Nordica Dobermann 5 96 Stiff

Sometimes the score profile tells the whole story about a boot.

Category 
Frontside
Last Width 
96
Flex Index 
120
Price (MSRP) 
$900.00USD

Kastle K130P LV

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
110
Cantology Compatible 
No

The Frontside category of boots attracts a particular type of skier--usually this person is technically skilled and often has some formal ski training background like coaching, racing, instructing and perhaps takes part in an advanced lesson or workshop of some sort from time to time. The Frontside-curious skier understands that skiing is a sport and accepts that athleticism is a requirement, to some degree. If you're nodding your head at this you may be intrigued by the Kastle K130P LV, as we have been since its recent introduction to the market.

It's not uncommon for the technically-minded skier who owns several pairs of skis with waist widths under 85mm to be similarly turn-centric on the road. Frontside skiers are often avid drivers and motorsports enthusiasts. If you prefer driving a stick, disdain ABS and traction control and immediately search for sport or manual mode in rental cars, you most definitely should have a look at the K130P LV.

Kastle's 130-flex consumer narrow boot eschews nanny-tech. There are no creature comforts. No seat heat. No blind-spot monitoring. It's a polyurethane up, polyurethane down, four-buckle overlap ski-tipping apparatus with a firm, minimalist liner designed to transmit body movement to ski without any loss in translation. It is not a spa day. It is not valet parking. Yes, it's tight on the styloid process, testers agreed but they also assured that issue would be supremely easy to fix with a bootfitter's help.

Speaking of bootfitting, the K130P LV is made for the kind of skiers who will first pound out several days of hard skiing in some discomfort before they see their bootfitter to ensure that where they thought their feet hurt on day 1 still hurt on day 5, just so they don't accidentally ask for more grinding than they really need. By day 5, the slight shearing movement of the liner inside the shell (one of testers' few complaints about the Kastle) will have been eradicated by its broken-in stretch-out, and sure enough most of those minor hot spots will have vanished as well. Testers mentioned that after only three test runs the liner fit and movement inside the shell had improved. But no, the Kastle K130P LV is not initially one of those luxuriant first-fit experiences where a skier wonders if the boot might be too big, too soft, too comfy from the get-go. Nope, the K130P LV is not that. It's a little difficult to get on. It's tight like a narrow frontsider shoud be. It reminds the wearer that he or she is a skier, and that real ski boots do still exist. And then will come the questions of faith--in oneself--am I skier enough to ski these? Do I ski well enough to wear this weird color?

Testers who hadn't skied a Kastle boot previously were surprised by how dialed its stance is and how well it skied. Massively powerful and quick, the K130P LV appealed to our most aggressive testers who went looking for the hardest morning-frozen Spring corduroy to see how well it would drive a frontside carver--and it did, right with the perennial best boots of the category. While testers may have found a few places where those category benchmarks edged it out for the podium, these were generally minor fit and convenience quibbles. Savvy testers point out that the real challenge might be finding one of these at retail to try on--so start your search early.

 

Total Avg Score 
4.51
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
4.14
Dynamic Balance 
4.71
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
5.00
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
5.00
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
3.71
Tech Compatible 
No

Head Raptor WCR 115 W

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5--27.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
95
Special Sizes 
22.5 and smaller
Cantology Compatible 
No

The Head Raptor WCR 115 W continues to surprise testers with its sneaky, sleeper qualities that add up to a ski experience that's stronger with less effort and more comfortable with less fitting fuss than expected. Most of our women's test team have been at this for many years and can easily recall their experiences with Head Raptors of seasons past--it was always a high-performance experience on snow but at times a high-anxiety one for fit, sensation, warmth and getting the thing on and off. The arrival of the new WCR design changed all that--for the better, across the board--and while this new Raptor has been on the hill for a few seasons our testers were shocked anew at a marriage of comfort and performance they'd never have expected from a Frontside Head.

