Yes, BOA is taking the lions share of the attention for the coming season. Atomic, Fischer, K2 and Salomon are putting their eggs in the BOA basket and both the positive and negative buzz that has been created is beyond anything we have seen in the boot world in recent memory, even more than the last important enhancement in boots, whatever that was. With that said, BOA is not the only story in boots for the coming season, nor it should be. There are a LOT of important new boots coming to the market for 2024.
Since the upcoming BOA boots are all based on current boot designs and lasts (internal shape of the shell) to an extent, these other new boots are actually more significant and deserve more discussion than just the BOA closure system; there is a lot of sizzle with that steak but maybe not as much meat as the hype would have us believe. We have a lot to talk about with important new boot collections from Dalbello, Head, Kastle, and Lange plus two lines from Nordica including an all new race collection.
Let’s talk about these new boots brand by brand in alphabetical order and what they offer you, the consumer. Again, we are not here to tell you what is the best boot because there isn’t one. We aren’t here to say that one is the “Boot of the Year” or that one is “Testers' Choice”. That is just marketing BS. We are here to tell you that open up your mind and IF you are in the need of a new pair of boots, go see a bootfitter and let him or her help your decide which one of these new boots or even which carry over design will fit your foot the best.
Dalbello
Dalbello has been one of the big two when it comes to three piece shell boots or “Cabriolet” as some call the design. Dalbello has renamed their reference Krypton series as “Cabrio” which does make sense and I don’t see them losing skier one by doing so. Dalbello’s Il Moro collection, which was based off of the Krypton, carry over in name and now will be based on this new collection.
The new Cabrio/Il Moro collection is now a little more progressive in forward lead and more anatomically designed internally. As in the past, there is a range of flexes available from 85 to 130 and some are available with traditional tongue liners or, of course, Dalbello's closed cell Intuition-type wrap. Where the outgoing model was marketed at 98mm, the new molds will be 99mm in the forefoot.
Head
The Edge has been a staple in the Head boot line for almost 20 years and has been a volume leader for Head, not only in sales but also in internal volume with an advertised 102mm last. Head feels that even skiers with a lotta foot still need a good fit and the Edge is available from an entry level 85 flex to a beefy 130 with mens' and women’s models being offered in various flexes. The all new Edge includes a standard walk mode and all of the boots have flat replaceable soles that can be canted, a design that all too many manufacturers are bypassing in the name of style. Like other Head mid to upper level boots, the new Edge has Head's proprietary Liquid Fit system. The top performing Edge 130 does come with Head's ingenious Double Power Lever buckles should be offered on all their boots. It is that good.
Kastle
Kastle did a soft launch of their boot collection this year ; you can read my review of the KP120 HERE. Kastle is looking to be a full line company and we all know to do that you need a boot. Kastle entered the boot market by jumping in with both feet, pun intended, by starting, as they did when they reentered the ski market in the mid 2000’s, by offering top level performance equipment. Kastle's initial offerings are full World Cup boots with their 93mm solid lug KR collection, with the R referring to Race, and the KP, P referring to performance with replaceable lugs. The KP collection has flexes starting at 100 going up to 130 with 97 and 100mm lasts. Looking into my crystal ball, I expect Kastle to come down market with a full line of boots as they are currently doing with skis.
Lange
Lange is a company that takes their boots very seriously. Even though they say “we only make boots” we all know they are part of Dynastar/Look. That shouldn’t take anything away from what they are doing with their new Shadow collection which replaces their core RX series. This is the first time in about 15 years that Lange introduced a full line of boots that were designed from the ground up and not based off another boot. The Shadow, with its double hinge design and all new liner, is a significant departure from anything Lange has done in recent memory.
Like many of the other offerings mentioned here, the new Shadow boots will be available from 85 to 130 in flex, in mens' and women’s motif, and in narrow 97 mm and mid volume 100mm lasts. You can watch our video with Matt from Lange describing the new Shadow collection HERE where Matt gets into how the Shadow concept works. SkiTalk tester, Andy Mink's on snow review is HERE.
Nordica
For 2024 Nordica is coming to market with two new boot collections. Their side country Unlimited collection has a cable/buckle closure on the boot lower which, dare I say, is “BOA like” but without the dial. The Unlimited has a Gripwalk (ISO 23223) sole that, while in not really cantable due to its shape, is replaceable for longevity. A light 280 gram liner with Nordica's cork fit and Primaloft round out the design. Flexes will be in the 95 to 130 range with the 130 being available down to a 22.5 shell which, while not an industry first but very unusual in non-race derived boots. The Unlimited will be offered only in 99mm last.
Next for Nordica is the all new Dobermann collection. It is not every year a boot company comes out with an all new race collection and this year it’s Nordica’s turn. Nordica is not using traditional flex numbers to differentiate their models, a la Lange/Rossignol with their Z series of race boots. IMHO this is refreshing since there is no standard in these numbers anyway and they are really more for marketing. No, Nordica is simply calling these Soft, Medium, Stiff, and Extra Stiff and this is all in context. The “Soft” starts near where most “consumer” boots end. The Soft is available in an LC or Lower Cuff.
The new Nordica’s will be offered in 93 and 95mm lasts and, with boot designs getting more efficient, the shell sizes will be 5mm shorter than in the past. While a 26.5 is usually 305mm in the shell for Nordica boots, the new Dobie will be a 300mm. The other aspect that impressed me with the new Nordica Dobermann was their new lace up liner with its Heel Lock banding.
These are some of the important new boots that are coming for the new season. This is also not to say that one of the new BOA offerings is not for you; it might be the best fit for your foot. One of these non-BOA boots might be the best fit. Heck, one of the carry over models might also work best for you. My point is, don’t get hung up on a bell or a whistle. Focus on fit over features and avoid the rhetoric and hoopla and even the naysayers or those who think they know but are speaking from absolutely no basis in fact or, worse, validating their own purchase. Let your feet tell you what the best boot is… for you.
