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
The new Dalbello Cabrio LV 95 W was awarded a gold medal this year by our women's test team who liked the revisions made to this alpine-centric three-piece go-everywhere boot. They liked the spiral wrapping liner for its use of recycled material and its welcoming maw, which offered a smooth and well-padded slide into and out of the boot. They liked how well the 3DensityWrap Sport W liner was pre-molded for immediate comfort without heat molding--though a few of our testers did anyway (more on that below).
The Cabrio LV 95 W got our testers' attention with its accommodating initial fit but they also liked how it got from turn to turn in reliable fashion, without surprises or drama, easily cruising the entire mountain regardless of terrain type or surface. Some of our testers, especially shorter women, mentioned that the liner extended pretty high up onto the leg, in a firm and slightly abrupt grip around the calf--those who heat molded the liner found that this remedied much of that. The fit is a generous medium width, they said, with extra room through the instep and that slightly more snug area at boot top. Tall, slender-legged skiers with a higher, thicker instep would find a dream match in the Cabrio LV 95 W, testers said.
Testers thought the 95 flex was a little spongy for hard charging, and thought that while less aggressive skiers would be dialed in the boot we tested, they suggested that more demanding descenders should step up to the 115 flex in this same model for an additional C-note.
Testers liked the Dalbello Veloce 105 W GW when it debuted last year, but they liked it even more this time around, elevating it to gold medal status for its surprising power packed into an underrated 105 flex rating. Testers say the Veloce 105 W is a bit of a sleeper with regard to fit too, with unanimous agreement that it fits more like most current narrow lasts, especially in the heel pocket. The over-performing flex feel (it's pretty firm for 105) and narrower-than-billed fit actually cost the Veloce some demerits, score-wise, for missing the bullseye on consumer targeting, but this doesn't change the fact that the boot fits and skis really well, they said.
Our test team gave the Veloce's toebox and forefoot snug medium width scores along with the fit for the calf, but narrow fit tension was the average elsewhere in the boot with the lateral column, instep and heel fit scores being the narrowest of all women's medium boots and in line with the narrows. Half the testers made mention that the toebox seemed to run a little longer than average. The boot's fit wasn't bad at all they said, with it offering enough curvature in most places (except the navicular), it just was not what would be expected of a 100mm last.
But this boot skis, they said! They hammered on it everywhere they could, and its edge power score was its best performance metric--it's a stout and stable all-mountain ride they said. They gave the boot's warmth and convenience score its other highest mark, citing the Veloce's straightforward entry and exit as well as its traditional four-buckle closure system as a reliable and functional benefit--no surprises. Its subdued black with gold highlights was a hit with testers for its goes-with-everything agreeability.
Testers liked Dalbello's new alpine-centric three-piece Cabrio LV 130 and called it a good step forward for their all-mountain range. Some of our test team's old-school 4-buckle overlap purists can be hard on a three-piece design newcomer but even those guys admitted that the Cabrio LV 130 could put a ski on edge and stand on it. Especially fond of the Cabrio LV's power and stability were some of our bigger, taller testers who really liked how far up the leg the spiral wrapping 3DensityWrapMax liner extended, providing a lot of leverage to the front of the ski and a securely upright starting point to their fore-aft position.
The spiral wrapping liner is a firm one, testers agreed, and several testers (especially the shorter guys) found it a bit abrupt at boot top. However, the out-of-box pre-molded shape was surprisingly good elsewhere in the lower leg, ankles and lower boot. A few testers conducted a variety of liner molding tests, both in a convection oven and on a hot stacks, and the consensus was that shin fit issues were hugely improved and even the stock, too-tall feel for some testers was reduced by cooking.
