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

Fischer Ranger Pro 13 Vacuum

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5, 23.5-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Medium
Wide

Note that we had tested the Ranger Pro 13 Vacuum last year, utilizing a set group of custom testers who underwent the Vacuum process. This year we tested the boot straight off the rack. Results and tester commentary was almost exactly the same as before with the exception of comments made about how forward-leaning the Ranger Pro 13 is out of the box. This is a stance element that can be changed with Vacuum molding, so long as the most upright position is selected by the skier and technician at the time of molding. With that said, the review body that follows is adapted from last year's. The tester comments below are from this year's test.

For the technical all-mountain charger who doesn't need no stinking cuff release, the new Ranger Pro 13 Vacuum is just the ticket. Narrow and stiff, just like it's racy half-brother RC4 130, but with a more off-piste skill set accessed via a shock absorbing bootboard and gripperized, replaceable toe and heel plates. The new liner's Ultralon padding in the ankle, heel and instep area make for a fuller contact feel and better containment for higher shock skiing applications as well. And yeah, our test team thought it looked a lot cooler than its race-bred bro. The Ranger Pro 13 is a super reactive, precise off-piste machine with enough nut to handle rowdy chop or warp speed groomers to the bottom, according to testers who liked the strength of the boot especially after it had fully cured after 24 hours.

It's a Vacuum boot, so figure the fit and the stance are both variable and dependent on the wearer and the process. Our test team made efforts to set up their stance for their particular sets of alignment needs (stance angles are set for how upright or forward a skier desires the boot, stance width is set to a skier's desired specs and knee positioning side-to-side is similarly skier-dependent) and each of them agreed the alignment result after Vacuum molding was dialed. The amount of pre-padding for bony prominences or external padding on the shell to increase a tightening effect as well as the amount of air bladder pressure during molding are all variables that can affect the final fit of the Vacuum product. The majority of our test team said the fit was a home run, though one testers wished his had gotten tighter still. Note that Vacuum boots can be remolded several times—good for re-fitting, and good for hand-me-downs as well.

Testers note that getting the upper cuff adjusted properly prior to Vacuum molding is one of the keys to being fully balanced post-Vac. The cuff adjustment mechanism here is wide ranging and solid since it employs the race boot style "plus sign" shaped inserts medially and laterally. It takes some time to get them installed but it's a one-time affair. Our testers note that downsizing is not necessary (or desirable) as the toe length does not change much from its shorter-than-average fit after Vacuuming, though post-Vac heat stretch spot-mods can always be performed easily on Vacuum boots. Though the proper interface of the toe radius and the binding toepiece should never be fouled-up. 

Fischer Progressor 13 Vacuum

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
25.5, 26.5...30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Medium
Wide

Repeated testing over three generations of Vacuum system boots has yielded good results both for shell shape and stance balance modifications. What the Progressor 13 Vacuum showed at this year's test was that it also fits, stands and skis just fine straight out of the box. The medium width Progressor debuts this year in a Vacu Plast build-out, ready for the cook and squeeze customization process. Testers were stoked to find the new Progressor just as good—if not better—than non-Vac Progressor boots we'd tested previously. The takeaway was light, tight and fit right with good balance everywhere on the hill.

The Progressor 13 maintains a characteristically close fit throughout the lower boot and up through the instep and lower leg before flaring out into a progressively more open boot top.  It’s a touch snugger than most of the increasingly relaxed modern medium fit models.

Testers raved about the evenly draped liner feel and good fit match out of the box. And, yes, it is that much better when the shell and fully customizable Ultralon padded liner are molded.

Testers liked the slightly more upright starting position of the upper boot when the two-position On/Off Piste rear spoiler was in the stock Off setting. Those who preferred a more aggressive forward position found it raked just right when snapped it up into the On setting. Flex feel was unanimously judged smooth and long; it’s a little softer than most 130's but engenders a natural and balanced amount of ankle flexion. Lateral stance felt neutral and offered easy and prompt access to inside and outside edges with no hiccups. It sliced comfortable and reliable arcs on all manner of terrain.

