The 2021/2022 Tecnica Cochise Pro W DYN GW was tested in the women’s All-Mountain Freeride medium category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Gist
When a woman says she wants to take you home, you’re ecstatic, but when she’s talking to a ski boot, it means you’re steal-worthy, the highest of all boot tester compliments. That happened multiple times for the Cochise Pro W on the first day of our boot test. Testers put this boot at the top of class for its ability to mate real downhill performance with legitimate touring acumen and a set of handy features that actually work to make skiing more functional and fun—again. It’s done it before, but it’s done it once over in this latest, completely revised build.
The Fit
Testers unanimously like the snug medium fit (or is it a relaxed narrow?) of the benchmark 99mm last shape—they cite perfect curves that match the anatomy of the foot and enough grip in areas of control to ensure that the skis go where intended. Testers also widely agreed that the cuff is ideal in height as well as stance angles in every direction, though a few testers felt the firm liner and flex feel stood them a little taller than they’d like and mentioned wanting a little rear spoiler or slight amount of heel lift. Testers like the flex feel, firm or not, and they really like the ability to cook the liner and auto-mold the Celiant tongue material to customize the shin fit.
Performance
How well did the Cochise Pro W perform? Well, it was the best of its entire category! Okay, it was the only entry in its category. But if you took the Cochise’s total score and put it up against the entire field of narrow and medium fixed cuff women’s boots it would be in the upper 30th percentile of that rippingest of groups—so, it skis like a real boot, no ifs ands or buts. Testers love how it pairs downhill performance with a touring skill set and offers a complement of features that are all functional, no fluff. Its edge power score was a 4.80 and its comfort, convenience and features score was a perfect 5.00, so we’re not making this stuff up.
Cool Features
The bootfitter driven C.A.S. fit features remain on board the Cochise, with nice adaptations to both the shell and liner for enhanced fit tweaking. The new articulated liner is a nice blend of performancey firmness and comfy soft stuff, and it does move better fore and aft while the cuff is released. The integrated lock system on the cuff release arm is small but testers said they were able to deal with it no problem with gloves on—if you can’t figure it out at the end of the day, don’t drive down from the hill, maybe? The power lock hook grabber thing on the power strap is generally approved by testers—just hard to sling em over your shoulder at the end of the day. Get a Transpack.