Testers generally agreed that the boot's power stemmed mostly from the tall, strong cuff but some thought that the lower boot wasn't as connected to the ski, and as such the boot's quickness scores lagged a bit behind its power grades. As always the three-piece shell combined with a spiral wrap liner added up to extremely easy entry and exit, which testers liked quite a bit. Testers liked the fact that the liner integrated recycled material into its construction. The "moss green" and black cosmetic paired with the muted grey liner didn't win any beauty pageants, but testers' pant cuffs managed that just fine.
Sometimes a boot gets robbed at our boot test, and the Dalbello Veloce 130 might just be one of those models. When we went back through all the test forms and took a close look at testers' written comments it was apparent that there was very little wrong with it, in fact, testers heaped praise on the boot again and again. And yet our testers' scores didn't mirror their words. The obvious conclusion is that the Veloce is a great boot but somehow we failed it. Perhaps it's the green? Perhaps its name is too difficult for Americans to say: Veh-low-chay. Whatever the reason the Veloce 130 received a gold medal last year and a silver this time around, we're sorry Dalbello, but results are results and now we'll try to talk our way out of trouble.
Easy to move to next edge in heavy snow. Reacted quick without any feeling of ski disconnection, like the ski was a part of you. That's what one tester said of the Veloce 130 and another echoed that praise for its off-piste performance: It stood out in the heavy snow conditions, I felt I could motor through anything without getting bounced around. Most of testers' comments about the Veloce 130's performance were like this, revolving around its bankable stability and powerful transmission of energy to the ski's edge, and yet its quickness score was actually its highest performance metric. So, at least testers were in agreement that the Veloce 130 went everywhere they pointed it and got the job done without any fuss.
Fit-wise, testers agreed that this is a snug fitting medium width, with one of the most snug instep fits of the 100mm boots we tested. A few testers commented that there was a tight area over the top of the toes, which would most likely be resolved with a toe dam grind on the shell if a typical liner heat molding session didn't take care of it. Other than that, fit commentary and scores were positive and described an evenly distributed snug-medium grip throughout the lower boot and cuff with few hot spots of note. Several testers commented that the boot's out of box anatomical fit was its best quality.
On further examination of testers' comments it's clear that there wasn't a problem with the green, as explained by one tester: Looked good. Felt good. Skied good. With that said, we promise to work on our Italian pronunciation for next year's test.
In an ongoing trend of narrow boots feeling less and less narrowish, the Atomic Hawx Ultra continues to represent for the remaining, truly low volume options on the market. Our women's test team unanimously made comments about how properly snug the Ultra 115 RS W felt, both indoors and out. Testers said it fit like a glove, and felt like a comfortable cast. They mentioned that the forefoot and instep offered just a touch of fit-forgiveness that aided in maintaining sensation and warmth but agreed that the grip elsewhere remained almost race-boot-like tight. Its snugness scores were the tightest of all the women's boots we tested this year, but that wasn't a bad thing at all--testers gave its Anatomical Feel & Initial Fit score a perfect 5.00, so women with narrow feet looking for real heel hold should put this at the top of their try-on list.
The Hawx Ultra 115 W GW's tight-and-right fit set the stage for its high performance marks, with its quickness scores topping out at another perfect 5.00--testers cited a heightened feeling connection with the ski and snow stemming from the boot's marriage to the foot and leg. Testers said the liner felt lean and firm, though not harsh, and they praised the way its multiple pull loops helped with entry as well as seating the heel firmly into its pocket, where it stayed put. Thanks to liner revisions, this year's RS version of the Hawx Ultra was notably easier to get on than predecessor iterations that offered a painful barrier to entry that was the boot's only real flaw. This would explain the many different ways testers used to describe flawless this time around. The non-RS version of the Hawx Ultra 115 W offers an even easier entry and exit, but also tunes down the performance level a notch.
Testers had nothing but positive comments about the stance set up or the power and stability the boot demonstrated at the highest speeds on firm pistes or through muddled junk--and not surprisingly it gained some of the higher scores in the balance and power categories. Testers said that this flagship model, while firm flexing as billed at 115, would serve aggressively minded intermediates who were looking to step up their game.
