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 2018 Nordica Speedmachine 130 returns to the boot test with a revised liner (a more snug heel and stiffer cuff material) and testers gave it the thumbs up, again, but even more up this time for its better envelopment of the foot and a more high performance feel on snow. It still skis on autopilot--so easy, testers said.
It's still on the wide side of the medium group in the toebox and forefoot, and plenty dreamy, creamy, cushy upon one's first slide-in (which is super easy), but the fit quickly narrows to a firm wrap around the ankles and on the heel, which is much improved this year, testers agreed. The fit is evenly medium, testers say, through the instep and into the lower leg zone, which has a more locked-in, athletic feel this year due to the stiffer liner cuff construction. The flex feel is dead-on for comfortable (but high-end) skiing moves and testers liked the Power Driver plate that slides on the power strap for spreading pressure along the tongue.
This is the Volvo XC 90 of ski boots, one tester said. Sure, why not--all-wheel-drive, 250 horsepower, paddle shifters and plenty of leg room! Testers say the Speedmachine 130 practically skis for you it's so well-balanced and reactive to the surface underfoot. The thin-walled Tri-Force shell puts the foot in direct-feeling contact with the ski, though without a lack of padding or creature comfort, and it maintains a solid feel while on edge at all speeds. This is a boot that shouldn't ski as well as it does based on the high perceived level of comfort, but it does, and testers weren't complaining.
Testers liked the 3-D Cork liner construction for its firm, transmissive feel, insulating quality and molding capabilities. We really like the trick Infrared shell molding system developed specifically for the Speedmachine (and 102 mm Sportmachine boots)—the infrared heater brings the shell up to ideal molding temperature and a suction-cup of varying sizes and shapes is applied to the hot shell and the suction pulls the punch into place. The only real disappointment in the system is the fact that it will be rarely used, since the boot fits so well (and roomy where most need it) out of the box.
The 2018 Nordica GPX 130 is a serious ski boot for serious skiers—built off the same shell molds as the Dobermann GP, the GPX is similarly stripped-down and elemental. But it's not all business—because for good skiers mountain-wide domination is fun!
The GPX 130's revised Primaloft Cork Fit liner is sculpted to match the anatomical curves of the ankles and heel and offers slightly more padding and insulation than the progenitor Dobermann, softening the interaction of bony points and close-fitting shell. This year the toebox felt slightly more open than in the past, which testers liked, and they said that the heel is as snug and ski-controlling as ever—see your bootfitter for that little bump on the back of your heel or it'll grow! The tongue is firm on the shin but not sharp. Entry and exit is not easy, but neither is it difficult per the category average—so don't whine.
Got game? Give 'er with the GPX 130 and be rewarded with the kind of turn you envisioned, with no hindrance from the four-buckle linkage between you and your ski. It's a real 130-flex, and the cuff is slightly tall and slightly upright, so some manly muscle is required to engage it, but testers say that when you do the ski shovel becomes your bitch and you go wherever, and do whatever, you want with it. The GPX line employs a softer, more shock-absorbing bootboard (floor of shell) than in the Dobermann, and the polyurethane Extra-Grip soles have a shock mitigating influence on the off-piste attitude of the GPX. It's a technical-skier's boot that loves to get off the groomed and rip some stuff up!
Testers like the Power Driver power strap for its broad, pressure-spreading span. They also like the Full Motion Pivot dual lateral cuff adjustment that has "rotational" tweakability to alter the internal- or external-rotation of the shell to either match or attempt to manipulate a skier's knee tracking during flexion, either for improved balance or increased inside edge power—pretty slick when needed and properly implemented.
The 2018 Lange SX 90 W returns this year with a liner change that makes it slightly more open-feeling (a wider wide-load) and testers noticed the difference and approved—they liked that it was distinctly different, fit-wise, from the medium-width RX boot.
