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
When going through test card data, when every tester uses the same rating per criteria there's no question about the results. With this year's Nordica Sportmachine3 130, that was the situation. One portion of the test app's question fields looks like this: cosmetics, entry/exit, closure, length fit, flex feel, tongue cushion, cuff height, fore-aft stance, lateral stance. Testers' unanimous replies to these questions looked like this: cool, easy, great, standard, ideal, ideal, ideal, ideal, neutral. Being so universally loved must get boring for the Sportmachine, but our test team was pretty excited to experience its newer, stronger build-out this year (mirroring medium-width Speedmachine3's revisions of last season). Our crew gave it two thumbs up for every aspect of its debut, from fit to stance to downhill performance.
The previous Sportmachine was also well-liked, but definitely had a fluffy, warm personality--it wasn't impressing anyone with its street cred or toughness. This new iteration changes that. The liner is firmer feeling, with a more sculpted, anatomical fit around the ankle bones and heel that gives the impression that it will break in nicely, not pack out hugely. The shell conducts skier movements directly to the ski for a strong and stable edging game (in fact it received a perfect 5.00 for Edge Power) and with enough foot and leg stuffed into its still cavernous space will also uncork some legitimate quickness from arc to arc when called for. The Sportmachine3 130 was still a comfortable ride and there's no need for the larger advanced intermediate to shy away from this stiffness level--it's supportive and forgiving simultaneously, testers said.
Our testers said the stance angles are nicely neutral and made proper skiing movements easy, which translated into good skiing through a variety of different terrain and snow surfaces. They said the hardware and features found on the Speedmachine3 were in line with the category's best and suggested that for skilled skiers with a high volume foot and leg, this year's Sportmachine3 130 should be ranked high on their try-on list.
Where the 97mm boot might be given allowances for some discomfort because many often prioritize performance in that width category, and the 102mm boot may be given a pass for its performance demerits as it's often designed with a premium placed on comfort, the do-it-all medium width 100mm boot receives no such forgiveness--it must merge comfort and performance in equal measure. In this class, the 120 flex remains the market base money shot for its not-too-stiff, not-too-soft flex feel and palatable price point bullseyes. This year's Nordica Speedmachine3 120 exemplifies a nearly perfect execution of this tricky feat of engineering according to our test team that was universally impressed with its masterful blend of all the above mentioned elements.
Last year's introduction of the Speedmachine3 spooked some of our veteran testers who are also Nordica dealers. In Nordica's quest to "toughen up" the Speedmachine softie of old their early production liner might have gone overboard on the performance fit, producing what many felt was an overly snug and firm fit for a medium width. While we don't know what happened between that test and this year's, those testers were unanimously relieved (no, overjoyed) to discover that this year's liner feel in the 120 flex nailed the target, dead-center. They said the fit was more anatomically precise and firm feeling than the overly cushioned feel of the past but without feeling harsh or treading into narrow last fit tension territory. The initial slide in was classically Nordica-easy with a silken feel that managed to lock up around the foot and leg upon buckling and eliminate any feel of slipperiness that might otherwise detract from steering movements.
Testers thought the Speedmachine3 120 skied stronger than they'd expected from a 120 flex and said that the agility and quickness was perfectly mated to the boot's power and torque curves--this was a balanced ride, both in stance and also in its blend of skiing traits. There were virtually no complaints about this boot, in skiing performance or in fit. Bravo Speedmachine, we're glad you're back.
Frankly nobody on the boot test team was very surprised to see that the Nordica Promachine 130 ended up as one of the top three gold medalists in the most competitive, All-Mountain performance category at the test. It has been there before (i.e. every time we've tested it) and it returns this year essentially unchanged. Neither could testers remember when, in the last decade, a four-buckle overlap narrow entered by Nordica didn't make it onto the podium. The brand touts the Promachine as a "more comfortable Dobermann," and our test team agrees. Our testers, while not shocked at its strong results, were surprised anew with the Promachine's level of fit contouring and cushion given its high performance demeanor.
