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
Of the Rossignol Pure Pro 100, one tester commented that it was easy to find one's balance in this boot, and sure enough it's Dynamic Balance score came out to a perfect 5.00! Virtually every tester commented on the Pure Pro 100's instant comfort and ease to get on and off, and whatdya know, another perfect 5.00! There were no deal-breaker issues here, nor any unwanted surprises. Many testers called it a perfect medium width fit and said it was exactly what they expected out of a 100-flex all-mountain boot.
Skiers should not be lulled into a lazy dream state by the Pro 100's easygoing entry and exit attitude and silky, teddy-bear-soft liner feel (one tester said the boot was so comfortable she needed to head to the bar), because this boot skis with the best of them. In fact, its performance metrics were higher than most of the medium width all-mountain group's entries in the 105 to 115 flex index range. Testers said it's not a sports car but rather a luxury sedan that has a sport mode you probably won't ever use--but you could. Their favorite thing about this boot (aside from their love for the liner's furry luxury) was that it was just completely problem-free. There wasn't a thing about it that wouldn't let them recommend it to a friend. Okay, a couple said that the heel pocket could be a little tighter, but that's an easy fix with a bootfitter's help, so we'll ignore that.
Testers loved how they skied in this boot, from the stance to its stability on edge, and they didn't call its cosmetics boring--black and chrome works fine for them, apparently. Simple, comfy, good-looking--and it skis well too. That was enough for our team to put this one on the category podium.
The Rossignol flagship, narrow women's All-Mountain model has created a bit of a niche in the last several years among our crew--testers have come to expect a graphically stunning boot (be it luxuriant fur, sophisticated accents or flashy wall colors) that also happens to shock with how strongly it skis. The Pure Elite 120 has been a boot skied by the best athletes on the hill but also committed intermediates that are looking for a step-up without hampering their fun with the status quo. Add the fire engine red coloration and let's include confident to the mix of adjectives that describe the current Pure Elite 120 skier--you better either ski as good as this boot looks or think you ski as good as this boot looks when you click into your bindings.
Our testers were very impressed with the Pure Elite 120 last year and that didn't change at this year's test, nor should it have, as the boot returned to the test unchanged as well. Last year testers were immediately drawn to the vibrant red cosmetic (we said then, like hummingbirds to a feeder) and after skiing it made it the object not just of their affection but also of their attempted thievery. When testers were thwarted in their larcenous plans at the end of our test period a few of them went out and bought the boot for themselves--know that this act is borderline heresy for ski industry veteran insiders who can usually finagle an angle on equipment freebies or at the very least steep discounts--and we think that paints a very clear picture of the allure of this boot. Voting with one's dollars may be more telling than giving high scores.
All that hype aside, this is just a ski boot after all, and that's one of the things that testers like--for all its flash, it still fits right, stands right and skis right. Testers gave its stance angles a perfect score and a near-perfect 4.83 for Edge Power as well as its Convenience, Warmth & Features score. Our thick-legged testers say that while it's a properly snug narrow, there's enough flare at the boot top to caress (rather than crush) the calf. This is one of those boots that testers wait to test until they're going out on a photo shoot or a three-run backside mission with some hard chargers--they know it won't let them down or bring them to tears and they can just enjoy the ski experience. And isn't that what any good skier wants--a tear-free epic day, all around the mountain?
Testers remain split on the split power strap, with some finding the dual pulley Velcro useful in its varied placement options and others calling it silly, gimmicky, stupid and fiddly. They all do like the little rooster logo on it, though. Other features are refreshingly spare for our team: single cuff adjustment, single tongue pull loop, GripWalk soles (white!). Steal one if you can, testers suggest, but they assure that it's worth the money if you have to pay for it.
Over 70% of our test team awarded the Rossignol Hi-Speed 130 HV GW a perfect score of 5.00, and we think that's saying something. Not only did it top the wide last field in the All-Mountain Traditional category this year (well, there was only one entry there) it was the second-highest scoring boot of the entire men's field, across all categories--and we know that's saying something.
Testers agreed that the Rossi Hi-Speed 130 HV is exhibit A in our current evidence box that supports our contention that now is the best boot era ever for the thick-footed, skilled skier. Wide-lasted boots continue to get better and better, offering the right fit for the wide side without a lot of bootfitting effort and without sacrificing proper stance and on-snow performance. Most brands offer 102-mm boots, but only a handful offer an all-mountain line-up of narrow, medium and wide lasts that hang together in well-differentiated fits but mirror-image performance levels, per stiffness. Rossignol is one of those, testers say.
