Some issues I have with this review are… The LX is a 102mm last - different volume than the Shadow MV (100mm last). Yes 2mm makes a huge difference and is likely the reason you didn’t like the fit. The other is that you really need to ski a boot to review the flex… flexing a boot in a ski shop is useful for helping determine if the skier has the ability to bend over the boot. However, energy transmission is completely different once a ski is underfoot. Theoretically the longer lever arm should allow the skier to drive more energy through the shovel of the ski. Lastly, the footbeds that come in boots are made to be thrown away and replaced with an aftermarket footbed. This one is small but it’s also a silly thing to complain about in any ski boot. Personally haven’t skied this yet either hence I’m holding off my opinion of it. Appreciate your content but it’s not a fair review.
It's not a review, it's a first look. You can still get a feel for the smoothness of the flex from a shop. I have had Lange's default foot beds for the last 20 years with no issues. I'm sure the aftermarket are better, but they can still be good out of the box depending on your foot and what you need. The thing I noticed was almost like a slight slant outward. Not bad, just felt different than I've grown to expect. I'm not reviewing The Lange Shadows, I just tried them at the shop and wanted to give my first impressions. Appreciate your critique and your polite feedback! Cheers!
First impression… review… tomato, tomahto. It’s still odd to compare the boot to your LX as they’re different volumes. That’s like comparing a shorter sole length and saying “it felt weird cuz my toes were crushed”. Addressing the footbeds… no the stock footbeds are not ideal for +99% of folks. Unless your feet don’t pronate/suponate and don’t elongate in the boot an aftermarket footbed will tremendously improve the fit of any boot. It’s best to go custom so you know your footbed supports your foot shape. Literally any boot brand will tell you that their stock footbeds are just placeholders and meant to be thrown away. I just find this kind of “first impression” a bit misleading and misinformed. At the end of the day what will truly make the Shadow, or any boot for that matter, a good boot is if it fits the users foot well and that will be true regardless if it works or doesn’t work for others. Since you have a channel “reviewing” products and are an expert in them I think that would be an important thing to establish with your audience, particularly with ski boots.
Totally, I would be willing to fully test the shadows, but I'm not sure I want to spend $750 on a boot that doesn't feel great on my foot in the shop and end up stuck with it. So a first look is honestly just my baseline impressions, and I try to be really clear with what's a review and what's just my first impressions of a new product. Cheers,
@@RicketySkiReviews the poster is right though. how the stock insoles feel on your foot is meaningless. for folks that don't have custom footbeds, most shops will let you try boots with at least a high quality non custom footbed. At least then you're comparing apples to apples.
Hadn't heard of that Lange ski boot development. What I did see was the Boa closure across several brands. As someone who's had problems with traditional 4 buckle designs, this looked interesting. I bought a jacket and trousers directly from Montec last season. Much more reasonably priced compared to the classic ski brands.
Oh cool, how do you like your montec stuff? The boa made me nervous back when it was being put into snowboard boots, but I'm sure they've engineered it well. Will have to find a pair to test.
I would recommend Montec. They had free returns so I ordered small and medium in the trousers. Good thing I didn't take their trouser sizing recommendation as medium was way too big for me.
The Boa boots look interesting but ever since having a pair of Raichlie Felxon Comp DD in the 80s I've gravitated towards boots that pull your heel into the pocket in the boot. Now I'm using Dailbello boots for this reason. I'm just waiting to see when any boots with this fit get the Boa system. Boots end up being something where fit is so important it's really hard to look at them for individuals. My feet are very low volume.
Im still waiting for Salomon to resurrect the sx91 equip. Cables that pull you directly into the heel pocket. Not sure why the concept eludes boot designers??
Because of your review, I just purchased a second of my current Lang RX boot from 2020......it's been on sale for $175 and I've been thinking "maybe i'll wait another year or two to replace them and jump to the updated Shadow. But once I thought about what you experienced and what others have said....i'll just break open my new pair in 1 or 2 years and wait till the Shadow has its kinks worked out.
Good call! I will probably do the same honestly, I was looking at my order history and when I got my LX's they were like $320 now they're like $500, it really hurts lol
Elliot, try Atomic boots. The newest Hawx is a great lighter weight boot and the Redster Club Sport is an outstanding all day near race boot. I have the Redster CS and love them, I used to be a die hard Lange guy. I have not heard great things about the new Lange Shadow, pretty much what you are saying.