As with all the other Lange boots, the tapered fit to a more-snug heel and ankle pocket is evident here, testers said, though in a softer, more relaxed sorta way than found in the medium and narrow Langes. One tester said that it was like the perfect burrito wrap—so long as there's enough foot filling. It is a high-volume fit with a particularly roomy fit in the toebox, instep and calf—all the spots where the high-volume skier is looking for a little extra relief. Testers said that in addition to an open calf fit at boot top, the cuff is slightly upright in its forward lean angle, which will even better suit women with larger calf muscles.
Testers liked the easy, no worries roll from edge to edge in the SX 90 W. Neutral, predictable, stable and quick enough to get it done all around the mountain was the consensus here. Testers said the 90-flex was as billed—not a powerhouse, but neither was it a pushover for good skiing girls. At a list price of $550, the SX 90 W hits the value mark, but doesn't ski like a cheapskate.
The top buckle catch offers quick, tools-free adjustment that's helpful for getting it buckled around a muscular calf. The replaceable Ultra Grip soles are slightly cushioned and have great traction for getting to and from the snow.
The all new 2018 Lange RX 110 W not only crushed the competition in the All-Mountain medium-width group, it out-scored all the boots in the category regardless of width, tied for highest-scoring women's boot with one other and out-scored all the men's entries, save one. Why did it do so well? We think it's because it's as good as its slender sister RX 110 W LV but with slightly more room where it counts for most skiers, so everybody loved this one.
Testers say the RX 110 W is a benchmark for medium width fit characteristics without giving up on performance goals—meaning Lange hasn't blown-out the toebox and forefoot and fluffed-up the liner just to attract the wannabes. Testers say this top-shelfer fits like a Recaro seat built around the foot—firm and close in the heel and ankles and boot throat, like a custom foam liner a couple testers said. There's just enough room elsewhere to suit the average, medium-volume foot and leg, but without namby-pamby down comforter pandering. This one grabs on and holds ya. You're skiing all day, not mucking around in the lodge!
It's Lange's story this year and it's where this medium really elevated above the rest. The pre-sculpted 3-D liner's exterior matches the interior of the shell in a mirror image, mating the foot and leg to plastic and transmitting every skiing movement to the skis. Testers said the boot knifed through all manner of junk off-piste and drilled hard snow like a power tool. The delivery to the edge was impressive, they said, but easily matched by the boot's snappy energy and feel for the snow underfoot, too. This power and agility combo can be attributed to the RX (and RS) line's Dual Core shell which utilizes a unique production method to sandwich a less-dense plastic within the shell wall itself to create a more energetic, resilient feel—testers gave the nod.
We avoided the wet weather at this year's ABB Boot Test, but that didn't stop our test team from gushing about the all new 2018 Lange RX 110 W LV—it was almost embarrassing to read the test forms because it seemed like they'd been written by Lange's marketing department. Right at the tippy top of the narrow all-mountain group with one other boot, the RX 110 W LV impressed with its revised fit and a new, higher gear on snow.
Testers instantly noticed the new liner construction in this year's RX—almost like a foam-injected liner some said--firmer where it counted (heel and ankles), but softer in areas where some cushioning is nice (at the forefoot and over the top of the instep). They said the liner's rear control zone was almost too tight initially but felt those areas auto-mold with some wear time, and all agreed that the snug fit there was perfect for the category. This was one of the most-snug fits of the group—not race boot tight, but close, and testers loved that. The stance angles are neutral, testers reported, but they note that big calves don't fit well here and drive the leg a bit too forward. Thicker legs may want to opt for the medium-width RX W rather than the narrow-class RX W LV.
Like cornering in a Ferrari, one tester said of the RX 110 W LV—quick and aggressive with no play in the steering column. Across the board testers commented on how snappy and reactive the boot felt edge to edge and how firm but elastic the flex feel was. Both of these characteristics can be attributed to the new Dual Core plastic injection technology found in the RX (and RS) boots this year. A softer density plastic is sandwiched between higher density plastic throughout the shell wall, which is impressive in execution alone but even more surprising to find that the claims of increased energy and snap are for real!
