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
Lange has long been known as a performance brand, dating back to its domination of the 1968 Grenoble (France) Olympics where it captured five of the six Alpine gold medals awarded. But if you don't think of Lange boots as comfort and convenience players then you haven't been paying attention the last few years. Of all the brands, we think Lange has struck the best balance between performance, fit, stance and convenience across its range. This observation comes from multiple years of recent boot testing where Lange models have topped each category.
The RX chassis has become benchmark for the combination of elements listed above, to the point of becoming a category fixture--changing little each year, yet maintaining its pack leader status. One of the things we like about the RX boot is how Lange refuses to make changes for change sake alone—there's just no reason to change a winning recipe.
For this year, we’re treated to a slightly different external layer on the liner and a stitching modification on the tongue. As a test team that's seen many great boots disappear simply because the factory felt the need to make a change for marketing purposes, we applaud the fact that Lange continues to send this winning horse to the post even as it ages up.
As far as narrow boots go, the RX 130 LV is not abusively tight. Testers put it in the middle of the narrow group for fit tension. And they mentioned it has a slightly longer fit and a bit more toebox room than many other narrows.
A few testers mentioned that the forward flex felt a little softer and longer-traveling than other 130's, which most testers liked for easing the shin fit in off-piste bashing. This is the nature of many 130 and 120 flex boots now—slightly softer in flex than expected but still laterally and torsionally stable for driving a ski on edge. This is a good combination for the vast majority of skiers who want a performance step-up without a rigid feel against the shin or difficult entry and exit.
With its rookie year in the rearview mirror, the Spyne 130 LV put up solid numbers and avoided a sophomore jinx. It came to camp with an improved liner and a new look that our scouts approved. The PrecisionFit Intuition liner's new toebox shape and tweaks made to enhance the way the liner mates with the shell opened up the fit in all the right places—and kept them snug where they need to be.
While the LV shell truly is low volume (especially in the heel, ankles and along the lateral side of the foot), we received none of the tight toes and numbness complaints we heard last year. A few testers mentioned that the fit over the top of the foot felt more contoured and comfortable, further eradicating the two-run tingle several experienced last go-round.
The graphics are changed too, and to a virtually unanimous positive vote (OK; one dissenter described the hue as puke). The colors didn't change how the boot skied though, and testers gave the Spyne 130 LV meaty power scores.
They praised the stance angle set-up. The boot set our skis a-trenching and managed them well at all speeds through a variety of terrain. Strong yes, dull-witted no. Testers noticed a supple, springy flex feel, attributing it to the unique link between lower and upper boot. Spyne boots aren't fixed at the rear spine (hence the name) but neither are they free to collapse. The Energy Interlock mechanism binds the cuff to the lower with a slightly stretchy connection that lets energy load and release in an active manner.
Helping to bolster the boot’s stability and power is the rigid Y-shaped Powerfuse SpYne (see the big Y down the boot back?) that stiffens the boot laterally and torsionally without having to rely on bulky plastic elsewhere that can hamper entry and exit. It earned great in-and-out scores.
There’s tremendous fit versatility here. In addition to the Low Volume version we tested, testers praised the option to go to a medium-width Spyne 130 or the new wide-lasted Spyne 130 HV (high volume) while maintaining this same stance platform and trim levels.
If success in the medium width category means appealing to a broad spectrum of skiers and different foot shapes, then the Spyne 110 can hang a “Mission Accomplished” banner without fear of being mocked.
Testers thought this step-down, 110 flex skied just fine, holding its own against a bunch of boots with brawnier numbers. It’s adequate for all but redline expert skiers or larger guys who simply need the support of the medium-width big brother Spyne 130. The softer flex and slightly lower-than-average cuff height of the Spyne 110 make it a great choice for guys with shorter legs and big calves who need their boot top to hit just below the widest part of the muscle.
Other than the cuff, testers rated the fit decidedly "medium," with score averages that center punched the category range. The revamped liner has a more supple construction and the re-shaped toebox is a success, providing good out-of-box fit for testers across the board. The multi-layer, multi-density Intuition foam liner can be heat molded to improved effect on a hot stacks but few test forms indicated a mandatory call for it. That's a big step forward for the Spyne 110.
The K2 Spyne 90 returns with a new, sedate cosmetic that will appeal to a lot of good skiers looking for a little less flash along with a complete liner redesign that made much of the previous versions flaws vanish, just like that. It also comes with a set of replaceable, grippy toe and heel plates for more cushioned and secure walking.
Testers still say that the Spyne 90 fits more like a medium and stiffer than billed. So for skiers looking for a medium-wide 110 flex at a heck of a price, we'd say this is a perfect option for you! This is probably one of the top three boot values of the test this year--again. The well-balanced K2 boot geometry is at the heart of its success. Tester after tester mentioned standing right where they wanted to on the ski. There wasn't a single mention of a lack of performance or deficit on snow—testers were blown away with how hard it ripped. Testers also vouched that the new liner had more toe room and a more even fit—improvements on last year's rendition.
Now, that doesn't mean it was perfect—there were some fit demerits that knocked it off the top podium perch. The cuff is a touch low, and the shin fit still a little abrupt, according to testers. But keep in mind that the K2 EVA foam-based liner construction responds well to heat molding, so these issues may go away in a hot flash.