I'm not the hardest ripper or all that heavy but ive always found lange boots to be really soft. I had a pair of lange RX 130 and i flexed the shit out if them. Im a huge fan if Dalbello Krypton 130 is great. Never understood why people think that type of boot isn't a performance boot
I ski tecnica mach 1 lv 130 with a small punch out and the top bolt on the rear removed. With the top bolt remove the flex is good. The boot ski well now and the flex is more progressive. With both bolt in the flex was on and off. I am not. Working on my second pair which are head formula rs130. The flex on the head is fantastic, very progressive and ski more like a 120 vs my mach 1. Check out those 2. Once i work the head fitting it will be the best carving boot i think.
i'm a Rossignol boot guy, they just fit me. i'm a measured 27.5 but wear 26.5, Tecnica work too in 26.5 but Lange i have to go 27.5 and does not fit 100% and i'm not doing the "punch the toe box" etc stuff
Weird! I know like 15 years ago, Lange and Rossi race boots were supposedly the same boot, but I've heard rumors more recently now that they're different products, so your account kind of confirms that.
Nice, I see you have a Booster strap, I just purchased one for my Atomic Hawx, how did you install yours, by yourself, or your Bootfitter? Thanks for the review on this. Ski boots are so personal because even if the technology on one boot is interesting or cool, we can only wear the boots that fit and are designed for our feet. As a woman with very small low volume feet, this is definitely true for me. I loved the idea of the Lange boots but in the foot fitter shop I fit only the Atomic Hawx in 110 or 115, don’t remember which it is, enough to have them molded to my foot and customized. It’s a good fit and a good boot too, so no complaints! Glad a few companies are making boots small enough for my feet nowadays, as a young skier I always had boots that I had to clamp down all the way to keep my feet from swimming around in them because they were unisex, used, packed out, and medium volume anyway. I made do and didn’t know any different like teens do, but it’s nice as an adult to have gear that enhances my performance rather than holding it back. Lastly, hope you end up loving the Gore-Tex jacket! My dad works for Gore designing some of the new green materials that they are using in their garments. He is also an expert snowboarder who does everything from resort to some touring and heli or cat snowboarding. He and my entire family always ski and snowboard with their jackets, and really love them. Gore tex jackets have two types of waterproofing on them. The main one is the Gore Tex liner itself which allows sweat to evaporate through while keeping snow and water out. They also are treated with waterproofing on the material of their shells which repels water and makes it bead up so it doesn’t cling to the material at all. To keep the waterproofing treatment working well, don’t use fabric softeners while washing and dry the garment on high heat in the drier to reactivate it and spread it around the garment. Over a year of wear you can retreat with waterproofing made for it to bring back the beading quality to full much like you would wax skis. The internal membrane will continue to provide waterproofing even with very old garments however, for example I still wear and love an old decommissioned Navy Gore-Tex jacket from over a decade ago which is ruggedized for Search and Rescue work and for skiing because it holds up well to branches and thorns, and it still repels water well despite having had its original outer treatment worn a long time ago, due to the membrane still being perfect.
booster straps are the best "accessory" i ever bought. they are simply amazing and add that extra performance to a skiboot (and comfort too). i install them myself it is really easy.
I did it myself but it was an absolute nightmare, especially since they didn't include the hardware on the ones I bought. So make sure you look up the right hardware. But agreed with Urban, it's the best boot upgrade you can make imo.
Good Stuff! Perhaps doing a video on some great bargain gear would be good too. Perhaps the stuff from Costco- The 32 Degree long underwear (I like) Bula Balaclava's The Head disposable Ski Gloves- (Buy one every year so you always have a dry pair) Spy Goggles? Helmets? Maybe even a more "all up" video on what layering techniques you use for different conditions?...
I actually have a video exactly like what you're asking for: ruclips.net/video/pa7_NgMSm_g/видео.html I don't have one on the Costco Gear, I've used 32 degree in the past, and it was fine, but fell apart pretty quickly. Great suggestion!
Not yet, they've made me nervous since seeing them on snowboard boots 20 years ago, but I really need to! Hope you love your jacket, I'm excited to try mine out in the snow. Thanks for commenting!
