Sometimes the score profile tells the whole story about a boot.
Perhaps the most decorated women's boot in our last half-decade of testing. The RS 120 SC is the go-to model for ripping women who opt for performance and snug fit over creature comforts and fireplace fur liners. It's tight everywhere, balanced to a T, strong on edge and ready for all comers. Improvements to the liner tongue give this boot the best Lange shin fit ever.
Testers said that this one was snug everywhere, especially in the heel and ankle. It was a touch too snug right over the top of the foot for some though all said the fit relaxed after a few runs. Race-bred, the RS 120 SC is not for skiers who demand a perfect out-of-the-box fit at typically bony spots.
There will be a few grinds and punches necessary for most feet to fit happily. Testers also said that entry and exit was not without some bargaining, but they happily dealt with it in return for the sort of skin tight closure that results. Most testers loved the cuff height (SC stands for Short Cuff and differentiates this model from the men's version) but a few of our taller, bigger women felt support lacking there.
“Confidence-inspiring” was an oft-used descriptor. Testers were able to lay the boot over and trust the edge to drive a commanding arc. The snug fit, snappy progressive flex feel and dynamic flexion and extension gave rise to quick steering.
Some of our more petite testers felt the 120 flex, upright cuff and low-ramped bootboard combined to nudge them into the backseat at times. They said heel lifts and rear spoilers would solve that issue. Taller and heavier testers complained that the 120 flex felt under-gunned. But if you are closer to everywoman, this one hits the sweet spot.
Some testers felt the fit over the top of the foot was firm but it’s much improved over RS boots of old due to a perforated foam tongue construction directly over the midfoot. Testers liked the orange highlights on the buckles and liner. Women on the edges of the foot length spectrum take note: this boot (and RS 110 SC, RS 90 SC, 70 RS SC) is available down to size 21.5 and up to a 28.5.
Lightning quick out-of-the-box performance and characteristically close Fischer fit through the instep, ankle, heel and cuff. The RC4 140 is agility underfoot personified. Its close-to-the-ground foot feel lets you fine tune the arc from start to finish. Its tipped-out cuff angles and extra-forward-leaning stance make for strong side-to-side edging on smooth surfaces.
Without the aid of a Vacuum station at this year's test we were reminded that in stock mode, it fits like a race boot. Tight in the toebox and shorter than most, tight at the forefoot and noticeably tight (crushing for some) over the top of the foot. Most testers lamented the absence of the Vacuum station and cited that process as the remedy to the RC4's fit ills. They weren’t all that bad but they were noticeable enough to bump this one out of the category top spots it held in previous tests.
Side-to-side, arc-to-arc, the RC4 140 is classic Fischer race stock, cutting deep trenches like an excavator. Testers liked the upper boot’s aggressive forward lean angle for full commitment charging on hard surfaces but said it's not a sustainable fore-aft position for all-day skiing.
Testers also commented that the upper boot's tipped-out geometry makes for strong inside edge bias but also makes it harder to get outside edge engagement. Based on previous experience, testers agreed that both the fore-aft and lateral glitches should vanish after a Vacuum molding session.
The dual zone Vacuum molding process allows for different pressure to be applied at the front and rear parts of the boot. That means, for example, you can couple a more open toebox and forefoot with a snug, really snug or ultra-tight heel and ankle pocket. It’s up to you to communicate openly with your bootfitter during molding.
Our previous Vacuum tests have yielded positive fit and stance alignment results. While the Soma-Tec abducted stance angle story is less hyped than it once was, it remains a great option for more duck-footed skiers who chronically catch outside edges or adopt an overly knock-kneed stance to compensate.
A perennial frontside powerhouse. It matches strong fit with an agile feel underfoot to create a nice blend of edge grip and quickness that technical skiers will appreciate. The X Max 130 continued to impress testers with its lively, active flex and lightweight underfoot feel.
Particularly snug along the lower leg shaft where the cuff meets the instep. The X Max 130 grabs the skinny-legged like no other and provides an ultra-snug grip on the ankles. Slightly more open than some others in the category through the forefoot and toebox, the X Max 130 allows the foot to find balance on the ski for targeted big toe-to-little toe transitions.
Many testers thought the stock ankle pocket fit was particularly tight (ouch!) and a few felt that restricted their steering movements a bit. Those who underwent the Custom Shell molding process reported that the aggressive ankle fit evened-out and allowed for better ski feel without completely bagging-out the fit elsewhere.