Since the upcoming BOA boots are all based on current boot designs and lasts (internal shape of the shell) to an extent, these other new boots are actually more significant and deserve more discussion than just the BOA closure system; there is a lot of sizzle with that steak but maybe not as much meat as the hype would have us believe. We have a lot to talk about with important new boot collections from Dalbello, Head, Kastle, and Lange plus two lines from Nordica including an all new race collection.
Let’s talk about these new boots brand by brand in alphabetical order and what they offer you, the consumer. Again, we are not here to tell you what is the best boot because there isn’t one. We aren’t here to say that one is the “Boot of the Year” or that one is “Testers' Choice”. That is just marketing BS. We are here to tell you that open up your mind and IF you are in the need of a new pair of boots, go see a bootfitter and let him or her help your decide which one of these new boots or even which carry over design will fit your foot the best.
Dalbello
Dalbello has been one of the big two when it comes to three piece shell boots or “Cabriolet” as some call the design. Dalbello has renamed their reference Krypton series as “Cabrio” which does make sense and I don’t see them losing skier one by doing so. Dalbello’s Il Moro collection, which was based off of the Krypton, carry over in name and now will be based on this new collection.
The new Cabrio/Il Moro collection is now a little more progressive in forward lead and more anatomically designed internally. As in the past, there is a range of flexes available from 85 to 130 and some are available with traditional tongue liners or, of course, Dalbello's closed cell Intuition-type wrap. Where the outgoing model was marketed at 98mm, the new molds will be 99mm in the forefoot.
Head
The Edge has been a staple in the Head boot line for almost 20 years and has been a volume leader for Head, not only in sales but also in internal volume with an advertised 102mm last. Head feels that even skiers with a lotta foot still need a good fit and the Edge is available from an entry level 85 flex to a beefy 130 with mens' and women’s models being offered in various flexes. The all new Edge includes a standard walk mode and all of the boots have flat replaceable soles that can be canted, a design that all too many manufacturers are bypassing in the name of style. Like other Head mid to upper level boots, the new Edge has Head's proprietary Liquid Fit system. The top performing Edge 130 does come with Head's ingenious Double Power Lever buckles should be offered on all their boots. It is that good.
Kastle did a soft launch of their boot collection this year ; you can read my review of the KP120 HERE. Kastle is looking to be a full line company and we all know to do that you need a boot. Kastle entered the boot market by jumping in with both feet, pun intended, by starting, as they did when they reentered the ski market in the mid 2000’s, by offering top level performance equipment. Kastle's initial offerings are full World Cup boots with their 93mm solid lug KR collection, with the R referring to Race, and the KP, P referring to performance with replaceable lugs. The KP collection has flexes starting at 100 going up to 130 with 97 and 100mm lasts. Looking into my crystal ball, I expect Kastle to come down market with a full line of boots as they are currently doing with skis.
Lange
Lange is a company that takes their boots very seriously. Even though they say “we only make boots” we all know they are part of Dynastar/Look. That shouldn’t take anything away from what they are doing with their new Shadow collection which replaces their core RX series. This is the first time in about 15 years that Lange introduced a full line of boots that were designed from the ground up and not based off another boot. The Shadow, with its double hinge design and all new liner, is a significant departure from anything Lange has done in recent memory.
Like many of the other offerings mentioned here, the new Shadow boots will be available from 85 to 130 in flex, in mens' and women’s motif, and in narrow 97 mm and mid volume 100mm lasts. You can watch our video with Matt from Lange describing the new Shadow collection HERE where Matt gets into how the Shadow concept works. SkiTalk tester, Andy Mink's on snow review is HERE.
Nordica
For 2024 Nordica is coming to market with two new boot collections. Their side country Unlimited collection has a cable/buckle closure on the boot lower which, dare I say, is “BOA like” but without the dial. The Unlimited has a Gripwalk (ISO 23223) sole that, while in not really cantable due to its shape, is replaceable for longevity. A light 280 gram liner with Nordica's cork fit and Primaloft round out the design. Flexes will be in the 95 to 130 range with the 130 being available down to a 22.5 shell which, while not an industry first but very unusual in non-race derived boots. The Unlimited will be offered only in 99mm last.
Next for Nordica is the all new Dobermann collection. It is not every year a boot company comes out with an all new race collection and this year it’s Nordica’s turn. Nordica is not using traditional flex numbers to differentiate their models, a la Lange/Rossignol with their Z series of race boots. IMHO this is refreshing since there is no standard in these numbers anyway and they are really more for marketing. No, Nordica is simply calling these Soft, Medium, Stiff, and Extra Stiff and this is all in context. The “Soft” starts near where most “consumer” boots end. The Soft is available in an LC or Lower Cuff.
The new Nordica’s will be offered in 93 and 95mm lasts and, with boot designs getting more efficient, the shell sizes will be 5mm shorter than in the past. While a 26.5 is usually 305mm in the shell for Nordica boots, the new Dobie will be a 300mm. The other aspect that impressed me with the new Nordica Dobermann was their new lace up liner with its Heel Lock banding.
These are some of the important new boots that are coming for the new season. This is also not to say that one of the new BOA offerings is not for you; it might be the best fit for your foot. One of these non-BOA boots might be the best fit. Heck, one of the carry over models might also work best for you. My point is, don’t get hung up on a bell or a whistle. Focus on fit over features and avoid the rhetoric and hoopla and even the naysayers or those who think they know but are speaking from absolutely no basis in fact or, worse, validating their own purchase. Let your feet tell you what the best boot is… for you.