Hmm, that 2 pivots on side looks like Nordica Astral Slalom from 1972 ;-) but that backs "rail" to tune the flex seem squite easy to tune up, as from factory to skier -but I was amazed they did not implement the lean on that too! For that there is spoilers to add. Odd. Perhaps a gimmicky shoes but I guessa longer living than the mamb...boa! ;-D
Elliott, we've talked about this before... I've been a Lange guy for years also but I heard some of the same complaints from a reknowned bootfitter here in town. He's been fitting boots for racers for >20 years and his shop isn't even carrying the Shadow. And Lange always used to be this shop's go-to for boots. He says, it's all hype, marketing, and the boots are gimmiky. I didn't want to believe it myself, but between what he's said and now you, I'm starting to believe the reasons for dissatisfaction. He said the lead engineer for Lange now works for Salomon and Salomon and Nordica he says have really stepped up their game. I tried on the S-Pro Alpha 130 and let me tell you as a Lange guy this boot rocks! 98mm last but no pinch points. It totally wraps your foot comfortably but precisely. Doesn't even feel like a need to cinch 'em right down they're that precise. I'll be getting them when the time comes. Check 'em out!
I just skied these boots, and whether you like them or not -- and completely fair if you don't, but I LOVE them -- they are not hype. BOA is hype. These are I think the most innovative and well thought out boots to come along in a very long time. (Also plenty comfy.)
"I haven't skied on these, to be fair." An awfully negative review from someone who hasn't actually used them for their intended purpose. ;P And yes, I know you were clear about that disclaimer, and... the entire point of the boot is the way it transfers energy to the ski, and you need to be skiing them to know if that works or not. And after spending a weekend on them in all conditions, I'm telling ya, it *does* work.
Oh I should have been clear, I agree that the in store feel is def different, it is so smooth that it somehow doesn't give you the same feedback. So deceptive I think..you've got to try these on the mountain if you can.@@RicketySkiReviews
Companies, in all sports, have to re-invent not only the wheel but themselves nearly on a 365 days basis. Every company can take their "mid to high" range and switch prices and no one will be the wiser. it's all marketting BS and it works wonders...get a couple of big YT channels to praise your new revolutionnary concept, make it exsclusive and boom, you sold out and everyone praises your new revolutionnary stuff. Marketting 101, always works, always have, always will.
@@RicketySkiReviews 4 yeards ago i tried a pair of scarpa maestrale which came with a pair of intuition liners. Instant game changer. Now i own a pair of said liner with a pair of custom insole and i sold all my boots. I simply rent them now and use my liner in them. Boots have become all but an accessory to my liner. As long as they are stiff enough (i am 240 lbs all geared up), i don't care the brand, colour, buckle system..etc...they all do their job well enough : make sure my liner stay where it's supposed to be :-) If you haven't tried high end liners + custom insole (somehow i doubt it), do yourself a favor and do it, absolute game changer
Great insight! I used to have lace up liners in my old race boots, so I've been reluctant with some of the premium liner replacements I've seen, but I will definitely try and give them a go next chance I get!
You can see my video on Boot Fitting Yourself Here: ruclips.net/video/0kqMA4dlR1M/видео.htmlsi=oMxRwBdwJrHfmJ_f
Some issues I have with this review are…
The LX is a 102mm last - different volume than the Shadow MV (100mm last). Yes 2mm makes a huge difference and is likely the reason you didn’t like the fit.
The other is that you really need to ski a boot to review the flex… flexing a boot in a ski shop is useful for helping determine if the skier has the ability to bend over the boot. However, energy transmission is completely different once a ski is underfoot. Theoretically the longer lever arm should allow the skier to drive more energy through the shovel of the ski.
Lastly, the footbeds that come in boots are made to be thrown away and replaced with an aftermarket footbed. This one is small but it’s also a silly thing to complain about in any ski boot.
Personally haven’t skied this yet either hence I’m holding off my opinion of it. Appreciate your content but it’s not a fair review.
It's not a review, it's a first look.
You can still get a feel for the smoothness of the flex from a shop.
