeably improved over previous iterations we've tested, and while not full backcountry boot style stride length, testers said it was more than adequate for off-area adventures and a perfect match for the alpine-level skiing power it came loaded with.
Speaking of the downhill game, the XT3 Free has always been solid, but testers said this 130 MV was head and shoulders above most others in the category for its power to the inside edge. It offered totally legit, alpine-level, 130-flex control of big skis at high speed on hard snow and variable surfaces alike, testers said. They were impressed with the stability and strength given the noticeably light weight underfoot, and they said its power was matched by its quickness. There were no performance flaws noted by testers. None.
Testers like the wide, cam-locking power strap and simple, straightforward features--like four buckles and GripWalk soles. The color was mostly a hit with testers, but it was a very vibrant, Smurfy hue, they said. The gave Lange credit for its trend of truth in advertising this year--the color is called Vibrant Blue. No creativity awards there, but honest, and testers didn't care what it looked like given what it helped them do on the hill.
So, you've got a meaty foot and thicker leg with a big calf muscle and you're looking for a tech-compatible freeride boot? Well, there's two ways to handle this situation. One is to begin preparing for the agony of trying on the myriad medium-width freeride boots out there and the eventual bootfitting mission to increase one of those boots to a point where a pain-free and sensate tour might be possible. The other way is to figure out how and where to try on, in targeted specialty retailer/bootfitter fashion, the few wide-lasted Freeride boots on the market--and hopefully, be trying on the even smaller batch of wide freeride boots that fit and ski well--of which the Fischer Ranger HV 130 is one. We think this latter route is best.
While testers may have raised an eyebrow at the submarine yellow cosmetic, the Ranger HV 130 raised the roof (literally) on the high volume fit potential available to big dudes who want to do a little off-area exploring. The instep height was remarkably high and the forward cabin of toebox and forefoot was absolutely massive, testers said. However, while the interior capacity was storage-container-worthy, it was very much not shaped like a box. The test team heaped praise on this widebody for a hotspot-free initial fit and enough anatomical shape to comfortably house the girthiest of bayou-bred gator-stompers.
Our thick-legged testers with muscular calves felt perfectly balanced in the upright and stout HV 130--especially the tall guys--while our shorter, more chicken-legged members of the team felt relegated to the backseat. So, there's lots of boot top breadth to work with for big dudes. Similarly, the thicker-legged gave high marks to the Ranger HV's responsiveness edge to edge, while those who didn't fill the cuff cylinder didn't have as good a feel for the edges, unsurprisingly. Testers felt that boot was strong and stable enough to support skiers of substantial size through any off-piste challenges they might encounter, and they gave its forward flex a thumbs up for comfort along the shin and a progressive feel that had a firm stopping point.
Testers who know about it continue to lavish praise on the Ranger's small and stealthy hike mode flip switch, hidden just underneath the top cuff buckle. It's tiny but effective in releasing a characteristically long Ranger cuff travel range. The mechanism is so well-camouflaged that one of our testers thought the boot was entered in the wrong category--he didn't ever find it! The range of motion is good enough for medium-range off-area missions, testers said, and the boot is lighter than they had expected for how well it skied.
The lower shell is made of Fischer's proprietary Vacuplast plastic which yields to heat stretches at very low temps--Fischer dealers have a variety of ways to manipulate this plastic, and good bootfitters who know what they're working with can achieve great shell shape mods with it as well. Will many feet need stretches in the Ranger HV? We'd like to see that foot. The other thing we'd like to see is someone making fun of the extra large guy wearing mango-yellow boots--we don't think that'll happen either.
Testers who had the chance to test the Dalbello Cabrio Free MV 120 last year gave a thumbs-up for the improvements in this year's new version. They liked the more upright, balanced stance this time around, which unlocked the 120-level power and stability and improved the boot's long-travel three-piece flex feel.