The most frequent eyebrow raise still comes from the revised toebox fit--it's longer and more open than in the past, and for old-school rippers with race backgrounds, the concept that the toenail doesn't need to turn black for the boot to fit has them temporarily flummoxed. It just feels too comfy to perform, they say initially. But that sentiment changes. Head extended the toebox shape to counter the most common fit issue of the performance boot, jammed toes. So long as the rest of the foot is held in place, the piggies, for the most, part can still do their job of pushing and prying for fine-tuned balance through a turn, perhaps do an even better job of it given that they aren't numb. Testers say it takes a little getting used to, but invariably the comments come around to praise for the easy trade off: more comfort and warmth without loss of performance. Duh.

The other noticeable difference in WCR feel is that of flex. Testers consistently react to what feels too soft for the rated flex index. At first the reaction is one of skepticism, and then after skiing for a few runs it turns to surprise before finally ending up forcing a self-examination of long held assumptions about what makes a top tier boot perform. The edge driving power of a boot doesn't come from a forward-flexing movement but rather lateral and torsional movements against the boot--the WCR design maintains a rigid linkage to the ski in these movements but allows for a longer-traveling flex feel that can even-out terrain inconsistencies and smooth pressure delivery to the ski. It also is more forgiving of mistakes than a rigidly stiff boot, and testers found themselves making cleaner carves at higher speeds with less effort and fewer errors. Sleeper boot, they said.

Our test team appreciated the level of technical features found here that are also on the guys' version, like a dual pull loop liner, offset cuff adjustment disks and flex-tunable spine hardware. But they really liked two things that the guys don't get--first, the Ice color was a hit, but foremost they loved the removable toe and heel sole plates with their little bit of tread built in. For anyone who's ever put the unisex Raptor WCR on snow, they can attest to the super slippery nature of that sole. This smidgeon of gription here is huge! And better yet, there's a GripWalk sole set available as an accessory purchase for those who will be marching about, working in this boot like instructors, coaches or moms. Testers agreed, high levels of comfort and convenience are available straight out of the box in this ripping Frontsider.

Total Avg Score 
4.82
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
4.58
Dynamic Balance 
4.75
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.92
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.92
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.92
Tech Compatible 
No

Head Raptor WCR 130 S

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
140, 120
Special Sizes 
22.5 and smaller
Cantology Compatible 
No

Do testers tire of skiing the Head WCR Raptor in the Frontside category, year after dominant year? No, they do not. Making a few laps in the Raptor is a way for testers to re-boot their understanding of edge power and quickness and reframe their understanding of how the lateral and torsional rigidity of a ski boot translates to on-edge ski behavior. Testing the Raptor is a boot tester's race-level staycation away from his daily driver--like taking a spin in a friend's high-end sports car, you know, the kind you'll never own but you still do it just to see how the other half lives. The WCR Raptor is a lot like that--might not be exactly your flavor for everyday skiing, but it will show you how well you could ski, if you owned this Frontside crusher.

Testers have largely forgotten the Raptor of old and fully integrated the WCR design into their current Raptor understanding. For those behind the Raptor redesign curve, the WCR employs a new polyurethane blend that's more elastic in its flex feel and offers skiers a longer-feeling flex range but with even stronger lateral and torsional properties that keep a ski on lock in a surprisingly strong way. The WCR shape is expanded in toebox length and room in the forefoot but in a still-short external boot sole length. Testers in recent years spent a lot of time explaining how they had to adjust to the new Raptor's more user-friendly feel that shouldn't have been as strong on edge as it undoubtably was. Like getting to know and eventually love an automatic in its sport shift mode as opposed to wrangling a stick, or finally admitting that the non-FIS super-shape carving ski is a better match for you than a true race GS--the WCR Raptor makes high performance attainable and comfortable. Now just learn to love that.

Testers were perhaps tricked into testing the Raptor in new, outside-the-box fashion by the 130's Anthracite color way--it's badass like an Audi RS6's Nardo Grey, true, but more importantly, it ain't white. So, maybe testers thought it wasn't the nearly race Raptor but something other-than. At any rate, no matter the visual-psychological connection, testers reported back about how awesome this Frontside veteran was off-piste! It shouldn't surprise anyone that the longer-travel flex feel and more shock-dampening polyurethane material made it better suited to variable surfaces than the Raptor of old, but there it was in multiple test forms.