Great snug fit outta the box. Absolutely perfect narrow fit. Hugs everywhere snug but not too tight anywhere. Firm with good grip yet comfortable to my hot spots. These were a few of the many comments testers made about the fit of the new Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 RS GW. It has historically been one of the narrowest boots at our test--and this year was no different--but usually it comes with its share of complaints about its tight fit hammering on bony points. Not this time around, testers said, citing a shockingly comfortable combination of tightness and anatomical shape. The other typical gripe about the 130 flex Hawx Ultra has been its difficulty in getting on and off, especially when cold. That too has vanished from testers' commentary, as this year's liner revisions have created a much more user-friendly mountain-slaying beast. For less aggressive skiers looking for an even easier way in and out of this narrow boot there is a non-RS version that is a little less stiff but even more friendly and less beastly. Our crew liked the beast.
And the Hawx Ultra remains a predator--if our predatory behavior metaphor can be applied to how it helps a ski to slice, gnash, crush and generally gobble up whatever terrain or snow surface it encounters. Testers have always liked how the Hawx Ultra skied but this year they came up with fresh ways to describe how quickly it responds to foot movements, how able it is to return to a balanced, centered position, how accurately it guides the ski through difficult snow and how powerfully it transmits brute strength to the edge when it matters. If one were to point to its best qualities based on testers' feedback this year it would have to be its anatomical fit and its agility--both those categories received 4.91's (out of 5.0) after getting put through the paces by 12 different testers. That's saying something we think.
There is a spot on our test app where testers are asked to list the boot's worst qualities. There were several entries there, but they all read something like: "Nothing to report here." That also says something about the revised Atomic Hawx Ultra 130, which to our mind has not always gotten the props it deserves, as spelled out this year by one tester who said, still one of the very best narrow class rippers on the market.
You may have seen the aqua blue boot in the Beijing winter olympics on the Israeli skiers--a Kastle! This is their introductory year as a player in the boot market and we were stoked to have a chance to test their K130P, a medium width all-mountain minimalist modeled after classic, four-buckle overlap go-everywhere, do-everything boots that never go out of style. Testers were generally impressed with this start-up, though starting the try-on and testing process required some negotiations with the lace-up liner bouncer guarding the boot entry door--some preferred lacing up the liner first and entering the shell plug boot style while others pulled the laces and went in normal style. The plastic edges on the model we tested were noticeably sharp but we expect that final production will round-off those bitey bits.
Once in, testers liked the snug medium fit that was particularly well-latched-onto the ankles and heel and snug over the midfoot and through the instep. Testers said there was a bit more of a relaxed fit found in the cuff, which they said trended a bit forward-leaning compared to the current norm and was a genteel 130 (meaning it felt a little softer than). Testers said that the lace-up liner felt a little unfinished, or at least needed a good heat mold job to get it to stretch out to better match the interior dimension of the shell.
Testers with a penchant for quick twitch lateral moves and an old-school forward lean angle fell in love with the K130P, calling it catlike and agile with some serious teeth to sink into edging on hard snow as well.
The features set is quite traditional, with niceties limited to dual pull loops on the liner, removable buckles, a cam-buckle power strap and a Velcro rear spoiler. Testers liked the slick, flip-out lever arms on the lower shell buckles. Those testers who didn't love the color did admit that it skied better than it looked--so there's that!
While the Dahu boot (based in Switzerland) was released in the North American market just before the Covid pandemic, this was our first chance to test the boots and according to Dahu they are treating the 2022-23 winter season as a re-introduction of the product now that things are returning to a bit more normal program.
Our women's test team is a particular tough bunch--both in how they ski (all day long, everywhere and well) and also in how they respond to newcomers (testers and boot models alike)! So as you might imagine, the new Dahu design met with some serious barriers that it had to break down to earn a silver medal in its first foray into our annual boot test.
