While the Fischer RC4 105 LV BOA is a Vacuum boot and one of the unique qualities about the Fischer Vacuum molding system is that it can compress the shell around the foot, actually making a heel p
The all new 2018 Salomon X Max 120 W takes its former 110-self and bumps the flex dial up to a legitimate 120-flex (which our taller, more aggressive testers loved) and also rebuilds the lower shell using stiffer polyamide plastic for better transmission of energy from boot to ski. Testers unanimously said this boot skied like a mofo—but a few said it hurt like one, too.
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. One other common complaint was that the tongue was firm, bordering on sharp, up against the shin. 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 or 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 Custom Shell molding feature—the slightly too tight everywhere fit is it. The 10-minute oven cook works wonders for slightly opening the fit throughout as well as honing the boot's stance angles specific to the skier.
Surprising sleeper, said testers about the 2018 Salomon X Access 80 who were shocked at the 300 dollar price tag (one tester was guessing 500 by the way it skied). They said it showed more backbone than expected at a mere 80-flex and maintained just enough hold of the heel and ankle to provide adequate tracking while the rest of the foot and leg enjoyed the spacious 104 mm last.
Evenly wide everywhere with a hint of connection at the ankles and in the heel pocket—this is a comfy boat for high volume feet, or those who would rather ski in Crocs or flip-flops if they could. The flex feel was appropriately cushioned by the liner's plush tongue, and while soft, the X Access 80's flex didn't collapse and managed an eventual stopping point.
This is the high-volume intermediate skier's ideal ride said testers who thought the neutral stance angles, anatomical (if huge) fit, and functional flex feel would add up to instant improvement of both technique and comfort—for a street price (MAP) of 250 clams. Damn!
The coolest feature here is really the leftover dough a skier will have to upgrade skis and maybe outerwear, but this is a legit four-buckle with a Velcro powerstrap.
The 2018 Salomon X Max 120 returns revised but still a favorite amongst testers who appreciate the narrow, sculpted fit that hugs the foot closely for maximum feel underfoot. This year the lower shell utilizes polyamide plastic in the bottom portion to increase stiffness and energy transmission with some weight savings. This plastic shrinks after being molded at the factory, making the shell slightly tighter, so a new, thinner, less-padded liner is used to conserve the X Max's 98 mm last fit tension. This closer-to-shell feel gives the new X Max 120 a bit more Spartan fit character, which turned off a few testers but most felt it upped its performance game.
Testers gave the X Max 120 evenly narrow (that means tight) scores throughout the lower boot and up into the narrow gauge cuff, with mentions that the heel and ankle pockets are particularly tight—tight enough that some testers shed a tear or two. Our previous tests of the X Max 120 have produced similar results, and our custom liner and shell tests have yielded improved fit in those too-tight areas. Testers liked the extra fit freedom in the toebox, which was the only area that didn't ring the snug bell out of the box.
The lack of bulky padding in the liner gave a more connected and in-tune feel between the foot and the ski, testers agreed, and quickness scores were top notch. At the 120 mark, some of the taller, heavier testers folded it over a little bit, but most liked the spring-loaded flex feel for it's accurate and spritely drive to the front of the ski. There is a 130 flex available.
Salomon's Custom Shell 360 oven-cook and molding feature works like a dream when the boot fits just a little too tight, everywhere even after heat molding the liner. We recommend trying a liner cook as a first step to relax the fit in the ankles and heel.
The all new 2018 Roxa Trinity is the traditional-cuff version of the new R3W boots (the 105 and 95 have hike mode features) and therefore is the third in the series—get it, trinity? However, testers had a much different take on this unique 85-flex than they had on the R3W's.
Our crew liked the narrow-class fit characteristics of the Trinity—snug enough everywhere in fairly even fashion with a little extra room in the forefoot and then again some in the toebox. 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.
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 like a brick wall against the leg. This limited normal skiing movements and tanked the Trinity's performance scores. The R3W 105 Ti that testers admired for its long-travel flex feel is a hike mode enabled cuff built on a Grilamid lower shell. The Trinity is a fixed cuff model with a polyurethane shell and cuff. We can only guess at whether that played any role in changing the feel of this boot so drastically.
The bottom buckle of the Trinity is flipped to close medially—tres avant garde!