The thing that really keeps the Raptor's all-mountain wings clipped is its ultra-transmissive hard plastic boot sole, which will communicate firm but irregular surface vibrations and impacts up into the skier, as well as communicate the skier's occasional movement miscues back to the ski. The Raptor WCR may be kinder and gentler than versions of yore but it is not a boot that is particularly forgiving of mistakes. It's a skilled, expert skier's boot and some grey paint isn't going to change that. Though, the slippery sole can be tamed with Head's purpose-built Vibram lifter plates (routing of toe and heel lugs back down to DIN spec after application is required).

The piste is where it's at for the Raptor WCR 130, regardless of its crossover chops. Testers have nothing but superlatives to describe the way it drives a properly shaped and sharp carving ski across a firm groomer, and skiers who want that kind of precision but tuned for unofficial off-trail applications should take a look at the Head Formula LV 130.

Total Avg Score 
4.60
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
4.29
Dynamic Balance 
4.86
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.86
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.57
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.43
Tech Compatible 
No

Dalbello DRS 130

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
140, 110
Special Sizes 
22.5 and smaller
Cantology Compatible 
No

For any of you who aren't convinced that Dalbello is a serious boot company, you certainly haven't skied the DRS 130. Our newer testers found themselves shocked at this Frontsider--both for how it fit and how it skied. One tester wondered why the company didn't make the DRS the foundation for all its other overlap models, it was so surprisingly good. Testers may have been lulled into a kind of low expectation state by the shortage of letters and numbers in its name, as the current fashion is to cram the whole alphabet into a boot's call-sign, but they quickly re-framed their perspectives after making about two turns at speed. There's a reason why you see the race version of the DRS on the World Cup and it's not because of its good looks--though it is pretty sharp looking, huh?

Testers were most impressed with the combination of tight and right--there was nary a comment made about hot spots except from one tester who said it was pretty tight on the styloid process (which is an easy bootfitter's fix). All testers agreed it was tight, in a good way, and perhaps on the snug side of the 98mm last spectrum--which was also a good thing, according to testers (who hate a roomy-feeling narrow). The comfortable, anatomically correct flex feel was appropriately firm against the leg for the category, testers agreed, and there was universal consensus that the boot's stance angles were perfect. This was a surprisingly race- or chase-ready boot that went from box to foot to binding in a seamless and hassle-free progression toward confidently ripping down the hill.

The DRS 130 is as powerful and quick to respond as any boot our test team has encountered in the Frontside category, a bold statement considering the perennial entries in this group but it's a claim that was supported by its average Edge Power score of 4.92 (out of 5) and a Quickness score of 4.75. Testers cited a no-speed-limit stability level and a predictable turn entry, regardless of the ski or snow condition, though the DRS is certainly geared for firm, smooth pistes and intended to pair with a ski that's built to suit that application. The Frontside category is dominated by polyurethane construction in both shell and cuff and the DRS 130 is no different. Testers liked the simple, dual-side cuff adjustment and the down-hooking cam buckle power strap--and the fact that there was nothing goofy tacked-on that they had to mess with. The testers' wrap up: this is a good, technical skier's boot from top to bottom with virtually no flaws to speak of.

As a head's up for women and small-footed guys, the DRS 130 (and 140 and 110) are available down to a size 22.5.

 

Total Avg Score 
4.56
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
4.40
Dynamic Balance 
4.60
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
5.00
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.80
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.00
Tech Compatible 
No

Nordica Dobermann 5 Stiff

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
Medium
Cantology Compatible 
No

We're not going to say that the new Nordica Dobermann 5 Stiff is a real man's boot because it's clearly a real woman's boot too given the sizing available down to a 22.5, so let's just call it a real skier's boot. No, maybe we should call it a really-tough-badass-skier's-boot. Though, that still might not be strong enough language.