Testers particularly like the way the cuff wraps the lower leg shaft and addresses the shin, with a snug touch on every square inch but without feeling restrictive or blocky in flex. The Promachine is well-padded, testers agreed, but without feeling bulky--it's a closely matched fit, without much wasted space. For as tight as the lower shell holds the foot, testers again were caught off guard by how little hot spot complaining was going on.
With a Quickness score of 4.94 and an Edge Power score of 4.83 (out of 5.00) averaged over 10 tests there is no questioning the Promachine's qualifications on snow. It skis as well as any boot we've tested in the narrow All-Mountain category--the question is really one of fitting into this truly narrow 98 mm performer. We'd suggest you try. The polyurethane shell wall is thinned enough in common stretch zones for making defined modifications where needed without distorting the shape elsewhere. However, if a life-altering project isn't in your future, you could make your life easy by checking out the medium Speedmachine or wide lasted Sportmachine. We tested both of those too this year and they're as good as they've ever been.
Testers never tire of the Lange RX's repeat performances at the boot test--it has topped the category for our women's test many years running and this year's on-snow testing confirmed that the medium RX has not missed a step for raw power and absolute quickness edge to edge. The revisions seen last year to the liner tongue construction remain a test team favorite for a progressive and firm flex feel that commands the tip of the ski exactly as intended, they say.
This year's liner impressed testers with a combination of silky fur and a luxuriant feel against the sock alongside a firm, no-compromises grip across the instep, ankles and heel pocket. Testers loved the way this foot hold translated into instant ski response and highly accurate steering movements. They also said it caused more tingling than they expected from the medium width RX 110, putting it on the tight end of the medium last fit spectrum. Its heel and ankle fit score average was the tightest of all medium width entries. The toebox and forefoot remained open and airy, however, so testers pointed toward the classic "V-shaped" foot with a broad front and skinny heel as the perfect match for the RX 110 W's fit map.
Testers love the RX's stance angles (they haven't changed in years because they work perfectly) and tallied a nearly perfect 4.93 for Dynamic Balance. This ideal alignment also uncorked the boot's tip and rip totals--also receiving a 4.93 for Edge Power. The RX W's mono-injected polyurethane shell and upper cuff continues to prove that traditional plastics in traditional thicknesses still produce the most stable and powerful results on edge, said testers, who still love the predictable, damp feel of the RX at speed on any snow or terrain.
The women's test team has a love-hate relationship with the RX 110 W LV. They love it for how well it fits the low volume foot and leg and they love it for how well they ski in it--in every snow condition, in any radius and at any speed. They hate it for how it makes their own boots feel suddenly inferior and forces the issue of considering a brand switch from their daily driver. These are good problems to have, no doubt, but it's true that no other brand and model receives more comments about a tester "making her best turns of the season" while on a test run. That's saying something considering that this is an out-of-the-box testing scenario.
The revised (last year) liner tongue construction continues to impress our team for how comfortably it contours along the shin bone in a properly padded match that handles flexion like a champ, distributing pressure throughout the flex range without biting or folding over. The gas-filled foam cells of the tongue's construction also generate noticeable energy and snap, which testers said bumped up its performance scores--the RX LV received near-perfect 4.90's for Dynamic Balance, Edge Power and Quickness.
Yes, the iridescent green is a hit with the test team, but they really like the simplicity of a mono-injected shell and cuff made of Dual Core polyurethane plastic up and down and a features set that is both minimal and useful. They do admit there's some creature comfort to the slightly furry liner but just enough, safely staying away from the frilly and superfluous. Testers said that the single liner tongue loop, single lateral cuff adjustment and GripWalk soles finished off the boot in sophisticated but functional fashion.
The 2023 Lange RX 130. What's new about it this year? "Nothing," said one tester, "and that's why it's awesome." This is a perennial comment about the Lange boot test entries--they don't change much from year to year, and for a reason, testers say--there's nothing to change. The medium width RX remains a test team favorite and topped the All-Mountain Traditional category this year (so did the RX LV in the narrow group) not despite being unchanged but because it's unchanged.
