Tecnica Mach1 MV 115 W

The perennial favorite Mach1 MV W has returned but in a burlier, badder build--the 115 flex model!

Category 
All-Mountain Traditional
Last Width 
100
Flex Index 
115
Price (MSRP) 
$750.00USD

K2 Spyne 130 LV

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5, 25.5…30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow

The Gist

K2 continues to muscle its way into the best All-Mountain boots conversation. For the third year in a row, the Spyne 130 LV finished in the top group despite some serious competition. It’s got strong fit, sturdy on-snow performance and a robust set of customizing tools.

Fit

Testers told us it was tight. This is an LV that means it. Guys with prominent ankles, navicular and styloid bones will get a bit lit up by the out of box fit. The toebox also fits quite snug and short initially. All this snugness (not a bad thing in a narrow model) is partly due to the thick Intuition lower liner (the upper part of the liner is a more traditional construction).

It relaxes a bit simply by skiing, but for a fit more true to the Spyne 130 LV's intent, molding the liner is a must.  When we molded with the whole shebang process (toecaps, pads on bony prominences), the fit demonstrably improved.

Performance

K2 has mastered the stance game. Their boots are perfectly dialed front-to-back and side-to-side. Testers agreed they were always moving out from a solid home base. The flex is firm and lateral juice is present in high concentration. It’s powerful but you can feather it on and off. Drift, skivot, roll 'em up high and rail it; the boot obeys skier commands and constantly exceeds expectations.

Cool Features

We like the oval-within-an-oval lateral cuff adjuster (dual sided) with a trick no-strip inner screw. It’s got good range.

We also like K2's new shell molding protocol, though it takes a while to get the hot shell and liner fully cooled down to where it takes a permanent set. Still, it’s worth the time and effort.

We found that the cooked shell can expand prodigiously and does not lose much of its stretch even after spending a couple days on a sunny, hot window sill. We did a full-bore expansion and turned this narrow LV into a good fitting medium for one of our testers.

But before you start whomping on the shell, start with the liner.  Move on to the shell only if the fit still remains too tight.

Lange RX 130 LV

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
RX 100 LV $600

The Gist

Sporting only minor innerboot changes (a slightly more cushioned lining against the foot) the RX 130 LV returns to claim a place amongst our test’s very best. This is a testament to Lange knowing what works for skiers—anatomical fit, neutral balanced stance, no-frills performance—and remaining committed to providing just that. Even if it means doing nothing.

Fit

The shell shape and revised liner work together to tick all the boxes for how a narrow category boot should fit: heel and ankles held firmly, bump-outs for bony points, enough height over the midfoot to avoid numbness without losing foot contact, a touch of freedom at the forefoot but not enough to feel perfect straight out of the box, a little bit of forgiveness in the toebox to warm the little piggies. Testers love the off-the-shelf fit and that Lange doesn't mess with the design too much year to year.

Performance

One tester said the RX 130 LV "turned my skis into giggle sticks," and while that makes us a little uncomfortable when we say it, we nodded in agreement.  The combination of snug fit, lively flex feel and lateral and torsional rigidity in both cuff and lower make this boot a joy to ski on the whole mountain, testers said.

Powerful edging meshes with precision steering and fine tuned guidance at the transition between turns. That sets the RX 130 LV above many others that have power or finesse but don’t blend the two as well.

Cool Features

Our bootfitter testers thought the mono-injected polyether lower and polyurethane upper was a cool feature. Say what? That means we can give you clean stretches and grinds where needed and no pesky seams to get in the way or delaminate. Single sided cuff adjustment. If you need more, have your alignment tech use model-specific Cantology shims. It’s a great canting solution that maintains the walkability of the RX's Ultra Grip soles.

Lange SX 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-31.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Wide
Also in this Collection 
SX 120 $650, SX 100 $500, SX 90 $400

The Gist

If you're looking at 102mm boots then it stands to reason you have a thicker, wider foot and larger calf. And that means the Lange SX shape is ideal for you. It’s essentially a blown-up version of Lange’s medium RX.