Where most brand's so-called narrow boots feel closer to medium fits these days and as flex index numbers mean even less and liner construction just gets fluffier, the Dobermann 5 Stiff pushes back on these trends with a remarkably aggressive narrow fit in a legitimately stiff flex. They don't even give it a flex number, as if to thumb their nose at a gentrified metric that has lost its meaning. They could have named it the Dobermann That You're Not Worthy Of and it would have sent the same message. And that's okay. Because there's a place for a boot like this. First, it belongs on the piste and accordingly we tested it in the ever-shrinking Frontside category. Second, it belongs on the feet of the world's greatest skiers and accordingly we...well, we're still looking for some of them to test it. But in the meantime, our much-better-than-average-skier test team had a crack at it and they were smitten. As in smote down, made low and generally humbled by the damn thing. And yet, they gave its performance scores three perfect 5.0's in some sort of on-snow Stockholm Syndrome phenomenon.

This is a proper evolution of the Dobermann, testers agreed. It's always been a boot that had no performance limit other than those boundaries established through the failings of the human attempting to harness it. It is hard to get on and hard to take off. It has a thin liner that barely pads the body from the shell--and it's cold. It has a forward-leaning stance that reminds you that no, you didn't get in the gym one, single time throughout the off-season. It reacts immediately to every movement a skier makes. When such movements are accurate and at least assertive (better yet, aggressive) the skier is rewarded with god-like carves and wrought iron stability that begs for more speed. When those moves are weak or tentative, the boot's disdain for its driver is palpable. And this is the 96mm Dobermann we're talking about--a veritable recreational wide ride when compared to its stripped and ripped 93mm plug boot brother Dobermann 5 RD Stiff (no thank you, we're just fine here).

Testers rate a boot's tightness or looseness on a scale of 1 through 5, with 1's reserved for true plug-race boots and 5's for the widest rental fleet buckets available. Most of the narrow boots we test (96-98mm) are scored with 2's and 3's (straight 3's would paint a picture of an ideal medium width fit). Our testers gave the Dobermann 5 Stiff all 1's, with just a sprinkling of 2's thrown in here and there. There is no place in the lower shell or upper cuff that we could point to as a place of relief from this boot's unrelentingly aggressive grip--it's all tight as...well, you know. And testers loved this! They applauded this! And yet they simultaneously feared this as a daily driver because they could see the looming project ahead if their intent was to make it an all-day go-everywhere boot with adequate blood flow finding its way to the piggies. The lowest volume, most perfectly formed feet on the planet belong here--everyone else will have to work for it a bit.

And as one of our testers said, it will be worth it.

 

Total Avg Score 
4.67
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyurethane/polyurethane
Dry-Test Fit 
3.67
Dynamic Balance 
5.00
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
5.00
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
5.00
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.00
Tech Compatible 
No

Lange RS 130 LV

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
120. 110
Cantology Compatible 
No

We've tested the Lange RS 130 LV many times before, over the years, and yet our test team never tires of it. In fact, it stands as a perennial benchmark with which our crew can re-set their expectations of what constitutes a truly great boot. It did it again this year, posting the highest total score of the men's test, across all categories and models, at a 4.91 out of 5.00 and reminding our team how well a boot can make one ski.

As much as things may change in snowsports equipment, much stays the same, and we appreciate that somethings are consistent--like the Lange RS. We imagine that at some point it will have to evolve toward something new but for now we get to appreciate that Lange knows how to leave some things alone. Almost. What was new about the RS 130 LV this year? Not much, but testers loved the revised (last year) Dual 3D World Cup liner for its slightly thicker exterior material which added just a cat hair's width of extra tightness throughout the boot. It's always an interesting experiment to feel how much effect a millimeter of material has on fit, and testers said that not only did it make it a true narrow in a world of false narrows (i.e. most are too roomy) it elevated its performance above previous years' levels by virtue of the no-delay communication of movement from body to boot to ski.