The RX 130 remains one of the models that each year testers try to leave with at the end of the test period. It also receives the most, "I could ski this boot every day" comments. The fit is universal (or at least suits the vast majority of folks) and the stance is the definition of neutral in all directions, testers say. While the entry and exit is as easy as it gets for a 130-flex performance model and the liner material drapes against the foot in a supple sort of caress, the RX receives inputs from the skier and translates them directly to the ski for powerful and accurate direction changes and a highly stable ride at mach speeds over undulating terrain. Testers claim that the boot should not ski as well as it does for how comfortable it is, but that is its magic. More than one tester wondered on their test forms why they spend so much time squeezing themselves into narrower race boots when this would likely perform just as well, straight off the rack.
Testers continue to praise the RX's traditional shell wall thickness, comprised of Dual Core polyether plastic in the shell and the cuff, for a predictably stable and strong feel underfoot without making performance trades for the gain of a few extra marketing ounces. They like the simplicity of a four-buckle overlap design and a well-crafted liner that both matches the human foot and leg but also links to the interior shape of the shell for a positive transfer of energy through the boot, without any slipping or shearing internally. Testers are mostly catching on to GripWalk soles, though a few mentioned that it might rob a smidge of throttle response (but they said is probably worth that trade for the convenience and comfort of stride on hard surfaces).
One of the best boots ever made. That's how one veteran tester described the Lange RX 130 LV, and by the looks of this year's scoring a bunch of our other testers might agree. With nearly perfect scores for Edge Power and Quickness categories (an average of 4.94 out of 5.00 after 10 separate tests), the RX 130 LV continues to bank on its performance game but testers also say the RX in its current form is the by far the most comfortable it's ever been. True, it returned to the boot test unchanged from last year, but that only meant that testers had a chance to be impressed all over again by last year's new liner and its anatomically matched and perfectly padded tongue feel against the shin. The proprietary gas-filled foam material in the tongue's construction also generated noticeably snappy rebound energy and an energetic flex feel that complemented the LV's power and stability, which testers said remains top notch.
Next to rating its edging and agility game most highly, testers gave the RX LV's stance set-up a similarly high score, claiming a perfectly balanced stance for boot board ramp angle, upper cuff angle (most like the rear spoiler out) and neutral lateral angles in the lower shell and cuff. For those who need a little stance adjustment, the Allen key style loosen-move-tighten cuff adjustment will most likely suffice, though Cantology shims mate with the boot's sole plates regardless of whether a skier chooses to run the stock GripWalk soles or swap out to the more traditional alpine DIN MaxGrip (aftermarket purchase) soles.
While ease of entry, initial fit, convenience and features scores lagged slightly behind the performance metrics, these did not represent real demerits but rather highlighted that the RX line still prioritizes on-snow performance over fluff features or needless niceties. Testers do say that the boot goes on just fine, is plenty warm and has all the adjustments a skier might need to make it his or her own, but they also suggest that if furry liners and built-in heat systems are requisite features then one will need to look elsewhere.
Testers weren't exactly sure who was on the lookout for a fixed cuff, tech-compatible all-mountain boot, but they said that for those who are, the K2 Anthem Team is probably the one! They loved the light weight, ease on and off and the well-contoured anatomical shape (if more of a medium-width fit). Skiers who've made a transition to a pin binding but who don't love or need a hike mode will find only a few boots to suit their needs and the Anthem Team is one of them. Note that the images in this review do not show the tech fittings (but they're there, we promise!).
Testers felt that the 125 flex was a bit oversold and surmised that the cuff's Pebax construction might be implicated. Some testers love the resilient, springy and long flex feel while others would give up a few ounces for a more traditional PU feel. Fore-aft balance is slightly tunable with the cuff's calf adjustment and the lateral mechanism of adjustment is the offset inserts that are common to K2 boots over the past several years. Testers gave the Anthem Team its highest scores for its balanced stance, though the next highest scores came in for both Edge Power and Quickness.