And if you've got that meaty a foot, one might assume that the rest of you is big too. Right? And because you're thinking Lange, perhaps you know how to stand on a ski and make it work? Well, you sound like the perfect candidate for this year's SX, now offered in a more robust 130 flex.

Fit

So, if you were to build a wide boot, wouldn't it make sense to take a benchmark medium width and simply open-up the critical fit zones at the toebox and forefoot, through the instep and at the top of the boot cuff where the foot and leg will have higher mass? Well, if you say “Duh!” you are ready for a career in ski boot design because that's just what Lange did.

Testers loved the creamy, dreamy first-on feel after an easy slide-in. But they noted that you shouldn’t let the plush, cushy feel against the foot fool you. It holds the rear foot exceptionally well during aggressive skiing moves. This is not a bubba box; it has curves where they belong. Think Zena the Princess Warrior gonna kick your ass kinda curves.

Performance

Head and shoulders above most wide class rides, testers said. RS and RX lineage runs deep. It has deceptively fast super-heavyweight quickness and legit 130 raw power on edge. All that without ever having to unbuckle on the chair. Some testers said the stance was a little too upright for them but guys with thicker calves will be dialed fore and aft.

Cool Features

The 120 is black with green buckle highlights, the 130 is black with neat orange buckles. That's a cool feature right? Yeah, this is a stripped down elemental boot. Find your frills and fluff elsewhere. There's a cam lock power strap on the 130 not found elsewhere in the line. The lateral cuff adjustment is single-sided and Ultra Grip soles are replaceable and cantable via Cantology shims.

 

Nordica Cruise 110

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-31.0
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Wide
Also in this Collection 
Cruise 80 $349, Cruise 60 $299

The Gist

Aptly named, the Cruise 110 is built for comfort and skiing at an easy-going pace. Big instep room and a relatively low cuff height make the Cruze 110 a comfy berth for thick-footed skiers with meaty calves.

Fit

Super cushioned and soft, the initial fit and easy entry welcomes one aboard. The volume available here is gargantuan. Most testers felt like a kid in a California king bed. Guys who haven't been able to find comfort without up-sizing will find a welcome mat here.

Performance

The open cuff fit and tall instep gave too much latitude for less-voluminous feet and legs to wander about. Thicker insteps and bigger calves will fill those voids and find balance. More at home in longer, drawn out carves than staccato short swings, this ship sails along just fine through a variety of different snow and terrain changes. Testers said it packed surprising edge punch given how soft its flex feels. It definitely felt softer than its 110 billing, they said.

Cool Features

The Adjustable Cuff Profile (ACP) is a calf fit adjustment that can increase the circumference and flare at boot top. The Cruise 110 is the top choice we tested for skiers with truly huge calves.

 

Nordica GPX 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.0-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
GPX 120 $699, GPX 110 $599

The Gist

A purist's weapon of choice for all-mountain domination. The GPX 130 is an inspiring blend of old-school, race-bred power and precision combined with modern liner construction and straightforward, functional features that appeal to serious skiers.

Fit

There's a slight gasp of breathing room in the toebox but everything else is locked down tighter than a supermax prison. Just what you want from a narrow class performer.

Testers said that the cork-clad liner ankle pockets are initially aggressive but relax and auto-contour after a few runs, relaxing their vice-like grip. Skiers with bony prominences on their feet will know they're in a real boot.

The liner, while anatomically shaped and well matched to shell, is low profile and puts the foot into close contact with the shell. Testers said the cuff felt slightly tall and firm against the leg but in a good way.

Performance

No compromises. Skiing performance is most definitely priority number one. The boot actually makes ski edges feel sharper by virtue of its unyielding power transmission to the ski. Think it, do it. Synapse-firing quickness will match you move for move at all speeds and in varying turn radius.

The boot is engineered to ski from the midfoot forward; heel-centric hip swiveling will not make the turbines turn. Testers liked the slightly forward-leaning cuff angle and didn’t experience any quad burn from it.