At first glance the Dahu appears a little different, with its lack of buckles on the lower shell, but three-piece constructions aren't uncommon--it's how this three-piece hinges open, both to the front and rear that sets it apart. Yes, the shell releases so that the front tongue drops forward and the rear cuff flops back allowing the lace-up inner boot to enter or exit while on the skier's foot. Our test team has encountered other such designs in the past and found them to be a mixed bag of good, bad and otherwise, but its interaction with the Dahu was notable for the fact that testers discovered that it could ski!
The women's Ecorce 01X is available in both a 90-flex and a 110-flex and our testers put the stiffer model through the ringer. Depending on how a tester initially approached putting the boot on affected their overall opinion of the experience to a large extent. Testers who put on the form-fitted inner boot (which strikes one as a hybrid of motocross, snowboard and fashion snow boots) first and then attempted to fit it into the fully opened shell were met with some challenges and a few cuss words here and there. The fit tolerances between the liner and shell are quite tight, which avoids slop in the movement chain but makes slipping the liner into place a little tricky, though easily done with some practice and while seated. Testers who left the liner in place within the shell and loosened up its lacing system and unlatched the tongue to let it hinge forward, away from the liner, found that they could slip a foot into place without any hindrance. Said another way, testers who put the boot on this way said it was the easiest boot to put on they'd ever experienced. Lacing up the liner is a matter of pulling on the lace handle, running the lace lock down into place, wrapping the lace slack around the pull and stashing it into a small keeper pouch built into the liner tongue. Getting the shell tongue re-attached requires attaching two clasps on the medial side then the two buckles on the lateral side. Once the entry and closure protocols were managed once, testers didn't have any issues going forward. But yes, figuring out the system had a make-it or break-it influence on the tester's experience.
The inner boot is undeniably comfortable to wear and walk about in. It serves as a pretty cool looking snow boot and might be the best apres ski boot we've ever tested, however our test team wasn't about to let the liner's sexiness gain it any advantage--it had to ski or it was out.
How does it ski? Well, let's talk about how it flexes first, as that is the second most important thing about the Dahu boot--the combination of the tallish feeling liner tongue and highly tunable lacing tension there enables a well-distributed fit along the shin that oozes comfort, but in a snug and firmly cushioned way. Then, coupled with the characteristically even flex feel of the three piece shell construction the fore-aft movements in this boot are natural and comfortable in a way often not felt in more traditional designs. The 110 flex tested exemplified this positive element, offering a long--but not collapsing--flex feel that remained consistent in both pressure and comfort against the shin throughout its range of flexion. Chronic shin bang sufferers, do try to get one of these on your feet.
It does ski quite well, according to testers who were surprised at the blend of power and agility that the Dahu offered. The inner boot is mated to the shell with very close tolerances and the inner boot is not a mushy moccasin, so transmission of movement and energy was direct and accurate, testers said. The common complaints that several testers mentioned were related to stance. The out-of-box geometry is slightly more upright than the current norm, and the lateral set-up is a little softer to the inside edge than most. The fore-aft issue is easily solved with an in-box offset bushing that can be swapped onto the rear cuff which tips and locks it into a more forward position which most testers preferred. The lateral issue is remedied with material glued to the medial aspect of the shell, essentially filling the gap between the liner and shell since there is no lateral cuff adjustment mechanism offered on the boot. Testers also noticed that the exterior boot sole runs longer than traditional boots of the same size--not by a lot, but by enough that it's noticeable when walking and will certainly require adjusting or re-mounting bindings for skiers making a boot switch but choosing to keep their ski and binding set up as is.