The liner construction is soft and inviting, testers said, though perhaps an element in the slightly-roomier-than-expected feel throughout the lower boot. Testers agreed that a true 98 mm narrow, this was not. This isn't to say the fit is bad at all--they loved it, just said it runs to the widest side of the narrow group.
Testers like the cam-locking power strap, dual pull loops on the liner and GripWalk soles...pretty standard fare for top shelf price points, but appreciated all the same.
If your wintertime reconnaissance missions routinely consist of an all-mountain poke-around to suss out the best conditions, be it leftover, blown-in pow, just-ripening corn or a.m. groomed corduroy, the K2 Recon Team should be on the required equipment list. Our test team did exactly that with this year's Recon Team--dragged it into every good and bad pocket we could find at Mt. Bachelor--and it executed well, they said, with a particularly convenient and comfortable style.
Across the board, over many different testers, one common Recon refrain was how instantly comfortable and balanced it felt straight out of the box. Testers loved the Powerfit Pro liner (one went so far as to say it should get stuffed into the new Dispatch) and they also praised its smooth and trouble-free entry and exit. Was it too comfortable? They said it was one of the most luxuriant of the narrow class and fit a little more mediumish in the toebox and calf--none of that was a bad thing for testers, but a crushing, race-like 98mm fit it was not.
The Recon Team's lateral transmission and edge work was also given thumbs up. Testers called it precise, reliable and strong from arc to arc when moving side to side. The Recon Team's fore-aft feel had a few testers wondering if the Pebax cuff construction contributed to a feel of rearward give, which they didn't like much--but perhaps they should get the hell outta the backseat, right?
The test team rendered something of a split decision on their opinion about tech fittings on the toe lug of a fixed cuff boot. Some liked the idea of a hikeable boot paired with a pin binding but without the linkage compromise that might come with a hike mode feature. Others thought it was a trendy doodad that wouldn't be utilized by most skiers. The Recon Pro (also called a 140 flex) is offered in a mirror build-out, sans tech fittings, and without any discount for lacking the buggers. The Recon 130 similarly goes without the tech toe and also swaps out the Pebax cuff for a polyurethane version and this along with a $100 discount at list price. All of those options come with the cam locking Booster power strap, which testers loved.
This year's Head Formula 105 W returns to the boot test with an unchanged exterior build but it sports an all-new liner and testers gave the upgrade two thumbs up for the huge improvement it brought over last year's fit. Our test team unanimously praised the Formula's neutral stance set-up and well-balanced combination of power and quickness packaged in a silky warm embrace. This year's medium width Formula W stepped up into high scoring gold medal status, and nudged a couple perennial 100 mm category benchmarks out of the way to do so.
The Formula construction is made to ski--its shape is modeled after the new and narrower Raptor WCR also released last year, and also parallels its construction in both materials and angles. The grippy soles and more luxurious liner are really the only thing that differentiates the two boots other than width, so it's not a surprise that our testers said the boot was powerful, stable and reactive to inputs from the skier. Testers for the most part loved the flex feel and felt the 105 was stronger than expected. The stance set-up was without flaw they said, neutral in every respect and easy to access for any good skiing move desired. Testers looking for something slotted right between the Raptor and the Formula are in luck--the Formula RS (tested and loved last year) fits into the 98mm middle ground in Head's range.
Where did the Formula 105 W fall short for our test team? They only had a couple gripes--speaking of short, testers agree that the cuff feel is slightly low on the leg, which was a point of consternation for our long and slender-legged testers but suited our shorter skiers quite well--and it might be just the ticket for the thicker legged skier who doesn't want a tall boot jabbing the calf (and speaking of calf fit, it's roomy for a medium width testers said, which they said should put this model on any good skier's watch-list if they've had issues with an uncomfortable calf). A few testers had issues with the new liner's tongue feel, which clipped them over the top of the foot and had a somewhat sharp feel against the shin. This wasn't a universal complaint, and conversations with Head revealed that a liner 3.0 is in the works for the boot's final release this season, which may likely put those complaints to bed. The testers who had those issues noticed them right off the bat, so if you don't have a problem on initial fit you're golden, they said. They also noted that with some warm-up and on-hill testing, the liner softened up and improved.