At a 101mm width, our team thought it fit a little more generously than most other mediums in the Freeride group, which bodes well for many skiers with thicker feet and legs looking for tech-compatible options. Slotting right between the typical medium and wide fits, the Cabrio Free MV 120 IF will offer real warmth and comfort in the skin track with a nice hiking or skinning range of motion, testers said.
Testers were impressed with the side-to-side skills of the Cabrio Free MV 120, saying that it put a big ski on edge and kept it there through variable terrain better than they'd expected from a 120-level cabrio boot. They thought that this set-up would work well for not-huge guys and skiers with a lighter touch to the front of the boot, as the flex was not as stout as much as it was smooth and long-ranging in feel.
The Cabrio Free MV logged its highest scores in the Edge Power criterion, as alluded to above, and also in the Convenience, Warmth and Features parameter where the test team loved the absolute ease of entry paired with a cozy, warm-feeling liner and easy to utilize, functional features like the elasticized down-hooking cam buckle power strap. The easy-to-operate hike mode release paired with GripWalk soles and a long-stride cabrio freeride feel to make for an easy out-the-gate experience for those looking for no-hassle options on and off the hill.
Our testers loved the new gold-medal-winning Atomic Hawx XTD Magna 105 W for its massive, Magna-sized volume in the toebox, forefoot and calf. They remind folks that there are not many options for high-volume female skiers looking for a tech-compatible freeride boot, and they were stoked that this one skied as well as it did everywhere on the hill.
The new XTD Magna range offers all the tech found in the medium Prime and narrow Ultra XTD boots but in a generous 102mm last. Testers liked the polyurethane cuff and shell construction in a 105-flex for its support for strong skiers and normal-sized humans who need a higher volume fit. They were really impressed with the amount of flare and available circumference at the boot top for the high volume calf, and that was in the cuff's stock setting--there is a calf-adjustment feature to open that fit further if needed. The toebox and forefoot fit offered vast amounts of space for the foot to spread out without going numb or cold, testers said.
Even though the fit was more relaxed than many of our testers would want in their own boot, as a group they still awarded the XTD Magna 105 W a perfect 5.00 for its Quickness and Steering criterion. That's an impressive metric for a wide boot, as testers often can't look beyond their own foot's lack of firm contact with the shell to see the potential responsiveness for the skier who will appropriately fill-up the internal space available. The Magna's edge power score lagged a little behind its quickness but still logged-in at gold medal levels--testers said the women's wide freerider was predictable, stable and strong on edge in every terrain challenge they threw at it.
Many of our test team made comments that the boot's total score was most hampered by one excessively tight fit zone, right over the top of the foot. Almost every tester made mention of this fact, calling it the Hawx XTD Magna 105 W's only flaw, but it was one that caused numbness and pain for more than one tester. They thought that pre-padding their instep before performing a convection-oven-powered Memory Fit molding, followed by a liner cook job would probably open up the fit in that area. That said, testers with wide feet and big calves but with lower insteps should put this tech-compatible all-rounder at the very top of their list, testers agreed.
For the expert skier with a low volume foot who is looking for a legit, go-everywhere boot that won't disappoint on either the uphill or the down, well, there are few boots that really fit the bill. Testers say that the new Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 BOA W GW is one of those all-mountain freeride unicorns--but they caution that, just like the challenge of capturing a unicorn with a rainbow lasso and getting it saddled up to ride, the entry into the Hawx Ultra XTD required some cowgirl-powered wrangling.
Once you're in, it's an amazing boot--snug, snug, snug! One tester wrote, and most others echoed this sentiment. Yes, getting it on was a bit of a struggle, so less-than-enthusiastic experts who know what they're looking for might settle for the 95-flex version of this ripper. But testers said that skiers looking for high-performance in a truly low-volume package will take the barrier to entry in stride. Tight and light was right, they said, claiming it's one of the tightest heel pockets of the test wrapped by a light-on-the-foot shell and minimal-but-perfect liner. They loved the BOA for its micro-fine-tuning, a click at a time, on the lower boot--they noted that their favorite executions of the BOA system on alpine boots has been in situations where the boot fit closely by virtue of shell shape and liner construction, where the BOA closure could put the three-dimensional icing on the fit cake. Here, it does just that, they said.
