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
What do testers like most about the 2019 Tecnica Mach1 LV 130 (aside from a consensus that it skis like a weapon of downhill domination)? They like that this narrow fits like a narrow! Meaning, there's an obvious differentiation between the fit tension (squeeze factor) of the medium-volume MV and this narrow class LV. The anatomical shaping for the wider points of the foot's anatomy is still here in the LV, just slimmed down to grab a hold of the foot and leg with the death grip of a zombie reaching up through the dirt. And testers said that's a good thing!
Most testers had a few minor hotspots at the typical locations, depending on their particular fit issues—and they made mention of these mainly in the form of praise. Meaning, they cited the boot's tightness as a virtue, and agreed that in the narrow width group, some bootfitting should be needed for all but the most slender of kangaroo feet. Fit scores were evenly arranged along the tight side of the spectrum, however, indicating that the anatomical shape is right, with curves where they belong to better match the shape of the human foot. More than a few testers mentioned that the tongue and flex feel is firm against the shin—not in a problematic way, they said, but they cautioned that the boot is not for sissies.
Strong like bull. Sports car flat cornering. Pure polyurethane power. Testers loaded their test cards with comments like these about the Mach1 130 LV. Many mentioned that this boot drove the ski on hard snow as strongly as the race-bred boots of the Frontside category, but managed off-piste junk with ease and forgiveness. Virtually all testers approved of its stance angles for athletic skiing. The way this boot skis justified it's tied-for-first-place position in the category, testers said.
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. These top-shelf niceties are found on the Mach1 MV 130 as well.
Testers say that the newest addition to the Tecnica line, 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. All the dominant family traits (stance, power, quickness, comfort) remain intact, and without any downside, testers said. Testers suggest that with the arrival of the new 103 mm Mach1 HV and softer Mach Sport HV lines Tecnica has the most well-defined group of narrow, medium and wide All-Mountain boots on the market.
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.
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.
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.
Our test team said that this year's medium category first-place 2019 Tecnica Mach1 MV 105 W still splits the difference between a performance boot and a comfort boot seamlessly. Its fit is contoured and the grip is firm against the foot and leg, but with an amount of cushion that makes the initial slip on inviting and warm. They said to put boot to bindings and head it downhill and discover that balanced turns come effortlessly, with minimal inputs, but then roll the dial to max and find that this boot's top end may exceed yours! As with so many boots that appeal universally, some testers wished it was more creature comfort while others wanted more ski crushing power—that's an indication that this one's slotted right where it needs to be for most accomplished women skiers.
Fit scores came in dead down the middle for a medium-width, with a few testers mentioning that it might trend a touch roomier than the category average. Most of the crew thought that the cuff height was right on the money, while a couple said it trended a bit taller. There were zero complaints about a too-tight calf, but with its moldable plastic insert at the back of the calf good skiing gals with muscular lower legs should keep this boot in their top tier for Fall try-on.
On-snow this boot takes no prisoners--unless that's what you want. It can go either way--total domination on-piste and off-, or it can simply cruise from late-day start to early-apres toddies. One of the keys to the Mach1 line's success is its neutral stance set up that allows almost any skier to buckle-up, click-in and get to shredding without having to modify style or terrain selection. Testers mention that they instantly felt dialed and recommended it to any good skiing gal looking to up her game—or one who just wants to keep on doing what she's doing.
One of the coolest features of the Mach1 boots is the fact that many of their design elements are created with the help of a few of the best bootfitters in the USA—Project 165 is Tecnica's partnership with select bootfitters and their collaboration has been evident in the last couple seasons for Tecnica. One of their crew is an ABB tester—Greg Hoffmann! The Mach1's Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) shell construction offers pre-dimpled areas on the shell where a heat stretch is more easily accomplished and will hold better over time. The C.A.S. liner is highly shaped to match the foot's anatomy and is both moldable and grindable, due to its firm EVA foam construction. The C.A.S. Cuff Adapt feature utilizes a taco-shaped heating pad that warms the low-temperature plastic calf insert and liner to a molding temperature, and then simply wearing the boot will move the cuff to an ideal position for both slender or thick lower leg shapes.
We have tested the Salomon X Pro in different stiffnesses and versions--we were happy to test it again this year in our favorite variant, the 130 flex in the original polyurethane TwinFrame shell and polyurethane cuff. One tester said it felt like home, another said it skied like a Mack truck and a third said comfort is king—classic X Pro commentary from testers with a perspective on this iconic boot. Testers said that for the vast majority of skiers it remains an ideal combo of off-the-shelf fit, performance and custom fit options.