Fitwise the tightness was not a flaw but a strength, especially for a narrow boot in the Frontside category. Testers said the snugness was balanced by the well-crafted curvature of the one piece, pre-molded liner padding and simple but elegant shaping of the shell itself--it was tight as f***, one tester said, but he mentioned that the fit simultaneously avoided hot spots and pinch points. The flex feel against the leg remains the test team gold standard for the 130-flex performance level--firm but evenly distributed and progressive in flexion.

The stance angles similarly set a high bar in this category and others. The only question for testers is whether the rear spoiler stays in, comes out, or gets modified to some in-between thickness with a bootfitter's help. There's dual side cuff adjustment available for lateral alignment fine-tuning, and testers say it couldn't be placed in a better starting position for most skiers.

The RS 130 LV's performance scores (Dynamic Balance, Edge Power, Quickness & Steering) each received perfect 5's and another tester said, if you can't ski well in this boot then maybe you just can't ski.

That's all we got. We're out of superlatives when it comes to describing how the RS fits and performs. For any more, filter a new search for the RS in last year's test, or the test two years ago, or even three. Deja vu in a new blue.

Total Avg Score 
4.91
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyurethane/polyurethane
Dry-Test Fit 
4.86
Dynamic Balance 
5.00
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
5.00
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
5.00
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.71
Tech Compatible 
No

Kastle K130P

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
110
Cantology Compatible 
No

Testers who got to put the Kastle K130P through its paces at last year's test agree that the liner revisions made in its second season have made a huge and positive difference in fit, which in turn improved their entire experience with this boot. A couple testers thought this was one of the best out-of-box fits of the test--though these guys place a premium on a close fit, the tighter the better. Most testers thought the fit was certainly on the snug side of the medium width fit spectrum, and most made mention that part of the initial fit that was awesome was simply the relief they felt once they finally got the boot on their foot.

It's structural story is one of traditional thickness polyurethane without tricky, co-molded soft panels at the instep, which means it's a little work to get on (its lowest score), in traditional four-buckle overlap fashion. But this plastic story also tells a tale of serious edge driving power (its high score) and rapid fire response time from turn to turn (its second highest score). This boot rewards the skier whose first rodeo this is not and perhaps has had many other boots that were even tougher to get on but that were similarly worth it for how they skied. This is not a boot for the soft-handed, post-pandemic, remote-working, new local who thinks he might try out the skiing lifestyle. This is not an apres boot but a now boot, a ski boot. Get it on, buckle it up (with buckles, dammit), suck it up, and go skiing--testers suggested. For the right skier this could be a world class match.

The fit is close for a modern medium--in fact, it scored more closely to narrows in our test than the mediums--but that wasn't a demerit but an observation, testers reminded. It has a particularly firm, almost aggressive, fit through the lower leg shaft and up into the shin and calf, which testers actually loved. One said it felt like a foam-injected liner just for him, right out of the box. The liner is a lace-up number that can be donned prior to entry into the shell (might be the easiest way) or left in the shell for more typical entry. There are a couple pull loops on the liner and a Velcro tongue attachment, but that's about where any Gucci adornments end--it's a stripped down, elemental affair made for the job of controlling a ski and it did that with surprising command.

Testers were again impressed with the Kastle's downhill game, and those who hadn't tested it before were downright shocked that a new boot could perform at levels close to par with the best in the world (seriously, look at the other boots in the Frontside category). Testers mentioned that it's something of a throwback to a past era where boots were tough and the skiers were even tougher, but that's an exaggeration--with a little bit of bootfitting, the harsh feel on bony points could be managed, and a nice warm start to the day would get the boot on just fine. Just be sure to hang by the fire in the bar at the end of the day a while before exiting--that's real apres skiing.