Cool Features

Stance fanatics liked the Full Motion Pivot cuff adjustment system. It makes dual-plane lateral and rotational modifications with one gizmo. The 60mm wide Power Driver power strap with quick release clip-hook is awesomely secure around the shin and latches and unlatches conveniently.

 

Nordica Speedmachine 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-31.0
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
Speedmachine 120 $699, Speedmachine 110 $599

The Gist

It's baaack. And way better than it ever was. The all-new Speedmachine 130 is lighter, stronger, more comfortable and easier to get on and off. It’s a rare occurrence when a long-awaited sequel exceeds expectations, but this one most definitely does. It's a bit like a contestant on “The Voice” doing an Adele song better than the pop superstar herself.

Fit

Quintessential (old school) Nordica: cushioned, contoured, pillowy love. The first slide inside brings immediate gratification. “Sublime,” one tester called it. The Speedmachine 130 has quite a roomy toebox and forefoot for a medium width but the feel underfoot is surprisingly neutral (flat) and connected.

The rearfoot control center (ankle, heel, instep) maintains a secure grip on the average foot. Testers liked the way the tongue contoured around the shin (not at all bulky like previous generation Nordica mediums). Testers said the Power Driver power strap cup thingamajig creates a snug and well-distributed fit at the boot top once positioned properly.

Performance

The Speedmachine utilizes a higher density polyurethane plastic and a thinner wall construction in non-critical areas. It maintains thicker plastic in the power transmission regions. The result is a lighter weight boot with amazing feel for the ski and snow. Testers unanimously praised the connection and accuracy underfoot.

Lightweight and cushioned often coincides with wimpy but not here; the power to the edge and stability at speed was shockingly good. Don't let the creature comfort bounty deceive. This boot is the real deal.

Cool Features

The Speedmachine line utilizes a proprietary custom fitting system called Infrared. Not surprisingly, it uses an infrared heating source to turn the materials malleable. Infrared stretching has been around for a while but hasn't been packaged and marketed this well.

The system comes in a super cool carry case with a nifty no-meltdown cage around the heating element. Because the thin shell wall at key fit areas (forefoot, navicular, styloid) gets heated through-and-through by the penetrating infrared heat the stretches are well-defined and permanent.

But that's not the coolest part. The stretches are accomplished by a suction mechanism akin to an auto body dent puller. The suction head is placed on the heated plastic at the desired location and it pulls at the warm plastic for a few minutes and—voila!—a perfect bump for your lump. It also works with the foot inside the boot so the skier can perfectly gauge the amount of stretch necessary. The liner also has a grindable and moldable cork area on the exterior of the ankle pockets.   

Rossignol Allspeed 100

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5--31.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Wide
Also in this Collection 
Allspeed 130 $750, Allspeed 120 $650, Allspeed 80 $400

The Gist

The little engine that could really snuck up on testers. Badged as a mid-powered 100 flex at only $500 MSRP, it competed with zeal and tallied marks that made it one of the very best boots of our test. How? Why? The Allspeed 100 fits like a true wide but skis with the power of the best mediums and narrows.

Fit

The 102 mm last should fit a fatter foot, right? Well, the Allspeed 100 does that but without sacrificing snugness in the control zones. The toebox and forefoot is ample but not cavernous. The top of foot through the transition into the shin is tall and well-suited for the thicker, higher volume foot. The calf is flared to handle the mass of meat big guys carry on the backs of their legs. Yet the heel and ankle a tapered, snug enough for even average and narrow-footed testers to tap into a turn without slopping about.

Performance

The Allspeed 100 exceeds its performance labeling, skiing more like the 110s and 120s we tested. It has a softer feeling flex than the stouter models but there’s a firm stopping point and solid lateral transmission that still allowed bigger testers to hammer through piles of spring mashed potatoes at speed without experiencing any ski deflection.

Cool Features

Its most notable feature is its massively high performance-to-price ratio.  It does have a Thinsulate liner for extra warmth and a single-side lateral cuff adjustment. It also offers off-piste versatility with flex tuning and sole swap out options (WTR and Cantology compatible). That’s a plus feature on every Allspeed model.