First Degree ST1

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-30.0
Hike Mode 
Yes
Construction 
Cabrio/3-PC
Boot width profile 
Narrow

At this year's boot test the ST1 was submitted for testing with one of its two different liner options. We tested the split-tongue, lace-up "Performance Liner," though this year the DEL 141 Thermoflex Liner (an EVA, spiral-wrapping style) is also to be available through First Degree dealers. The original ST1 liner is no longer available. While testers had some issues with the original liner—primarily grievances with how thick the tongue fit over the mid-foot, they were unsatisfied with the new ST1 Performance Liner, across the board. Testers unanimously found it too thin along the shin which made for an uncomfortable, unsupportive flex feel, they disliked the poorly shaped heel pocket and they struggled with the laces upon entry and exit. While we weren't able to test the spiral-wrapping EVA liner version we are confident that this (with proper molding) could provide many improvements over this year's split-tongue option as well as over the original liner. We will update this review with additional information as new models become available for testing.

With that said, the review below has been adapted from last year's to reflect what we know are the boot's best elements, which should really come to light with the right liner. The tester comments below are from this year's test.

For skiers looking for an all-mountain, park/pipe crossover boot with options on uphill access that's insanely easy on and off, and at seriously value pricing, look no further. The ST1 was a hit with testers for how it compared to big brother ST2—similar, but at a discount.

ST1 offers the same classic three-piece shell construction as the ST2 but with a slightly softer build-out, though testers said that the flex feel is strong for its 110 flex rating. The ST1 was less powerful on edge than the ST2 but for lighter or less-demanding skiers it offered plenty of horsepower, testers said. They like the highly adjustable fore-aft stance enabled by the five-position forward lean adjustment on board, though most prefer one of the middle three settings. The rugged-looking forward lean mechanism also offers a cuff-releasing hike modality as well as a free-flexing mode that offers a softer forward flex while maintaining rearward support. This unique adjustment is one of the ST1's best features.

The fit is V-shaped in the modern trend of a snug rear area (ankle and heel) with a very ample fit in the forefoot and toebox—a good combination for all day skiers looking for control matched with warmth and creature comfort up front. Several testers noted that the fit across the top of the midfoot was quite firm—the liner tongue (note: this is about previous liner version) is thickly padded in this area near the front of the cabrio opening and can be compressed for additional room by way of pre-padding the foot there for heat molding. The fit is a little shorter than most other boots in the category but not as short as the sole length, which measures 299 mm for a 27/27.5. This is due to the boot's design origins in the alpine snowboarding world where minimal boot length prevents toe and heel drag at high edge angles. Here it can help minimize the boot and binding's negative influence on a ski's natural flex pattern, or it can be a reason to need to remount your skis bindings.

Speaking of cabrio—this boot is one of the easiest on and off of the test, with the only hindrance being the laces (note: again, the previous version) which needed to be managed to maximize slack, though these could be removed as well. The boot offers single sided cuff adjustment for lateral stance tweaks and a Booster strap for snug closure at boot top.

DaleBoot ST

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-32.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Cabrio/3-PC
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Medium
Wide

Testers found that the ST suited our bigger, taller guys best. Testers who felt that the VFF Pro was a touch too soft, found their fore-aft target in the ST's pinned and reinforced cuff design. The flex feel is still characteristically elastic and long-travel (a DaleBoot trait, we think) but with a firmer starting point that worked well for skiers with longer legs).

This is not to say that the ST couldn't be built for a shorter guy—or even a strong skiing woman—like all DaleBoot models, the lower boot is completely customized to the skier's foot shape and the upper is selected to match the shape and length of the lower leg shaft.

The ST lower can be built to suit the narrowest sliver of a foot (92 mm at size 26) up through gargantuan proportions (110 mm at size 26). The upper boot on the ST is available in two different cuff heights, per size, to suit varying lower leg shaft lengths and shapes.

The liner is any one of six options for volume and density, in two different styles, of which testers noted that the spiral wrapping style did a great job of padding the lower shell's cabrio opening for an easy slide into and out of the boot. The DaleBoot's entry and exit scores remain the best, across the board, period.

At first, testers new to the DaleBoot design struggle with the unique buckle closure system but manage to get trained up quickly and generally approved of the resulting containment. A newly redesigned toe dam "spat," has solved previous pop-off problems, making the buckle-up process much more trouble-free.

Dalbello Viper 120

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-32.0
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium

Those are some of the comments testers made about the Viper 120, which returns with a complete liner makeover and a cleaner, classy looking buckle set. The Viper is one of those boots that does everything right, and yet by virtue of its classic design and sedate graphics seems to get overlooked in the draft. But the testers who authored the above quotes know talent when they see it.  As a group, we found this one of the best fitting and skiing boots at our test and certainly one of the top medium width boots available.

