The all new Rossignol Pure Elite 120 LV did not disappoint testers who have come to expect that the flagship women's Rossi will bring some sort of cosmetic excitement to the test. The bright lipstick red called out to testers like a fresh, new bloom to a hummingbird, as one tester after another grabbed it and took it for a test spin. Out of over ten separate tests of the model, all but one made some positive mention of the new look. Of course it didn't top the All-Mountain narrow category on looks alone--in a statistical feat it received 4.92's (out of 5.00) across the board in all five test parameters to rack up the second highest average score of the women's boot test (it's medium-width sister Pure Pro beat it by .03).
Rossignol's women's flagship narrow has always fared well with our test team, though always with the caveat that it was roomier than it should've been for a 98mm model. Those comments are no more with this all new shell and liner--testers call it an anatomically sculpted narrow, meaning tight where it should be but contoured around common bony prominences. This virtually hot spot free fit situation created some surprisingly comfortable commentary but never was there a complaint about it treading into medium width territory. Testers say that the height of the cuff is slightly lower feeling than before, and noticeably less furry in this iteration. They liked the firm feeling liner that provided better performance grip but with enough cushion that the control wasn't a trade for comfort. Testers were split on whether the split (both medial and lateral closures) Velcro power strap(s) were help or hindrance, but otherwise they loved the simple and traditional batch of features on board.
Beyond the fit equating to performance, the new shell design's higher and more forward placement of the cuff's hinge point impressed testers with the smooth and natural flex feel it produced. An even shin fit and progressive flex feel has always been a hallmark of the Rossignol women's line, but testers said that this new Pure Elite took those elements to a new higher level. While testers said the boot performed well in equal measure for power and quickness (recall the 4.92's) a few mentioned that it continued to improve the faster and harder it was pushed, suggesting it had no limit to its top-end beyond the skier who was driving it. Stance-wise all the Rossignol boots share a similar set of angles internally for the boot board's ramp, the cuff's forward lean angle (though it's adjustable in this version) and the cuff's lateral geometry--all of those work together to produce a comfortably athletic stance, testers agreed.
If the test team hasn't heaped enough praise on this boot there is one other fact worth mentioning--it was the most highly sought after model of the entire test for personal acquisition (i.e. purchase, trade, theft)--and while imitation is supposedly the highest form of flattery, at a boot test intentions of theft rank pretty highly too.
Kudos
Caveats