Testers loved the muscular feel of how the X Max 130 moves to the inside edge; it’s strong laterally and the tallish cuff helps leverage heaps of power throughout the turn. Taller, slender legged skiers are the best match with this stove-pipey cuff; some shorter testers had a harder time steering their shortest radius turns. Custom Shell molding had a positive performance benefit for testers who wanted more ankle freedom and for those who preferred a slightly more neutral (less inside edge bias) lateral stance set up.
The 20-minute Custom Shell process is great for general fit enhancement and skiers who find the overall fit just slightly too tight. Don't expect big shape changes in specific spots; better to have your bootfitter do traditional shell stretch work to accommodate bunions and spurs. But Custom Shell indeed mellows the tight spots and makes subtle stance changes that can fine-tune the feel on snow.
Stance-focused testers still gripe about the X Max's lack of upper cuff adjustment mechanisms—the Oversize Pivot anchor points are just that, attachments. If you’ve got severe cuff adjustment needs this may not be the boot for you. The My CustomFit 3D Lab liner has awesome ankle and heel pocket shape right out of the box and both tongue and calf pull loops. Testers continue to say “meh” when asked about the yellow-dominant pastel cosmetics.
Shockingly comfortable, world class performer. Almost anybody CAN wear and ski this boot. Its user friendly fit is coupled with easily accessed power that will be fully tapped by only the best technical skiers. The RS 140 elevates wannabes' game and absolutely catapults real skiers' performance with the closure of four buckles. Wanna buy a podium finish? Look no further.
Sumptuously snug. Forgivingly tight. Lovingly gripping. This isn't your Dad's Lange. Hasn’t been for quite a while. The fit is aggressive at the heel, ankle, and instep; it relaxes toward the forward cabin to ensure toes don’t grow numb or cold. There is a lace-up liner for the Masters racer that wants to look cool by stuffing his laced-up liner foot into the shell in front of his fat, speed-suited cronies. For everybody else, the liner works just fine crammed in the shell sans laces, just like a standard liner.
Don't fret the 140 flex index. Current Lange offerings should be taken with 5- to-10 point grains of salt on the flex index. If you’re a charger get the 140. The number isn't as important as the flex feel. This year's liner changes give the tongue an even more cushioned and wrapped feel. It’s the best, most progressive flex feel in the frontside boot group.
Pick your marketing lingo—Tiptronic, sport-automatic, point-and-shoot, stupid-proof—this boot practically skis itself. It's not too tough on the shin, offering a firm but progressive flex that’s compatible with dynamic flexing movements. It's not too rigid laterally, enabling a skilled skier to feather the edge on and off with a tactile feel underfoot. It's not demanding in any way shape or form, and yet under full-throttle will drop into a gear you probably won’t be ready for.
This is smooth, useful power that's a joy to be in control of. You won't ever drive a super car for real, but you could own this boot and get a little taste of that track-dominating feel.
The revised liner construction (no, really, this is cool…) has perforated foam over the top of the foot where the cuneiform bones sit, which makes it way, way, way more comfortable. That's also where some nerves and arteries call home, so this liner improvement makes for a warmer, more comfortable foot. The RS 140 and 130 have a cam lock power strap, the softer models a Velcro version. Testers liked the new orange highlights on the buckles and liner.
The highest scoring men's boot of our entire test. In any category. Our testers are a diverse lot: all-mountain skiers, ex-racers, park rats, instructors and coaches. And yet they all love this boot. Why? It makes you a better skier the very first time you tip it over. Assuming you're already a pretty good skier. It’s not for learners or pretenders.
This is a 96 mm last but don't be scared off by that. Yeah, it's tight, but just right, the way a race-bred, athletes-only sorta boot should be. The Raptor 140 RS is anatomically shaped and surprisingly comfortable out of the box, but you need a heck of a narrow, normal-shaped foot to not need a visit or two to the bootfitter to get it all-day comfortable.
Astoundingly strong, accurate, agile and just plain all-around awesome. This is the bell-ringer, the justice-server, the prize-winner. Really, it skis that well. You should buy a pair just to know the feeling. And if you can't hack it, then sell it on Craigslist and you still won't have lost much, other than your pride. This is a boot that will sell at retail price. You want to haggle? Go settle for less. It’s virtually flawless. Its stance angles are perfect, its energy transmission absolute, its rear spine supportive. The one nit to pick: it’s white…very white. And it will spank you if you don’t maintain the hand to command it.