Formula features are functional: upper cuff adjustment (lateral), forward lean spoiler (removable), boot top calf adjustment, Form Fit oven-cook moldable shell and Liquid Fit injectable liner. Note that testers mention that the heel pocket is snug right out of the box, so for the chronically loose-of-heel but otherwise mediumish-of-fit, this is a good start with the additional insurance of a Liquid Fit squirt mission. GripWalk soles continue to gain traction with our team.
The Formula 130 was a hit last year and it doubles down this time around with a revised liner that strikes an ideal balance between control and comfort for our testers. They say that if the concept was to produce a roomier, all-mountain version of the Raptor WCR then mission accomplished--testers say the power and quickness mimics that of the 96 mm Frontsider with some minimal loss of transmission in trade for a more comfortable, padded liner construction, GripWalk soles and 4 mm of extra breathing room at the forefoot.
Technical all-mountain weapon of trench warfare was how one tester described it, citing a slightly stronger-than-average set-up to the inside edge. Testers agreed that the cuff angles are ever so slightly tipped out in a bowlegged fashion, which loaded a lot of grip to the big toe edge, but the dual cuff adjustment offered more than enough range to zero out that edginess for those looking for flatter, looser alignment angles. The forward angles were on the money for testers and the firm 130 flex feel remained true under pressure and testers had no complaints of any shin discomfort.
Last year's test revealed an aggressive heel pocket fit which this year's liner revision has almost entirely eradicated. The shell fits snugly there, so testers with fat heels have had to do some light shell grinding to get comfy, but this is easily accomplished on the Formula. Our bootfitter testers appreciated the Formula's straightforward, monoinjected polyurethane build-out which makes stretches and grinds easy and predictable.
Formula features are functional: dual upper cuff adjustment (lateral), forward lean spoiler (removable), boot top calf adjustment, Form Fit oven-cook moldable shell and Liquid Fit injectable liner. Note that testers mention that the heel pocket is snug right out of the box, so for the chronically loose-of-heel but otherwise mediumish-of-fit, this is a good start with the additional insurance of a Liquid Fit squirt mission. GripWalk soles continue to gain traction with our team. For those looking for a stiffer flex feel, the additional rear spine anchor can be installed to bump it to 140.
Dalbello's new Veloce boot means it when it says rapid, quick, fast--both in Italian and also according to our testers who gave its second-highest scores in the Quickness category (its highest scores were found in Anatomical Fit and Feel where it received a perfect score). We tested the top of the line 105 flex in the all-new medium width, four-buckle overlap design but there's a 95, 85 and 75 flex available as well.
Testers were very impressed with the first fit of the Veloce, universally approving of its silken liner feel against the foot and leg as well as a just-right amount of 100 mm last squeeze. The flex feel was spot-on against the shin and the lower leg fit transitioned through the instep and over the top of the foot in well-designed shaping they said--while they couldn't point directly to the auto-molding foam in the tongue as responsible for the nice shin fit it would make sense that it had an influence. They thought that there was an appropriate amount of circumference room through the upper cuff to house the average leg and a nice bit of flare out at the boot top for a muscular calf. Closure is traditional and straightforward with four functional buckles on an overlap shell--call our testers old school if you want but they did appreciate this simplicity and functionality.
Stance-wise testers dug the forward to backward set-up, citing neutral positioning in both ramp angle internally and the forward lean angle of the cuff. They said the cuff height was average for the category and ideal in feel. Laterally there seemed to be a bit of a glitch in the matrix, with some testers mentioning feeling slightly over-edged by an outboard cuff angle and unable to really tap the boot's power due to a slightly hooky feel. While we didn't spend time doing model-specific stance modifications, testers did think that the issue was minor and most likely resolved by the on-board cuff adjustment range.
Cosmetically, the black with gold highlights and a furry liner top worked well for our test team, and a 40 mm power strap and GripWalk soles were par for the course in the category and worked just fine they said.