Rossignol Allspeed Elite 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5--29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
Allspeed Elite 110 $800

The Gist

If you've always been a narrow and stiff boot guy but you're tiring of the hassle to get them dialed, Rossignol empathizes. And delivers a delightful solution. The Allspeed Elite 130 is meticulously shaped to match the foot at the key fit zones: forefoot, navicular bone, instep bump and ankles. It’s built to ski hard like a race boot but with a suspension tuned for the rigors of off-piste hammering.

Fit

Fits tight like a 98mm last should but without pressure points or hot spots. Several testers mentioned its out-of-box fit felt as good as other narrow boots they'd put hours of work into. The toebox here is roomy in both width and height.  Lengthwise the fit runs a little long for the category (try on the next smaller size and you may find a workable super low volume fit solution). Testers with high arches and insteps liked the extra room over the top of the foot.

Performance

The Allspeed Elite 130 is ready, willing and able to tackle all terrain and snow challenges with a lightweight but powerful feel on edge. Testers gave good marks to the upright cuff. It quickly engages the ski tip with the slightest move to the boot front.  They felt the 130 flex index was on target with a firm but springy feel turn-to-turn. Testers across the board praised the neutral lateral stance set up. A few mentioned that the floor of the boot felt a little flat and found themselves in the backseat occasionally. They felt a touch more ramp underfoot would steady that feeling.

Cool Features

Sensor Blade ridging on the shell at key stress points adds lateral power and torsional rigidity while keeping weight down. Testers like the three pin anchor points on the rear spine; it provides a variety of ways to customize the stiffness and flex. Thermomoldable EVA foam ankle pocket construction works wonders for bony ankle folks; cook it and clamp it to mellow the fit.

Rossignol Allspeed Pro 120

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5--29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
Allspeed Pro 110 $650, Allspeed Pro 100 $600

The Gist

Testers said this is how a performance-oriented, medium-width boot should fit:

  • Ankles and heel bordering on narrow class snug grip
  • A touch relaxed at the instep and forefoot for warmth and to preserve sensation (lots of nerves coalesce there!)
  • A bit of open space at the toebox and calf for comfort and to fit a variety of shapes and sizes

They also said this is the way one should ski. It was the equal of anything in the entire All-Mountain category, testers said.

Fit

The liner and shell work closely together; there’s a squared-off, modern toebox shape in both. A seamless liner tongue and a tall, dome-shaped shell contour over the instep team to create a comfortable ceiling over the bony part of the foot. That’s where boots all-to-often crush downward, shutting off blood flow and creating numbness.

The entire fit is well-draped and cushioned on all parts of the foot. Yet it’s not too fluffy so it shouldn’t pack out. The foot hold is firm and performance oriented but with a surprising cushy feeling.

Performance

The cushioned and progressive flex feel of the Allspeed Pro 120 begs a skier to bang off short swings and hammer the bumps. This is not a one-dimensional side-to-side mover. However, the power on edge is shocking given the comfort level found here.  It skis as well as any in the category including its slimmed down, stiffer big bro Allspeed Elite 130.

Cool Features

Testers liked the EVA foam ankle pocket construction and the grippy removable toe and heel plates that can be swapped for rockered-toe WTR (Walk to Ride) soles. Both plate styles are Cantology compatible in case the single-side cuff adjustment isn't enough to get lateral stance angles dialed.

 

Roxa Evo 90

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-30.0
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Wide
Also in this Collection 
Evo 120 $575, Evo 110 $500, Evo 80 $375

The Gist

A super-cushioned cruiser geared for the occasional skier seeking warmth and a walk mode at an attractive price. Gets it done on the hill and comfy in the bar.

Fit

Evenly roomy across the board, testers said, with no glaring fit issues.  Great for thicker feet or those looking for a more relaxed fit and greater warmth. Testers say the tongue is well padded for comfortable flexing.

Performance

The slightly bow-legged stance set-up loaded power to the inside edge for strong carves on smooth surfaces, testers said. The fore-aft stance is upright and relaxed for all day cruising without killing the quads. Testers mentioned that the liner tended to slip around a bit inside the shell and suggested liner heat molding would help it seat better with the shell's interior.

