The Trinity 95 surprised testers with how much fun it was to ski once they tuned into its unique flexion mojo and they pushed it into gold medal status in the All-Mountain Walk category.
One of our testers went back on a second day and then again on a third to make triple-sure she loved these boots as much as she thought she did. The narrow-class Cochise Pro W was a unanimous win-win-win for our test team this year for how strongly it skied everywhere on the hill in collusion with a suspiciously comfortable fit.
Yes, this narrow boot's fit scores were decidedly mediumish, but that didn't bother many testers, who said it doesn't have to be bone-crushingly tight to be right when all the angles line up, as this one's did. The cuff is tall and upright and the flex is an evenly dispersed 105 (and then some, they said), so our taller, more aggressive testers liked this one quite a bit. The lower boot fit was longer, wider and higher in the instep than other narrow-class boots, but the liner's plush feel and good-enough fix on the foot got the job done for testers with low volume feet, though the takeaway is that thicker-footed skiers shouldn't shy away from this one—the 98mm is in need of numeric recalibration, perhaps.
The rearward support was top tier and side-to-side movements reportedly rapid fire through all types of snow and terrain. There was no indication that the boot had a hike mode—at least not while skiing. However, the new shell design this year has made huge improvements to the Cochise's range of motion and touring feel when the Mobility Cuff mechanism is released. Testers gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up there.
Our women's test team liked the Asylum this year for the same reason they liked it last year and the year before that-- and that was for its stability on edge, progressive flex feel and wide forefoot fit.
The Asylum FR 120, like its brother Delirium, fits shorter than average in length and also lower through the instep than any other boot in the wide category, so a few testers opted to bump up one size to gain enough ceiling height for comfort on average and higher volume feet. Testers commented that the heel and ankle hold is quite snug relative the roomy forefoot width—a combination that most enjoyed for the control it provided through off-piste lumps and bumps. Testers also mentioned that the boot's flex was progressive and somewhat "spring-loaded" for an energetic return to its starting point in between turns.
The Asylum was an agreed-upon crusher-charger, and while it has an effective cuff release, testers didn't feel it enabled a large enough range of motion for distance touring and the boot is not particularly lightweight. Testers felt it best suited for aggressive descents in and around the ski area with permission to tour on a limited basis.
Note: the Freedom SL Wmn returned to our boot test this year unchanged, and was tested in both the All-Mountain Adventure category with its Alpine DIN sole blocks and also the Backcountry category with rockered, tech-compatible soles. The test results mirrored last year's, so the review content is adapted from last year's review. The tester commentary is from this year's test.
The range of options for skiers is huge on the Freedom SL W and gave our test team a lot to work through in getting a complete picture of this new featherweight Freeride crossover boot. First, the boot's range of fore-aft adjustment (a rare thing to begin with) is a whopping 8-degrees—as upright as 10-degrees and as forward leaning as 18. This is a useful feature in a boot designed to appeal to area-based skiers using alpine bindings, other using AT frame-style bindings as well as skiers utilizing light weight "tech" style bindings. Why? The differences in these bindings' ramp or "delta" angles can alter skiers' fore-aft balance hugely, so having the means to find an ideal lower leg angle regardless of binding choice is awesome. In addition to getting the forward lean dialed, the boot has a slightly outward or bowlegged lateral bias which some testers moderated using the single sided cuff adjustment. Once each testers' home base stance got figured, the on-snow tests came back aces, but those who didn't get the boot wired got a wild ride. This Pebax Rnew constructed boot (can you say light?) is a reactive, feely thing—ready to rock at a skier's bare hint of a movement. So good skiers starting from a balanced position loved how this boot skied—testers working from a less centered starting point got tossed.
The boot's merits on performance, adjustability and fit (this medium sits right in the middle of the category for "fit tension," or general tightness) were certainly enough for our test team to put this boot into their top third within the entire category. But this doesn't even take into consideration the boot's hike mode feature. Testers claimed its release mechanism was one of the very best of the whole test—an easy to use lever with an obviously in or out position. The range of touring "rotation," or fore-aft movement, was both massive and fluid, astounding, really. This unimpeded range and feel is enabled by the release mechanism's design which fully disconnects the upper from the lower avoiding the friction of mechanism parts rubbing together. Testers utilized the available alpine-DIN soles for testing but the SL comes with a rockered, tech-compatible toe sole and the alpine set is available as an aftermarket purchase. The SL's hike mode, plus the boot's fit and feel, plus its on-snow performance all combined to make fans of our test team's lift riders and backcountry purists alike.
