The Scarpa 4-Quattro GT WMN still stands out for our test team as a great value in an under-rated package for all-mountain and out-the-gate adventuring.
Can't decide if you like buckles or a BOA? Can't decide if you're going to stay in-bounds or venture out on a quick skin mission? The new Nordica Unlimited 105 W Dyn lets you waffle happily in between with a buckleized cable system (or is it a cableized buckle system) and straight 50-50 hybrid versatility with a newfound and comfortably long touring stride that leaves the now-extinct freeriding Strider in the dust.
The Unlimited line-up impressed both our women's and men's test teams, and they both agreed it was a big step forward for Nordica's tech-compatible all-mountain hike mode model. Where the Strider was more alpine descender than uphill mover, testers say that the Unlimited brings a lighter (and slightly tighter) package that walks and tours like a dream but without losing a step on the down. If anything, the Unlimited's skiing power remained solid but brought a fresh energy and pop to the game.
Testers liked the Wire System Closure for its weight reduction and its pulley-powered mechanical advantage for closing up the lower boot but they also liked the fact that the cabling was tensioned with buckles--some of our testers said there were far too many knobs in ski land already and they simply preferred good ole buckles. The polyamide shell and Triax (polypropylene) cuff construction further shaved some weight but testers said that the light plastics didn't feel weak or twitchy. Several testers commented on the boot's rapid-fire quickness from turn to turn as well as the shell's resilient flex feel. One tester called it "boingy," and that was a compliment! Quick, responsive, light underfoot--those were all good things for testers, and they said that power and stability was not sacrificed in dropping a weight class.
Fitwise testers were impressed with the anatomical mirroring of the foot and leg displayed by the combination of liner and shell shape. The 3D Cork Fit W Primaloft Light liner (that's gotta be good right?) was warm and lightweight, as the name would suggest, but testers liked that it didn't crumple on entry or exit and offered both a good out-of-box fit and easy moldability. A couple testers thought the fit over the top of the midfoot was a little aggressive but they also mentioned that this fit zone improved just by skiing a few runs--in general testers put the Unlimited 105 W on the snug side of the medium-width freeride group.
With improved touring range of motion and lighter weight than the Strider, but without any loss of power and some quickness upgrades, testers called the Unlimited a win for Nordica and an easy choice for skiers looking for get-around options without giving up downhill dependability.
The new Nordica Unlimited 130 Dyn impressed testers with a three-way combination of goodness in fit, skiing performance and touring capability. Regardless of Nordica's freeriding history testers said the Unlimited excels, but knowing its roots in the Strider (a solid freerider) testers appreciated the improvements made here even more.
It's a much lighter weight and agile-feeling all-mountain charger, testers agreed. The polyamide lower shell and Triax (polypropylene) cuff team well for reduced weight on the foot but testers also praised its newfound energy and quickness. One tester called the Unlimited's rapid response to edging and flexing movements giggle-worthy, and we think that's apt. Some testers thought the cuff lacked a little torque and power for a claimed 130-flex, but there were few comments that it affected the boot's stability on edge or ski control in variable terrain.
The out-of-box fit really impressed testers who noted the rearfoot (heel & ankle) is well gripped and the top of the foot similarly snug, especially with the cable-laced bottom buckles closing down over the midfoot. Some testers with high-arched, bony-instep feet complained about this but the average volume feet folk were just fine with it. Testers liked the just-firm-enough liner for how it controlled the foot and leg without sacrificing creature comforts and warmth. Testers mentioned the liner and shell were well mated, locked together nicely without any unwanted internal slippage. They put the overall fit of the Unlimited 130 on the snug side of the medium width group.
There was much praise for the cable-style lower boot closure tensioned by buckles, rather than the trending BOA reel--some of our old school testers commented that there were far too many knobs in ski land already and were relieved to see this buckled approach taken here. The look of the Unlimited appealed to our testers who thought everything about it was clean and well-orchestrated.