I have had Lange's default foot beds for the last 20 years with no issues. I'm sure the aftermarket are better, but they can still be good out of the box depending on your foot and what you need. The thing I noticed was almost like a slight slant outward. Not bad, just felt different than I've grown to expect.
I'm not reviewing The Lange Shadows, I just tried them at the shop and wanted to give my first impressions.
Appreciate your critique and your polite feedback!
Cheers!
First impression… review… tomato, tomahto. It’s still odd to compare the boot to your LX as they’re different volumes. That’s like comparing a shorter sole length and saying “it felt weird cuz my toes were crushed”.
Addressing the footbeds… no the stock footbeds are not ideal for +99% of folks. Unless your feet don’t pronate/suponate and don’t elongate in the boot an aftermarket footbed will tremendously improve the fit of any boot. It’s best to go custom so you know your footbed supports your foot shape. Literally any boot brand will tell you that their stock footbeds are just placeholders and meant to be thrown away.
I just find this kind of “first impression” a bit misleading and misinformed.
At the end of the day what will truly make the Shadow, or any boot for that matter, a good boot is if it fits the users foot well and that will be true regardless if it works or doesn’t work for others. Since you have a channel “reviewing” products and are an expert in them I think that would be an important thing to establish with your audience, particularly with ski boots.
Totally, I would be willing to fully test the shadows, but I'm not sure I want to spend $750 on a boot that doesn't feel great on my foot in the shop and end up stuck with it. So a first look is honestly just my baseline impressions, and I try to be really clear with what's a review and what's just my first impressions of a new product.
Cheers,
@@RicketySkiReviews the poster is right though. how the stock insoles feel on your foot is meaningless. for folks that don't have custom footbeds, most shops will let you try boots with at least a high quality non custom footbed. At least then you're comparing apples to apples.
Great looking boots, Darth Vader esque
Hadn't heard of that Lange ski boot development.
What I did see was the Boa closure across several brands. As someone who's had problems with traditional 4 buckle designs, this looked interesting.
I bought a jacket and trousers directly from Montec last season. Much more reasonably priced compared to the classic ski brands.
Oh cool, how do you like your montec stuff? The boa made me nervous back when it was being put into snowboard boots, but I'm sure they've engineered it well. Will have to find a pair to test.
I would recommend Montec. They had free returns so I ordered small and medium in the trousers. Good thing I didn't take their trouser sizing recommendation as medium was way too big for me.
The Boa boots look interesting but ever since having a pair of Raichlie Felxon Comp DD in the 80s I've gravitated towards boots that pull your heel into the pocket in the boot. Now I'm using Dailbello boots for this reason. I'm just waiting to see when any boots with this fit get the Boa system. Boots end up being something where fit is so important it's really hard to look at them for individuals. My feet are very low volume.
I also ski Dalbello 3 buckle design. My priority is comfort first and performance second.
Im still waiting for Salomon to resurrect the sx91 equip. Cables that pull you directly into the heel pocket. Not sure why the concept eludes boot designers??
Because of your review, I just purchased a second of my current Lang RX boot from 2020......it's been on sale for $175 and I've been thinking "maybe i'll wait another year or two to replace them and jump to the updated Shadow.
But once I thought about what you experienced and what others have said....i'll just break open my new pair in 1 or 2 years and wait till the Shadow has its kinks worked out.
The Shadow replaced the RX line....I need the RX's wider last.
Good call! I will probably do the same honestly, I was looking at my order history and when I got my LX's they were like $320 now they're like $500, it really hurts lol
Volcom jacket does not look blue lol
Blue ish lol
Elliot, try Atomic boots. The newest Hawx is a great lighter weight boot and the Redster Club Sport is an outstanding all day near race boot. I have the Redster CS and love them, I used to be a die hard Lange guy. I have not heard great things about the new Lange Shadow, pretty much what you are saying.
Great recommendation, I've been on the fence, but I think it's time to head to my local shop and give the Atomics a try.
Any recommendation on which boot to start with when I try them?
I'm not the hardest ripper or all that heavy but ive always found lange boots to be really soft. I had a pair of lange RX 130 and i flexed the shit out if them. Im a huge fan if Dalbello Krypton 130 is great. Never understood why people think that type of boot isn't a performance boot
Yeah, I think it depends on the model too, anecdotally I've found the flexes between Lange race boots and my current boots to be very different.