There were a few gripes regarding some inconsistency of fit, mainly tightness in the toebox and over the midfoot, but testers who fully cooked the Intuition EVA liner found immediate relief here. Customers trying on this boot in a shop should keep this liner molding issue in mind. Not to be forgotten, testers loved the cosmetics on the SL, which are created with a micro film that's molecularly bonded to the shell in a special submersion bath. Cool for sure but why? Scarpa claims it’s a way to avoid adding pigments to the plastic which can have a negative impact on stiffness and flex feel. Speaking of flex, note that testers felt the 120 flex claim was off—and was much softer—which is probably a good mistake made for most women.
Testers called the Quest Pro 100 W an agile, all-mountain performer with tricks up her sleeve. They said the tongue and cuff were just right (a little tall, a little upright, a little long-flexing) for off-piste exploration with a cushioned liner feel that dampened bumps and jumps. They applauded the big-buckle Backbone Release hike mode mechanism for its easy-to-handle lever and for the range of motion it accessed as well as its solid lock-down when re-engaged.
This was an open, roomy fit for testers out of the box—slightly more ample than the 100mm volume average, with an especially open fit for the calf, which many of our testers liked. The last-width here is a range of 100-106mm, an expansion enabled by the 360 Custom Shell construction which after a ten-minute oven-cook will morph-match the skier's wider foot shape in five minutes and then set to that new shape as it cools. The upper cuff is also partially constructed of this material, and so stands as one of the true fit aces for larger calves.
While most testers liked the upright fore-aft set-up, some had minor issues with the loose, lateral linkage with the skis. The boot's stance is slightly knock-kneed, which worked perfectly for some testers, and left others searching for more inside edge hook-up. While the Oversized Pivot cuff attachment points are a solid point of transmission of edging energy, they aren't cuff adjustment mechanisms—lateral stance corrections can be made with Salomon's unique aftermarket cantable soles, which can be planed by a qualified bootfitter for up to 1.5 degrees of cant.
Testers were impressed with the solid lateral power the Eden 105 delivered to the skis' edges, powering through carves on hard firm surfaces and chunderized crud, alike. They said this medium width boot fit tall on the leg and upright, favoring bigger and stronger members of the test team who liked a firm feeling boot that responded to assertive inputs.
Some of the shorter, lighter weight testers on the crew had a hard time engaging the front of the ski due to a firm liner feel on the shin and an upright stance angle. This was a much tougher boot than its idyllic name would suggest. They did, however, like the pink graphic—even if it was camouflage on something of a badass brick-strong crusher.
Aside from the Tequila Sunrise graphic motif, testers love the way this boot stands and moves—tall on the leg and upright but with a long range of travel in flexion to move through in balance and flow. Testers say the 110 is oversold—felt more 100-ish to them, but in combination with the straighter starting point the softer flex feel allowed them to get where they needed to be over the ski with fluid, silky transitions turn to turn.
Yes, in addition to loving the dynamic balance and flex feel, the test team loved the fur and the fun colors—though one called the liner a Westy puppy and another complained that it shed on her socks. But the liner is more than just fluff—the pre-formed ankle pockets grab the rear foot for a comfortable but control-focused fit which testers liked for predictable lateral moves to the edge. Testers say the length fit is long, with more toebox and forefoot room than most medium fits. A couple testers were able to drop down a size without trouble—others enjoyed a toenail-trauma-free fit up front.
The PosiBlock hike mode is simple to use and solidly locked between upper and lower for traditional-boot style power on the downhill, testers note, but they mention that the range of motion when released is somewhat narrow and better suited for apres ski, not uphill skinning.
What did this fuzzy, warm bucket of love impress testers with? Well, everything, so long as the lighter weight or less-aggressive target skier was kept in mind, but regardless of that they absolutely loved how easy this comfort creature slid on and off. That may seem silly to the hard-cores but It pegged the highest entry-exit and comfort ratings, across the board.
The Alltrack 90 W is being a bit wishful on its flex rating—testers say it feels a little softer—but they dug its progressive, long-travel feel and balanced starting point. One tester called it a high-end boot with a softer flex. The warmth and convenience scores were through the roof, and also for all-day ease and cushioned walking. Another tester said it had what it takes to keep a skier mom smiling all day long, right through the kids' end-of-day tantrums.
It fits long, wide in the toebox and forefoot and it's open-topped for a thicker calf—skiers who don't fit that higher volume description need to head for the medium-width Alltrack Pro series. The Alltrack line (sans Pro) is all about having room to relax.
This is not to say it doesn't ski well—the test team was impressed with how it handled everything they threw at it, but it isn't for larger, aggressive gals. Cruisers and more petite skiers with thicker feet and legs will love it, they said.