What about bootfitting options, testers wondered? There aren't many fitting features outside of minor in-liner tweaks and liner heat molding. There's a possibility of a little grind or gentle stretch in certain spots, but this is not what the boot is really designed for. It's designed to fit well out of the box for the average foot shape, but it happens to fit extremely well for the typical foot's trouble spots. Testers who normally require forefoot expansion or ankle bone punches cited that the Dahu fit those areas nicely in its stock set-up. Testers' advice to customers is to be satisfied with the boot's fit as it is when considering a purchase, not hope for a fit that could be. Our test team pointed to the boot's ease of entry and exit and classic three-piece flex feel against the shin as the Ecorce 01X 110's best qualities, closely followed by a super out-of-box fit and good-enough all mountain performance to make it worth a look. In fact, after the boot test experience, two of our testers who are in charge of their shops' hard-goods buying brought in Dahu as a new line for the coming season. We think that's worth mentioning.
While the Dahu boot (based in Switzerland) was released in the North American market just before the Covid pandemic, this was our first chance to test the boots and according to Dahu they are treating the 2022-23 winter season as a re-introduction of the product now that things are returning to a bit more normal program.
The Ecorce 01X in the 120 flex option is Dahu's all-mountain model which represents its best-selling and most-available for try-on model at dealer locations. We tested it in the All-Mountain Traditional medium width category alongside nine other models (all traditional four-buckle overlap designs) to see how it would fare within this most-competitive boot test group. At first our test team was surprised that it wasn't instantly out-classed, and then they were shocked that the Ecorce 01X 120 ended up comfortably holding its own in the middle of the pack. By the end of the ten-day test period and many individual tests on the boot later, our test team declared the Dahu brand, and this model in particular, the good surprise of the test. Bravo Dahu!
There's a lot to unpack when covering a brand new model and especially so with a design as unique as this is. Let's start by not unpacking the liner from the shell--while you could unpack it (and marching around in the closely fitted, long lace system liner is an apres warrior's dream come true), it is not the easiest way to get into and out of the boot, which when done properly is hands-down one of the very best features of the Dahu system. With the liner loaded into the shell, its rearward-hinging cuff locked into normal skiing position and the forward external tongue (it is a three-piece design) released and out of the way it's ready to suck in some foot. And it does! With the long lace system (many eyelets, lots of slack and a handy lace lock) completely loosened up, the slide into the boot is easier than any other boot on the market, period. Same with getting it off, release the shell's external tongue, loosen the liner's lace system and bam, you're outta there. This entry and exit protocol is the best way for skiers who intend to use it like a traditional boot: get to hill, put on boot, ski, take off boot when done, leave. However, for those who want to deploy its secret apres ski weapon or enable a rapid switch from skiing to driving, the rear portion of the shell can be released as well and the liner (with foot) can be pulled out easily and the snow-boot-stomp-around can begin. Getting the liner (with foot) into the shell system is a little trickier but with some practice it's accomplished, and done so most easily while seated.
But how does it ski? Well, let's talk about how it flexes first, as that is the second most important thing about the Dahu boot--the combination of the tallish feeling liner tongue and highly tunable lacing tension there enables a well-distributed fit along the shin that oozes comfort, but in a snug and firmly cushioned way. Then, coupled with the characteristically even flex feel of the three piece shell construction the fore-aft movements in this boot are natural and comfortable in a way often not felt in more traditional designs. The 120 flex we tested exemplified this positive element, offering a long--but not collapsing--flex feel that remained consistent in both pressure and comfort against the shin throughout its range of flexion. Chronic shin bang sufferers, do try to get one of these on your feet.
It does ski quite well, according to testers who were surprised at the blend of power and agility that the Dahu offered. The inner boot is mated to the shell with very close tolerances and the inner boot is not a mushy moccasin, so transmission of movement and energy was direct and accurate, testers said. The common complaints that several testers mentioned were related to stance. The out-of-box geometry is slightly more upright than the current norm, and the lateral set-up is a little softer to the inside edge than most. The fore-aft issue is easily solved with an in-box offset bushing that can be swapped onto the rear cuff which tips and locks it into a more forward position which most testers preferred. The lateral issue (for those who have one) is remedied with material glued to the medial aspect of the shell, essentially filling the gap between the liner and shell since there is no lateral cuff adjustment mechanism offered on the boot. Testers also noticed that the external boot sole runs longer than traditional boots of the same size--not by a lot, but by enough that it's noticeable when walking and will certainly require adjusting or re-mounting bindings for skiers making a boot switch but choosing to keep their ski and binding set up as is.