A monoinjected polyether shell and cuff is a nice feature if there's going to be any bootfitting happening—this construction makes grinds and shell punches a snap for good bootfitters. Pretty basic, functional feature fare here. A single-side cuff adjustment and Ultra Grip soles are nice to have. WTR (Walk to Ride) soles can be purchased as an accessory for use with appropriate WTR bindings.
One tester said the 2018 Lange SX 130 is, stress-free livin' for all-mountain conditions and we'd say that sums it up pretty good. It returns to the boot test this year with a revised, more widely lasted liner for a more open feel—though a few testers mentioned it still fits a little bit on the snug side of the wide group.
The RX LV boots are narrow. The RX boots are a similar shape and fit profile but blown-up to medium-width proportions. The SX line opens it up yet again to a 102 mm that still shares Lange family fit characteristics. Testers acknowledge the V-shaped lower boot fit that tapered gradually to the heel and ankle—a Lange hallmark. The upper cuff received characteristically Lange kudos for having a comfortable shin fit and even flex properties. However, it also got even, but snuggish fit scores at the boot top for the calf but that was with the spoiler installed. Remove the rear spoiler in the 130 for a roomier fit there. The softer flexes in the SX line come without one.
One tester said the SX 130 made flexing and edging moves at a level that was head and shoulders above the other wide rides in the group and inspired confident skiing in all conditions. This sentiment was echoed by other testers who cited its predictable, stable, no-shenanigans attitude on snow. A few testers commented that they felt a little disconnected from the ski, but admitted they didn't have the girth to fill her properly.
We think a no-fuss 130-flex wide boot that actually skis as well as it fits is a cool feature, but add to that mono-injected polyurethane construction in the shell and cuff and you've got a real boot that a good bootfitter can easily modify as needed. The Velcro power strap is a nice, fat 45 mm one and there's a single-side cuff adjustment.
The 2018 Lange RX 130's score tops the All-Mountain medium width group—one of the largest and most competitive of boot test categories. What makes it so great? Well, testers simply said Lange took one of the best boots out there and made it better. This year's all new shell shape, new construction and revised liner didn't create any new problems, just elevated the fit and performance of a perennial favorite.
The RX is a little bit roomier this year, by design, as Lange wanted to more clearly delineate the difference between the RX LV narrow class gripper and this middle-of-the-roadster. In the past the medium RX got called out for riding the fence between medium and narrow. This year testers noticed the difference, and most loved the extra room. Not that this is a fluffy fit—the well-sculpted 3-D liner is firm and well-matched to the interior of the shell, so the grip on the foot is there, especially in the heel and ankle, but now the shape is opened up for average feet and legs. If this feels too roomy upon initial try-on, then the decision is clear—narrow RX LV for you.
The flex-feel is firm on the leg (legit 130) but with a new-found elastic quality. In fact, testers made many comments of the boot's snappy, energetic feel underfoot. "There is something about this new plastic that behaves very well on snow…" one tester pondered. And there is. This year Lange debuts a new type of plastic injection molding in the RX and RS boots that sandwiches a less-dense plastic in between higher density plastic within the shell wall itself, throughout both the lower and upper. This differential density creates an energetic internal tension of sorts and gives the boot a new, lively feel that testers loved. All this snappiness has not come at the cost of power or stability, said testers who assure this is not a jittery boot. Steep edge angles, high speeds and all manner of snow conditions were where the RX 130 shone.
The new RX 130 remains essentially the same basic four-buckle overlap it always has—no new frills, bells or whistles here. The Velcro power strap is a nice wide 50 mm. There's a single-side upper cuff adjustment that uses an old-school 3 mm Allen key. The Ultra Grip soles are grippy, hence the name, but not so soft as to wear out or not transmit energy to the ski. You can upgrade to WTR (Walk to Ride) soles for a few bucks and use them with a WTR binding.