What's so special about the Hi-Speed HV? Well, nothing really and everything because of that. It is not a fancy-featured model, testers assure. It has a Velcro power strap, four buckles, a cuff adjustment and GripWalk soles. It goes on and off easily without having to manage any cables or laces. It closes up using a traditional buckle configuration with a similarly traditional liner to pad the inner workings of the shell. It stands in a balanced and therefore inconspicuous way. It matches the movements of the lower leg while skiing, hinging properly at the ankle joint during flexion and it engages the skis' edges predictably, in both directions. It is black with a little bit of red. That the boot is unremarkable in these ways primarily means that it is not problematic in any way. Said another way, the boot is flawless in its simplicity, and our test team liked that a lot.
Yes, a couple testers thought there were some spots that were more snug than expected for an HV model, like against the navicular bone and over the top of the foot, but theirs was a minority opinion and they were admittedly minor level complaints. Some testers still wish for flat Alpine soles instead of GripWalk, but again, a minority viewpoint at this stage in the game. The majority of testers overwhelmingly loved this one and suggested that any skier with thick feet should put it on his short list.
Testers say the Rossignol Hi-Speed Pro 130 Carbon MV GW is consistent in fit and performance--it's a no-surprises, bankable boot sitting square in the middle of the Hi-Speed range, between the narrow Elite and the wide HV. Testers say that this three-model line up is ideally spaced, or differentiated, from each other fit-wise but virtually identical in how they each ski. Testers say the idea of "pick-your-width" boot shopping is exemplified in the Hi-Speed line, as there is no performance trade-off for increased width or warmth.
The Hi-Speed Pro sets a standard for medium width fit for many of the test team, who praised the boot as virtually flawless in fit for the average foot and leg. They like the balance the liner strikes between its soft address of the foot with more firmly structured and sculpted pockets for the ankle bones and heel. Testers had virtually no fit issues that would require a bootfitter's help, other than one tester who thought it ran a touch looser than he liked--in this situation a shift to the narrow Elite would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Testers say this is a legit 130-flex that offers an evenly distributed pressure against the shin and a flex feel that doesn't collapse, even under a serious pounding from a large driver. Stance-wise, testers also found no fault, enjoying the position the boot placed them in for front-to-back and side-to-side movements. Quickness, power and balance scores were all 4.63's, further supporting testers' assessment of the boot's reliable on-snow attitude.
Features were simple but useful: liner pull loops, GripWalk soles, cuff adjustment, Velcro power strap. Testers liked the subtle but stylish Rossi striped pull loops and power strap graphic.
So few complaints from our crew on this one--what's not to like about that?
The Rossignol Hi-Speed Elite 130 Carbon LV GW returned unchanged to our boot test and our team again put it at the very top of the competitive narrow All-Mountain Traditional group. Well, it was fourth down from the top, but it was out of the first spot by only 0.03 points, so we're calling it a virtual four-way tie for first there. Last year's debut of the Hi-Speed line impressed testers with a closer, more anatomically sculpted fit and quicker, more energetic response to the edge. Those elements struck testers again this year.
The Hi-Speed Elite offered a tightening-up of Rossi's narrow performance offering (predecessor Allspeed Elite) and yet testers say that the Hi-Speed Elite still trends toward the slightly roomier side of the narrow last group. Not by much, testers said, but Rossi has not lost its comfort and warmth edge over the competition, even as it hammers a ski through variable terrain or drives it in a gouging arc against hard snow. Testers love the just right liner that's firm enough in the heel and ankle without offending bony points, and they said that the feel against the foot from the first slide in was top of class.
The closer fit of the Hi-Speed Elite bumps its quickness scores--testers awarded it a 4.83 there, but it's A-game is in its brutish power against the ski edge where testers gave it a perfect 5.00. This is one of those boots where testers mention that it skis surprisingly powerfully in comparison to its pleasant fit and entry-exit demeanor. Its carbon infused polyurethane cuff is stiff and transmissive and the polyurethane lower shell remains damp and stable. This is a solid-feeling boot that reminds good skiers what real boot plastic in proper shell wall thicknesses feels like (feels good, is what they say).
