The Gist
The little two-buckle that could! Testers raved (again) about the 2018 Salomon MTN Explore W for its snug all-around narrow class fit, its insanely light weight, its easy and effective touring range of motion and downhill guts beyond its rated stiffness and category. Homerun, they said (and it tied with one other boot for highest score of the entire women's test).
The Fit
Evenly snug the way a 98 mm last should fit was the group think on fit tension, perhaps with a little extra breathing room for the calf at boot top. Testers liked the flex feel and amount of cushion in the tongue and felt that two buckles and a power strap did the job to close up shop around the foot and leg just fine.
Performance
Surprisingly strong and stable for a light weight 90-flex, testers said. The snug fit and lack of bulk in liner and shell translated into high agility scores and rapid fire transitions turn to turn. While this rockered and tech-compatible boot would not be a first choice for majority on-area skiing, testers said it would do just fine there.
Cool Features
The sleek and sideways flip switch of the Surelock cuff release mechanism is always a hit with testers for its ease of use, and they appreciate little elements like the dual liner pull loops for easier entry.
Kudos