$850 worth of skiing perfection is what one tester called the all new 2018 Lange RX 130 LV. The rest of the test team agreed, putting this one at the very top of the narrow All-Mountain category and giving it the highest score of all the men's All-Mountain boots, regardless of width.
Some testers described the fit of the RX 130 LV as, just like the frontside RS 130 but easier-going. Others said that at first the RX LV didn't feel tight-enough but then once they skied it they realized that it was just that it was so well-shaped that none of their bony spots were barking at them—it didn't ski loose, they explained. The new shell shape and liner shape are well-contoured to the foot and leg, and the two are well-matched to each other, with minimal tolerances between the exterior of the liner and the interior of the shell—no foot shearing or gappy feel here, testers claimed. Cuff height, shin fit and calf fit all got "ideal" marks.
Take a few laps through the race course, hammer a zipper line, grab a fatty and bury yourself in pow— testers said the RX 130 LV is the driver of choice for all those applications. Testers affirmed that the RX 130 LV has tons of brute strength on edge, at speed, but without sacrificing quickness. Which was better, its power or quickness? Dead heat, they said—the new RX shell construction utilizes a unique plastic injection method that creates a dual-density shell wall, in the lower boot and the cuff. This reportedly gives the boot a new lively, elastic feel. Testers reported that it ain't just marketing mumbo jumbo—as proof, quickness and agility scores were through the roof.
We think it's cool that a performance-oriented guy with a medium foot could stuff himself in here with some clean bootwork, thanks to the mono-injected polyether shell and cuff that makes grinds and stretches easy. WTR (Walk to Ride) soles can be swapped on here if you're into that—gotta have a WTR compatible binding with those. Testers like the simple, Velcro power strap and single-side, set-screw-style cuff adjustment.
Testers who are familiar of the K2 medium-widths of the past said that the 2018 Spyre 100 Heat had the best initial fit they've ever experienced. New this year throughout the K2 boot line are revised liners with a more open toebox, a tighter heel and ankle and a pre-pressed navicular area. All these elements received a thumbs-up from our test team on this one.
Our team felt the Spyre 100 Heat nailed the medium-width fit target, dead on, with the mention that this runs a bit roomy in the toebox, forefoot and instep. This is good news for those with high arches! With the Power Wedge rear spoiler installed some testers felt the stance a bit forward and jabby on the calf—with it removed it was slightly upright and more open in fit. Custom tests showed positive comfort changes when the Intuition liner was fully heat molded.
Tried-and-true, steady-eddie, workhorse—pick your descriptor for reliable and capable and insert it here. Testers found the regular roll onto an edge supremely bankable, maybe to a fault as a few mentioned it perhaps lacked a little spark and energy in transitions. They liked the solid 100 flex for its fore-aft support and comfortable contact with the shin while skiing.
Testers were stoked on the new heated Thermic liner—simple to operate buttons and they said it warmed up quickly. The Heat model is a $150 premium at full-pop retail, but our testers thought it well worth it. The dual cuff adjustment mechanism offers maximum stance alignment modification, and GripWalk outsoles (rockered, for use with GripWalk bindings) are available as an optional purchase.
Not only is the 120 flex Spyne a new stiffness offering this year but the 2018 K2 Spyne 120 Heat, as its name would suggest, comes with a built-in heater! Usually on-board heaters appear on boots designed for low-end skiers, and generally give a boot a bit of a kook-allure but testers were stoked on this new cooker, and the boot!
There was something about the new, heater-implanted LuxFit Pro Intuition liner in the Spyne 120 Heat that just felt good, testers said. They preferred its well-wrapped fit to that of the stiffer Spyne 130 LV for the 120's ideal blend of cushion, contour and firm-enough feel against the foot. The out-of-box fit was a test favorite, though we did do custom tests on this model as well and found that the fit over the top of the foot relaxed nicely (and evened the fit elsewhere, too.) A couple testers claimed that they could feel a bit of unwanted pressure at the liner's battery housing location along the lateral part of the lower leg, but most didn't notice.