Our women's test team is a diverse bunch, but they do share one common trait—they are critical when it comes to boots. They don't let anything slide, and if it ain't right, we read about it on their test forms. So when a boot gets unanimously glowing score sheets and nothing but positive comments—like you find with the XT 110 W LV—you know you have a winner.
Instant edge response, a firm but comfortable grip along the shin and a consistently snug fit throughout the lower boot were a few of the plusses that propelled the narrow-last XT forward with a higher percentage of Best-of-Category and Best-of-Test votes than any other boot in this group.
While the XT 110 W LV is not new per se, certain key elements are revised this year to update the fit and on-snow performance and these updates garnered much acclaim. The liner is completely redone to better match the firm fit and feel of the RX series liners for better energy transmission and foot hold, but a Thinsulate laminate is also integrated for increased warmth retention. The upper cuff is stiffened slightly, and the Power V-Lock releasable connection between upper and lower is re-beefed for more solid engagement on the descent.
Testers loved the XC 80 for what it is—a soft, wide boot with a walk mode suited for beginner to advanced intermediate gals looking for comfort and convenience with an option on good skiing too! This was Lange's soft flex and value entry in this year's boot test and one of very few to get commendation in the print reviews—testers thought it hit its target with bullseyes all the way through.
Yes, it's soft, but with a progressive feel and stopping point—testers said it didn't just collapse—which enabled smooth and functional skiing movements and delivered the ski to an edge accurately turn to turn. They said the fit is quite relaxed and roomy, well-suited to the thicker footed cruiser. The calf was appropriately flared to house some muscle, as well.
Testers say the stance is fairly upright, but they didn't mind that, given that the flex was supple enough to allow them to move forward through the boot's flex range and find a neutral and balanced sweet spot as needed.
While there wasn't a heap of all-new women's boots in the category this year, the medium-width K2 Minaret 100 is one of them. We know girls like presents, and somebody had better get this one on the shopping list, because our test team said it's a gift they'd gladly give themselves this season. There are a lot of good-fitting boots in this group, so what tips the scales for our test team here? How it skis. They unanimously approved the balanced stance and ski movements made in every direction.
This was a tough 100 flex, they said, with a long-traveling flex feel that loaded energy to the ski predictably but provided a solid rearward backstop that maintained balance. Testers were impressed with the boot's responsiveness edge to edge and logged many comments about how crisp and snappy this three-buckle's turns felt. Some testers felt the stance bordered on overly forward with the rear spoiler in place, but most liked it as is. The Velcro rear spoiler is easily removed or even grinded to an in-between thickness to suit individual preference.
The Minaret's liner got a no-hotspot report on its out-of-box fit, but the Intuition LuxFit Tour construction bodes well for future fit tuning with high-heat stacks molding at a specialty bootfitting shop. Testers made note of the liner's flex notches—they work, they said—which help access the Synchro Interlock releasable cuff's long range of motion.
Finding a workable fit solution in a strong and balanced all-mountain ripper was not a challenge here. Testers of a wide variety of foot and leg shapes were able to jump into the Challenger 110 W and get straight to the business of shredding. It's a medium that hedges toward the snug side of the range, with a firm grab on the heel and ankles and a slightly shorter length fit than others the same size, testers said.
For skiers looking for more comfort than narrow-class boots might offer but don't want to lose control, the Challenger's Adaptive Fit feature may offer a unique benefit—it makes the shell itself narrower with the turn of an Allen wrench on the bottom of the boot sole. This feature is also a bit of fit tension insurance down the road for skiers who want a return to like-new closure after the liner has broken in a bit.
Testers said it felt a bit soft for a 110—and they were right because it's a 100 flex boot. Why Head calls it the 110 remains a mystery but the manufacturer did confirm that starting next year the number name game will reflect the actual flex index—probably a good idea, we think.
The Perfect Fit liner is highly moldable with an out-of-box fit that's as good as any but with the full custom option that EVA foam construction offers. The liners are cooked inside the shells in an oven for five minutes then the boots are worn for ten for a more personalized fit.
Testers were impressed with how well this luxury liner put skis on edge and hammered on them no matter where they were pointed. A wider option for thicker feet and legs that actually rips, said one tester. Another called it an all-mountain thoroughbred. We tested the Hybrid W 10+ Vacuum straight off the rack, without Vacuum molding, and testers said no problema for fit or stance. Though our previous Vacuum tests have showed that fit and balance are only enhanced when properly molded with a good technician's help.
Testers said the Hybrid W 10+ stood a little taller than others, both in height on the leg as well as in terms of forward lean angle, with a firm flex feel that exceeded the 100-flex billing. Testers pointed out that with the Vacuum molding option this could be a great solution for bigger, more aggressive women with muscular calves.