Total Avg Score 
4.44
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyurethane/polyurethane
Dry-Test Fit 
4.40
Dynamic Balance 
4.50
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.70
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.60
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.00
Tech Compatible 
No

Dahu Ecorce 01X 135

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
25.0, 25.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Exoframe
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
120, 110
Cantology Compatible 
No

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 135 flex option is Dahu's top-shelf, flagship model, though due to the stiff flex it is not their best-selling nor most-available model for try-on at dealer locations. We tested it in the Frontside category alongside two perennial Frontside favorites in 130 and 140 flexes to see whether it would sink or swim. Our test team was at first surprised that it didn't drown, and then they were shocked that the Ecorce 01X 135 was swimming laps pretty well alongside the other benchmark models. By the end of the ten-day test period and many individual tests on the boot our test team was left shaking its collective head over how well the newcomer had held its own against the industry's best. Did it win the category? Not by a substantial margin, no, but it wasn't out of place (so long as you didn't look down) and it scored well enough to earn a silver medal. 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 is hands-down one of the very best features of the Dahu system. With the liner loaded into the shell and its rearward hinging cuff locked into normal skiing position but the forward external tongue (it is a three-piece design) released forward and out of the way it's ready to suck in some foot. And it does! With the long lace system (many eyelets and lots of slack and a 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 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. 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. While the 135 flex we tested in the Frontside category offered appropriately limited range of flexion (it's a legit 135, or stronger) you still felt the liner and shell working together well. The 120 flex we tested in the All-Mountain Traditional category amplified this positive element.

It does ski quite well, according to testers who were surprised at the level of power that the Dahu generated and the stability the 135 flex offered at high speeds and on hard snow. 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 it into a more forward position that 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 notice that the 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 keeping 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 a fit that could be.

Total Avg Score 
4.18
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
Grilamid/?/Grilamid w carbon
Dry-Test Fit 
4.33
Dynamic Balance 
3.83
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.33
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
3.75
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.67
Tech Compatible 
No

Lange RS 130 LV

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
120,110
Cantology Compatible 
No

If the Lange RS 130 LV was a stock, it would be in every savvy investor's portfolio--it performs that well, year after year after year. At least that's what our test team said about it (again) this past Spring when they put it through a variety of rigorous indoor and on-snow tests. For a Frontside performer there are few other boots that match the levels of fit, quickness and power found in the RS LV (hint: the one other model worth mentioning was also tested in the Frontside category this year). With an updated liner and new hue, the RS was just enough freshened-up to feel new but without losing any of the old fit and performance standards it has come to be known for.

Testers continue to approve of the liner revisions that improve the fit over the top of the foot, through the instep and along the shin--it just keeps getting better, they say. This is still a legit, narrow fit throughout the entire lower boot and cuff, but with enough relief over the midfoot to keep toes from going numb. The 3D milled ankle pocket construction remains one of the industry's best for an anatomical fit that's firm but without hot spots and testers relate that the heel pocket is also one of the best for performance-minded retention without sliding into tortuous tightness levels.

There are few boots that compare to the combination of anatomical fit with raw power with finely tuned agility according to our test team--they say the RS is a technical skier's boot that rewards athletic movements with ripping carves and rapid transitions on a variety of snow surfaces (though hard, smooth pistes are where this one shines most). In fact, it received a nearly perfect 4.92 (out of 5) in three testing parameters: its stance set-up, edge power and quickness.

It remains an outwardly traditional and simple design, though the internals are modern and complex--the Dual Core polyether plastic used in both shell and cuff is a marvel of plastics molding technology, utilizing a softer density plastic sandwiched between harder layers, all within the thickness of the boot's shell wall. It's not a heavy boot but neither does it strive to be a trendy, new lightweight version--this boot relies on tested materials and thicknesses that put stability and performance first and let the other minor details fall into place secondarily. Testers like regular and useful features like a lateral cuff adjustment, removable or grindable rear spoiler, removable buckles and a killer looking cam buckle power strap. And yes, the new cosmetics this year were a hit with the test team.

