The Gist
With high scores last year for its dialed stance and its convenience, warmth and features kit, testers affirmed that the Mindbender 110 Alliance is a multi-playground master with more throttle response and quick handling than expected for its high level of fit luxury. This season it returns unchanged--its thin shell polyurethane and Pebax keep it light, and testers still love the slick two-position forward lean adjustment on the metal-to-metal hike mode apparatus. This is the roomiest of all women’s narrows, regardless of category, so testers said average feet should not fear this untracked pow reaper that has solid game on firm inbounds surfaces as well.
The Fit
Testers agreed that the Mindbender 110 Alliance is essentially a medium volume boot, though it tapers enough at the base of the lower leg and around the ankles and heel to keep hold of the lower volume foot and leg in those locations. The toebox and forefoot feel is quite roomy, but testers didn't mind the extra space for warm and comfortable touring and all-day no buckle fussing for on-area days. While the lower leg is held firmly, testers mention that there's still plenty of room over the top of the foot.
Performance
For a comfortable combination of solid descending skills and a light-enough capable tourer, there aren't many boots that can match the Mindbender. The touring range of motion is legit both forward and backward, with a long and friction-free stride that testers dug. The boot skis as close to a fixed cuff all-mountain ripper as you can get with a hinge feature. Testers drove big skis all over the mountain with this one and all approved.
Cool Features
Using Pebax bio-resin in the cuff shaves weight and takes a little burden off landfills by avoiding typical petroleum based plastic. It's a straightforward four-buckle overlap affair otherwise, with GripWalk soles and a slick cam-buckle release on the power strap (stolen from Dynafit, but still cool).
