The new Tecnica Mach BOA 120 MV impressed our test team with its pleasant blend of comfort, ease-of-use and legitimate downhill performance. Testers have been longtime fans of the Mach1 series of boots, in all widths, and last year's test of the progenitor Mach BOA HV were positive--so there was little doubt that this year's medium width version of the BOA boot would similarly excel.
To look at the scores awarded to the Mach BOA 120 MV one might think there was something amiss--not that a silver medal is a bad thing, but historically Mach has been synonymous with gold. However, when drilling down into testers' written commentary there were very few negative remarks or demerits noted. So, this may be a case where the letters and numbers don't speak the same language--it happens. We're going to focus on the things that testers said about the Mach BOA 120 because they make the most sense.
One thing was repeated, across the test team, and that was that the Mach1 performance heritage was apparent in the Mach BOA MV--it skied well, they said. Yes, this is a 120-flex and often the Mach1 boots are tested in the 130 flagship model, but testers were impressed with both its stability and power, as well as its quickness edge to edge and responsive feel. The flex feel was long and predictable, they said, but not collapsing, even for the bigger guys on the team.
The BOA reel was regarded as a positive addition, with no mention of it impeding entry. Testers liked how it closed the boot around their foot in a controlled and predictable way that didn't warp the feel, just closed it down incrementally. Some testers mentioned that the fit over the top of the foot felt a little more snug than expected for a medium-volume model but there weren't any comments about numbness or pain.
Warmth and convenience were top-shelf, and testers commented that the ease-of-use here made it a slam dunk for most intermediate and advanced skiers looking for a no-hassle, all-mountain conveyance that wouldn't disappoint. There were no deal-breaker issues to contend with in fit or performance and all systems were a green light for making the ski experience an instantly fun one. One tester said, "There are simply no problems here, so shut up and go skiing." We wholeheartedly agree with that advice.
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