What about bootfitting options, testers wondered? There aren't many fitting features outside of minor in-liner tweaks and liner heat molding. There's a possibility of a little grind or gentle stretch in certain spots, but this is not what the boot is really designed for. It's designed to fit well out of the box for the average foot shape, but it happens to fit extremely well around the typical foot's trouble spots. Testers who normally require forefoot expansion or medial ankle bone punches cited that the Dahu fit those areas nicely in its stock set-up. Testers' advice to customers is to be satisfied with the boot's fit as it is when considering a purchase, not hope for a fit that could be. Our test team pointed to the boot's ease of entry and exit and classic three-piece flex feel against the shin as the Ecorce 01X 120's best qualities, closely followed by a super out-of-box fit and good-enough all-mountain performance to make it worth a look. In fact, after the boot test experience, two of our testers who are in charge of their shops' hard-goods buying brought in Dahu as a new line for the coming season. We think that's worth mentioning.
Aside from cosmetic updates for the Tecnica Mach1 MV 105 W it returned to the boot test unchanged from its previous entry where it topped the Gold Medal boots in the All-Mountain medium group. This year's score and last year's score are within a tenth of a point and again testers put it on the podium in this heavily-stacked category. The fixed cuff, All-Mountain medium width group is always receives the most entries (paralleling historical market share trends) and offers the highest gold medal score average of our women's test. The Mach1 MV 105 W has been in the top tier of this strong group every year of the past several, and testers were still impressed with its superior blend of performance and comfort traits this time around.
Testers repeatedly comment that the Mach1 MV should not ski as well as it does given its 105-flex billing (they say it skis as strong as the 110-120 flex models) nor given its high level of comfort and cushioning. This is an easy boot to put on and wear around without any liner molding or a bootfitter's help. Straight out of the box and onto blue square groomers is this boot's jam--if that's what the skier's into--but testers say it just as easily can come off the rack and off the lip of a big drop or hammer through the nastiest of semi-frozen, tracked up crud. Huge fit and performance bandwidth without unnecessary fluff or features is what testers continue to praise the Mach1 MV 105 W for. Testers say that the toebox seems a bit roomier than expected for the snug-medium hold on the ankles and heel, but most were just fine with a little extra breathing room for the pigs.
Stance-wise the Mach1 specs hit the bullseye for lateral and fore-aft balance, and testers continue to love the flex feel against the shin and they say that the height of the cuff against the leg is ideal.
Is it a power boot or an agility master? Some boots have an obvious bias in one direction or another and therefore attract a particular type of skier. Testers say that the Mach1 MV's magic is its perfect blend of both traits--a no-compromises all-mountain performer that fits with instant ease. It's no wonder that it rises to the top each year.
Testers can't dislodge the Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 from the very top of the All-Mountain medium width group. It might trade off first or second position, but it's got a lock on that penthouse suite, it seems. The Mach1 MV is unchanged this season but our test team has not tired of it, and uses it as one of the gold standards within this very competitive group to judge newcomers by. Testers still get a kick out of sliding a perfectly fitting medium volume straight off the rack, buckling up, and then making the best turns of the day without having to fuss with any stance changes or hot spot worries. Eleven testers shared their experience with the Mach1 MV 130 this year and couldn't come up with any complaints--except for a few guys who are getting tired of orange.
For a legit 130-flex, testers said the entry and exit was surprisingly good. And for a serious, all-mountain performance boot testers said it was shockingly comfortable without feeling mushy or prone to pack-out. They said the anatomical shaping of the shell is mirrored well by the liner's form and firm-enough materials to provide a secure grip along the foot and leg without feeling harsh. The MV offers a distinctly more-open fit than the Mach1 LVs we have tested, with several testers mentioning that the MV's calf fit was open and flared for a comfortable fit along the lower leg without trending into gappy, fore-aft balance issues.