The Nordica Speedmachine 3 115 W took top honors in the medium width group of the All-Mountain Traditional category, the most heavily populated segment of the women's test. First place here combined with Nordica's other first place in the narrow group for a two-entry sweep of the category. Testers were not surprised by the Speedmachine's high scoring results, it has done well in boot tests previously in a variety of different iterations, but this year a few of our boot retailer testers were asking, why don't we sell Nordica? And some of our other testers whose own boots are of other brands were asking, why don't I ski in Nordica?
These are good questions without good enough answers, probably, because the Nordica narrow and medium width All-Mountain boots have rarely disappointed--they remain one of the categories' benchmark models year in and year out at our test for a consistently good fit that pairs with top rate performance on snow, and they don't come with any surprises to throw a skier off her game. Testers loved the way the Speedmachine worked with their particular skiing styles, many of them citing that they simply buckled up and went skiing without having to worry about an off-the-mark stance or unexpected flex feel. Intuitive, easy and fun were some of the descriptors that came up repeatedly.
Our team was similarly in agreement that this medium width ran more snug than expected in both the lower boot and upper cuff, and had a particularly tight heel and instep fits in the group, which translated into high scores for ski control but resulted in slight demerits in comfort and bloodflow for the target, average foot shape. Granted these were not major concerns for our team as it didn't bump the boot from first place, but fit did represent its lowest score, whereas it got a perfect score for Quickness & Steering. Testers universally praised the Speedmachine 3 115 W's feel for the snow underfoot, which they characterized as tuned-in and quick to respond. They also heaped compliments onto the boot's progressive flex feel that addressed the leg shaft in an even (if firm) way.
The takeaway for testers was that the Speedmachine remains a no-brainer for good skiers who don't want fancy features and would rather just put on a boot and go rip anywhere on the mountain without any boot related fuss.
Our women's test team has put the Promachine 115 W through the ringer before and absolutely loved it. That was the sentiment this time around, too, with our testers giving it a nearly perfect 4.94--in fact, five of the seven women who tested this model gave it a perfect 5.0, and incidentally this was the highest scored boot in the entire test across all categories, including men's models. One of the Promachine 115 W's most endearing characteristics is its generally flawless nature. One tester summed it up nicely: there's nothing wrong with this boot. See?
But it goes far beyond that, into the psyche of the skier, and those who haven't tested many boots may not understand this as intimately as veteran testers do, but boots can either make you or break you as a skier. We're talking good skiers, here. Some boots reduce the best skiers on the hill to struggling advanced intermediates! Well, not really, and to watch a great skier testing such a problematic boot you wouldn't see an obvious struggle, but that's what the skier will tell you--the boot made them unsure of themselves, tentative, and sometimes downright scared. Other boots may not have such a negative effect on a skier but require the athlete to change her approach to entering a turn or force her to make some extra movement she'd otherwise not bother with. And then, there are boots that go on and then promptly disappear. They are put out of mind as the skier discovers that they first and foremost fit properly but they also respond exactly as directed. Not only do these top tier boots not interfere with a skier's movements and intentions, they actually seem to anticipate them and even enhance them--these are the great boots that top each of our test categories, and the Promachine 115 W topped the most competitive category of all. There are no bad boots in this group, but the Promachine sat at the peak of the heap.
The Promachine 115 W is not for everyone--it's a real narrow boot, averaging the tightest overall fit in the women's narrow all-mountain group. But that said, for those with low volume feet this is a dream fit. Testers said that the shape is well contoured for the typical bony parts of the foot and the liner is well-enough padded to insulate and lock-in the foot. Testers said there's enough flare at the boot top (and a removable rear spoiler) to accommodate normal legs, but the lower boot is designed to hold onto the truly slender-of-foot and those skiers who want serious heel and ankle hold for absolute ski-driving control. The polyurethane shell and cuff are designed to be worked on with a variety of common bootfitting approaches, so skiers caught in between the fits of the narrow Promachine and the medium Speedmachine should opt for the narrow one (with a punch list) if the priority is performance.
One of the few critiques of this boot was also a compliment: it's stiff, one tester said. This shouldn't be a shock, as a 115 flex, but so few boots back up the advertised stiffness that it can come as a surprise to testers when one does. This boot suits the expert skier, first and foremost, but testers said it was easily accessed and didn't require mach speeds to perform--so, they suggested this would be worthy of aggressive intermediates looking for an instant step-up in their all-mountain performance game.
