Though both are part of the Hot Rod collection, the 100W and the HR Pro (below) are different boots. The main difference: The 100 is 2 mm wider at the forefoot. And where the Pro is quick and precise, the 100 offers quieter, less demanding performance. Shock-absorbing materials deaden vibrations and soften landings, and the stance geometry is well balanced.

Testers loved its heel-hold, lightness and adjustability. Dalbello’s three-buckle, three-piece design—cuff, lower shell and shell tongue—is soft-flexing at low speeds, but stiffer as you ramp it up, with positive heel-hold for good leverage over the edge. It’s highly adjustable for flex, forward lean and fit, so it suits a variety of foot shapes and skier styles with all-day comfort.

Testers loved the built-in forefoot flex of the Hawx. Relief cuts in the shell allow it to give when the ski is deeply flexed, improving balance and keeping your heel anchored. The flex also makes it easier to walk in. The thickly padded liner is smooth and seamless. It feels tight at first but quickly expands. There are warmer boots, but the Hawx is a good fit for good skiers.

Stand up and look at your feet: In your natural stance, they’re likely abducted—that is, heels in, toes out. Fischer builds that natural stance into all its Soma boots. It makes it easier to get on edge more quickly and more solidly. The effect is more pronounced in the stiffer X-120, but the 110, with its 100-mm forefoot width, is simultaneously balanced, sensitive and forgiving.