No frills but it does have some features that count. The dual-cuff adjuster allows the upper cuff to be removed in the event you need to soften the flex, which you might. You might also chose to pin the boot to a stiffer 150 setting (not necessary unless you are a huge dude).
The Double Power Booster strap is initially a perplexing maze of webbing until you figure it out (it’s not hard!) but it provides an exceptionally stout final lock-down. The Spine Flex buckles are a wiggly, cable-based fish skeleton design (that works much better than the fixed arc Spine Tech look-alikes Head uses on its lesser models). Some testers love the surety and wrap they provide; others find them difficult to latch.
The Zay 125 got a lot of attention for how it looked and how it closed—which are by the boot's nature inextricably tied together. It has no lower buckles, but rather a thin cable which encircles the lower boot along two grooves at typical buckle positions. These loops are routed beneath the boot, along the sole and out the back to a single, multi-hinged buckle that tensions them.
The brand new Zay boot also got a fair amount of attention for how tricky the boot was for many testers to get on—the early generation liner tended to crumple down into the throat of the boot, blocking entry, and the cables at times failed to release enough tension to allow an easy slide in. Once on and properly adjusted for tightness using the barrel-nut cable adjusters on the rear buckle, two traditional upper buckles and a snowboard-style ratcheting powerstrap, testers were reminded that this is a serious fit in a serious category.
The rearfoot (heel, ankles, instep and mid-body of the lower) is tight! As tight as anything in the category, testers said, with a particularly snug fit on the navicular and styloid process area. And then the fit opens up to the forefoot and very roomy toebox. The upper boot was snug in a manner characteristic of other performance 98 mm boots. Testers had some hot spots—mostly attributed to the prototype liner—especially at the inside ankle bone.
But damn did the boot ski well, the test team said--as strong as the best performers in this hard-carving group. Agility and precision marks were well above standard too.
Maybe that R at the beginning of the of the model designation stands for “Rodney” cause this boot does not get the respect it deserves. Testers think it’s one of the best ever boots to percolate out of the Tecnica factory. Yet it still seems to fly under the radar. How good is it? Well, it has been one of our top three favorites in this category two years running.
The completely revised liner from last year returns with additional improvements to the tongue, and it continued to leave an impression on testers. They love the shin fit and flex feel of the R9.8. It’s fuller and better padded than previous versions which creates a well-wrapped and even feel during flexion. It easily handles all-mountain, off-piste hits. But as transmissive and powerful as this frontside-oriented boot is, the comfy liner gives it legs in a wide range of terrain.
Speaking of transmission, the no-metal boot sole of the R9.8 packs plenty of edge power punch and precisely broadcasts mere thoughts from skier to ski—but in a lighter (and many said warmer) build-out over previous Inferno versions. Testers often mentioned how this boot made the tune on their test skis feel sharper—a sure sign that lateral and torsional power is top notch.
Testers slotted this boot on the tight side of the category, noting that the heel and ankle area are especially snug—a good thing for frontside performance skiing. One tester said the boot fit like a 98mm boot should. Testers also made mention of its optimal, out-of-the-box stance. They liked the forward lean, ramp angle and lateral cuff geometry. While the boot comes with dual cuff adjusters and a Velcro-attached rear spoiler, not a single tester mentioned touching either during their test jaunts.
Sounds a lot like a plot from a psychological thriller. “Boot exhibits remarkable collection of multiple personalities. Testers alternatively describe it as Snappy, reactive and crisp underfoot while also being tall, smooth and cruisey. Fit tight everywhere; roomy for a 98mm.” How can one boot possess all those contradictory characteristics?
Well, what testers felt depended on whether they stuck with their regular size or chose to size down a click. Salomon's uniquely long interior space and ability to shell morph makes the sizing decision an issue that every tester mentioned. Because of its exceptionally deep interior heel pocket shape, the X Max fits 5mm longer than most boots with a similarly marked sole length. That’s a huge benefit for skiers who have historically struggled with gaining enough toe room in a given size. Many typically move up a size and sacrifice that snug performance feel necessary for high level skiing. That’s not necessary here.
Testers often noted that in boots marked with their regular size, they not only felt the boot roomier than others in the category but they also felt that it sat tall on the leg and promoted a fairly upright stance. Some utilized the included heel lift shim to gain ramp angle and ride higher in the boot cuff. Testers who sized down often mentioned that the proportionately lower cuff allowed them to "get up and over" the boot top for a more forward-leaning angle of attack.