Once in and buckled, most testers praised the well-padded and evenly proportioned fit in the lower boot. Testers especially like the room along the outer border of the foot and the ease of fit at the forefoot (improved from its previous polyamide shell iteration) Some testers mention there's a little slow-down on entry to get past the throat of the boot, where the fit was close over the instep for some testers. Many love the command center this instep fit creates while others mentioned they'd go for the 360 Custom Shell process to relax the fit there. Testers unanimously liked the ideal, luxuriant feel against the shin and they said the cuff height was perfect, as were its angles in every direction.
If some boots are plundering beasts and others are flitting waifs, the X Pro 130 finds a nearly ideal spot in the middle, but perhaps hedging a touch toward the strong and stable, more manly side of the spectrum. It's a predictable, damp and confidence-inspiring ride, say testers, rather than a finicky, fast-twitcher. Most testers commented that the off-the-shelf fit was good to go and so was the performance attitude—put it on, go ski, have fun. A couple thought its damp nature made it a touch sluggish but we told them they were slow.
Salomon was one of the earliest adopters of the whole-shell cook and customize craze, and the 360 Custom Shell fit process still remains one of the coolest fit options for the X Pro 130. We've found the process most useful when the boot is slightly too tight everywhere after liner molding, but it's also extremely effective in opening up the fit at the instep and at the boot top where more traditional methods may not always nail it on the first try. There's no cuff adjustment here but we've found that Custom Shell molding will allow some stance adaptation for the better when needed.
The all new 2019 Salomon X Pro 90W Custom Heat Connect comes with the blend of ideally cushioned-but-firm medium-width fit and proven all-mountain downhill skills that our test team has come to expect from the X Pro family, but this one comes with a slick on-board heating system that's controlled via a phone app! We weren't sure what our testers were going to think—lame or game? They loved it! And they loved the rest of the X Pro as much as they always have.
Few outliers, fit-wise, from what testers expect of a medium width performance boot with the exception of a wide-ish toebox (not a bad thing). All other fit zones came in with right-down-the-fairway medium width scores. Testers liked the cozy, initial fit—a Salomon liner standard and right on target for the 90 flex performance tier, they said—and they found the closure system super easy to manage.
Reliable, consistent power and easy transitions turn to turn found here, testers agreed, saying that this boot is perfect for the intermediate who's stepping up her game and doesn't need her gear getting in the way or for veteran experts who prefer a slightly more supple flex feel. Testers remarked that the price paid for stability and predictability was some lack of snap, but not enough to scare anyone away. Prefer a dreamy G.S. turn over a spastic short-radius? Perfect, this boot's for you, they said.
Obviously, a phone app that controls the heater system is about the coolest feature ever, right? Well, regardless of your opinion on the matter, our testers said download and operation was a snap, and they thought it was very cool. Salomon was one of the earliest adopters of the whole-shell cook and customize craze, and the 360 Custom Shell fit process still remains one of the coolest fit options for the X Pro 90W Custom Heat Connect. We've found the process most useful when the boot is slightly too tight everywhere after liner molding, but it's also extremely effective in opening up the fit at the instep and at the boot top where more traditional methods may not always nail it on the first try. There's no cuff adjustment here but we've found that Custom Shell molding will allow some stance adaptation for the better when needed.
The 2019 Salomon X Max 120 W returned to our boot test this year with its flex dial remaining spun to a legitimate 120-flex (which our taller, more aggressive testers again loved) and also maintains the lower shell's stiffer polyamide plastic construction for better transmission of energy from boot to ski. Testers unanimously said this boot skis like a mofo—but all said that a low volume foot is best suited for this true narrow class ripper.
The use of polyamide plastic has a side effect of slight shrinkage after injection molding, which makes the lower shell slightly tighter than the polyurethane boots built off the molds last year. To compensate for this the liner is made thinner, with less padding. This equaled some harsh foot to shell interaction for testers with bony prominences, i.e. hotspots, and a consensus that the toebox and forefoot was one of the tightest of the category. Our very slim-footed folks had no complaints—in fact, they loved how tight the fit was on all parts of the foot and lower leg. This is not a once-in-a-while soccer mom goes skiing kind of boot, testers caution, but a serious performance tool for low volume feet and discerning skiers who know the bootfitting game.
This is where the X Max 120 W excelled for our test team—every single tester praised how well this ski put a ski on edge and hammered it home. They liked the quickness of response to steering inputs. They liked how stable it remained through jumbled off-piste junk. They liked the precision that came from such a tight fit which easily unlocked tight and tricky situations on snow for them.
This is a stripped-down performer without too many gizmos, though testers appreciated the cam buckle powerstrap (not found on the 110-flex version), and if there was ever a reason to employ Salomon's 360 Custom Shell molding feature—the slightly too tight everywhere fit is it. The 10-minute (this is the traditional 360 Custom Shell here, not the new HD version) oven cook works wonders for slightly opening the fit throughout as well as honing the boot's stance angles specific to the skier.
