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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Testers said this is how a performance-oriented, medium-width boot should fit:
They also said this is the way one should ski. It was the equal of anything in the entire All-Mountain category, testers said.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With a lot of brands, their mediums and narrows feel awfully similar. Or their mediums and wides feel about the same. Tecnica trod a different path: its wides are wide, its mediums are medium and damn, its narrows are narrow.
The Mach1 130 LV is an honest boot; that Low Volume bit is assuredly truth in advertising. Yow baby, it's snug. This is how a narrow performance model should fit, said our testers: just a little too tight out of the box, everywhere. Unless your feet are truly narrow and un-bunioned, in which case you'll find the Mach1 LV one of the very few to actually lock down without excessive buckle tension.
How can it be so darned snug and yet avoid the typical hot spots skiers experience? It's the shape. The extra room built in at the sides of the forefoot, at the navicular and ankle bones, and at the heel are well placed. There is just enough pocket space for the bony bits without rendering the fit too roomy. The Mach1 130 LV sits on the tight side of the narrow width group but received very few “ouch” comments on test cards. More often than not, testers said it set the standard for how a narrow class boot should fit.
If its medium-width doppelganger MV is a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, then the LV is a 911 Turbo S. It’s a little smaller handles a little better, rides a little more epic. How many ways can you say epic as it relates to skiing performance? We're not sure, but the LV is epic-er than the rest. It was, in fact, the highest scoring boot in the entire All-Mountain category. Common themes here were a limitless amount of easily-accessed and entirely-balanced power along with “quasi-telepathic steering control.” Yep, that's what one tester wrote.
While many skiers won't need to tap into the C.A.S. shell and liner fitting customization options in the medium width Mach1, many certainly will in the LV. The dimpled areas at the sides of the forefoot and navicular bone, for example, are spots where the plastic's mass has been reduced to better handle and retain a defined heat stretch. The firm, microcell outer foam on the liner is grindable, as a way to strategically reduce peak pressure points without overly widening the fit. Room where you need it, tight where you want it. Makes total sense.
At a time when many medium width boots achieve “comfort” by being too roomy, Tecnica creates comfort and performance through a more anatomical shape. From the inside to the outside of the liner and to the closely mated shell shape, careful attention has been paid to matching the contours of the foot and lower leg. Testers approve across the board: comfort is performance here.
The Mach1 130 MV resides on the snug side of the medium category average, meaning it fits the way a medium width used to not very long ago. It offers an evenly distributed squeeze on the average foot with a skooch more room at the bony points of the ankles, navicular and the forefoot.
The liner's interior has a firm but cushioned feel that wraps the foot well. It transitions seamlessly through the instep and throat of boot up into the cuff where the shin fit is firm but evenly matched to the leg's shape. Testers wrote many "made for me," and "perfect," comments in their fit notes. One simply wrote: "I love you."
Frontside category edge grip and stability at speed are paired with off-piste design elements (grippy toe and heel plates) and a thick-enough liner to help moderate off-trail chop. Testers noted confidence-inspiring accuracy and power through all terrain and snow conditions.
It steers with no loss of movement and rolls the ski onto edge with a no-compromises torsional strength that makes your ski edges feel instantly sharper. Several testers mentioned skiing better in this boot than in their own.
In many ways the best bootfitting is the bootfitting that you don't need to do. This is a boot, as many bootfitters will attest, that doesn't tend to need much babysitting, fit-wise. It sells, goes out the door and spends its life skiing bell to bell, not hanging out in the shop getting punched and grinded.
That said, The C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) shell and liner are designed to make bootfitting modifications targeted and effective. Make more room exactly where needed, not in a sloppy wholesale fashion that renders key fit zones too-loose as a byproduct. Bravo Tecnica (from all us bootfitters).
Oh yeah, most testers dig the cam lock power strap hook doodad that lets you disengage the strap without having to pull the strap end through the cam.
The Zay ZR 115 is very similar to the stiffer ZR 125 that we tested, with the exception of a standard Velcro powerstrap here—and as such received almost identical test results to the big brother model. The ZR 115 also got a lot of attention for how it looked and how it closed—which are by the boot's nature inextricably linked. It has no lower buckles, but rather a thin cable which encircles the lower boot along two grooves at typical buckle positions. These loops are routed beneath the boot, along the sole and out the back to a single, multi-hinged buckle that tensions them.
The brand new Zay boot also got a fair amount of attention for how tricky the boot was for many testers to get on, though slightly easier than the stiffer 125—the early generation liner tended to crumple down into the throat of the boot, blocking entry, and the cables at times failed to release enough tension to allow an easy slide in. Once on and properly adjusted for tightness using the barrel-nut cable adjusters on the rear buckle and two traditional upper, testers were reminded that this is a seriously snug fit.
The rearfoot (heel, ankles, instep and mid-body of the lower) is tight! As tight as anything in the category, testers said, with a particularly snug fit on the navicular and styloid process area. And then the fit opens up to the forefoot and very roomy toebox. The upper boot was snug in a manner characteristic of other performance 98 mm boots. Testers had some hot spots—mostly attributed to the prototype liner—especially at the inside ankle bone.
But damn did the boot ski well, the test team said—agile, precise and as powerful on edge as any of the other boots in the category.