I ski tecnica mach 1 lv 130 with a small punch out and the top bolt on the rear removed. With the top bolt remove the flex is good. The boot ski well now and the flex is more progressive. With both bolt in the flex was on and off. I am not. Working on my second pair which are head formula rs130. The flex on the head is fantastic, very progressive and ski more like a 120 vs my mach 1. Check out those 2. Once i work the head fitting it will be the best carving boot i think.
Right on! Thanks for the recommendation.
I've used Lange RX boots for a while now, and I smell BS. Totally agree. I get it, marketing and a need to innovate.
Totally, I'm hoping I can get them on snow to confirm 100%
i'm a Rossignol boot guy, they just fit me. i'm a measured 27.5 but wear 26.5, Tecnica work too in 26.5 but Lange i have to go 27.5 and does not fit 100% and i'm not doing the "punch the toe box" etc stuff
Weird! I know like 15 years ago, Lange and Rossi race boots were supposedly the same boot, but I've heard rumors more recently now that they're different products, so your account kind of confirms that.
@@RicketySkiReviews i'm low volume but medium+ width foot with skinny legs it's complicated :D
Nice, I see you have a Booster strap, I just purchased one for my Atomic Hawx, how did you install yours, by yourself, or your Bootfitter?
Thanks for the review on this. Ski boots are so personal because even if the technology on one boot is interesting or cool, we can only wear the boots that fit and are designed for our feet. As a woman with very small low volume feet, this is definitely true for me. I loved the idea of the Lange boots but in the foot fitter shop I fit only the Atomic Hawx in 110 or 115, don’t remember which it is, enough to have them molded to my foot and customized. It’s a good fit and a good boot too, so no complaints! Glad a few companies are making boots small enough for my feet nowadays, as a young skier I always had boots that I had to clamp down all the way to keep my feet from swimming around in them because they were unisex, used, packed out, and medium volume anyway. I made do and didn’t know any different like teens do, but it’s nice as an adult to have gear that enhances my performance rather than holding it back.
Lastly, hope you end up loving the Gore-Tex jacket! My dad works for Gore designing some of the new green materials that they are using in their garments. He is also an expert snowboarder who does everything from resort to some touring and heli or cat snowboarding. He and my entire family always ski and snowboard with their jackets, and really love them. Gore tex jackets have two types of waterproofing on them. The main one is the Gore Tex liner itself which allows sweat to evaporate through while keeping snow and water out. They also are treated with waterproofing on the material of their shells which repels water and makes it bead up so it doesn’t cling to the material at all. To keep the waterproofing treatment working well, don’t use fabric softeners while washing and dry the garment on high heat in the drier to reactivate it and spread it around the garment. Over a year of wear you can retreat with waterproofing made for it to bring back the beading quality to full much like you would wax skis. The internal membrane will continue to provide waterproofing even with very old garments however, for example I still wear and love an old decommissioned Navy Gore-Tex jacket from over a decade ago which is ruggedized for Search and Rescue work and for skiing because it holds up well to branches and thorns, and it still repels water well despite having had its original outer treatment worn a long time ago, due to the membrane still being perfect.
booster straps are the best "accessory" i ever bought. they are simply amazing and add that extra performance to a skiboot (and comfort too). i install them myself it is really easy.
I did it myself but it was an absolute nightmare, especially since they didn't include the hardware on the ones I bought. So make sure you look up the right hardware. But agreed with Urban, it's the best boot upgrade you can make imo.
Glad you have had better luck with Boots!
I just bought boots right before all the new tech comes out. O well.
I actually think I'm gonna get the old tech based on what I felt, so you're actually hitting home runs over here!
Good Stuff!
Perhaps doing a video on some great bargain gear would be good too.
Perhaps the stuff from Costco-
The 32 Degree long underwear (I like)
Bula Balaclava's
The Head disposable Ski Gloves- (Buy one every year so you always have a dry pair)
Spy Goggles?
Helmets?
Maybe even a more "all up" video on what layering techniques you use for different conditions?...
I actually have a video exactly like what you're asking for: ruclips.net/video/pa7_NgMSm_g/видео.html
I don't have one on the Costco Gear, I've used 32 degree in the past, and it was fine, but fell apart pretty quickly.
