The Gist
Of the 2018 Tecnica Cochise 105 W, one tester said: "This boot sh*#s rainbows!" We figure that's about as good a boot review as one can get. In fact, the Cochise 105 W received the highest score of all the narrow entries in the On-Off Area category, but it also got the highest score out of all the mediums and wides too! What do testers like most about it? They like that there's no compromise to be made in performance or fit in order to have a hike mode. Testers agree that this boot more than any other in the group fits and skis like a full-blown alpine boot.
The Fit
Tecnica smartly places this 99 mm right between the narrows and the mediums, capturing the broadest audience of good skiers who want options on hiking or skinning around with one single model. Testers liked the heel and ankle hold, but also appreciated the slightly more open fit at the forefoot, over the instep and in the calf. A few testers cited that the tongue fit was a little firm at boot top, but most noticed that it mellowed with some skiing time.
Performance
Part of the reason that this boot skis as well as alpine boots is that it didn't give up alpine boot plastic to shave weight. Instead, Cochise relies on thinner shell wall construction in legit polyether plastic, both in the lower boot and upper cuff. The metal-on-metal cuff release mechanism keeps a direct-drive feel on board, and the firm, well-shaped C.A.S. liner maintains a connection between the body and the boot shell—no thermo-sponge loss of transmission here. Testers claimed this boot was quicker and stronger than expected at every turn on any snow surface.
Cool Features
The same Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) features found on the Mach1 boots are found here too. The shell is pre-dimpled in common work zones for better-formed and better-lasting heat stretches, and the C.A.S. liner is highly moldable and also grindable thanks to a high-density microcell exterior. For skiers looking to tour on lighter weight equipment, Cochise comes with Dynafit certified tech fittings integrated into the shell. The boot comes stock with alpine soles, but an accessory A.T. rockered sole set is available for use with compatible backcountry bindings.
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