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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
If Angus Young were a chick who skied, this would be her boot. You following this? That's right, because the Electra SI 110 is back in black, get it? This analogy may be a stretch, but it's perfect because this year's murdered-out version of the perennial favorite deserves an ear-splitting, hard rock anthem to accompany its rock-star performance at this year's boot test. The hard charging, high speed, crud-killing shredder took testers on adventures all over the mountain to unanimous applause, and high scores for ease of entry and exit as well as overall comfort to balance out all the badass it brought back to the table this year.
Testers loved the springy, energetic flex feel of the Electra SI 110, citing that flexion as the key to the boot's agility and responsiveness. Solid on edge with a firm, narrow-last grip on the ankle and heel for driving a ski, the Electra got medium-ish scores for its toebox and forefoot fit. Testers loved the small dose of fur on the newly revised Thinsulate liner, but they were glad that it was black.
Testers thought this boot (and the rest of the Rossignol line that shares the same stance platform) was spot-on for stance angles--unanimously agreeing on the neutral and comfortable position the boot placed them for making turns of every sort.
Our women's test team gave this value/soft entry double-thumbs-up for how well-balanced, comfortable, and dynamic the Electra Sensor3 80 felt. Yes, it's a softie, but with a stronger-than-80 feel while skiing and a progressive flex feel that came to a firm stop rather than collapsed—the key to its snappy feel from turn to turn, they said. The polyurethane upper and lower shell construction is a rare thing at this price point and no doubt part of the flex-success testers cite.
It has a sleek and stealthy black graphic that mirrors big sis Electra SI 110 and impressed testers as classy and sharp. The Sensor Fit liner's pre-molded construction provided a snug-enough grip on the ankle and heel for in-control moves through varied terrain without being overly constricting of blood flow. Comfort and convenience scores were high across the board and testers also approved of the sparing but stylish use of faux fur.
The little sister to the Patron Pro, the La Nina takes the Dobermann platform and makes it a little more user friendly for performance skiing all around the mountain. The cuff is on the low side of the category norm and at 90 is a little softer than some. Testers thought this was a great option for lighter weight chargers and any skier with a shorter or thicker leg shaft looking for a snug fit for a low to mid volume foot. And at a full $100 less than a Dobermann 100 the value factor is high as well.
The liner and bootboard is slightly softer, more shock absorbing, than the Dobies in the same way that the Patron Pro is off-piste modified to handle some rattle and bump off the groomed. Testers felt that the boot rolled right through everything in its path and had plenty of juice to the edge on firmer, smoother surfaces too. A few testers mentioned an overly firm or edgy feel at the top of the tongue while others had no issue.
We're not going to make any perky belle of the ball comments—the Nordica Belle Pro wouldn't go to any silly ball, unless she was going to crash it just to stomp somebody who'd crossed her. This all-new boot means business with a stiffer-than-billed flex feel and stout lateral transmission that puts a ski on edge and lets it work. Testers were impressed with the firm flex feel and tall contour along the leg—great for our more aggressive and taller testers who commonly crush the shorties.
This is a generous medium width fit, testers agreed, but with a very snug grip on the heel. Testers were fans of the new Custom Cork liner here, both for its heat-wear-and-set chipped cork ankle pockets, but also for its shape-shifting ability to relax where overly snug while filling in the fit elsewhere.
The initial fit belies the tough character that the Belle Pro exhibits on snow—the liner is plush and inviting, with ample cush-factor and insulation for containing the medium to higher-volume foot in luxury. Just don't call her a sissy.
LV means low volume, so this boot should be tight, right? 110 is about as stiff as women's boots come, right? Testers say what you see is what you get with the RX 110 W LV, calling it a "true 97mm last," and a "true 110 flex." They really hate it when those numbers lie, and so they really liked this one for telling the truth. While the women's narrow last RX will favor slender feet and legs, testers with medium width fit issues were able to ski in comfort—and to performance raves! Testers also note that while the 97mm last felt snug (the way they'd hoped it would), there was a relaxed-enough fit in the toebox and forefoot, which they appreciated.
Testers' positive vibes started with the RX's turquoise shelf appeal, merged with how easily the boot went on, and continued down the testing flow chart, as they checked off top marks for initial fit and closure, down to stance and on-snow performance. Boot testing is not an exact science—feet and legs and skiing styles are all different—so we use several different ways to tabulate the variety of scores and tester feedback to arrive at our medal-winners. We don't need to get into specifics, but suffice it to say the RX 110 W LV was the boot valedictorian in the All-Mountain Traditionalist category.
This is not to imply that it's a bookish nerd lacking grit—this boot rips, testers state plainly--an ideal match for an accomplished skier or an athletic up-and-comer who wants to elevate her game. The stance sets a skier up for successful and dynamic movements, and the boot's strong construction drives each turn home with a crisp finish.
Testers were impressed all over again with the Spyre 110's boot test performance. Amongst a crowd of power boots in a hard charging category, the sapphire blue newcomer held its own on all testing fronts: power, quickness, dynamic balance and comfort. Testers put the boot well toward the top in power and stability score tallies and mentioned that the boot's lower cuff height enabled a heightened foot feel for the snow and rapid fire movements turn to turn. This same lower cuff and a more-forward-than-average lean angle had a few testers feeling a little out over the top of the boot, but the Velcro rear spoiler is easily removed or can be ground thinner for those looking for a more upright position to ski from.
Testers loved the Spyre 110's generally tight fit tension throughout the lower boot, but some testers also found a bit of inconsistency in the fit there. Subsequent custom liner tests brought much improvement to the fit, especially over the midfoot and in the toebox, so those trying on this boot should keep that in mind.
What is it about the Spyre 100 that put it at the very top of this strong skiing women's category? The fact that everybody loved it. Period. It doesn't hurt that its digits are 100/100—easy to remember and right in the middle where most women find their fit sweet spot and with a flex stiff enough for advanced and expert skiers without being too burly for aspiring chargers. Our test team's variety of foot and leg shapes all found a happy home in this boot—with all testers describing the fit as ideally snug for a medium width boot. Virtually every tester vouched for the quick, powerful character this boot showed on snow, at all speeds tested and through a variety of snow and terrain.
The revisions made to the Spyne's Intuition-made LuxFit liner this year were instantly noticed by testers who gave it much improved marks for initial feel and comfort throughout the lower boot. The toebox shape was redesigned to offer a bit more wiggle room—duly noted. And the liner's overall construction seemed more compliant to testers, for a better mate with the interior of the shell's shape.
Some testers felt the boot was just a touch lower in the cuff height than the average for this category and a few mentioned feeling tipped a little more forward than some—but these comments were in the minority as most of our team felt perfectly dialed straight off the rack, stance-wise. A couple testers noted that the fit over the top of the foot felt a little tight and that the top of the tongue felt initially firm, but these issues got better with more time in the boot—a sign that taking the time to mold the Intuition liner will help substantially.
