Testers thought that the new Head Crux Pro should win some sort of international Best-of-Design award--its lines are supercar-like and the cosmetic is understated and stealthy. And functionally, testers loved how the Head boot DNA was apparent in its anatomically accurate fit, strong power to the edge and blisteringly quick connection to the ski. Oh, yeah, and it went uphill with the best of the category and then some.
One tester said this was Rookie of the Year for the entire boot test. This is Head's first foray into the dedicated Backcountry boot market and our test team said it was a home run on the first pitch. Testers said it was a smart first go, seemingly borrowing a few key design elements from the category favorites and then doubling-down on how those were executed.
First, the cuff is noticeably tall (meaning, alpine boot height on the lower leg) and is secured by two straightforward buckles. These two facts, alone, appeal to our testers who disdain an under-powered, short cuff on a flagship model that's supposedly aimed at real downhill applications. The two-buckles on the cuff made a difference for our team who said the fore-aft position was balanced and solid, and while there are single-buckle cuffs in the BC group that do quite well, more is better, our testers said. The spine of this boot is rigid, testers said, giving it a legit, 130-plus flex rating with a well-distributed (if stiff) flex feel.
The lower boot is a cabrio-styled cut-away with a fabric weatherproof cover that's bonded to the shell. It's not a three-piece shell, as it relies on the rigidity of the cuff's solid linkage to the lower shell in skiing-mode for its fore-aft support. This non-overlap design opened up a nice amount of ceiling height over the bony midfoot for our testers and the buckle-tensioned cable closure didn't mess up that fit, they said. The 99mm boot sits on the fence between the medium and narrow fit, and testers concurred that this one might tip a bit to the skinny side, especially along the lateral side of the lower boot where it put the squeeze on the 5th metatarsal and styloid process. The liner is a thin EVA creation that testers loved for its clean lines and smooth fit, but they said there wasn't enough thickness to offer much relief to those bony points, which they mentioned could be resolved with a bootfitter's easily accomplished heat stretches if needed. The fit is secure and well-shaped throughout, just close to the curves of the foot--for testers with abnormally curvy curves, well, they knew they were there.
The boot is strong and rigidly transmissive both laterally and torsionally in addition to having a stout flex feel. Testers mentioned big rebound energy and a commanding presence over big skis at speed. This is a testament to Head's use of recycled carbon fibers in the Pebax Rnew shell and cuff. We aren't typically impressed with the edge-driving power of Pebax but here we've had to reevaluate that bias--it's the real deal on edge, testers said. A couple testers mentioned that the lateral geometry is set-up slightly strong to the inside edge, which was confidence-inspiring on firm surfaces and carving through Spring corn but caused a little extra shovel hook-up in softer snows on fatter skis--easily remedied with a lateral liner shim, they said, as there isn't a lateral cuff adjustment (common in touring boots).
The Crux Pro's top scores were unsurprisingly in the performance parameters of Stance, Edge Power and Quickness (4.75's). Its fit score took a little hit for being more snug than the 99mm target, according to some very critical testers. The Convenience score took a beating for the Crux Pro's challenges to entry and exit, for which some of our testers didn't have enough patience. The fabric gusset that maintains a warm and dry inner boot and also opens up big range of motion in tour mode also creates a bit of a restriction point (or crux, shall we say) for the foot getting into the boot. This is largely the category norm and an easy trade-off for all the Crux Pro's benefits, but it was the one element that dragged down its total average (which we thought deserved to be higher).
Kudos
Caveats