The Gist
The 2018 Head Raptor 110 RS W garnered many perfect scores of 25 at this year's boot test, dominating the women's Frontside category and scoring highly enough to put it in the top 3 of all the women's narrow All-Mountain boots if we'd mixed it in there. Testers loved this boot for how well it made them ski.
The Fit
Testers rate this 96 mm last as one of the very tightest fits of the test (at least in the lower boot), but they liked the shape of this super snug Frontsider. There were very few complaints of hotspots, except over the top of the foot, where high-arched or bony midfoot folk got a little crunched. Testers praised the positive grip on the foot for its confidence-inspiring control of the ski. You say you don't like your heels lifting up? The Raptor 110 RS W is your solution. Need a little more room for your calf than for your heel? It's got you covered there too, for as snug as the lower shell is, the upper cuff runs a touch low and open, suitable for many leg shapes.
Performance
For many testers, the Raptor's good fit is just a bonus—they'd like this boot for how it skis, even if they had to suffer a bit. Across the board, the Raptor rings the winner bell for quickness and lateral power to the edge—testers unanimously said they chose to ski harder and faster in this boot because they could, in confidence. While the Raptor 110 RS W is entered in the Frontside category, testers repeatedly praised its off-piste power and balance and said it shouldn't get pigeon-holed as a groomers-only sort of boot. Some testers thought the cuff's more forward-leaning stance angle gave a skier a bit more leverage over the boot's flex, making it feel a little softer than 110, but this did not affect fore-aft support scores, which were tops.
Cool Features
Testers like the straightforward Velcro powerstrap and traditional buckles on this year's Raptor 110 RS W—no fiddling around, just get it done up and go. They also appreciate the dual-sided cuff adjustment for dialing lateral stance where needed.
Kudos
Caveats