Viper's fit numbers paint a picture of the ideal medium width boot. It’s not narrow class tight anywhere, but there’s also no wide-style slop to be found either. Testers noted that the fit is anatomically smart—extra room for navicular, ankle and the lateral side of the forefoot—which stems from Dalbello's Contour 4 shell shaping. They said the new liner still provided a cushioned fit but with a slightly snugger feel overall and without any pressure spikes or hot spots. Testers liked the calf fit for how universally it struck their leg. It wasn't too tight or too loose for any tester and with its removable spoiler, stands as one of the better big guy, big calf options in the category.

Speaking of big guys, this is a good value for bigger, stronger skiers because most testers gave it stiffness scores that edged up alongside 130 flex models. The flex feel is firm but evenly distributed and progressive, according to our testers. They also liked the amount of forward lean (not too forward, not too upright). The good bang-for-buck here extends to other members of the Viper family like the 110, 100, and 90 flex versions.

Atomic Live Fit 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
25.5-29.5, 30.5, 31.5, 32.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium

This year's Live Fit 130 returned to the boot test with a new Thinsulate laminate in the liner and cooler, new buckles—it remains the same, otherwise, and similarly testers' feedback was positive.

This 102 needs to work on its self-esteem, because Live Fit 130 could claim another few last width digits (or five) according to our test team who say this is the widest wide-body on the wall. And then it has stretchy Live Fit panels at the forefoot to allow even more width expansion. Next, this is also a 130 flex, and one that feels legit, testers say, which would make this boot the only truly wide 130 flex in existence. Last, this boot only has two buckles. So then, should it not stand to reason then that this boot has been designed for the biggest, fattest, laziest Sasquatch ever to roam the land? You'd certainly think so, but then you read what our average sized testers said about the boot and you scratch your head—they loved it as much as the wide foot folk on the team did.

Testers noticed a firm enough heel and ankle fit to allow for skiing movements to happen from  the rear control center of the boot, sort of like the fireman driving from the back of the hook and ladder rig. Up front all but the widest of feet floated about in the Live Fit bootosphere, yet the rear foot hold and close-enough fit through the cuff did the trick. All about balance they said, and testers did think the stance was money side-to-side and front-to-back. A couple testers mentioned that the combination of prodigious width, Live Fit stretch panels and the boot shell's 3-degrees of toe-out made this boot especially well suited for really duck-footed dudes. No, really, it would be the shiznit for somebody like that, allowing the feet to seek a naturally abducted position over straight-ahead skis. But then again, it seems that the regular old straight (and massive) feet guys do pretty well in it, too.

Atomic Hawx 2.0 120

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.5-29.5, 30.5, 31.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium

Change is good! And yet we humans innately fear change. So it’s understandable that the bootfitters on our test team who were fans of the Hawx boots were worried that their go-to ride (and slam dunk sale) might have gone away. It only took one run for these concerns to be laid to rest. relax, people, the Hawx 2.0 isn’t dead—it fact, it still got a killer set of talons.  And while it impressed testers with its new personality, there is one striking similarity with the Hawx of old, which one tester summed up succinctly: "This boot is great for a lot of different skiers."

First big difference. There's more room in the forefoot and over the midfoot than previous versions. Testers felt the Hawx, like many others in the medium width group this year, had shifted its fit toward the wide end of the spectrum. Because of its redesigned toebox it also fits a bit longer at the first toe, which allowed more than a few testers to step down a size for a snugger fit. So, the new shape offers some new versatility depending on chosen size. Testers were unanimous in that the fit was even and comfortable, with snug heel and ankle pockets that allowed for precise skiing movements. The liner retains its Dynashape laminate, which reduces a packed-out feel over time, and adds a Thinsulate layer for added warmth—fully wrapped around the lower portion of the liner in the 120 and big brother 130 but just in the toebox on the softer versions.

Second big difference—gone are the gill-like iflex zones, but the concept of underfoot flexion is not. The increased flexibility in the boot directly under the forefoot has been relocated now to the boot sole itself, along the lines of how the Redster achieves it. This change allows for longitudinal flex along the boot sole for supple pressure control movements but maintains slightly stronger lateral and torsional stability. Testers noted that edge power was plenty solid and liked that the boot wall was now a solid material for internal shell grinding if needed.