Cool Features

Grippy toe and heel plates, a ski-walk mechanism, a single-side cuff adjustment and Ultralon foam liner construction for a $450 list price. A solid option for those on a budget.

Salomon X Pro 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-33.5 (big foot alert)
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Wide
Also in this Collection 
X Pro 120 $725, X Pro 100 $600, X Pro 90 $475, X Pro 80 $350

The Gist

The X Pro 130 returns like a hard-training middleweight: it’s lighter and stronger than previous incarnations. It now uses polyamide plastic (essentially a Grilamid-like nylon but without the brand name) in the lower shell. The X Pro 130 wowed testers (as always) with its perfectly even, firm, medium-width fit profile and bankable turn-to-turn dependability.

Fit

The first thing testers noticed after getting the boot on (and a little patience is required) was the thickly padded, dense liner that wrapped every curve on their feet. There’s no banging up against shell hard spots here. The ankle fit is snugger than the medium class norm and controls the rear foot with no-slip grip. There’s plenty of room for wiggling toes and forefoot spreading. The fit is strong and well-padded but without any forefoot numbing or top-of-foot crushing.

Performance

Most testers put it on, skied it, and forgot that it wasn’t their own boot. Yup, it's that user-friendly and comfortable. Skis rolled over and reacted on command with deep, solid medium- and long-radius carves. The upright stance make the X Pro an off-piste dream. You’ll spend all-day plowing pow and crushing crud with nary a hint of forward rake-induced quad burn. Testers hinted at only one minor flaw; perhaps, yes, perhaps, the snow feel and quickness is a bit muted due to the thickly padded liner. That's a fair trade to make for warmth and comfort with all-mountain ripping capabilities.

Cool Features

A slightly thicker foot will do well in the X Pro 130 as its Custom Shell molding capabilities can open the fit throughout. The ideal out-of-box feel for someone hot on employing the Custom Shell process is just a bit too tight everywhere. For bony ankle guys who feel the squeeze a bit there but love the fit everywhere else, skip the shell metamorphosis and have your bootfitter mold just the My CustomFit 3D Race liner. That should do the trick without increasing shell volume.

Scott G2 120 Powerfit

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
23.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
G2 130 Powerfit $679

The Gist

For skiers with the low volume foot who can’t seem to ever find boots that are snug enough, swipe right. The G2 120 Powerfit is shorter and narrower than almost every other boot in the narrow category, packing the foot into balanced and strong position over the ski. It’s surprisingly powerful to the edge for a light feeling 120-flex.

Fit

The G2’s closure is absolute, locking down even low volume feet with an initially firm liner feel that relaxes as the boot warms. The fit over the top of the foot is low and firm, favoring lower arch and lower instep feet. The fit at the forefoot is narrow in an old-school sort of way (i.e. no built-in bunion bumps; gotta visit your bootfitter for that) and our slender footed testers loved it.

While the fit consensus was "tight," it was a positive tight. The fit tension distribution was even and comfy enough except for testers with high insteps.

Performance

This is where the G2 shines. Make that rips. It is race boot strong and as quick edge-to-edge as anything we tested. Testers who hadn't skied the G2 before were blown away by how well it tamed the snow. Testers who had skied many G2's over the years wondered again why we don't see way more of this boot on the hill.

The 120 flex is understated; it’s firm and reactive against the shin with good pressure distribution along the leg shaft. Good skiers with minimalist tendencies will most appreciate what this boot has to offer; it’s not a fluff-and-feature model. Testers said skiers should be well-skilled in boot entry and exit; this is one of the more difficult boots to get in and out of.

Cool Features

The double pull loop PWR Fit 120 liner is pre-lasted but fully thermomoldable. It comes packing a super fat rear spoiler that some testers removed and others wished were thinner. The stance is jacked a bit farther forward than the current industry standard with it inserted. If you typically require a cuff angle adjustment, look elsewhere.  There’s none here.

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