Testers loved the Tecnica Mach BOA HV 105 W for its ample volume and plus-size curves, and that's without their huge appreciation for how the BOA closure system put a new spin on the Mach1 wide rid
The 2019/2020 Head Edge Lyt 100 W was tested in the women's All-Mountain Traditional wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Head did right with their wide one—that was what one tester said of the new Edge Lyt 100 W, and that sentiment was mirrored universally. A fault-free performance from this light and airy cavern was what the team agreed on—no problems with fit for the high volume foot and leg, no problems with speeding up the cadence when needed, no problems putting a big ski on edge at speed, and certainly no problems sliding this one on and off. Extra leverage buckles and Liquid Fit liner technology sweetened the deal.
The 2019/2020 Head Nexo Lyt 110 W G was tested in the women's All-Mountain medium width category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Testers loved the all new Nexo Lyt 110 W G for its borderline narrow fit in the heel and ankle pocket with a slightly more relaxed and contoured medium width wrap on the forward part of the foot that combined to hold it all in a firm but well-padded grip. They gave it highest scores for both quickness and edge power, but they also dug the Liquid Fit liner injection technology for how it further customized the fit of the rearfoot in minutes.
The Fit
Testers said that the upper cuff tapered from an open and well sculpted boot top that would accommodate a thicker calf, down to a super slender boot throat just above the ankles. Some testers found this fit uncomfortably snug and suggested that a Form Fit shell molding session would be in order for them. The well-matched shape of the lower boot around the foot was testers' favorite Nexo Lyt fit element, which they said was pretty well set out of the box, but those who went through the Liquid Fit injection process all agreed that it got even better.
Performance
Testers found the Nexo Lyt to be, well, light! But they also said the edge power was top tier and had a damp, stable feel on hard snow and higher speeds that may be attributed to the Graphene powder additive that is mixed into the polyurethane injection. Testers mentioned the snug, performance medium fit around their feet equated into high quickness scores, but the thinner shell construction gave the Nexo Lyt 110 W G a closely connected feel, from foot to ski, they said. Some testers found the flex feel against the shin incongruous to start, but mentioned that Form Fit shell molding and Perfect Fit liner molding made improvements there.
Cool Features
So, new this year for some Head boots (Nexo Lyt, Kore, Vector) is the Liquid Fit liner. The ankle and heel area on both the medial and lateral side of the liner has thin, hollow packets into which the yellow syrup-like stuff can be injected to better fill the natural void spaces there. We tested this liner customization extensively at the boot test this year and testers like the simple and intuitive nature of it—you wear the boot while it's injected and choose when to say, "When!" We found it easy to decide when enough was enough for a better fit in the ankles and heel, but just in case you overdid it, it can be easily removed. We did some long-term testing on the injected liners and found that the material did not sag or ooze out of place over time—pretty cool stuff. GripWalk soles are available as an accessory purchase.
The 2019/2020 Full Tilt Plush 6 was tested in the women’s All-Mountain Traditional wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Fit
Short and tight with snug closure over the top of the foot and a means-business wrap on the lower leg shaft—testers were happier with the overall fit after full liner molding using toecaps and pre-padding prominences. After molding testers still called this an easy going medium—wide last status is achievable by going up a size and molding the liner, they said. Testers liked the molded feel of the thick liner underfoot—good shape adaptation for skiers without custom footbeds.
Performance
The Full Tilt M.O.—too forward and too soft for our testers. One of our custom testers swapped on a stiffer tongue (a #8 that comes stock on the men's Descendant) and was immediately impressed with the taller stance and firmer, more supportive flex. Lateral moves were consistent and easily engaged, but the Plush lacked the turn finish of narrow sister Soul.
Cool Features
There is an adjustable forward lean mechanism, but with limited range to straighten the cuff. There is a lateral cuff adjustment that could be tweaked for more edge power and the shock-absorbing bootboard could be swapped (via the spare parts order sheet) for a rigid one for a bit more power under foot.
The 2019/2020 Full Tilt Soul Sister was tested in the women's All-Mountain medium width category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
For slender-footed, lightweight skiers looking for warm, soft boots, the 2019 Full Tilt Soul Sister may be hard to beat! The long-travel flexion that makes Full Tilt's classic three-piece designs popular with mogul skiers and park-and-pipe athletes was favored by testers who used a light touch on the tongue.
The Fit
It's a snug 99 mm lower boot when you stick with your normal size (because it runs short), testers say, with a cushioned grip all along the foot, especially side to side. But the women-specific Intuition Pro liner is highly moldable, opening up the fit at the wider and bony parts of the foot for more average width feet, too. Prior to molding, some testers felt the lateral edge of the spiral-wrapped liner as a hotspot, but after liner molding this blended in more evenly. The luxurious shin fit is a Full Tilt hallmark and the long-travel flex is a dream for skiers who suffer chronic shin-bang.