There's a lot going on in the Mindbender 115 W BOA and testers say it's all good stuff, so don't let your initial interaction with the boot get you bent! Testers said it's quite a pile of goodies: there's two BOA reels to negotiate--one on the liner and one on the lower shell--a cam lock power strap, two liner pull loops, two cuff buckles, a revised ski-walk locking release mechanism, tech fittings and GripWalk soles. And that's just what you can see! Internally there's a nifty boot board with two different densities of inserts to modify the ground feel underfoot and an articulated Powerfit Pro BOA Tour Ultralon-loaded liner. There are times where all this is too much, but testers said it ultimately all works.
This was not without some challenge to access those goods, as testers complained that the dual BOA configuration created some barrier to entry (literally), and that difficulty was experienced on the way out of the boot as well, with testers noting that the liner articulation seemed to fold up around the Achilles and make exiting the boot difficult. Some testers opted to don the liner, do up its BOA, then cram foot with liner into the shell (and back out again), but most preferred to not add that extra step.
That all said, they still placed this boot at the top of the medium width freeride group and gave it two perfect scores in its Anatomical Fit and Edge Power test parameters. They said the fit was good enough and the skiing performance was good enough to counter whatever entry and exit inconveniences they experienced. This is a roomy medium, but not without appropriate curvature to match prominent and wide spots as well as enough firm grip at the rear foot to translate skiing movements to the ski in direct-enough fashion. While testers agreed that ratcheting down the BOA spools did a good job of closing up the fit around the foot and leg, they found it had limits at the tightest end of its range where the top of the foot began to squeal before the toes were tight enough. Interestingly, K2 anticipated this and created a fill-pocket on the liner toebox where a foam shim can be inserted into the pouch for helping to better distribute that dorsal surface pressure.
Skiing was where testers were really sold on the Mindbender 115 W BOA--it ripped everywhere, they said, but was surprisingly strong on edge for a boot with a walk mode. They liked the flex feel and its accuracy of steering and couldn't find any moves it didn't master. Going the other direction (up) was also well-received by testers who liked the new walk mode actuation and said the touring range of motion and quality of movement was top notch (an ongoing K2 freeride boot character trait, in our experience).
The BOA skeptics on our test team were doubly concerned about the Mindbender 130 BOA--two of them thangs? And while the BOA system on the compliant liner made entry and exit a challenge and the lower shell BOA offered a new closure hurdle, that was where our teams doubts remained, squarely in the rearview mirror as testers got in, got buckled up and went skiing along their merry way. And that, in a nutshell, was the resounding praise-laden consensus--this boot skis really well.
Yes, they said the fit was on target too, especially for the thicker-than-average medium-width foot and leg, and testers liked how the combination of liner BOA and shell BOA worked in concert to fine-tune an already well-engineered fit map. Testers mentioned that the BOA is easily over-done as the closure cranking power was enough to shut down blood flow and crimp nerve paths on the top of the foot, but with one click at a time micro-adjustment they were able to sort out where things needed to be for an ideal mix of containment, sensation and warmth. They said the best way to find that perfect fit tension was to not overthink it--rather than worry about how many clicks or where on a visual indicator was the spot, testers recommend simply going by feel. Backing off tension with a couple clicks instead of popping the reel completely loose made for a quicker return to ski snugness when needed, they said.
Testers liked the stance all the way around, though the skinny-legged felt a bit upright. Rather than visits to the gym to bulk up their calf muscles, they suggested that they'd just utilize the new forward lean adjustment integrated into the revised cuff release lever assembly. They said that laterally the boot was quick and strong--well balanced for all-mountain skiing regardless of sliding tool, and it was equally happy to remain on-area for chair assisted descents or out and about on short- to medium-length tours. A backcountry specialist it is not, they said, but of the alpine-power descenders tested, they say the Mindbender's quality and range of stride is one of the very best available.
For accomplished skiers who are looking for a real ski boot for hammering all around lift-served terrain but would like the flexibility of being able to utilize a tech binding for short adventure tours, testers say there aren't many better than the Kore RS 105 W. Of course, this assumes we're dealing with a woman with a low volume foot, as the RS in the name means narrow--and testers said narrow means narrow in the lower boot.