Total Avg Score 
4.72
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyether/polyether
Dry-Test Fit 
4.58
Dynamic Balance 
4.92
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.92
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.92
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.25
Tech Compatible 
No

Head Raptor WCR 115 W

Gender 
Women's
Sizes (MP) 
22.0, 23.5-27.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
95
Cantology Compatible 
No

The new (last year) Raptor WCR 115 W continues to stoke our testers with its newfound fit friendliness and sleeper-style flex feel that couldn't possibly load serious energy against a ski and yet it does! Our old-school original Raptor purists on the test team still say this newest version is too comfortable, especially in the roomy toebox, and yet they give it the highest scores ever on test forms. Things change, and in the case of the Raptor WCR it has changed for the better for the vast majority of testers--more progressive flex travel, more sensitivity underfoot, more room in the toes and forefoot.

The liner is also a more lovable element according to testers who say it's not the race-bred, short-fitting and firm-against-the-shin affair of yore. They also say it absolutely does not sap any power or connection to the ski in steering movements, where the Raptor WCR 115 W received its highest scores. A few testers who have chronically found themselves in between sizes were able to size down without too much trouble, gaining even quicker response and accuracy...so, something for folks to consider if they're coming from the short-fitting Raptor of years past.

Testers have unanimously loved the lateral stance set-up of the WCR, saying it's just a touch strong to the inside edge (acceptable for a Frontside model) and easily adjusted to a flatter, looser set-up with the new style (swapped offset inserts) dual cuff adjustment available. Testers offer less agreement on the fore-aft stance, with some running with the rear spoiler while others not, and with a few comments of needing some time to adjust to its unique fore-aft feel.

Testers like the understated grey as a way to separate this from the unisex white boot, and dual liner pull loops and the 40 mm Velcro power strap served their purpose without drama. Testers note that the Raptor WCR offers the slipperiest solid sole surface on the face of the planet and they remind skiers that Head makes a perfectly matched 7 mm Vibram lifter plate that's worth installing (will require toe/heel lug routing back to DIN spec by a qualified bootfitter) if not eating it in an icy parking lot is a priority.

 

Total Avg Score 
4.53
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
4.33
Dynamic Balance 
4.33
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.67
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.67
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.67
Tech Compatible 
No
CANT SHIM OPTIONS - NONE

Head Raptor WCR 140 S

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.0, 22.5-30.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
140 Pro (black), 120
Cantology Compatible 
No

Our test team old guard was very skeptical of the new Raptor WCR last year at its debut boot test, given the number of years the old Raptor had dominated the Frontside field without any big structural changes to the boot. But the new shape, new polyurethane plastic and all new liner gave them an all-new reason to love the Raptor all over again. This year's sophomore year re-test offered a chance for our testers to ratchet back their enthusiasm and make amends for any fluke--but they didn't, in fact they gave the Raptor WCR 140 perfect scores across the board (with one minor exception) for a score total of 4.90 out of 5.00.

The only score category that the Raptor didn't ace was the Convenience, Warmth and Features criterion and even our most critical testers gave it perfect scores--except two, and they downgraded from a 5 for the color (apparently they're tired of white) and for the Spine Flex buckles (apparently they're really, really tired of Spine Flex). So, essentially one should consider the Raptor's a perfect score! Long live Raptor! Death to Spine Flex!

Not to rehash last year's review but this time around the comments were all quite similar. Folks are surprised (all over again) by the length and width available in the toebox and the width at the forefoot. The heel pocket is deeper to the rear but nobody notices that too much, except for the fact that it's comfortable and snug in the way expected for a 96 mm last. The liner is much softer against the foot and the leg than the short-lasted and rigid Raptor liners of yesteryear but testers assure that it's not a mushy-feeling liner. It still transmits full-gas energy to the shell and ultimately the ski but is just more comfortable in doing so--magic. One of the other most characteristic differences that testers again bring to the conversation is the flex feel--it's longer and more progressive in its feel than the full-stop brick wall Raptor of yore. At first, this increased range of travel concerns testers who invariably sense that the boot won't be as strong on edge--that assumption is quickly proven false as the boot puts a ski on edge at speed and hard snow equally as well, or better than it did before. Then with a few more runs (or days for some very stubborn testers) they begin to like and even prefer the new long-travel flex feel that enables more supple movements and fewer episodes of terrain impacts tossing the skier in the backseat.

