Sounds a lot like a plot from a psychological thriller. “Boot exhibits remarkable collection of multiple personalities. Testers alternatively describe it as Snappy, reactive and crisp underfoot while also being tall, smooth and cruisey. Fit tight everywhere; roomy for a 98mm.” How can one boot possess all those contradictory characteristics?
Well, what testers felt depended on whether they stuck with their regular size or chose to size down a click. Salomon's uniquely long interior space and ability to shell morph makes the sizing decision an issue that every tester mentioned. Because of its exceptionally deep interior heel pocket shape, the X Max fits 5mm longer than most boots with a similarly marked sole length. That’s a huge benefit for skiers who have historically struggled with gaining enough toe room in a given size. Many typically move up a size and sacrifice that snug performance feel necessary for high level skiing. That’s not necessary here.
Testers often noted that in boots marked with their regular size, they not only felt the boot roomier than others in the category but they also felt that it sat tall on the leg and promoted a fairly upright stance. Some utilized the included heel lift shim to gain ramp angle and ride higher in the boot cuff. Testers who sized down often mentioned that the proportionately lower cuff allowed them to "get up and over" the boot top for a more forward-leaning angle of attack.
So the takeaway here is to talk seriously with your boot fitter about size if you choose to make the X-Max your boot of choice. It will substantially affect the ski experience you have.
Kudos
Caveats