So the takeaway here is to talk seriously with your boot fitter about size if you choose to make the X-Max your boot of choice. It will substantially affect the ski experience you have.
Doberman(n)s are world famous for being tenacious watchdogs. So this boot is aptly named, as we consider it something of a sentinel. By example, it watches over what a true performance boot should be: simple, functional, comfortable by virtue of shape and unadorned by the features and fluff that can sometimes get in the way of the goal: performance skiing.
The Dobermann EDT 130 is the most recent (and we think best) version of several Dobie iterations over the years. While it returns unchanged for this season, it again reminded our test team why it is one of the category’s standard-bearers.
It's one of the narrowest fitting boots in the group. It tapers from its now more open toebox and forefoot to a narrowing grip through the ankle and heel, maintaining a low, close fit through the instep. It favors the truly low-volume foot, though many a thick foot will wedge into the Dobermann with a bootfitter's help, drawn to it for how well it skis.
It is rigid. It sends skier movements to ski with no loss of transmission and it does so without much cushioning in between. The thin liner puts the foot right on the deck of the bootboard. While the bootboard is softer than in previous versions, it is designed to broadcast every electronvolt of energy to the ski below. This set-up favors the smooth, firm surfaces where frontside boots typically excel. The Dobermann loves faster speeds and harder snow. The faster and harder the better.
If you're looking for an off-trail charger look at Nordica’s Patron Pro, which is de-tuned (barely) to better handle off-piste applications.
Boo! Did that 140 flex indicator scare you? Don’t let it. It's probably exactly where you want to be stiffness-wise in this high-powered category. According to our testers, the boot is a mere half-click stiffer than Lange’s former test champ, the RS 130. So why go for the RS 140 at fifty extra bucks? The lace-up liner.
For those who weren't spawned of race programs or haven't been sucked into the masters racing maelstrom (a lot like an expensive powerboat habit), the lace-up liner is the shiznit for true World Cup plug-style race boots. The liner goes on the foot and is laced up outside the shell. Then foot and liner slide into the shell. It makes for a painted-on fit and feel.
Why do this? In true plug boots it’s because that's about the only way to get them on without the thin liners crumpling down into the stiff shells. In the RS 140? Well, because it's awesome. Testers liked the way the supple faux leather wrapped the foot and lower leg like a fitted sock. They appreciated how the inner boot tension was tuned by something as elegantly simple as laces—no Boa, no speed lace gizmo. Just snug it, tie it and go (well, cram into the liner first and then go).
If the concept is simple, the liner's construction is decidedly not. It replaces the standard cork flow-pack (chipped cork in an oozable oil, contained within the general ankle pocket area and notoriously slow to mold) with Lange’s anatomically pre-molded anatomical ankle pads and an ingenious perforated construction over the top of the foot to create better initial fit with ongoing auto molding.
The rest of the tester-acclaimed RS 140 package mirrors the award-winning RS 130—minus the 10 flex index points. The mono-injected polyether shell is well-sculpted to match anatomical contours, but the material itself is geared toward race-room style shell mods. Whether it be punches, grinds or boot sole planing for cant, the boot is engineered to be worked on to wring maximum performance. Not that most skiers would need much shell work in this 97mm width—it topped the category for out-of-box comfort.
We haven't much mentioned the RS 140's performance scores—we just assumed that since it's a half-step away and slightly better than its closest sibling RS 130 (which hasn't changed in about four years and hasn't left our frontside test podium) that you already knew about those qualities. But for those unfamiliar with the Lange family blue boot line dominance, testers thought the RS 140 was one of the very best we tried—everywhere on the hill, even though its forte is smooth, firm surfaces.
It was tested in a field of other great boots and was firmly in the top three there (the other two were the Head Raptor 130 RS and the Tecnica R9.8 130). Its solid sole construction and rigid boot board are really what make it piste centric. It’s transmissive to a fault and sometimes that means harsh feedback from choppy surfaces. For skiers seeking close-to RS 140 or 130 performance but with better off-trail management skills, see the RX 130 LV we tested in the All-Mountain Traditionalist category.