Stance-wise there is not supposed to be any real difference from the Raptor of old but the boot board is less arch-humped and slightly lower in ramp angle, and while the lateral cuff angles feel familiar, testers still require a bit more time sorting out their fore-aft balance.

Testers like the Liquid Fit liner injection feature as an option one might employ after much use and liner pack-out but they say that if the boot is the right size there isn't much need to employ the feature, and when done, they remind users that a little goes a long way (and extracting the goo is a bit of a hassle).

 

 

Total Avg Score 
4.90
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/PU
Dry-Test Fit 
5.00
Dynamic Balance 
5.00
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
5.00
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
5.00
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.40
Tech Compatible 
No
CANT SHIM OPTIONS - NONE

Salomon S/Max 130 Carbon

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
23.0-29.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
S/Max 130, $900; S/Max 120, $800; S/Max 110, $725; S/Max 100, $675
Cantology Compatible 
No
The 2020/2021 Salomon S/Max 130 Carbon is reviewed in the men's Frontside category based on tests performed Spring 2020 by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit Media.

 

The Gist

Testers say that speed is less gateway drug and more the invitation to the party when it comes to the S/Max 130 Carbon, as it only got stronger and more connected to the arc the faster they went. They've called the fit painted-on and gapless--essentially perfect for the low-volume foot and instep. Built to absolutely crush early morning groomers, testers couldn’t get enough of the close-to-snow feel of the lower shell and directly linked attitude between lower leg and cuff. This remains a responsive, lightweight ride that puts stiff skis on edge and hammered hard snow into submission with ease--it returns unchanged outside of minor cosmetic updates this season. The ultra-quick Custom Shell HD process succeeded in mellowing minor hot spots.

The Fit

One tester said the well-distributed and firm grip on the foot and lower leg foretold of responsive skiing, and he was right about that based on its performance scores. The fit is race-room tight with a particularly snug fit on the lower leg just above the ankles where the boot tapers to wrap the leg shaft and instep area in a highly transmissive match. Testers were initially concerned about the super rigid carbon fiber Coreframe insert affecting the navicular area fit, but no such complaints came to light after testing. As a side note the Coreframe insert area is able to be traditionally heat-stretched for additional room there. Testers who found the overall fit a bit too close for comfort and underwent the new Custom Shell HD molding process came out the other side all smiles and in only 10 minutes—impressed, they were (said with a Yoda voice).

Performance

One could tell from the score spread that the boot's best attribute is its quickness and precision feel underfoot. The thin shell wall polyurethane lower boot with the carbon Coreframe insert puts the foot in close and transmissive contact with the boot and ski and the Grilamid cuff adds snap while shaving weight (only 1664 grams). This construction combination made for a highly tactile feeling boot that responded immediately to foot steering inputs and transitioned turn to turn with synaptic speed, testers agreed. The boot is not lacking in power, whatsoever, testers assured, calling it a trench laying fool and a turn-completing stomper. Regarding post-Custom Shell process performance—we had one of our testers only mold one boot for the sake of comparison with an un-molded boot and he found no appreciable difference in stiffness between the two afterward.

Cool Features

Kaprolene is the additive to polyurethane that allows for Custom Shell molding. Now in certain models within the S/Max and MTN lines the Kaprolene used is pre-mixed in precise amounts into the polyurethane itself rather than as a somewhat random additive at the time of plastic injection. This creates a more predictable and defined molding response which, when used in the thin shelled S/Max and MTN boots, drastically reduced cook times from ten minutes to only two, molding from five minutes to only three and cool-down to five minutes. Our tests showed legit results without a degradation of performance, post-molding. Salomon offers a kit for bootfitters to drill out the Oversized Pivot cuff hinge point and replace it with a lateral cuff adjustment for skiers who need more stance angle adaptability than the Custom Shell process will provide. Cantology cant shims are available for the S/Max boots but require over-plating and routing along standard race room protocols.

Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyurethane w carbon Coreframe/Grilamid/n.a.
Tech Compatible 
No

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