A wider, 100mm last width is found in the Kore line but that roomier option comes at a step-down in stiffness, to 95. Testers said that the Kore RS was one of the snuggest boots they tested in the navicular, instep and heel fit zones. However, they also said that the cuff flared substantially to house average and thicker leg shafts, so for those who struggle to find that snug enough grip around a slender foot without crushing the calf, testers said this offers a fit solution not easily found. Testers noted that the polyurethane lower shell would make traditional punches for hotspots (read, navicular) straightforward, but they reminded skiers who are looking for increased instep height that the Form Fit oven-cook-then-mold shell tech would serve nicely to open up the fit slightly in those areas in one shot. Speaking of fit features, the Kore boots do not come equipped with a Liquid Fit but testers said it was not needed, as the heel pocket was plenty tight out of the box.
Downhill skiing was the Kore RS's wheelhouse, testers said, citing a very alpine feel to every turn--stable, strong and quick to respond. They liked the straightforward stance and no-surprises expert level performance regardless of ski choice or terrain selection. Women with quite slim legs found the cuff failed to grip them as well as they would have liked, but the average and thicker legged loved the combination of comfort and response from the upper boot. Uphill performance was adequate, testers said, but they found the range of cuff rotation a bit limited, though comfortable and natural-feeling. This is not a backcountry skier's boot, they said, but rather a technical skier's boot that provides some options for targeted ups where the down still matters most.
Our test team is admittedly biased toward freeride boots that don't sacrifice proper fit, stance and downhill performance in a trade-off for uphill capability, so it was no surprise that they loved the Head Kore 120 GW. They called it one of the cleanest designs in the freeride category for its sleek and alpine-bred lines, simple and functional set of features and a fit and performance combo that topped the heap. Yes, in fact, this was the highest-scored of the medium width freeride boots.
The Kore 120 has gone through a variety of redesign evolutions in the past few years but testers agreed that it has reached its ideal form in this iteration. The fit is anatomically sculpted for the common bony bits and wide spots but without giving up a firm, controlling grip where it matters to testers. The flex feel was rated as ideal and on-target for a 120 flex. The stance was right where testers wanted it to be, they said, though the updated ski-walk lever incorporates a small amount of fore-aft adjustability as well as improves its simplicity of function and ease of use. They also like the fat but low profile power strap that was secured with a cam lock buckle on ribbed nylon (called Ratchet Velcro) that got snug and stayed put.
The Formula design heritage is apparent in the Kore boots, both in look and on-snow feel. They are strong without being clunky and dead, and lively enough for any quick turn in a very tight spot but without rendering the boot squirrelly at speed. Testers for the most part didn't mind the use of Superlight plastic (polypropylene) in the upper cuff for weight savings, but they did appreciate tried-and-true polyurethane in the lower shell. They also didn't mind the Form Fit additive that makes an oven-cook-and-mold session possible, though most didn't find a need for employing it as the out-of-box fit was pretty sweet (and its highest score), they said.
A few testers thought the flex feel was a touch softer than billed, but not by much they said. A stiffer 130 flex Kore is available in the RS build, which means it's a narrow last--this 120 flex is the flagship medium width in the Kore line up.
Testers liked how solid this freerider put skis on edge and drove them home on firm snow, untracked pow, tricky crud and everything in between. For a soft-flexing three piece, they gave the Dalbello Cabrio LV Free 105 W high marks for lateral energy transmission. They thought that the 105 flex gave up a bit prematurely on aggressive moves against the tongue, but they pointed out that there is a flex adjustment insert that can stiffen the flex feel by 10-points or so.
The LV Free's solid edging game combined with what testers called a limited range of motion in hike mode (especially moving forward) to make this crossover model perhaps more at home sticking close to the chairlift where it's stability when driving a big ski could be more adequately tapped. Testers didn't say the boot's quickness was as praiseworthy as its power but they said it got the job done in a tight spot just fine.
Testers reported that the fit is medium as expected for a 99mm last with the exception of the heel pocket, which felt a little vague to them.
