The new and narrow Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 130 is a feature-rich powerhouse according to our test team who were split on the purple, but of a single mind on how strong on edge and quick in transition these performed on the downhill. The fit favored low volume feet and average to muscular calves, according to our testers who couldn't find a weak link in its performance chain mail.
The lower shell's polyurethane construction and close wrapping fit (secured by a BOA cable and reel system) helped power accurate steering moves and quick direction changes, yet maintained a damp and stable feel underfoot that testers liked. They said it's tight the way a narrow should be from toes to heel, with a little extra emphasis on the tightness over the top of the foot--which testers said moderated after some wear time. They liked the BOA closure, especially given that the foot was already held closely, and a few commended the graphic tightness meter at the shell overlap for identifying the boot's level of reel crankage. Testers were intrigued by the floating ExoBelt cable attachment at the throat of the boot, which allowed the cable anchor point to travel slightly and seat where maximum pull into the boot's 45-degree (throat) was achieved.
The upper cuff is an interesting mix of polyolefin plastic and recycled flecks of Pex plumbing pipe (those bits are responsible for the speckled appearance of the cuff). Testers liked the response it offered to lateral movements, tipping the skis on edge without delay or give and held them there without fail through a variety of terrain and snow surfaces. The rigid but lightweight FreeSpine bar links upper to lower and is released for walking or touring by flipping the sideways SureLock lever--testers liked the solid connection offered by this paired technology, and that was before they learned that Salomon revised it further after our test concluded to eradicate some persistent free play in the cuff at the top of its flex range. Testers also liked the easy release of the SureLock switch and said the walking and skinning range of motion is more than adequate for the hard charger looking for a tour-capable boot that won't disappoint on the descent.
The skiing part was where the Shift Alpha shined for our test team, especially in clean, lateral edging movements where the cuff and lower shell worked together to drive the ski edge with power and precision. Several testers were bothered by the boot's flex feel, which some characterized as abrupt on the lower shin and also disconnected from the shin at boot top, allowing for a "spilling out of the top" sensation. Testers tried to crank the 50mm Energyzer up-hooking cam-locking power strap to gain a better connection between tongue and shin while others suggested a full-temp liner cook might solve the issue for them.
The solidly lugged, permanently bonded GripWalk outsole offered a more-direct linkage of foot to ski, by minimizing extra bulk and potential movement in a trade-off for replaceability, and testers were mostly fine with that. They were mostly fine with the purple, as well, especially when they heard it was actually ultra violet--which is way cooler.
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