Performance
Just standing in the boot inside testers could tell its forward lean was extreme by modern standards and its flex was very soft (still softer than the 90 rating they cite for the #6 tongue this year). This forward angle was often made more so by either a large calf or a skier's tendency to press into the front of a boot (which pretty much all our women testers do). So, too forward and collapsing in flex was a common complaint on test forms. However, slender-legged, lightweight testers who focused on agile lateral moves loved the spry, airy feel of the Soul Sister.
Cool Features
Testers appreciated the revised Widetrack buckles on the FTS (Full Tilt Soul) shell for their lower profile and more easily adjusted release tab and ratchet system—however, testers new to the three-piece layering and wire bale closure struggled a bit initially with the Full Tilt rite of passage (into the boot). There are lots of options on aftermarket pieces and parts through Full Tilt dealers—say, a stiffer tongue
The 2019/2020 Fischer RC4 Podium GT 110 was tested in the women’s All-Mountain Traditional narrow category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
The 2019/2020 Dalbello DS 110 W was tested in the women's All-Mountain Traditional medium category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Testers called the DS 110 W a lush, curvy, perfect fit with additional cush. Sounds good doesn’t it? Big-boned but beautiful, they said, it was the second roomiest medium width in the group except for its calf fit, where it tapered slightly. Thicker feet and insteps will love the room there and will be able to tap the quickness that low volume testers found a bit lacking. Strong to the edge and dependably solid in the transitions between turns, was the word, with an upright stance for burn-free quads.
The Fit
The crew agreed that the DS 110 W runs long and on the roomiest side of the medium last width group, with the majority of testers using lots of evenly distributed 4's in the Fit Impressions matrix (3's would be standard fit tension scores for a medium). But they didn't necessarily complain about the extra room, just noted that a wider, thicker foot would do well in the lower boot and average to thicker legs would fit nicely in the cuff. The liner feel was widely praised for its initial cushioning and level of luxury.
Performance
Testers thought the flex was a bit under the 110 mark and found it preferred a lighter touch with the shin. They loved how the DS 110 W rolled side to side in flawless edging transitions from turn to turn, especially on predictable surfaces. Cruisey, predictable fun for intermediates and light-touch experts who place a premium on comfort was the consensus.
Cool Features
The Power Cage shell and cuff construction utilizes a framework of thicker, stiffer polyurethane in the boot rail (very bottom) and into the rear spine of the boot to provide power and stability where it's needed while incorporating a thinner, softer polyurethane in less critical areas where better wrapping for improved fit is needed—seemed to work for testers. The DS's single sided upper cuff adjustment is renamed Intuitive Canting—not our favorite terminology—meaning that three words (Neutral, Sport & Race) are used to describe the cuff positions 0.0, +0.5 and +1.0, respectively, achieved via the rotary cam mechanism. The boots come set to the 0.5 "out" Sport position. The Variable Ramp Angle feature is an insert that increases the bootboard ramp angle by 1.0-degree.
The 2019/2020 Dalbello DS Asolo Factory W GW was tested in the women’s All-Mountain Traditional narrow category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
The 2019/2020 Atomic Hawx Magna 105 S W was tested in the women's All-Mountain traditional wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
The Atomic Hawx Magna 105 S W wowed our test team for its big bang for the buck, saying that this boot skied better than many All-Mountain boots they tested which cost two -hundred dollars more. They gave this boot its highest scores for Convenience, Warmth and Features as well as Edge Power.
The Fit
It's a wide ride, but not excessively so, testers said. They all loved the plush and inviting liner feel on first slide-on (which is super easy they said) and comments about all-day comfort, no unbuckling required and extra warmth were abundant. Testers checked the like box on the cuff's upright stance and highly cushioned tongue fit against the shin. While the fit is roomy-slipper all the way around, testers sensed enough contact at the heel and ankle to suggest that this one could ski.
Performance
And ski the Hawx Magna 105 S W did, testers said, who were all pleased with its ability to go anywhere and do anything at workable performance levels. The stance is neutral (if a bit upright). The power on edge is adequate. The quickness turn to turn was decent but very predictable and smooth, they said. And the flex, while softer than billed, they said, had a progressive feel and a functional stopping point.
Cool Features
Testers agreed that one of the boot's best features was its price, but they also like the Memory Fit auto-molding capability of the shell once it's been cooked in the Atomic convection oven—not necessary but a great solution for the thickest of feet and legs for finding an even, comfy fit. Helpful stance adjustments are also found here—the Power Shift feature (which accounts for the "S" in the model name) allows for adjustment of the forward lean and/or stiffness.
The 2019/2020 Atomic Hawx Prime 105 S W was tested in the women's All-Mountain medium width category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
One of our favorite women's boots over the years, the Hawx Prime W, went and took a risk, changing its very mold, adding an S to her name and following in slender sister Ultra's tracks, slimming the shell wall and cuff construction for the sake of weight reduction. We thought she looked good before, but we gotta hand it to her— according to our test team the new Hawx 105 S W fits better, skis better and does both at a fraction of its former weight.