It's getting harder and harder to find boots without good stance angle set-ups, but the Tecnica Mach1 exemplifies what most testers are looking for in fore-aft and lateral geometry. Testers lodged zero complaints about the stance, which means that when somebody does need some personalized tweaks they're working from a good, neutral home base to start. With dual cuff adjustments laterally, simple rear spoiler mods for improving one's fore-aft balance and an option to install Cantology shims for those needing true canting, the Mach1 platform sets skiers up for stance alignment success.
Our test team loves a polyurethane shell and cuff in the All-Mountain category, and they get that stable, predictable power and accuracy in the Mach1 line-up. The newest part of the performance build, the T-Drive apparatus on the rear spine of the boot, connects upper to lower boot with a spring-loaded, fixed-but-flexible feel that solidifies the transfer of movement to the ski without having to overly stiffen the plastic over the top of the foot for the sake of better fit wrapping and boot entry. Yes, T-Drive looks like a gizmo, but our tests in the past of T-Drive models versus non T-Drive models showed that it works as billed. For performance metrics, the Mach1 MV 130 got its best scores (two scores of 4.85 out of 5.00) for Edge Power and Quickness.
Testers generally like the up-hooking cam buckle power strap, even if they can't connect the boots easily for a sling over the shoulder type carry. The CAS liner and shell features allow for targeted bootfitting solutions and our test team appreciates their simple, functional approach.
Our bootfitter testers were especially excited about the fit changes that Salomon brought to its new, narrow all-mountain boot. The S/Pro Alpha 110 W EL is all-new, but testers still compared it (in favorable ways) to its narrow predecessor S/Max. The loved the way the new Alpha's lower shell, or clog, contoured around the forefoot in an anatomically matched grip on the foot's wide spot, but they really, really loved the new fit over the midfoot and up through the instep. They said the fit over the bony top of the foot is more domed and contoured to match the body, with a nice and open transition through the instep into the cuff. The tongue is both adjustable and customizable, which they appreciated, and the heel and ankle pockets provided true-narrow control without any sacrifice of comfort.
Yes, the women's Alpha skis well, they said, citing its quick-witted transitions arc to arc through a variety of terrain and snow surfaces as its strong suit--lively, quick cruiser was it's call sign, they said, rather than brutish crusher-stomper. Testers felt that the taller, longer legged skier would be best suited to the S/Pro Alpha's tall and upright cuff character for the sake of getting forward, which some felt was a challenge. Testers mentioned that the Custom Shell HD lower and upper boot would serve a skier well in the quest for more personalized stance angles, which we've shown with repeated tests to yield subtle yet performance- and fit-enhancing improvements.
Testers loved the liner feel throughout the shell and cuff and commented that the S/Pro Alpha 110 W EL was one of the easiest boots to get on and off in the category. They unanimously approved of a return to a laterally adjustable cuff (gone here is the non-adjustable Dual Pivot attachment point), and the adjustable mounting position for the shell's instep buckle was a hit, as was its overall shift in placement closer to the throat of the boot which helped avoid top-down pressure over the bony (cuneiform bones) midfoot. The girls wondered why they didn't get a cam buckle power strap like the boys but they didn't complain about the fat 45mm Velcro strap optioned on the 110. A few discerning testers noted the new mono-injected lower shell and praised the move away from the bi-injected Core Frame that had made their navicular heat stretches a little tricky in the past.
Oh, and that EL in the name? Ever Lasting? Even Lovelier? Extra Lusciousness? It's Expert Line, which means the buckles and attachments are removable and the tongue is customizable. Does it ELevate performance? Does it provide more ELegant bootfitting solutions? Maybe. What the EL, we like it.
