The design that triggered a whole line up of similarly awesome boots, the S/Pro Alpha 130 returned to our test without changing a thing and impressed our team all over again. From the moment testers got this traditional four-buckle overlap closed up they were right where they wanted to be--for a comfortable narrow fit, for a comfortably tall stance and for a comfortably stable and in-control descent at mach schnell!
The S/Pro Alpha was the first of the S/Pro family to jettison the previous Core Frame shell structure in favor of a mono-injected polyurethane shell and upper cuff linked with the new Power Spine connection tech. This new S/Pro design was at once something of a throw-back to a simpler, cleaner shape but also a huge step forward toward a boot that really worked in every way. The medium width S/Pro Supra followed suit, as did the wide last S/Pro Delta, and now the whole damn S/Pro family cleans up the gold medals each year at our boot test. Testers enjoyed getting back into the progenitor model to be reminded what a pleasure it is to ski a well-engineered, stiff, narrow-lasted all-mountain ripper.
First, though, before they could love it and find it so pleasurable, they had to get it on--and a few testers commented that it remains one of the entry-challenged in the category. They say it's not enough to stop anyone from enjoying the S/Pro Alpha 130 but it did stand as one of the few minor demerits lodged against the boot, and a pity that it happens with the very first interaction with it. Testers (even the ones who had an issue with entry and exit) say, don't let that sway you, to prospective buyers because the experience of both fit and performance is so good they need to hang in there.
For the slender-of-foot, the S/Pro Alpha shape is a perfect match, with a touch of extra space at the toebox. There were a lot of Goldilocks comments made about how the instep fit over the top of the foot was padded enough but not too much, and also about the close fit through the throat of the boot at the base of the leg that held things firm but without numbness or discomfort. The ankle pockets were just sculpted enough in their shape to avoid hot spots but testers remained locked in there. The heel pocket remains one of the tightest of the narrow, all-mountain group but without offending bony parts or the Achilles tendon. The S/Pro Alpha liner feel is classically, comfortably Salomon, testers say, with a pleasing balance of cushion, smoothness and serious grip on the foot and leg for high-level skiing.
The test team likes the stance angles of the S/Pro Alpha but notes that it stands a little to the upright side of the category average. Taller guys and those preferring less-loaded quadriceps will be well-suited here. Skiers seeking a more forward-leaning set-up can experiment with additional rear spoiler combinations simply enough. Some testers thought that the cuffs were oriented slightly bowlegged, which biased them toward a little extra inside edge angle, which they loved for on-piste trenching (which it does, easily) but thought might need to be moderated with a basic cuff adjustment for a more flat, off-piste set-up.
Speaking of off-piste, the S/Pro Alpha comes with both hard plastic alpine (5355) soles pre-mounted but a set of GripWalk soles are included in the box for a more secure boot-packing tread and a little bit of extra shock mitigation. Testers loved how the S/Pro Alpha 130 ripped everything they put in front of it with predictable power and rapid returns to center over and over.
There's an ongoing debate over the ongoing blue hue among the team. One tester said, Rippers with skinny feet are going to love it--plus the blue looks great. Another tester said, Fits and skis with the best of the test and other than the blue color, it's awesome. We'll leave it at that for now and enjoy it as it is while we wait for what might happen next year.
Kudos
Caveats