The Spyne 120 Heat's performance scores (dynamic balance, edge power, quickness) beat out big brother Spyne 130's. Testers found this boot to be a well-wrought blend of comfort, balance, power and quickness—it was one of the test's best combo boots, meaning it had an evenly matched set of good qualities which made it an all-around winner in all conditions and for a lot of different skier types. Testers did not like the way this boot skied after the shell was cooked in the convection oven and "custom molded," finding it weakened on edge and unreliable afterward. Cook the liner, not the shell, was their advice.
The Thermic-designed heater system is slick—easy to operate, big buttons on the liner and with a nicely wrapped heat area that envelopes the whole toebox without feeling stiff or edgy. The heater option adds $150 to the list price of the non-heat 120, but considering that your typical aftermarket heater costs $250 we figure this is a bargain and a more convenient solution. GripWalk soles are available as an extra—good for strolling and for use with appropriate GripWalk bindings.
The 2018 K2 Spyne 130 LV returned with a cool new look and a revised liner that evened-up the initial fit for testers who once again placed it among the top of the heap in a very competitive narrow All-Mountain category.
The new PrecisionFit Pro liner is revised with Intuition's help to create a more seam-free and open toebox as well as more room alongside the foot at the navicular bone—both issues testers had mentioned at previous tests. These changes were noted and appreciated as testers broadly checked off the ideal box for narrow class initial fit. It's still category-appropriate snug, but with a well-contoured and enveloping feel, testers said. Initial fit drew highly stoked comments like, I'm instantly ready to go fast!
The liner change and cosmetic update didn't do anything to change the way the Spyne 130 LV skis—thank you, K2—as there has never been anything wrong with that aspect of this boot. Testers agreed the stance angles are still among the best (most neutral) in the category and strong, quick skiing moves stem from this home base. The so-called Energy Interlock no-rivets linkage between the lower shell and upper cuff performs as billed, said testers, who agreed that there's an elastic energy and snap to the boot's flex feel that made it reactive and quick with a reliable return to center on each transition. A few testers still mention that the bulk and padding of the Intuition liner mutes some of the boot's potential quickness until the liner is molded, which they said puts foot into better connection with the shell.
Our test team liked the Power Cinch cam-lock style power strap and the K2 signature dual cuff adjustment mechanism for broad stance alignment adaptation. The Intuition-partnered liner is highly moldable and we recommend doing that for any fit that's a little too tight or bulky feeling. K2 also promotes their shells as oven-cook moldable, but our tests showed that molding the liner was the better way to go, at least for initial custom fitting strikes. GripWalk soles are available for purchase and use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
For the money, the 2018 Head Advant Edge 85 W packs surprising punch and hits the wide-group target for a warm and comfy lower boot, our testers said.
Testers thought that the lower shell fit the way a 102 mm boot should—wide enough and nicely padded everywhere, with a hint of snug control at the heel and ankle area. A few testers had issues with the liner's lower calf (soleus muscle, aka "cankle") area where thick pads felt a bit jabby and made entry past that area difficult. They hoped that liner (and perhaps shell) molding would remedy that.
The Advant Edge 85 W handled itself masterfully on and off the groomed, surprising testers with its snappy, responsive feel. Testers said the fore-aft stance is set-up a bit on the upright side, but with a soft enough flex to move forward with and find home base for linking aggressive arcs. They liked the soft flex and mentioned that it didn't collapse, but they also pointed out that a stiffer 95-flex version is available.
First, you've got color options here—either go-with-everything black, or the white and grey with yellow highlights, so lovely! Uh, and there's two Double Power lever buckles on the cuff—great for cranking the heck outta that cuff fit with gloves on! If walking in super strolling style is a goal, GripWalk soles are available this year for use with GripWalk bindings, and on the boot sole front there are also Advant Edge specific (and Vector) canted soles available in 0.5-, 1.0-, 1.5- and 2.0-degree increments.