The freeride feature filled Cabrio LV Free 120 found a home with testers who placed a premium on a comfortable fit and smooth strolling in their hierarchy of all-mountain needs. The 99mm three piece shell pleased our testers with its evenly snug-medium grip on the foot and the leg and they liked the way the convenient cuff release paired with GripWalk soles for a smooth and shock absorbing stride for short approaches.
The 120 flex version comes with a traditional tongue style IF Hike Pro liner, which many of our testers liked for its familiarity but several of our testers did some custom re-tests using spiral wrap style liners (which come with the 130 flex version) and they commented that it provided a more upright fore-aft stance and a firmer grip on the foot and leg. Several testers preferred this taller fore-aft position, citing an overly forward and occasionally collapsible flex feel in the 120. Their advice to taller and more aggressive skiers was go to the 130, whereas shorter and lighter weight skiers could find a good match with the 120's build-out, especially if they favored a more aggressively forward-leaning stance.
Testers liked the striking difference in stiffness that the flex-adjusting inserts (provided in the box) created--testers said 10 flex points stiffer wasn't an exaggeration and the back-of-cuff install was fairly easy to accomplish.
For our test team, the BOA closure system was not the highlight but rather a nice supporting feature that enhanced the rest of the new and excellent Hawx Ultra XTD 115 BOA W GW (that's a name, huh?). For our testers, this is one of the best freeride narrow boots they've tested, and its nearly perfect average score supports that. The key boxes were all checked here, testers said: anatomical fit, stance, power, quickness and touring capability--all dialed.
The revised shell and liner of the Ultra XTD 115 improved its entry and exit scores over previous iterations we've tested, which was one of the Ultra XTD's only real flaws in the past--testers had no issues in or out and liked the precise lower boot closure offered by the BOA reel. Some testers with a high, bony midfoot got a little crushed when they ratched down the BOA a bit too far, but found that a couple clicks rotated back out fine tuned the fit and worked just fine.
For as light as the XTD is on the foot, testers were impressed with its stability at speed and through variable terrain--testers said it put fat skis on edge and held them there through taxing turns, so for a on-area/off-area hybrid they felt it was more than capable when riding the chair. Quickness and accuracy has always been a hallmark of the Hawx Ultra boots, whether with fixed cuff or hinged, so it was no surprise to our team that the agility and responsiveness of the Ultra XTD 115 BOA W remained top of class.
Testers unanimously had no complaints about the adjustment and closure features, save one--the power strap was flimsy and its adjustment range was inadequate for average to slender legs. Testers liked the lock-and-release mechanism but roundly panned the strap itself and its limited function.
The new BOA-enabled 130 flex Hawx Ultra XTD impressed testers for its narrow fit and agreeable, rally-ready attitude. They placed their highest scores in its Convenience and Features column, citing a relatively easy slide on and off and intuitive and functional closure enabled by the lower boot's BOA reel. With one of the best striding ranges of motion in the freeride group, testers loved the way this boot hiked and toured (again, as it's been one of the top freeriders for mobility several years running).
The thin shell wall and light weight combined with its truly narrow fit character proved a boon to the boot's steering accuracy and quickness but the larger and more aggressive skiers on the test team thought that the flex feel was a bit under-gunned and mentioned the shell sapped a bit of energy on the way to the ski edge. The shorter and lighter testers on the team and those guys with a lighter touch on snow liked its feather weight responsiveness.
Testers said the stance set-up was neutral, as always with this model, and the flex feel along the shin was well distributed, if a little collapsing for the big dudes. Of particular note, stance-wise, was the tuned-in and balanced feel underfoot, especially at the forefoot, which testers mentioned felt especially well connected to the edges. The snug fit was appreciated by the truly slender of foot, but the ankle pockets were mentioned as lacking some curvature, and indeed that fit parameter received the tightest average score of all tested fit elements.
The BOA reel was generally a hit with testers, who didn't find that it impeded entry or exit and they liked the micro-adjustment that its one-click-at-a-time rotation provided. Praise for the power strap was harder to find, with testers liking the lock-release cam functionality but lamenting the flimsy fabric of the strap itself.
