The Gist
We avoided the wet weather at this year's ABB Boot Test, but that didn't stop our test team from gushing about the all new 2018 Lange RX 110 W LV—it was almost embarrassing to read the test forms because it seemed like they'd been written by Lange's marketing department. Right at the tippy top of the narrow all-mountain group with one other boot, the RX 110 W LV impressed with its revised fit and a new, higher gear on snow.
The Fit
Testers instantly noticed the new liner construction in this year's RX—almost like a foam-injected liner some said--firmer where it counted (heel and ankles), but softer in areas where some cushioning is nice (at the forefoot and over the top of the instep). They said the liner's rear control zone was almost too tight initially but felt those areas auto-mold with some wear time, and all agreed that the snug fit there was perfect for the category. This was one of the most-snug fits of the group—not race boot tight, but close, and testers loved that. The stance angles are neutral, testers reported, but they note that big calves don't fit well here and drive the leg a bit too forward. Thicker legs may want to opt for the medium-width RX W rather than the narrow-class RX W LV.
Performance
Like cornering in a Ferrari, one tester said of the RX 110 W LV—quick and aggressive with no play in the steering column. Across the board testers commented on how snappy and reactive the boot felt edge to edge and how firm but elastic the flex feel was. Both of these characteristics can be attributed to the new Dual Core plastic injection technology found in the RX (and RS) boots this year. A softer density plastic is sandwiched between higher density plastic throughout the shell wall, which is impressive in execution alone but even more surprising to find that the claims of increased energy and snap are for real!
Cool Features
A monoinjected polyether shell and cuff is a nice feature if there's going to be any bootfitting happening—this construction makes grinds and shell punches a snap for good bootfitters. Pretty basic, functional feature fare here. A single-side cuff adjustment and Ultra Grip soles are nice to have. WTR (Walk to Ride) soles can be purchased as an accessory for use with appropriate WTR bindings.
Kudos
Caveats