The boot's fit impressions average scoring supports testers' commentary--note that our narrowest score of a 1 is geared toward World Cup plug boot tightness and a 5 would be rental boot loose. A narrow last fit target should be a 2 but it's rare that current narrows hit that mark. The Hawx Ultra XTD 115 BOA W's numbers tell a very snug story: toebox (2.17), forefoot (2.00), lateral column (2.17), navicular (2.17), instep (2.00), ankle (2.00), heel (1.50), calf (2.17).
Testers appreciated the long list of fit and performance features and said they were all functional, no fluff. A couple testers played with changing the customizable tongue's Velcro attachment position and found improvements for their personal instep fit issues. Others commented that utilizing a Memory Fit shell mold cook job might be in the cards for a slight relaxation of fit tension in some overly snug spots. The Mimic liner was a hit with testers for how it fit out of the box, though one tester wanted to fully heat mold it to mellow-out an overly tight ankle pocket fit. All these comments should be making the narrow heel and generally low-volume fit-challenged skier salivate--easy to open up the fit here, but awesome that it starts out so close, they said.
The test team agreed that the edge control and stability at speed was commendable, but they said that the boot's quickness and accuracy of steering inputs set it apart from others in the Freeride category. Agile and precise, they called it, and praised its reliability turn to turn--quick but not twitchy or nervous, they said. Surprisingly, testers matched the high-score for Quickness and Steering with their score for the Hawx Ultra XTD 115 BOA's Convenience, Warmth and Convenience scores which suggests that the quality fit and features overcame initial entry concerns for our test team. Not surprisingly, that same high-score was given to the boot's Dynamic Balance criterion, which backs up what testers had to say about the boot's stance--dialed in all directions.
Testers said that its uphill game offered no flaws, citing a long and smooth range of motion when the cuff was released, both forward and backward. They had no issue actuating the cuff release mechanism and loved how little play existed in the cuff when it was locked down for the descent.
Other value-added bits and pieces like a revised Free/Lock 4.5 cuff release, liner pull loops and GripWalk soles paired with grippy mid-arch cladding impressed our testers. The cam locking power strap, on the other hand, received a miss rather than a hit for its lack of full closure at its max. Oh well, nothing's perfect, but this one came close for our crew.
The new Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 115 W BOA lit up testers' faces with fun-induced smiles in every test modality, earning the top spot in the medium width Freeride category and scoring in the upper percentiles of the gold medal range. Testers called its consistently even fit one of the best in the entire test and had nothing but praise for its comfortably snug match for the foot and leg.
Our crew dug the pistachio and stone color combination, but they were more appreciative of the fact that the 115-flex held up its end of the forward support bargain, with some testers saying that the firm tongue construction and robust flex had them standing tall if they didn't apply a little extra throttle by way of shin pressure inputs. They loved how this boot responded--quickly, they agreed, and loaded up its Quickness and Steering scores to the tune of a 4.83 (out of 5).
Our test team offered a split decision on whether BOA impedes entry and exit, but they thought that for skiers seeking 115-level performance the small amount of struggle they experienced was worth the effort. Once in, testers did like the BOA reel closure in the lower shell for its intuitive ratcheting squeeze around the foot. They found the other adjustments easy to manage, like the Free/Lock 4.5 cuff release mechanism, traditional cuff buckles and cam lock style power strap. Useful features in a proper polyurethane build, both for cuff and lower shell, testers said.
While they didn't anticipate a need to deploy it as a fit feature, testers like the option of Memory Fit shell molding, and they do like the Mimic liner and have found that heat molding it does produce exemplary fit customization, especially in the ankle pockets.