Great suggestion!
I also picked up the same jacket, but in blue and black. Have you skied on any BOA tech boots?
Not yet, they've made me nervous since seeing them on snowboard boots 20 years ago, but I really need to! Hope you love your jacket, I'm excited to try mine out in the snow.
Thanks for commenting!
Oh by the way, Have you looked into aftermarket liners like Zipfit? Thoughts? I know a ton of people love them on forums.
omg, they better love them they cost more than my ski boots lmao!
Hmm, that 2 pivots on side looks like Nordica Astral Slalom from 1972 ;-) but that backs "rail" to tune the flex seem squite easy to tune up, as from factory to skier -but I was amazed they did not implement the lean on that too! For that there is spoilers to add. Odd. Perhaps a gimmicky shoes but I guessa longer living than the mamb...boa! ;-D
Yeah hard to tell, just initial impressions, but would need to spend some more time on snow for full analysis.
Elliott, we've talked about this before... I've been a Lange guy for years also but I heard some of the same complaints from a reknowned bootfitter here in town. He's been fitting boots for racers for >20 years and his shop isn't even carrying the Shadow. And Lange always used to be this shop's go-to for boots. He says, it's all hype, marketing, and the boots are gimmiky. I didn't want to believe it myself, but between what he's said and now you, I'm starting to believe the reasons for dissatisfaction. He said the lead engineer for Lange now works for Salomon and Salomon and Nordica he says have really stepped up their game. I tried on the S-Pro Alpha 130 and let me tell you as a Lange guy this boot rocks! 98mm last but no pinch points. It totally wraps your foot comfortably but precisely. Doesn't even feel like a need to cinch 'em right down they're that precise. I'll be getting them when the time comes. Check 'em out!
Woah super interesting! thanks for the insightful comment, maybe I need to test out some Salomon Boots
I just skied these boots, and whether you like them or not -- and completely fair if you don't, but I LOVE them -- they are not hype. BOA is hype. These are I think the most innovative and well thought out boots to come along in a very long time. (Also plenty comfy.)
Use to b made italy now romania?
Google is telling me it's still Italy, but not sure.
Still made in italy
Now I can't get the image of Darth Vader ripping down a black run out of my head
lmao love the visual!
"I haven't skied on these, to be fair." An awfully negative review from someone who hasn't actually used them for their intended purpose. ;P And yes, I know you were clear about that disclaimer, and... the entire point of the boot is the way it transfers energy to the ski, and you need to be skiing them to know if that works or not. And after spending a weekend on them in all conditions, I'm telling ya, it *does* work.
Cool, would love to try, just giving first impression for how the flexing felt.
Oh I should have been clear, I agree that the in store feel is def different, it is so smooth that it somehow doesn't give you the same feedback. So deceptive I think..you've got to try these on the mountain if you can.@@RicketySkiReviews
Companies, in all sports, have to re-invent not only the wheel but themselves nearly on a 365 days basis.
Every company can take their "mid to high" range and switch prices and no one will be the wiser. it's all marketting BS and it works wonders...get a couple of big YT channels to praise your new revolutionnary concept, make it exsclusive and boom, you sold out and everyone praises your new revolutionnary stuff.
Marketting 101, always works, always have, always will.
Yeah, fair point, sad but you're right. Hopefully I can help a handful of people at least test them before buying!
@@RicketySkiReviews 4 yeards ago i tried a pair of scarpa maestrale which came with a pair of intuition liners. Instant game changer.
Now i own a pair of said liner with a pair of custom insole and i sold all my boots. I simply rent them now and use my liner in them.
Boots have become all but an accessory to my liner.
As long as they are stiff enough (i am 240 lbs all geared up), i don't care the brand, colour, buckle system..etc...they all do their job well enough : make sure my liner stay where it's supposed to be :-)
If you haven't tried high end liners + custom insole (somehow i doubt it), do yourself a favor and do it, absolute game changer
Great insight! I used to have lace up liners in my old race boots, so I've been reluctant with some of the premium liner replacements I've seen, but I will definitely try and give them a go next chance I get!
Sounds kind of gimmicky.
Yeah that's how it felt to me, gotta get them on snow to totally confirm, but I didn't feel anything worth shelling out an extra $250