The Zay ZR 115 is very similar to the stiffer ZR 125 that we tested, with the exception of a standard Velcro powerstrap here—and as such received almost identical test results to the big brother model. The ZR 115 also got a lot of attention for how it looked and how it closed—which are by the boot's nature inextricably linked. It has no lower buckles, but rather a thin cable which encircles the lower boot along two grooves at typical buckle positions. These loops are routed beneath the boot, along the sole and out the back to a single, multi-hinged buckle that tensions them.
The brand new Zay boot also got a fair amount of attention for how tricky the boot was for many testers to get on, though slightly easier than the stiffer 125—the early generation liner tended to crumple down into the throat of the boot, blocking entry, and the cables at times failed to release enough tension to allow an easy slide in. Once on and properly adjusted for tightness using the barrel-nut cable adjusters on the rear buckle and two traditional upper, testers were reminded that this is a seriously snug fit.
The rearfoot (heel, ankles, instep and mid-body of the lower) is tight! As tight as anything in the category, testers said, with a particularly snug fit on the navicular and styloid process area. And then the fit opens up to the forefoot and very roomy toebox. The upper boot was snug in a manner characteristic of other performance 98 mm boots. Testers had some hot spots—mostly attributed to the prototype liner—especially at the inside ankle bone.
But damn did the boot ski well, the test team said—agile, precise and as powerful on edge as any of the other boots in the category.
Kudos
Caveats