Over 70% of our test team awarded the Rossignol Hi-Speed 130 HV GW a perfect score of 5.00, and we think that's saying something. Not only did it top the wide last field in the All-Mountain Traditional category this year (well, there was only one entry there) it was the second-highest scoring boot of the entire men's field, across all categories--and we know that's saying something.
Testers agreed that the Rossi Hi-Speed 130 HV is exhibit A in our current evidence box that supports our contention that now is the best boot era ever for the thick-footed, skilled skier. Wide-lasted boots continue to get better and better, offering the right fit for the wide side without a lot of bootfitting effort and without sacrificing proper stance and on-snow performance. Most brands offer 102-mm boots, but only a handful offer an all-mountain line-up of narrow, medium and wide lasts that hang together in well-differentiated fits but mirror-image performance levels, per stiffness. Rossignol is one of those, testers say.
What's so special about the Hi-Speed HV? Well, nothing really and everything because of that. It is not a fancy-featured model, testers assure. It has a Velcro power strap, four buckles, a cuff adjustment and GripWalk soles. It goes on and off easily without having to manage any cables or laces. It closes up using a traditional buckle configuration with a similarly traditional liner to pad the inner workings of the shell. It stands in a balanced and therefore inconspicuous way. It matches the movements of the lower leg while skiing, hinging properly at the ankle joint during flexion and it engages the skis' edges predictably, in both directions. It is black with a little bit of red. That the boot is unremarkable in these ways primarily means that it is not problematic in any way. Said another way, the boot is flawless in its simplicity, and our test team liked that a lot.
Yes, a couple testers thought there were some spots that were more snug than expected for an HV model, like against the navicular bone and over the top of the foot, but theirs was a minority opinion and they were admittedly minor level complaints. Some testers still wish for flat Alpine soles instead of GripWalk, but again, a minority viewpoint at this stage in the game. The majority of testers overwhelmingly loved this one and suggested that any skier with thick feet should put it on his short list.
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