The all-new Kore freeride boot may have caused some problems at home--it essentially ditched its Nexo family roots, went down the hall and cozied up to cousins Raptor WCR and Formula who bestowed upon it their many positive traits while allowing it to maintain a hike mode (nicely revised this year as well), its Kore-ish tech compatibility and lightweight cuff construction. The Kore 120 GW impressed our test team with its re-imagined form which took it from an okay performer in the category last year to the category winner this time around.
The Kore 120 is now a medium width Formula with lighter weight cuff plastic, a hike mode and tech fittings, plus an all new liner with articulation for better cuff rotation when released for touring. It all actually works, our test team agreed, and works quite well. They said it's one of those freeride unicorns--the kind that fit and ski as well as the very best all-mountain boots yet manage to offer a releasable cuff for skin track forays or rambling ridge top routes. Where the Kore of old had some flex feel and shin fit issues, the new Kore 120 GW has thankfully banished those and instead offers a solid and progressive feel against the leg while skiing and a smooth glide forward and back when ascending.
Testers praised the Kore's neutral lateral stance angles (a good thing, sans cuff adjustment mechanisms) and they also liked the out-of-box fore-aft stance. The fat 53 mm "Ratchet Velcro" power strap was a test favorite, and testers mentioned that even entry and exit was improved with this new Kore design. Testers liked the lightweight and easily managed buckles and found that the cuff release was simple and easily operated.
As evidenced by the tester comments tab here--not a caveat in sight.
Kudos