Sometimes, testers find that the marketing department wasn't so far off. Here's what Nordica says about the Speedmachine 3 120: "No matter the terrain or the conditions, Nordica’s all-new Speedmachine 3 120 unlocks everything the mountains have to offer...Confidently ski anything and everything with Nordica’s Speedmachine 3 120." Our testers agreed. They mentioned multiple times and in multiple ways how versatile the boot was all around the mountain and they similarly reached consensus that the boot was confidence inspiring--really, it came up in their test comments a few different times!
The Speedmachine 3 120 was not a boot that was new to our test team--they've tested it before, but this time around they found that the liner construction had been perfected over the past generation and delivered classic Nordica, plush-feeling and easy to get on and off but without a too-soft build that didn't hold the heel and ankles and suggested early pack-out. Testers called the fit a perfect medium-width blend of contouring for wide and bony spots with a firm grip where it counted in the rearfoot, without drifting into narrow boot territory. The lower shell and upper cuff provided no glitches or flaws to consider--it's a tried-and-true polyurethane machine that's been bred to perform properly, and testers couldn't dispute this. The test team had very few critical remarks to make about fit or performance.
Testers were not disappointed by the 120-flex entry, even though it went up against mostly 130-flexes in the category--saying that it held up to pretty much everything they threw at it. One tester said he could get the flex to collapse but he had to try pretty hard (and he could stand to shed a few pounds). Testers love the neutral stance and the well-distributed flex feel against the shin. But what testers loved most about this boot were the things they didn't have to think about--they didn't have to think about how to get it on and buckled up, they didn't have to think about making any special moves to get the ski to respond, they didn't have to think about making fit adjustments or fussing with features. They just put the thing on and went skiing, and had a great time. This defines what makes a great boot for our test team--brainless fun with no drama and no bootfitting to-do list.
Testers weren't sure what to make of the new Shadow 115 W MV's marketing story--it sounded pretty good, the whole do-more-with-less thing--but being the skeptics that they are, they put the thing on and went outside and sent it down the hill. Unanimously, their test feedback was of one voice in that the Shadow skied better than the well-loved RX boots, and yes, with less effort invested into every turn.
The boot's a sleeper, they said, explaining that it shouldn't ski as strongly for how comfortably it fits and for how little effort they had to put into tipping the ski on edge. First, the on-snow performance. Testers were surprised at its quickness and reaction time, given that the sheer comfort level had lulled them into the assumption that comfort stemmed from space and excess room sapped transmission--but not so, they said. Similarly, the quadruple cuff anchor points, made low on the shell and with an elastomer-dampened hinge seemed to engage the ski in lateral moves in a more direct way but without feeling rigid. Testers all made mention that the flex feel of the Shadow was one of its best qualities, and felt that there probably was something to the so-called Suspension Blade's gliding and non-rigid connection from cuff to lower shell. All of that stuff combined to ski well, and yes, without as much energy expenditure--they didn't really want to buy into it, but after skiing it, they bought it.
The fit is sneakily comfortable, they said, matching the typical wide and bony spots of the foot with a masterful touch. They said that the overall fit was on the roomy side of the medium width group, but not by a lot. They repeatedly mentioned how comfortably the liner seemed to address their contours, but without feeling overly soft and prone to pack-out. The new liner's Auxetic technology may be responsible for these positive comments--its hexagonal micro-etching in the exterior layer of the liner allows for additional, targeted stretch around areas of extra width or prominence. Testers bought that too.
POST-TEST UPDATE: Lange informed us that based on widespread feedback of a too-roomy fit in the Shadow boots (both men's and women's in LV and MV models), they've made a running change to the production liners to address that. We like to think we were helpful in getting the message across and are excited to try the new versions this season.
Our test team has had an ongoing love affair (mostly) with the Lange RX boots of the past, both in narrow and medium widths, so they are a critical bunch as it relates to a successor model like the Shadow 115 W LV. This doesn't mean they're closed-minded but, shall we say, discerning in their approach to testing it and judicious in their praise.
