Testers have simply loved this boot over the years for how well it made
them ski, and it's been hard for new Nexo narrow to compete with the
traditional construction found here for aggressive women skiers with
truly low volume fit needs. This remains one of the most snug narrows
going, testers remind.
The Fit
Testers rate this 96 mm last as one of the very tightest fits of the
test (especially in the lower boot), but they liked the shape of this
super snug All-Mountain Traditional narrow. There were very few
complaints of hotspots, except over the top of the foot, where
high-arched or bony midfoot folk got a little crunched. The liner's
tongue is fairly well padded, but easily modified by a good bootfitter
to open up space there. Testers praised the positive grip on the foot
for its confidence-inspiring control of the ski. You say you don't like
your heels lifting up? The Raptor 110 RS W is your solution. Need a
little more room for your calf than for your heel? It's got you covered
there too, for as snug as the lower shell is, the upper cuff runs a
touch low and slightly open, suitable for many leg shapes, so long as
the rear spoiler is removed.
Performance
For many testers, the Raptor's good fit is just a bonus—they'd like
this boot for how it skis, even if they had to suffer a bit. Across the
board, the Raptor rings the winner bell for quickness and lateral power
to the edge—testers unanimously said they chose to ski harder and faster in this boot because they could,
in confidence. While the Raptor 110 RS W is was originally entered in
the Frontside category three years ago, testers have repeatedly praised
its off-piste power and balance and said it shouldn't get pigeon-holed
as a groomers-only sort of boot. Some testers thought the cuff's more
forward-leaning stance angle gave a skier a bit more leverage over the
boot's flex, making it feel a little softer than 110, but this did not
affect fore-aft support scores, which were tops. The forward lean angle
is more aggressive than the current fore-aft cuff stance norm, and will
pair best with flatter sloped (less positive delta) bindings to avoid a
skier feeling over-flexed.