The Fit
Testers (still) found a substantial amount of room in the toebox and the forefoot—a Hawx Prime hallmark, but (still) discovered teamed with an evenly snug fit in the heel pocket and ankles—even more so than in the past, they said. They liked this blend of warmth and comfort where needed up front combined with performance controls at the rearfoot for good skiing moves, though they mentioned that for a performance boot the liner feel is definitely on the plush side. Testers liked the way the boot top is flared enough for the bigger calf without a loss of fore-aft positioning, though testers concurred that the skinny legged needed to max the buckles. The stance is a touch upright—no quad burn here—but testers felt the fore-aft position was good.
Performance
The revised Hawx Prime 105 S W got highest marks for quickness, steering and agility—this is a light and responsive ride that favors an accurate sortie on the slope, not a bludgeoning onslaught. The flex feel is long and springy and the close fit through the ankle and heel allowed for powerful lateral edging movements. Heavy handed forward flexing by our most aggressive testers was met with some surrender.
Cool Features
For women with wide forefoot and a bigger calf, the Hawx Prime W line-up deserves a close look—it fits generously in those spots to begin with and the Memory Fit shell-molding feature allows those areas to be expanded using just the skier's foot and leg in the boot to get the job done in a matter of minutes. The Power Shift feature (which accounts for the "S" in the model name) allows for adjustment of the forward lean and/or stiffness.
The 2019/2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra 115 S W was tested in the women's All-Mountain Traditional narrow category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Stripped and ripped—right down to the bare essentials of what makes a ski boot great, testers said. They liked the thin but well-shaped liner that provided just the right amount of padding for comfort without muting the connection of the foot and leg with the shell, and said that the boot and body felt morphed together into one cohesive performance unit! The lighter weight of its thin shell wall polyurethane construction appealed, but testers praised that it skied race-boot strong without race-boot pain.
The Fit
Narrows should be narrow, that's our stand, and here's what testers said about the Hawx Ultra 115 S W's initial fit: Great for the true, narrow foot. Great, narrow, firm fit. Well-defined heel pocket. Good low-volume, snug, firm fit. Locked and loaded! Testers gave it such even fit scores, right down the narrow side of things, that the averages for five cards were the same as for fifteen. The team agreed there's a little bit of extra room in the toebox and at the calf and that's about it—evenly snug-side everywhere else. They all loved the spring-loaded flex feel, solidly in line with its 115 billing, but a couple mentioned that the calf fit was a bit tall and jabby against the back of the leg.
Performance
Extremely energetic was the consensus among testers, who enjoyed how the lively forward flex (powered by the thin shelled polyurethane cuff) loaded and released energy with every turn. Feedback levels were high—with testers saying that they could feel every ripple in the snow beneath them, perhaps to a fault, with a few testers saying the transmissive, high energy feel could get jittery at times. Power to the edge was immediate and unfaltering.
Cool Features
For those who find perfectly snug just a little too constrictive, cooking the shell via the Memory Fit customization feature is a slick way to open up a little bit of extra room everywhere without blowing out the fit. Aside from being able to modify the flex and forward lean with the Power Shift (which accounts for the "S" in the model name) mechanism on the rear cuff and make lateral stance changes with the on-board cuff adjustment, canted sole shims are available in 0.5- to 3.0-degree increments as an optional purchase.
The 2019/2020 Tecnica Mach1 HV 130 was tested in the men's All-Mountain Traditional wide category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
Testers say again that the Mach1 HV 130, is the perfect example of how the DNA of a top-shelf narrow boot should be passed down to its wide-last brother after their tests were concluded this year. All the dominant family traits (stance, power, quickness, comfort) remain intact, and without any downside, testers said. Huge scores were awarded for both its overall wide body fit (curvy not fat!) and its ski-driving power. Quickness scores were still above average—testers say fill with foot to improve on that.
The Fit
The Mach1 HV 130 (and 120) are the "performance wides" of the now two-tiered HV group. The Mach1 HV 130 is distinctly wider and more open through the instep and at the boot cuff than its narrower bro, MV in about the same amount of differentiation as the MV is from the LV, testers said. The Mach1 HV 130 is designed to perform as well as both the other Mach1's and as such has a still-firm feel in the ankle and heel. Testers said this is no bucket, but will make a lot of thick footed rippers very happy. For those looking for a boot where the premium is placed on comfort with some limited trade-off in performance, the Mach Sport HV boots (not tested) may offer a perfect match.
Performance
Testers were hopeful that the 103 mm Mach1 would deliver on the performance promises made by virtue of their experiences with the LV and MV Mach1's and they were not disappointed. Test forms were filled with many comments that the line-up had not lost a step in stepping up the volume of fit. Solid, powerful, quick were oft-used terms to describe the HV's descent attitude. Some testers said the flex was a little shy of the 130 mark established by MV and LV.
Cool Features
The Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) bootfitting features are the same here as they are on all the Mach1 boots for men and women—the C.A.S. shell is dimpled in common fit problem areas to aid with heat stretching and the C.A.S. liner is both heat moldable and grindable. In addition to these helpful fitting tools, the Lift Lock buckles are handy—they stay locked open when pushed to their end stop and the Power Lock power strap hook-in-loop connection sidesteps having to thread the strap webbing through a cam-lock buckle every time.
