Note that we tested the Ranger 12 Vacuum last year, utilizing a set group of custom testers who underwent the Vacuum process. This year we tested the boot straight off the rack. Results and tester commentary was almost exactly the same as previously with the exception of more comments that the stance felt slightly under-edged and upright. We experienced both of those critiques being diminished after custom molding. With that said, the review body that follows is adapted from last year's. The tester comments below are from this year's test.
The top shelf hike-enabled, medium-width Ranger 12 Vacuum is outfitted with the full rig for all-mountain exploration, from the ground up. Vibram soles and a grippy mid arch makes the boot pack cake, even when it's glazed over and pairs with the shock-absorbing bootboard to provide a damp, bump-flattening ride. The Hike Ride Lock cuff release can be fully disengaged for smooth rearward rotation for hiking and skinning, fully locked for pinned-cuff performance or operated with a free-forward-flexing position for a slightly softer feel. Testers generally ran in either the wide open or fully locked down. Testers noticed that the cuff rotation to the rear was exceptionally smooth-gliding and comfortable, then later spied the unique liner construction that allows the upper plastic liner cuff reinforcement to pivot at axle-like attachment points—the plastic cuff isn't bonded to the liner itself but floats along its exterior surface. We think that's pretty cool.
Testers found that the stance of the Ranger is flat in bootboard ramp and fairly upright in cuff angle, and so a few of them employed the stealth but functional (if strangely named) On/Off Piste Mode spoiler, which snaps into a higher, more forward position with a firm tug on the available pull loop. Though we're not sure how our piste preference would affect our use of this gizmo, it was simple and effective for getting our testers where they wanted to be. Regarding gizmology, there is a heater battery mount, but we're too tough to put heaters in our boots—we did, however, discover that it opens a beer bottle perfectly!
We skied the boot after about 18 hours after molding and then again after an additional 24 hours—the boot was noticeably stiffer (a true 120 flex feel) and stronger on edge after the full cure time. Fischer says this full cure takes 24 hours. After that we conducted an additional fit test by fully thermomolding the new Ultralon liner. This material is in the ankle, heel and instep area as well as in a fully moldable toebox, and after giving it the real deal molding mission, all fit areas were improved substantially. One tester was hoping for improvement to a bulky feel to the tongue at the top of the shin and he got some, but was left wanting more. The lace-up liner option allowed for some custom tweaking to the fit of the upper part of the liner.
Kudos
Caveats