The Hi-Speed 120 HV BOA is all new for Rossignol, with the adoption of a BOA closure on the lower shell and a completely revised liner--our test team was blown away by the improvements made to an already favorite model. One tester called it the best 102mm last boot ever made, period and another expressed his surprise in more simple fashion, saying, wow, this boot rips!
The model we tested was a 120-flex and testers thought it skied as strongly as other 130-flexes in the test, while maintaining a 120-target flex feel that was comfortable against the shin and offered a proper amount of travel in flexion but without collapsing when taxed. The other available flex, the 100, should similarly punch above its weight class, testers surmised, theorizing that it could be the wide-footed bargain-hunter’s find of the season.
Those who were first into the HV BOA noted an initial snugness along the lateral side of the foot, but this more medium-width feel soon relaxed as the liner warmed up over subsequent test runs and allowed the foot to spread and seat to the floor of the boot in a comfy, neutral-feeling way. Translation: don’t be led astray by a more-snug-than-expected initial fit if you’re the first (paper wad in the liner, hang-tags on the shell) to try on this boot in a shop.
The recent Rossignol 102mm boots have trended toward the performance-fit end of the spectrum (meaning, a bit tight) but the new HV BOA hit the fit tension target for testers who loved the combination of rearfoot control without pinching and an expansive forward cabin that still perfectly skirted excessive bucket-like width. They found that the lower BOA closure offered an easy way to make small modifications to the wrap around the forefoot and instep without hindering entry, which they said was as easy as they come.
The all-new R-Go Fit liner is available in all Hi-Speed models this year and testers were impressed with its new interior feel—easy to slide on but then slightly grippy against the sock, holding the foot right where testers wanted it to stay, with a firm-enough feel against the ankles and around the heel that seemed to move with them but without loss of retention. The exterior of the new liner is also substantially revised to better marry-up against the shell, locking in the connections between body, liner and shell for improved edge control and steering moves. There’s also a nifty Velcro shim included in the box to increase snugness over the top of the toes for those who need it, rather than relying entirely on BOA reel tension which can over-tighten the bony top-of-foot zone.
Testers couldn’t say enough about how strongly and precisely the Hi-Speed 120 HV BOA performed on a variety of different snow surfaces. They say the stance is right on the money for a buckle-up (or BOA-up) and go, on-hill experience that complements its ease of fit and glitch-free descent performance. Testers said this was a no-brainer go-to for any skier looking for a higher volume fit without skiing compromises. No hassles, no issues, all fun.