Sometimes it's best to let a tester speak her mind without interruption: Wowee! Lange has really showed up to the table with some cool, new tech here. I will say that these are a touch more generous in feeling than the Lange fits of old. Not a bad thing, not a super thing, just worth noting. The foot slides in easily and you're encased by a comfortably firm liner. The tongue really is the best feeling on the shin. Firm and fair and makes me confident I’ll be okay pushing forward into the bumps! Those who have suffered shin bang from stiff tongues are going to flock to this boot the way I crash headfirst into a cheese plate. You really can’t compare this boot to the old RX, but if you must, I think the liner really is where this boot shines. However, the new Dual Pivot system really stands out as something to ski harder with and experience the subtle change in leverage. I’m not exactly sure of its engineering, but you're given a consistent feeling of being able to pressure and release the boot smoothly. It makes the slightly less-aggressive skier really feel like they're on top of driving and controlling the boot.
This tester's comments mirror what most of the other testers said about the Shadow 115 W LV.
All agreed that the fit, while essentially perfect in shape match to the foot, instep and leg, was just a bit off the low volume target. Where in the past some testers might have complained about a too tight LV fit, this version has over-corrected slightly, they said. The favorite Lange rep story line to explain this has been that it's just so comfortable with our new Auxetic liner technology that it seems a little loose, but it's not--it's just really comfortable. We find this amusing, but testers weren't fooled--it is comfortable for sure, but it's also roomy for a narrow. The Auxetic liner tech is admittedly cool, hexagonal micro perforations in the liner's exterior fabric allow for more stretch and comformation around bony points without having to overly soften the liner construction--like a Spiderman suit for your feet! Testers loved poking at it and stretching it to watch the little cuts spread, and it does work as billed, they said.
Remember, we said our women's test team was discerning and judicious with praise? They hammered the Shadow 115 W LV's fit score for it's generosity to a 4.40--kinda harsh--but still gave it perfect 5's for the remaining four categories.
It skied even better than RX boots of old, they said, actually sounding like Lange reps when they discussed how they generated more power with less effort, or felt the boot was more responsive to movements with less-tight buckling. Testers said the marketing party line about the boot's extra, lower points of leverage and less-impinged flex properties was borne-out on the hill as legitimate. So, while the adage that you know when a rep's lying because his or her lips are moving may still be earned--the story about how well the Shadow boot drives a ski with reduced input seems to be non-fiction.
POST-TEST UPDATE: Lange informed us that based on widespread feedback of a too-roomy fit in the Shadow boots (both men's and women's in LV and MV models), they've made a running change to the production liners to address that. We like to think we were helpful in getting the message across and are excited to try the new versions this season.
The new Lange Shadow 130 MV impressed our test team with a rare combination of race boot power and quickness paired with business class comfort levels. The old-school, core tester group was hesitant to let go of their long time love for the all-mountain RX line, but it didn't take long for them to kick it to the curb.
Sometimes testers are eloquent in their test form blather, so might as well share it here. One said: The best fitting ski boot I've ever put on my foot. I wish all my shoes were this comfortable. How do you improve on perfect? Well, Lange has done it again. Bravo. Another said: PERFECT in every sense. The list of superlatives is too long! Mack truck power without sacrificing feel. It's a balance of fit, performance, feel and manageable power. And a third: Excellent fit tension with total comfort. Like a Formula 1 car--nimble, quick, and intuitive (but with a comfy seat)! Overall, the best boot I skied in the test. Lange has a winner in the Shadow MV 130.
Testers' only complaint was that the Shadow 130 MV was a bit too roomy-feeling for a medium volume, though there was some discussion as to whether it was actually vacuous in fit or simply absent of hot spot indicators of grip along the foot. A semantic discussion perhaps, but the new Auxetic liner seemed to function as advertised, with its hexagonal micro-perforated shape in the liner's exterior material allowing for extra stretch and conformation at wide and prominent spots. It managed to contour and wrap the shape of the foot without being completely soft and amorphous, testers reported. Lange reps have been using that story line since the Shadow's inception--It's not loose, it's just so comfortable that it fools you into thinking it's loose. Yeah, uh huh, right. Testers said it was on the roomy end of the medium width spectrum, which is great for a lot of folks, and for those who can't get over it, well, they can try on the LV! Though, check out the update at the bottom of this review.