The test team's majority opinion states that the all new S/Max 120 knocked it out of the park with a shrink-wrapped fit for the low-volume foot as well as for a hyper-aware feel for the snow and immediate edge response in all manner of terrain. Not every tester had a foot and leg perfectly suited for the S/Max (skinny foot and long, slender leg) and so those guys dove into the new Custom Shell HD molding process, which works better and in half the time than before, we confirmed.
Testers used a preponderance of 2's to score the fit of the S/Max 120, meaning evenly snug but not race boot plug tight. Testers felt that the even grip on the foot and lower leg was similar to that of the S/Max 130 Carbon, but slightly relaxed due to a softer liner and a bit more flexible shell. The S/Max 120 will appeal to a broad spectrum of skiers, so long as they're on the low volume end of the shape spectrum. Testers with wide forefeet, high insteps and big calf muscles were not dialed right off the rack in this one—some opted to custom mold the S/Max 120 and were pleasantly surprised with how well the new, faster system worked to even out the fit kinks.
Our lighter weight testers preferred this one over the much stiffer feeling S/Max 130 Carbon, and as one might expect, several of our testers who loved the S/Max 130 Carbon found this softer brother lacking in power and support by comparison. The general attitude on snow, however, is the same—agile precision and rapid response to foot steering paired with power on edge (for most). The polyurethane lower boot with a fiberglass Coreframe is paired with a polyurethane cuff on the S/Max 120. One tester suggested that heavier-handed skiers bump up to the S/Max 130 or S/Max 130 Carbon for their stiffer plastics and beefed up Coreframe inserts.
Kaprolene is the additive to polyurethane that allows for Custom Shell molding. New this year in certain models within the S/Max and MTN lines the Kaprolene used is pre-mixed in precise amounts into the polyurethane itself rather than as a somewhat random additive at the time of plastic injection. This creates a more predictable and defined molding response which, when used in the thin shelled S/Max and MTN boots, drastically reduced cook times from ten minutes to only two, molding from five minutes to only three and cool-down to five minutes. Our tests showed legit results without a degradation of performance, post-molding. This year Salomon offers a kit for bootfitters to drill out the Oversized Pivot cuff hinge point and replace it with a lateral cuff adjustment for skiers who need more stance angle adaptability than the Custom Shell process will provide. Cantology cant shims are available for the S/Max boots but require over-plating and routing along standard race boot protocols.
The 2019 Roxa Trinity is the fixed-cuff version of the Roxa's R3W boots and was tested this year as Roxa's Soft-Value entry in the All-Mountain medium width group. At $250 less than the releasable cuff R3W 105 T.I. the Trinity is a good value--soft, not so much, testers said.
Our crew generally liked the medium width fit characteristics of the Trinity in the lower boot but felt that the heel and ankles ran looser than average for the category while the toebox felt a little more snug than expected. They suggested that molding the full thermo Intuition liner might even out the fit tension there. Testers agreed that the tongue was firm against the shin, bordering on sharp, and they also found it fit a bit tall against the leg and fairly forward in lean.
Testers did not like the way the Trinity flexed, or rather how it failed to. Even in soft mode, testers said the little 85 flex felt too stout, like a brick wall against the leg. This limited normal skiing movements and negatively affected the Trinity's fore-aft performance scores. Testers did like the way the boot moved side to side to put skis on edge, noting that it is vastly more powerful laterally than an 85 flex would suggest.
The bottom buckle of the Trinity is flipped to close medially to reduce damage in rough terrain—tres avant garde! The Intuition Freeski Wrap liner is highly moldable and insulating
We tested the Element 120 last year as a narrow and we tested it again this year (with a cool new sublimated graphic) as a medium—99 mm boots do straddle the fence there—and now we're pretty sure it's a narrow! Testers liked the way the tight fit improved with the molding of the full thermo I.R. Freeski Wrap liner and appreciated the way it padded the smooth slide into the cabrio lower. Our testers liked the Element 120's flex feel and its quick transitions from turn to turn.
Prior to liner molding testers found the fit overly tight at the forefoot and across the top of the foot and into the instep. After molding, the fit was more consistently snug-side-of-medium, they said. The liner feel against the shin was a favored element of the Element 120, and the three-piece shell had a firm but resilient, spring-loaded feel that the testers liked.
Once testers got the fit evened out by liner molding they found the Element 120 an enjoyable, light and lively ride. The all-Grilamid construction make for a lightweight, transmissive boot that provided good feedback from the snow surface, testers said. They liked the energetic flex and rebound provided by the cuff and tongue and said the lateral moves from edge to edge were smooth and predictable. A couple testers felt the stance was slightly inboard and lacked immediate inside edge engagement, but said that rolling deeper into the turn tapped its power stores.