Just to prove we're not simply making this stuff up, here's what one tester said of the Hawx Prime XTD 115 W BOA: Wow! The medium fit is spot f'n on! Perfect, perfect, perfect--best Freeride MV yet! Stance is dialed as is, but has cuff adjustment and forward lean adjustment if needed. BOA reel, adjustable tongue, Mimic liner, Memory Fit shell--all the things needed to dial-in the perfect boot, but I doubt you'll have to touch anything!
Testers praised Atomic for bringing a wide fit in a performance stiffness to the All-Mountain Freeride category, where diversity of width is limited still to some degree. Obviously there are market-based reasons we don't see many wide-lasted, tech-compatible Freeride boots on the wall, but our testers who also sell ski boots are happy about this new development. Certainly there are skiers who are looking for more relaxed fit tension in a touring hybrid for the sake of sensation and warmth, and the Hawx XTD Magna 130 fits that bill to a tee.
Testers called the fit of the Hawx XTD Magna 130 a modified hourglass. They said take the hourglass shape, then bend it into a 90-degree L-shape, like a boot. They said it was massively wide at the toebox and forefoot and again humongous at the top of the cuff, yet it was snug like a medium-width boot in the middle, meaning instep, navicular, ankle and heel. For a strict out-of-box fit test our team said this earned it some minor demerits on their score cards, but they pointed to a couple situations that moderate any negative slant on this fit map. One, they said, was that a lot of skiers want a boot to tour in that doesn't make them go numb or get frostbite, and for those who need a little bit of extra relief from the squeeze but still want a boot that will grip their foot where it counts for ski control, the XTD Magna offers that fit combo. Two, testers remind us that the oven-cooked Memory Fit shell shape adaptation feature could work nicely to open up a too-snug fit to a customized just-right without much hoopla. So, overall they felt the Hawx XTD Magna 130 offered some interesting fit solutions for a variety of skiers.
Did we mention the massive calf fit? Well, let's mention it again. The flare and big circumference of fit at the boot top is gargantuan, testers say, and our bootfitter testers made a point of bringing it up as a big positive for the XTD Magna--and that was in its stock set-up, even more room is available if the bolted in rear spoiler is removed. There are many wide boots that still pinch the calf, and while heat-stretching a shell's cuff for more room is doable, it often still leaves buckle adjustment issues to deal with. An out-of-box calf fit that will contain a sumo-sized calf is a rarity, and for those of the large lower leg who want to hit the skin track, testers say they better put this one at the top of their short list.
The Hawx XTD Magna 130 lived up to its flex index billing, testers said, citing strong control over the edge and a stable attitude while at speed or traveling through inconsistent snow. For a hinge-cuff, tech-compatible on-off area style boot our testers said it more than held its own on descent. Quickness scores were highest from testers who had enough lower leg shaft girth to fill the cuff and connect with lateral moves where the boot's leverage could be tested, and the consensus was that there were no problems with the quick communication of message from skier to ski. Testers appreciated the solid connection between cuff and lower enabled by the Free Lock 4.5 hike mode release mechanism, and they found it convenient to use, as well.
The new Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA put its performance-medium constrictor squeeze on our test team--and they liked it! Recently the trend has been for a lot of 100mm boots to fit quite generously, but the new Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA bucks that trend in trade for a very controlled fit on the instep, ankles and heel. Testers questioned whether it was far enough off the medium width fit tension target to earn some minor fit demerits, but at the same time they praised how well it connected foot to ski for high performance descents through a variety of terrain and snow conditions.
They say the Prime XTD fit map charts a more open fit in the front of house and at the boot top. Over 11 individual tests performed on the boot, its fit score averages support testers' impressions--considering that a 3.0 designates a medium-fit bullseye and a 2.0 is the narrow boot fit target: toebox (3.18), forefoot (3.18), lateral column (2.82), instep (2.82), ankles (2.73), heel (2.55), calf (3.45). Testers liked how the BOA closed-up the shell around the foot in the more open portion of the clog and while some testers wished they had installed the rear liner spoiler (comes in the box) to take up some room and offer a slightly more forward leaning stock set-up, they felt that the overall fit and closure of the Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA was one of the best of the test--just tight for a medium.
