Sometimes our hard-charging women's test team will turn up their noses at a 105-flex if there's a 110- or 115-flex available in the same model, but that was not the case with the Nordica Speedmachine 3 BOA 105 W. Testers had no problem with this flex level, citing a tallish and upright-feeling cuff that bolstered the flex index and kept them standing right where they wanted to be. No mention of too much travel in the cuff. No mention of a collapsing flex under off-piste duress. We bring this up because there is a 115-flex Speedmachine option available to women, but it comes with buckles--no BOA. Our team is pretty fond of the BOA, and they were happy to ski the 105-flex to get it!
The Speedmachine has always been a tester favorite over the years for its ease of entry, ease of fit and easily accessed expert-level, all-mountain skiing skills. Testers say all of those Speedmachine traits are here in spades but with the addition of the BOA closure system on the lower shell which they liked quite a bit for its smoothly-wrapping closure and easily tuned micro-adjustments. Where the BOA system can cause some restriction of entry on some boots, testers say that is not the case with the Speedmachine 3 BOA 105 W--it was still easy on and off, just the way the buckle version has worked for them in the past.
The majority of the test team said that this medium width fit was right on target for an appropriate amount of grip in the rear control zones and freedom of fit in the toebox and forefoot. There was agreement that the calf fit offered a great middle-of-the-road squeeze on the leg but with a nice amount of flare at the boot top to avoid a jab to the back of the leg. Testers said this was a straightforward, even fit with a cushioned-enough liner feel against the sock but without feeling weak or liable to pack-out--a just-right, Goldilocks-style blend of comfort and control.
Testers were impressed with the high-performance, hard-charging moves this 105-flex enabled. They found no speed limit for it, nor did they discover any terrain challenge that it couldn't handle. The Speedmachine delivered reliable turn initiation and a stable hold on the ski throughout all phases of the turn, regardless of the snow surface, and it did so in warmth and comfort, they said. There were no performance gaps to speak of, they said.
Useful features were icing on the cake for testers who liked the common goodies like a functional Velcro power strap, dual liner pull loops, lateral cuff adjustment and GripWalk soles. For the stance-challenged, 0.5 and 1.0 degree Nordica cants are available as an accessory purchase.
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Caveats