This isn't an exact copy of the boots you see Ted Ligety blistering World Cup GS courses in but they're close enough that you will get a feel for what it's like to ski like him. Perhaps that's a stretch, but there is something about this boot that instantly elevates one's skiing to another level. Testers were so unanimously fired up about the Raptor that the really hard part was figuring out how to pare down the positive comments into a review too small to do the boot justice. The Raptor 130 RS garnered more Best-of-Test accolades than any other model in our test.
Already accomplished skiers who spend enough time on firm smooth surfaces driving a properly matched carving stick (read: narrow waisted and stiff) will immediately appreciate the power and sensitivity of the Raptor design and architecture. Its solid sole, rigid bootboard, four-buckle overlap polyurethane construction and firm liner all combine for one purpose: transmit skier movements to ski immediately, the delay seemingly measured in nano-seconds. Good technical skiers will love this about the Raptor's personality—aspiring piste pros will love how this boot improves their skiing (when they get it right) but will find the 130 RS a bit unforgiving of mistakes.
The chain of command works both ways with a hard driver like the Raptor. It will send messages upward from the snow surface too, bucking those ill-prepared for the terrain changes that come at higher speeds. The softer 115 RS version of the big daddy we tested would be a good option for lighter and less aggressive skiers looking for the same narrow fit and similar feel on snow.
The Raptor 130 RS is the narrowest lasted boot we tested at 96mm (measured on reference size 26.5). Surprisingly, although it received consistently tight fit tension marks by our test team—a good thing for a boot in this category—there was no whining about any extreme discomfort or crush fit zones. But this is a boot that will require a bootfitter's skills to get the shell away from bony parts that protrude on the foot. That's just the cost of doing business in this category for all those save the few with unblemished and very narrow feet.
The flex feel of the Raptor is even and firm—it's all of a legit 130 flex even in its non-pinned, out-of-box 120 setting, which is where most of skiers will leave it. The boot's "rear support tuning" spine can be drilled and bolted creating two-step stiffer settings—a great option for taller, heavier skiers who routinely crush other boots.
The off-the-shelf stance settings are right where the majority of our testers wanted them. The fore-aft angle was just forward enough without the rear Velcro spoiler installed (it now comes loose in the box where it belongs, not on the liner as it had previously) and its side-to-side set up gave testers access to inside and outside edges with plenty of power. No complaints means no problems, we think.
It's the ski boot world’s open dirty little secret: there's a recognized trend toward wimpification in ski boots. We hear it all the time: “This is definitely not a 130 flex.” No way that’s a 98mm width.”
Well friends, welcome to your flex index and last width re-education session at Camp Scorpion. It's stiff, it's tight, and the Scorpion DRS 130 is designed and built to do two things: 1) ski faster and stronger on harder surfaces than you probably like. 2) Remind you that you're not quite as good a skier as you thought. Now this isn't to say that the Scorpion isn’t capable of raising one's skiing to a higher level—it is—but it requires a full-throttle attitude and a ski to match.
Testers cited the Scorpion as the burliest of our frontside batch. It feels thick underfoot. The offset binding rail that aligns the foot along the inside edge positively hammers the ski into whatever diamond plate it's driven over. This is a boot that pins the speed meter. It taps a ski’s performance reserves and forces it to mind the driver’s commands. A mismatch between Scorpion and a too-soft ski is immediately evident, as tip and tail begin to flap in protest. Own a ski that you thought was too long or too stiff? Perfect. Yank it out of the closet and dust it off.
We've tested the Scorpion before. This version is much easier to tug on and off. The new, softer, bi-injected, overlapping plastic at the boot throat takes the tears out of the chore. And yet, a few of our pastiest testers still cried a bit.
But the real story is the improved liner. It makes for a whole new Scorpion experience. It’s firm but comfortable and better matches the anatomic curves of the foot. It works in concert with the shell's Contour 4 shaping that bumps out the plastic at typical bony spots like the navicular and “6th toe” area alongside the pinky toe. Testers noted that the flex feel, though stout as could be, was evenly distributed and cushioned enough to keep shin happy.
That doesn’t mean this is an easy-going all-mountain driver. The rigid transmission remains geared mainly for smooth surfaces. This boot requires a specific skier (a good one) and a specific venue (hard and fast pistes), but it generates awesome dynamics when both come together.
The fit is a little shorter than average and a bit tighter in the forefoot than others in the category. But there is welcome room over the top of the foot and through the instep—a nice greeting for those high arched boney feet that often find frontsiders like this a squeeze there.