Third big difference—the Memory Fit shell is heat moldable after only a five-minute cook in a convection oven. The liners get loaded into the hot shells and the skier wears the boot for only two-minutes to allow the shell to adapt to the foot and lower leg's shape. A five-minute cool down is all it takes to set the modified shell shape. We tested this feature on the Hawx and were impressed with how malleable the plastic became in such a short time. We felt that the customizing action was subtle but useful as a fine-tuning fit tool. We don't know exactly how the Memolink plastic additive works (Atomic won't say), but we are impressed with how well it skis.

Tecnica Mach1 105W C.A.S.

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
22.0-27.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium

Mach1—just the name sounds fast and powerful, and testers said the name fit. They found themselves skiing faster and harder in this boot than most of the others they tested in the category. Its athletic, balanced stance, appropriately firm 105 flex feel and strong lateral power combined to drive the ski's edge with authority, rendering a more aggressive line easily accomplished. Testers said this is no cushy soccer mom gutless mini-van affair, more like an F-150 SuperCrew with custom exhaust. This all new model is built for skiing and for skiers who will appreciate its top end.

What testers also noticed was a lot of open space for their feet to stretch out and relax—length, toebox, forefoot and instep fits were all roomier than the average medium-width boot, but with more snug ankle pocket and heel grip scores. Testers were surprised at how well this boot skied given how much room there was for the wider, thicker parts of the foot. The Mach1 fit many different feet well, but higher volume feet will do very well here.

Though the liner's initial fit is excellent and well-mated to the interior of the boot shell's shape, testers were stoked on the new Custom Adaptive Shape design for enhancing fit down the road, whether by heat molding or even grinding on the liner's firm, Microcell exterior material.

Tecnica Fling

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
U.S. L 5-10.5 (22-27.5)
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow

We tested the Fling as Tecnica's "soft-flex and value" test entry. At an 80 flex in a 98mm last, it is one of very few women's boots to combine narrow fit with soft flex at a more palatable price-point. Testers thought it suited this target well—aspiring advanced skiers and lightweights with narrowish feet.

While testers loved how this boot performed on snow (amazingly quick and strong for an 80 flex they sais), a few had problems with a sharp and hard-feeling shin fit, which has also plagued big sister model, Crush, at previous tests. If the initial fit is even and comfortable along the tongue the abovementioned skier will love it, testers said.

Scott G2 90 Powerfit

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
23-27.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow

The G2 gets a full re-boot and creates a new option in the Scott line-up at a widely usable 90-flex in two cuff heights, a lower "M" cuff (for medium), and a more traditional height cuff, "H" (for high). This makes this a utility crossover player for both men and women as well as teens looking for a performance low-volume fit at an appropriate flex and great price.

And testers say it is a low-volume fit that grips firmly everywhere (except for the roomier toebox), so slender feet will do well in this true-to-form narrow class favorite. This year's G2 90 Powerfit comes outfitted with a completely redesigned, fully thermo-moldable liner that shaved weight and offered a more plush feel and better initial shape than previous iterations. Though testers felt the liner moving around a bit inside the shell in off-the-rack tests, once they heat-molded the EVA-foam-based liner it better matched both foot and shell interior for a locked-in fit and feel.

Though the new cosmetics gave the G2 some much needed pop, testers say that it's the way it skis that seals the deal—family G series traits of lively flex feel and agility turn to turn were plain as day, they said, and the 90 flex performed with more tooth than most other similarly rated boots.

Salomon X Pro 80 W

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
22-27.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Wide

Testers were impressed with how solidly this 80 flex handled whatever they threw at it, claiming that it stood up to firm inputs like a boot 10 to 20 flex points stiffer. They were fans of its flared boot top, great for wider calves, and felt that the medium-wide fit elsewhere made this a versatile go-to for a lot of different skiers.

Stance angles got a thumbs up from the test team, though a few noticed that the stance was a little tipped-out, providing some extra inside edge bias that may or may not suit a skier's anatomy. While there is no lateral cuff adjustment on board, the 360 Custom Shell material will allow for some stance angle adaptation during the five minute molding period (after a 10 minute oven-cook).

Roxa Kara 75

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-28.0
Hike Mode 
Yes
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium

Testers were surprised at the on-snow performance of this three-buckle, 75 flex powerhouse, and applauded its price-to-power ratio.  The felt that the Roxa overlap stiffness worked well at the 75 flex level, since all of these boots seem to feel stiffer than their listings.

With a tall feeling cuff and an upright stance angle, the Kara 75 is a great all-day cruiser, testers said. And while the flex was soft and cushioned feeling along the shin, our team found that the lateral rigidity was better than expected for a three-buckle at this price point.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors!

Platinum

Gold