Testers liked the highly padded liner feel of the 2018 Roxa Bold 120 I.R. and thought it was well-suited to advanced intermediates looking for warmth and comfort at a strong flex tier.
Many testers found the "V" shape foot was reversed in the Bold 120 such that the toebox and forefoot were tighter than common medium-widths while the back half (instep, ankles, heel) fit more similarly to the wide-last group. This didn't translate into good fit scores overall, though entry and exit were favorites among the test team.
Testers praised the raw edge power the boot could generate laterally—solidly built and a bit tipped-out in its cuff angles resulted in aggressive inside-edge carves. They didn't like the boot's forward flex pattern as well, finding it abrupt and unpredictable for smooth transitions and off-piste charging, preferring to stay on smooth surfaces where testers let them arc. Quickness turn to turn was there, but a little muted by the heavily padded liner, testers thought.
Comfortable cushioning and warmth were the ticket here, and the Intuition liner offers high molding capability.
Testers were on board with Roxa's new 2018 Element 120 I.R., and drank the Kool-Aid for this unique, low-profile and lightweight three-piece, fully buying in for how it fit and skied.
Testers said this 99 mm last stands by its numbers, delivering a closely snug fit throughout the lower and upper, which testers liked—they also liked the slightly more relaxed (mediumish) fit at the instep and on the navicular bone. They weren't as stoked on the firm liner feel against the shin during initial try-on but found that it softened some with time skiing.
Lateral quickness was catlike, testers reported, and the ease of roll edge to edge was noticeably good. Testers felt that the combination of the shell's forward lean angle (upright) plus the double layer of the Intuition spiral wrap liner stood them up a little too tall, and they found it hard to get out in front of the boot and off their heels. They thought both the on-board forward lean adjustment and full molding of the liner would remedy this.
The use of Grilamid in the shell and the upper cuff is still unique, but gaining momentum—it doesn't always work, but testers felt it did here, providing a lightweight but strong and snappy package. The inverted toe buckle closes on the medial side to avoid damage incurred on the lateral side, according to Roxa. Sure, okay.
The 2018 Rossignol Alltrack Pro 110 W was the highest scoring boot in the women's On-Off Area medium category—for the fourth year in a row! That says something about its combination of fit, performance and tester-favored features for women skiers.
Our test team says the Alltrack Pro 110 W fits like a glove—a medium-width one. No bothersome hotspots, no pinch points, a calf fit that suits average bodies and a flex feel that's cushioned enough and progressive. They love the white fur liner, even if it's a little over the top, and say the boot's a dream to get on and off.
From relaxed cruisers to hard-charging ex-racers, every woman likes the turns they lay down when they're wearing the Alltrack Pro 110 W. They say turn initiation is automatic, deep carves are stable at speed and off-piste carnage is tamed with ease. Some say the cushioned, fuzzy liner might rob the boot from a little quickness, but a happy trade for most. Very few testers have much good to say about the hike mode range of motion when the cuff is released, but they do appreciate that this boot doesn't ski like a boot with a hike mode. They say look at the cosmetics to know the difference—that's a bar mode, not a hike mode.
The Thinsulate Platinum liner is warm as well as fuzzy, which testers liked. The boot soles can be swapped for WTR (Walk to Ride) compatible ones, which will improve walkabouts and require a WTR binding—or they could hit the skin track with an A.T. frame binding.
Here's one you can take anywhere and be balanced, comfortable and ready to rip, said testers of the 2018 Rossignol Pure Pro 100. Its classic 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 calf is furry (liner) 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 like for not being too fuzzy) is made with Thinsulate and Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not imaginary. A set of WTR (Walk to Ride) soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with WTR bindings only). Testers also thought the price tag was a nice feature--$100 less than its direct competitors in the medium-width group.
One of the 3 top-scoring boots in the women's All-Mountain narrow group, the 2018 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 returned to impress our test team this year. Unchanged this season (and why would you?), the Pure Elite 120 garnered praise for its solid, stable 120-flex horsepower combined with its high comfort-quotient. One tester requested a couch made from its yummy fluffy liner material.
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 Thinsulate and Merino wool, so high warmth scores were not a figment of testers' imaginations. A set of WTR (Walk to Ride) soles is available as an accessory (nice for walking, compatible with WTR bindings only).