While the test team loved the fit (with some tightness caveats) they liked the way this all-mountain hybrid skied even more, calling it exceptionally rigid laterally and torsionally--the stiffness that matters for controlling a ski on edge--for such a lightweight boot. They applauded the polyurethane plastic build in cuff and lower for a damp and predictable downhill attack in addition to more easily achieved fit mods if needed. Testers said the boot was responsive to their edge change moves and pressure control inputs, calling the Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA surgically precise in every situation they subjected it to. Its top scores were, in fact, in both the Edge Power criterion and the metric for Quickness and Steering.
A few testers thought that the snug instep fit combined with the BOA closure system rendered the boot a little harder to get on than the Hawx Prime XTD had been previously, but most testers took it in stride for how well the boot fit and skied once it was on the foot and out the door. Speaking of stride, testers also approved of the hiking or skinning range of motion offered by the revised Free/Lock 4.5 cuff release. The potential for a Memory Fit shell cook-and-mold was on a few testers' minds for some relief of the more-snug-than-medium squeeze--and slight relief from an even but too-snug fit is the ideal use of the Memory Fit feature, our bootfitter-tester-types say.
The remaining features set we haven't yet mentioned impressed testers as there's a lot to choose from: 4 different liner pull loops, a cam buckle power strap, GripWalk soles and grippy exterior mid-arch cladding plus a 3-position forward lean adjustment. This boot has you covered, from start to finish, testers said.
The Tecnica Cochise freeride boot has been through a number of revisions and updates over the years, with nary a backward step, and now Tecnica takes a huge stride forward with a wide-freeride (freewide?) option in the Cochise 105 HV W Dyn. In our collective memory we can't think of a true 102mm last boot with freeride features on the women's market, and there has been a need for one. Our test team was excited to get this one on their feet, out the door and down the hill, which they did, to unanimous acclaim.
Testers gave the Cochise 105 HV W an overall score of 4.90, which was the second-highest score of the entire women's test. They gave it perfect 5.00s for Edge Power (testers said this is a tall-cuffed, stout 105-flex that flexed more firmly than advertised) but also for Convenience, Warmth & Features, in something of a Beauty and the Beast appraisal. All of the common, favorite elements of the Cochise line-up were available here, testers said--from an easy entry or exit and straightforward buckle-up to its uniquely customizable CAS liner and shell. But this one comes with a legitimate wide-lasted shape that will appeal to thick-footed skiers looking to get out and about, beyond the typical on-area hike-to stashes. A tech-compatible wide boot for women simply hasn't been a thing until now, and our testers were stoked to discover that it didn't disappoint.
Testers thought that the heel and ankle areas were just snug-enough to keep a lid on unwanted ski wandering without getting pinchy. A couple testers commented that the cuff circumference didn't seem proportionately wide enough--those with thick calves wished for more buckle range options.
They all liked how this boot skied--mainly for how strong and stable it was in controlling fat skis at speed through variable terrain. It's a damp and powerful ride that inspired confidence in all terrain applications. They said it is quick enough (a 4.83 ain't bad), if a skier has the foot mass to fill the extra space and tune into the boot's response potential. Testers said that the cuff angle is a touch upright, fairly tall on the leg and stiffer than billed, so they said that it was a challenge to access the quickness that was there, waiting to be tapped. Our taller and more aggressive testers loved this set up. They reminded folks that there is a 95-flex version of the HV as well. Every tester praised the Cochise's balanced lateral stance.
Features are on the mark for what's expected of the Cochise lineage: locking T-Ride walk mechanism, dual liner pull loops, dynafit tech inserts, GripWalk soles and a 45mm Velcro power strap. Time to go skiing!