The three different buckle styles make for a little fiddling at first but testers liked the instep retention of the 45-degree middle buckle. The reverse-position bottom buckle keeps the lever from being damaged in rocky hike-to situations. The Element 120 is available with both traditional tongue and spiral wrap style Intuition-Roxa liners.
The all new 2019 Roxa R3S 130 impressed testers with its rigidly solid fore-aft backbone in a lightweight, all-Grilamid four-buckle three-piece. This is a tall and upright bruiser that long-legged experts will appreciate for its serious push-back against a long lever arm. Our shorter testers had a hard time getting out over the front of this feather weight All-Mountain crusher and wished they had the R3S 110 to try.
While the shell and cuff are from the same mold as used by the Element 120, the traditional tongue I.R. Freeride MS liner offers a little more room in the R3S, though testers say this 99 mm falls to the narrow side of the medium width group, as one would expect. Testers say the entry is a little dicey, as the lower shell is very stiff and the traditional tongue style liner doesn't always stay in place to pad the cabrio opening's edges, so taking a little extra time to sneak one's way in was wise, they said. Molding the full-thermo I.R. (Intuition-Roxa) liner is the key to easily evening-out the initially inconsistent fit, testers found.
Full Grilamid plastic is used in the R3S 130's shell, cuff and tongue, so its stiffness is not a surprise. The cuff is tall on the leg and upright in angle, and there's an extra buckle on the R3S, as opposed to the Element's three clasp affair—so this is a beast of a boot that needs a tall, strong skier to truly appreciate what is has to offer. Testers said huge (and mainly untapped, for them) power reserves are what the R3S has to offer in probably the most dramatic raw power-to-weight ratio of the test. This said, the angle and stiffness of the cuff made it tough for our team to take advantage of it, and a few of them surmised that the R3S 110, for $150 less, might be more their speed.
While there is a flex adjustment available, the R3S's D.R.I. Chassis Tuning insert limits the amount of change there, keeping this a stout flexer in both modes. Double liner pull loops and an adjustable rear spoiler offer some convenience and options to adjust for stance and calf fit. GripWalk soles are an option here as well.
Here's one you can take anywhere and be balanced, comfortable and ready to rip, said testers of the 2019 Rossignol Pure Pro 100. Its classy looks go with every outfit, the liner is warm and cozy, it's easy to get on and off—and it skis as well as anything in the category. What's not to love?
Testers say this runs a bit on the roomy side of the medium-fit group, with plenty of room at the forefoot and in the toebox, especially in length—they say if there's a boot you might go down a size in (if you're on the cusp) this one's worth trying. The ankle and heel are snug enough, but slender feet would probably do better in the Pure Elite (the narrow version). The liner's calf is furry and open enough for thicker legs, they report.
Testers put the stance a touch on the upright side, which they liked for a long leg and no quad burn, but a few mentioned they wanted a heel lift to help get out over the front of the boot. They thought the 100 flex was on target, perhaps even a little stronger, with a nice progressive feel on the leg during flexion. Side-to-side moves were rewarded with solid, stable edge power. Testers were split on whether this was a quick boot or perhaps happier in medium- and long-radius turns, so we'll say it's "quick enough."
The fuzzy liner (which testers liked for not being too fuzzy) is made with Thinsulate and Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not imaginary. A set of GripWalk soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with GripWalk compatible bindings only). Testers also thought the price tag was a nice feature--$100 less than many of its direct competitors in the medium-width group.
For the third year running, the 2019 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 was one of the 3 top-scoring boots for Edge Power and Stability in the women's All-Mountain narrow group, and once again reminded our test team why. Unchanged this season other than a new exterior paint job, the Pure Elite 120 garnered praise for its solid, stable 120-flex horsepower combined with its high comfort-quotient. One tester mentioned that this badass boot is camouflaged by fur.
Testers agree it's one of the roomiest of the narrow category—borderline medium—with a tall and upright feeling cuff and a roomy toebox (length, width & height). A few of our low-volume testers successfully dropped down one size in this model. On the whole, testers don't mind the extra room, and they say that the anatomical shaping is spot-on for the human foot and leg. They all love the faux fur, and universally praise the evenly progressive flex feel, if firm, at a legit 120.
Our taller, more aggressive skiers loved the Elite 120's tall, upright and stiff cuff in their normal size—they had the long leg leverage to get over the top of this boot and uncork its raw power and quickness. So too, did the shorter testers who were able to size down and get a lower cuff fit. Average height and shorter testers who stuck with their normal size felt a little pushed back onto their heels by the cuff and commented that they wanted a little heel lift to help put them in the driver's seat. Every tester, to a woman, agreed this is one powerful and responsive ride.
The fuzzy liner is made with Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not a figment of testers' imaginations. A set of GripWalk soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with GripWalk bindings only).