The other story the Lange reps have been telling is that the Shadow does more with less effort due to the leveraged power of the multiple, elastomer-loaded cuff to shell attachment points and rear spine redesign. The four, lower Dual Pivot anchor points create a rocker-arm type mechanical advantage lever of sorts and provide more points of connection than found on typical overlap designs, and the rear spine's gliding tongue-in-groove style Suspension Blade additionally connects cuff to lower in a non-fixed fashion designed to minimize plastic shape distortion upon flexion. Testers said all this gobbledygook was legit, and easily and immediately felt on snow! The basic run down was that the boot flexed in a firm but comfortable way that generated more power to the shovel of the ski than expected, and the lateral response of the boot was that of a much less comfortable race-bred beast. More performance with less effort, more comfort. Our otherwise skeptical tester bunch happily drank the Kool Aid on this matter.
What else the testers have to say? It was their favorite 130 flex for how easily it went on and came off. And they said it looked cool. They weren't sure if a cool $G for an all-mountain boot was a great new retail development, but they said that if you consider that a thousand could make you feel like a million bucks, then perhaps it's still a bargain at twice the price.
POST-TEST UPDATE: Lange informed us that based on widespread feedback of a too-roomy fit in the Shadow boots (both men's and women's in LV and MV models), they've made a running change to the production liners to address that. We like to think we were helpful in getting the message across and are excited to try the new versions this season.
Our testers have heaped praise onto Lange over the past several years for not changing things unnecessarily on the RX all-mountain boot line, so now that the new Shadow boots have arrived, testers were keen to give them a thorough go-through to see if they passed the don't-screw-it-all-up test. More specifically, they wanted to see if Lange's gamble on a performance-oriented shell redesign paid off.
One tester called the Shadow line's structural re-imagining the anti-BOA for its focus on performance-centric engineering, leaving this year's big, fit-related story to the spooler. Indeed, the Shadow's four-point cuff-to-lower Dual Pivot attachment design and gliding rear spine Suspension Blade are major driveline changes to a platform that has always prided itself on how well it skis. The story that accompanies this tech is interesting: the four points of connection are made lower on the shell to better match the natural hinge point of the ankle joint, and the lower anchors are not rigidly fixed but restrained with small elastomer bushings intended to reduce plastic shape distortion during flexion. The upper and lower mounts work in concert like a rocker-arm, leveraging a mechanical fore-aft advantage against the ski. The tongue-in-groove-style Suspension Blade attaches the lower to upper in a gliding rear spine fashion with a goal of reducing more bending plastic distortion and loss of energy. This sort of active rear spine redesign has been accomplished elsewhere previously (K2 & Tecnica) but not with a gliding track. The nutshell from the Lange marketing department: does more with less effort.
Testers unanimously reported that the story line was not a fiction. They said the boot functioned exactly as billed, with a noticeably smooth and progressive flex feel that seemed shorter in travel and firmer in quality than predecessor RX boots. They said that the smaller "throw" of the forward flex range didn't feel abrupt, just more effective at generating pressure to the front of the ski with less input effort. They also claimed that the boot was quicker and more solid on edge than RX. Testers gave the Shadow 130 LV's Quickness and Steering score a perfect 5.
That Lange succeeded in building a very different wheel that rolled even better than the last one wasn't a big surprise for our testers who have seen positive change after positive change from the brand in recent years, but those had been relatively minor changes. This is a big move in terms of the boot's structural foundation and a risk that seems to have paid off.
The big surprise in the Shadow boots (LV, MV, men's, women's--all) has been that these performance gains happen in concert with the most comfortable narrow and medium width boots Lange has ever made, according to testers, across the board. Many testers thought this 130 LV was too comfortable, meaning roomier than it should be, but while testers may have given it some demerit for missing the narrow fit target, they consistently mentioned that the extra space didn't seem to affect how the boot skied--it just didn't feel as tight as they thought it should. The cushioned, well-draped liner material hugs the foot exceptionally well, but with a bit of stretch at wide and bony points enabled by so-called Auxetic hexagonal perforations in the liner's exterior material. Testers said that the tongue's fit and feel was perfect against the shin and enhanced the shell's new flex properties nicely and they all appreciated the liner's new asymmetrical, no-seams toebox.
POST-TEST UPDATE: Lange informed us that based on widespread feedback of a too-roomy fit in the Shadow boots (both men's and women's in LV and MV models), they've made a running change to the production liners to address that. We like to think we were helpful in getting the message across and are excited to try the new versions this season.