In the All-Mountain wide-last group of 7 boots, the 2018 Rossignol Allspeed 100 was edged-out for the gold medal by only 1/100th of a point. Why do we want to crow about second place? Well in this situation second isn't first-loser when you consider that the Allspeed 100 was a "Soft-Value" entry and the boot it essentially tied for first was 30 flex index points stiffer and cost 200-bucks more!
It's a wide ride with plenty of volume, its liner is cushioned and soft, and yet the Allspeed 100 has enough grab on the foot to enable high-end skiing movements and control big skis. One of our testers summed-up the Allspeed's fit like this: "It's like hugging a big, curvy, hot chick and feeling the softness and the firmness in all the right places." Testers also say the cuff is tall, upright and open enough for big-dude legs.
Testers are impressed with how strongly this boot skis for a 100 flex. It's probably a bit mislabeled (110ish is more like it), but testers also cite the dialed stance angles and enough torsional and lateral rigidity to tip a ski on edge and manage it there through a variety of terrain at virtually every speed. Several of our testers mentioned throwing everything they had at it and it never failed.
The price is really its best feature—best bang for your buck of the entire test, one tester said. But the fact that there's a 120-flex and a 130-flex version of this (oh, and an 80) means the options are many for high-volume foot and leg guys. It does have a Thinsulate liner, but if you're buying this boot we're betting you don't get too cold.
Testers didn't vary their scores much on the 2018 Rossignol Allspeed Pro 120, using a lot of 3's (medium) and "ideal" checkboxes to describe its fit, flex and stance. A few testers claimed this one was the benchmark model that all other medium-width performance boots should be judged by. They saved the hyperbole for how well this one skis.
Aside from agreeing that the Allspeed Pro 120 (like most other Rossi's) fits a little longer than most other models in the group, everything else got chalked-up right down the middle for a perfect mediumish fit tension throughout the lower boot, instep and up into the cuff. Testers called the heel and ankle pocket accurately snug and said there was just enough room at the forefoot for the ball of the foot to spread to the floor for balance, but with no remaining slop. Balanced containment, one tester called it—and all echoed that it had a nice blend of cushion and proper grip on the foot.
Complaints on the Allspeed Pro's on-snow performance were virtually non-existent. Smooth and predictable. Muscular and athletic. Lively and nimble. Testers found that it did it all, and without much adjustment. Test forms universally mentioned that it made skiing fun and easy.
This year's Allspeed Pro 120 comes with a pimped-out paint job, and testers liked the flame orange buckles on top—though one tester was bothered that they were hidden under his pants, as though he'd borrowed his girlfriend's underwear, he said. So that's something to consider. Aside from Thinsulate laminates used in the liner and an option to slap on WTR (Walk to Ride) soles, the features are standard fare, four-buckles, Velcro powerstrap, single side cuff adjustment.
This is the third boot test go-round for the unchanged 2018 Rossignol Allspeed Elite 130 and testers voted it into the top25% of the all-mountain narrows, even though the consensus was that it didn't feel too narrow. They didn't quite call it a medium, but it definitely rides the fit fence between width categories, they said.
Not that anyone was really complaining—they loved how easy on and off it was and appreciated the extra room over the instep and at the boot top for a calf muscle. They notice most of the extra room in the toebox (in length, width and height) but found the fit tapered to the ankles and heel appropriately for a performance fit. A few testers mentioned sizing down successfully, so for skiers right between sizes, that's a worthwhile consideration. For the level of performance found here, testers said the comfort quotient was top of class.
This boot rips everywhere was the general vibe from testers—smooth, predictable and stronger-than-expected. The stance is a little on the upright side, with a tallish feeling cuff, so testers mentioned that the cuff generated a lot of power. Testers liked the flex feel—smooth and progressive but with a legitimate 130 backbone to it (don't let room temperature flexing fool you, it's all there out in the cold). Stance-wise, it's all neutral in all directions, so send it, testers said.
The revised power strap webbing and roller-cam buckle create a ratchety-style grip when tightened that doesn't back out till you say so, which testers liked. The Thinsulate liner is warm enough and the EVA foam ankle pockets mold nicely for bony points. There's a set of WTR (Walk to Ride) soles available if long strolls through paver plazas are part of your game (compatible with WTR bindings).
