Tecnica's New Mach1 LV 130 Boot Is A Dream For Skiers With Narrow Feet

Tecnica’s Mach1 LV 130 has been a longtime favorite of advanced to expert skiers looking for high-level performance all over the mountain in diverse conditions from groomers to ice to off-piste and sidecountry powder. Similarly, the women’s Mach 1 LV 115 W has been held in similar regard amongst hard-charging women skiers. The women’s boot was designed with strong input from Blizzard Tecnica’s Women2Women development program. With a low volume 98mm last and a stiff flex the Mach1 gets its roots from World Cup-style race boots, but has been tweaked to provide comfort in everyday use for a wider range of conditions and terrain.

The Mach1 has been the boot of choice for many powder testers for many years, and has always been a solid performer no matter what the conditions. Race boot features like the replaceable four-ply 45mm power strap, narrow last, and thick plastic in the lower shell deliver a dynamic and responsive World Cup feel, while the replaceable GripWalk rockered soles make these boots friendly for short boot packs, scrambling over rocks, and walking around the base area. In other words, it’s a powerful boot that’s extremely usable in the resort.

Tecnica Mach 1 LV 130 Specs

• Size Tested: 26.5
• Available sizes: 22.5-30.5
• Last Width: 98mm
• Flex Index: 130
• Forward Lean: 14 degrees
• Sole: Replaceable GripWalk

Tecnica Mach 1 LV 115 W Specs

• Size Tested: 23.5
• Available sizes: 22.5-27.5
• Last Width: 98mm
• Flex Index: 115
• Forward Lean: 14 degrees
• Sole: Replaceable GripWalk

Fit

In the newly updated iteration of the Mach1, Tecnica has once again implemented the CAS fit system in the shell and liner, just like the older versions. Slightly perforated dots in strategic areas of the shell are easier for professional custom boot fitters to work with and are more likely to hold the shape of custom punches. The CAS liner has a hard plastic floating adjustable tongue, and a two-piece spoiler on the back of the liner to customize forward lean.

According to Tecnica, the boot’s designers made a few changes to the fit to address some common issues with the previous versions of the boot. The big news is an additional 3mm to the instep which moves the throat of the boot forward, and they say makes the boot easier to take on and off. They have also made the inside ankle pockets about 2mm deeper, opened the heel pockets slightly, and rounded the sixth toe, to offer a more comfortable and less aggressive fit, while still maintaining the 98mm width last.

The women’s shell features a slightly different fit catered to better fit women’s legs and feet, including a lower cuff height.

Features

Tecnica advertises the biggest change to the Mach1 boots as the new T-Drive 2.0 spine. It’s similar to the original T-Drive Spine, but incorporates a single piece on the outside of the back of the boot connected to a second reinforcing piece on the inside of the boot. That connects the lower shell to the upper cuff, which is designed to deliver a more progressive and smoother flex through the turn without being affected by temperature changes like most traditional two-piece boots are.

Additionally the upper cuff is made of co-injected carbon fiber/Grilamid, making the new version approximately 150 grams lighter than the current boot. Grilamid is a material typically used in lightweight touring boots, so it’s interesting to see it used here. They have also modified the rubber gasket on the top of the toe box to help prevent snow buildup and leakage, a nice feature! No more duct tape patches. The CAS liner is mostly unchanged, except that it has been re-lasted to fit the new shell.

Uphill Performance

Since this is a downhill alpine boot without tech binding compatibility or walk mode, I primarily used it for lift accessed resort skiing. But that said, I did take it on a few sidecountry excursions involving short boot packs and some sidestepping. The rockered GripWalk rubber sole made short hikes comfortable with minimal stumbling and were great for walking on paved walkways and through parking lots in the base area. The shells were also noticeably lighter than other boots, making boot pack hikes and sidestepping less strenuous than heavier traditional alpine boots.

Downhill Performance

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the new Mach1 was the upper cuff material which was clearly much thinner than the older versions of the boot. This was a bit alarming and made me worry some stiffness and performance would be sacrificed, especially when skiing on hardpack or icy conditions. I immediately wondered if I would need to do some custom work on the boot to stiffen it up. Surprisingly the new Mach1 performed flawlessly in all conditions, including man-made white ice. 

The new T-Drive 2 provided a stiff and even flex both forward and aft, as well as torsionally, and delivered a very quick edge to edge race boot like feel. From slalom turns on steeps, to high speed super G turns, the boots were quick and responsive, providing plenty of support without any loss of confidence.

The deeper ankle and heel pockets were definitely noticeable and added an extra level of comfort without sacrificing fit or performance. I normally have to punch both inside ankle pockets on most shells, and grind out the heel pockets slightly, but the new boots fit great right out of the box, and didn’t hurt even on days when I was in them bell to bell without a break.

Additional features I really like are the screwed-on GripWalk rubber soles that, when worn down, can easily be replaced with a new sole kit from Tecnica. That’s also available in a traditional hard plastic DIN sole or GripWalk rubber, extending the life of the boot.

The screwed on buckles and 4-ply power strap can also easily be replaced if needed, and the new rubber toe gasket seems to do much better job of preventing leakage into the toe box.

What Compromises Does the Tecnica Mach1 LV Make?

The new Mach1 makes very few compromises. My only concern might be that the thin upper cuff Grilamid plastic could be tricky to grind if custom work is needed on that part of the shell, which is pretty uncommon, so not really a worry for most people. But skiers looking for a full on race-style plug boot may prefer a thicker traditional plastic shell that has more material for custom grinding, like the Tecnica Firebird race boot.

What Type Of Skier Is The Tecnica Mach 1 LV Boot Best For?

I would recommend this boot to any stronger advanced to expert skier with a narrow foot looking for a 130 flex boot that can perform anywhere on the mountain and in any conditions. The noticeably lighter weight is a plus for skiers making short hikes into backcountry zones from the resort. Those with a wider foot should consider the 100mm last MV or 102mm HV versions of the Mach1.