Testers had three things to say to say about the Lange XT3 Free 130 MV. One was, damn this thing is blue. The second was, damn this thing skis well. The third was, damn, I gotta get one of these things.
Well, they had a little more than that to say, but those three comments were shared by testers across our team. Many of the other comments of note focused on the stellar snug-medium width fit throughout the lower boot and cuff, which testers said got better with some time spent in the boot as the liner relaxed just enough to hit the bullseye on what they considered the medium-width fit tension target. They loved the fit of the tongue against the shin and the boot's flex feel and said that while there was enough room in the toebox and forefoot for a warm and comfortable tour, the instep, heel and ankle offered a performance-oriented grip for controlling the ski in even breakable crust with a pack on.
Other comments touched on the XT3 Free's improved touring function. The cuff release switch is glitch-free and simple to use, they said, and they remarked that when locked into ski mode there was no perceptible cuff freeplay--it was ready to rip at the flip of the switch. The range of motion available in the cuff for hiking or skinning was noticeably improved over previous iterations we've tested, and while not full backcountry boot style stride length, testers said it was more than adequate for off-area adventures and a perfect match for the alpine-level skiing power it came loaded with.
Speaking of the downhill game, the XT3 Free has always been solid, but testers said this 130 MV was head and shoulders above most others in the category for its power to the inside edge. It offered totally legit, alpine-level, 130-flex control of big skis at high speed on hard snow and variable surfaces alike, testers said. They were impressed with the stability and strength given the noticeably light weight underfoot, and they said its power was matched by its quickness. There were no performance flaws noted by testers. None.
Testers like the wide, cam-locking power strap and simple, straightforward features--like four buckles and GripWalk soles. The color was mostly a hit with testers, but it was a very vibrant, Smurfy hue, they said. The gave Lange credit for its trend of truth in advertising this year--the color is called Vibrant Blue. No creativity awards there, but honest, and testers didn't care what it looked like given what it helped them do on the hill.
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