Some boots surprise our test team because they're new. Others, like the Vector 125, surprise us because they're not and yet we find new reasons to love them all over again. Without a doubt, this was the category winner for best combination of luxuriant comfort and way better than expected performance on snow.
Its sedate cosmetics peg it as a bit of a sleeper, but testers started paying attention from the first slide in. The Vector's entry and exit scores were tip-top, as the tri-injected shell and slippery smooth liner lets the foot glide into the Perfect Fit liner like melted butter.
Closure is evenly wrapped with Head’s funky cable-curved SpineFlex buckles that work great but left some testers wrangling them like a teed-off snake. The upper buckles have fold-out Double Power lever arms that make tightening up the cuff a snap. It’s almost too-easy to over-tighten so go easy when latching in.
Testers liked the closure combination in the Vector 125 for its immediate indication that the boot was all about making things easy. The fit is relaxed and silky against the foot. It’s a little short in length, roomy in the forefoot, and low and open at the boot top. Somehow, with all the fluffy-cushy feel here, the Vector still grabs the foot through the ankle, heel and instep, providing a grounded home base to ski from.
The Vector's on-snow performance is shockingly good, considering its through the roof comfort marks. Testers remain somewhat astounded by how much fun they had skiing anywhere on the hill, even at speed. They might have called it a good "dad boot/cruiser boot/advanced-intermediate boot” but not one said it didn't do exactly as they asked.
We allowed each brand an extra model in a category of their choice this year provided the bonus entry was a softer, less-expensive model. We showed no mercy, however, and threw these softer boots in with the rugged, general population in whichever category they landed. We figured they'd probably get crushed by the competition and we'd cycle them into a sidebar or small feature somewhere (which we've done).
The Adapt Edge 110 was Head's soft entry, and it was the only such boot to make the medal cut for a print review in these pages. It was also the winner for best entry and exit in this category; it is probably the easiest-on overlap shell boot in our entire test.
Its numbers do lie a little bit. It fits more like a 104mm last, with massive amounts of room throughout the lower boot and an open for business boot top that will let big calves waltz through the door all day long. Very high volume feet are required to pack its storage space full but that's not to say it isn't a good option for more average width feet that can't tolerate much squeeze without going numb.
Its 110 flex index may be a little overstated. Our testers say it's a softie, but one that doesn’t collapse under stress when flexed. It maintains a progressive feel with an eventual stopping point but it's definitely not for skiers who crush it hard initiating their turns. Skiers who move mainly laterally or have a lighter touch on the tongue will love how it performs.
Our testers were stunned by how well the Adapt Edge held its own when punching with the big boys in this competitive group . It is stable at speed and has sufficient power transmission to the edge. We skied it all over the mountain and found it uncharacteristically good given its stiffness and price.
This wide body shell pairs with a thick Intuition Pro liner for an ample and well-shaped fit for medium and thicker feet—if you fully heat mold the High Five. Testers felt the out of box fit was firmly snug in places where there might have been more space based on the 102 mm shell shape. After thermo-forming the EVA liner this proved to be the case as the ankle pockets became more anatomically defined and the forefoot settled to the boot floor for more nuanced edge control.
Testers found the boot on the upright side of the category norm for tall cruising without killing the quads, and they noted that the slightly lower cuff height made this a potentially good match for those with shorter legs or bigger calves.
One of the easiest boots on and off on the face of the planet, the High Five has a place on the short list for any convenience-seeking skier who has struggled with entry and exit of overlap shell boots.
Skiers looking for the original and narrow Full Tilt lower boot shape (FTO shell) can find it here in retro black, purple, and green styling. The tongue here is a little on the softer side—testers wished it was a little stiffer for supporting a strong stance in variable terrain. But at $550 this is a great value that leaves a few bucks in the account for making an upgrade to a stiffer tongue for 50 bucks. The ability to mix and match tongues and purchase a myriad of replacement parts is by design here, and that includes the ability to upgrade the Intuition liner from the softer Performer style here to the stiffer Pro liner down the road.
Testers felt the Performer liner was soft and squishy—nice for its easy slide on and off, but perhaps lacking in fore-aft transmission. Though depending on the skier this may be just the ticket for a comfortable and warm all-day ride.
Snug fitting toebox, solid sole toe and heel, old-school buckles, rigid bootboard—classic, baby.
Testers said the Viron 12 Vacuum CF skied much like a tuned-down Ranger Pro 13—and that's still saying something. It has a more upright stance than the Ranger, and it's substantially wider—both of which made for a more comfortable, performance ride. They said it was quicker and more tuned-into the snow surface than most wide boots tested, though a bit weaker in flex than the 120 billing suggests.
They had few complaints though, citing a perfectly fine out-of-box fit that they said hedged a bit toward more medium fit tension. They noted that the toebox fit was a bit shorter than the average, per size, and looked forward to Vacuum molding to open that up a bit. The CF in the model name means Comfort Fit, indicating that the molding process will allow the forebody of the boot to expand but will not get any tighter in the forefoot—since not that many folks buying a wide boot are looking for a narrower fit there.
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.
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.
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.