The Tecnica Cochise Pro W Dyn returned to our boot test this time around unchanged from its entry a year ago. Why did we test it again? Well, the Cochise likes to beat up on the rest of the field and we didn't want to take that joy away from it. Our testers also wanted to see if their love for the Cochise last year might have been a fluke--but no, it seems that it was an accurate assessment. For example, last year its total average score was 4.72 with a 4.80 for Anatomical Fit and a 4.60 for Dynamic Balance. This year its total average score was 4.64 with a 4.80 for Anatomical Fit and a 4.60 for Dynamic Balance. What the numbers added up to this time was yet another podium finish in the Freeride category and another chance for testers to heap praise on this perennial favorite.
Testers had virtually no complaints about the fit, which they slotted right between narrow and medium width fit profiles, as you'd expect for a 99mm last. Some testers noted a more medium fit, with even a bit of extra flare, in the calf shape of the cuff which will appeal to a lot of skiers looking to avoid that jab in the back of the leg while touring. The heel and ankle pockets were described as anatomically contoured and without need for modification. The toebox and forefoot were appropriately roomy-enough for the target audience and the application of an occasional schlog in the skin track. The liner revisions of last year remain appreciated by the test team for its cleaner, seamless feel and expanded CAS customizing material used on the liner's exterior surface.
Power-wise the Cochise was well-received, with many comments of predictable, stable leverage against the ski on hard surfaces and at high speeds. Some testers said that the boot was more powerful and damp than it was laser-quick, but these were testers splitting hairs as most of the crew thought the balance of torque and agility was pretty evenly distributed. Stance angles were cited as ideal and neutral, with an absence of negative commentary about any alignment or balance issue.
Testers for the most part appreciated the unique features found on the flagship Cochise: a cam-buckle up-hooking power strap, Lift-Lock buckles that stay open and out of the way during touring (okay, there were a few comments of their annoyingness) and a nifty cuff release lock feature to prevent unwanted hike-moding while skiing. Testers weren't sure that the release lock actually solved a real problem but they agreed it was a cool doodad all the same, if a little small for gloved fingers to manipulate.
This year's Tecnica Cochise 130 Dyn returned to our boot test unchanged from last year mainly to provide a gold-medal, category anchoring benchmark by which to compare other boots in the medium width Freeride group, and it didn't disappoint. It remains at the top of the heap there as one of the original hike mode boots that ski like all-mountain boots and it continued to impress our test team with its fit, downhill performance and touring competency.
The Cochise was one of the first to stake out the in-between widths middle ground of the 99mm last. Sure it might have primarily been a way to consolidate the line into one boot instead of a narrow and a medium, but it created a good fit tension solution for many skiers looking for just enough of a locked-in fit for a safely thrilling downhill combined with enough room and creature comforts to manage slogging along a skin track or boot pack mission without numbness and agony. Its updates over the years to liner and shell have been met with tester approval as an evolution of fit and performance that has not shown any real missteps along the way. Testers gave its fit ratings 3's across the board with a 4 thrown into the toebox and some 2's for the ankle and heel--essentially exactly what one would expect to see from a 99mm boot on a 1-to-5 tight-to-loose fit tension scale.
The Cochise remains one of those few Freeride boots that testers can honestly say skis as well as most fixed cuff boots--it would take very firm snow on race-bred skis for any weakness on the boot's part to become apparent, testers said. The stance is perfect (or at least it is without any noted complaint) and testers claim the balance of power and quickness is nicely blended for all-terrain exploration. While they would steer a skier toward the BC category Zero G line-up for serious, long touring applications, testers say the Cochise is more than adequate for the shorter "sidecountry" missions that would be most commonly asked of a Freeride boot.
The new ski mode lock-out mechanism is particularly nifty, if pretty small for actuation with anything other than bare fingers, and will provide an even higher level of confidence for those skiers prone to sending it. Testers still like the CAS shell's dimples for defined shell punches that keep their shape and size, as well as the always evolving CAS liner with its moldable-grindable exterior material. Yes testers generally like the up-hooking cam buckle power strap, though it makes it impossible to connect boots and sling them over a shoulder--Transpack anyone? The color remains a hit--testers haven't tired of this one yet.
