I Took a First Look at Nordica’s Promachine 3 Boots—Here’s What Stands Out

Despite some seriously performance-boosting advances made in ski boot design over the last few years, there’s been a pretty resounding refrain from hardcore skiers about their ski boots: quit the BOAs, and bring back traditional four-buckle overlap designs that mimic the performance of a race boot.

As a skier who’s enjoyed the locked-in feeling and stiff, precise, and damp ride of a traditional “plug” or race-style boot (not to mention the quick release and convenience of traditional buckles), I definitely understand where that cry has been coming from. Nordica’s brand-new Promachine 3 boots are a direct answer to that call: a super-stiff, low volume boot that’s meant to balance race-like performance with a lightweight build meant for everyday resort and freeride skiing. Consider this a direct competitor to the likes of the Atomic Hawx Ultra, Tecnica Mach1 LV, Salomon S/Pro Alpha, or the like.

Nordica Promachine 3 Specs:

• Sizes available: 22.5-29.5 (W), 24.5-30.5 (M)
• Stated Flex: 130, 120 | 115 W, 95 W
• Binding Compatibility: GripWalk
• Forward Lean: 13.5 degrees
• Ramp Angle: 5 degrees
• Stated Last Width: 98mm
• MeasuredShell Weight: 1500g (27.5)
• MeasuredLiner Weight: 525g (27.5)

Most major manufacturers (Nordica included) dove headfirst into the BOA world a few seasons ago, and it’s clear that they’ve learned some valuable lessons about how to best integrate the technology since then. As many skiers have pointed out, the tech offers more adjustability in fit and can help smooth out pressure points on the instep area when compared to traditional boot buckles. However, the system can be finicky, tends to ice up in wet conditions, and can cause the lower cuff of the boot to deform unpredictably when boots are pushed really hard by aggressive skiers.

Nordica’s new Promachine 3 takes the heritage of the existing Promachine boot and modernizes it. There are no BOA dials on this boot–something I’m sure the intended audience of this boot will be pretty happy to hear–plus the boot features a modernized fit, flex, and stance, an extremely high-end stock liner, the 130-specific Speed Lace System, and the brand’s signature asymmetrical Triforce frame. Nordica says this was all shaped by direct feedback collected from shop partners, athletes, and engineers.

The new boot isn’t a traditional race-style “plug” boot–that’s where the venerable Dobermann falls into Nordica’s lineup–but instead aims to offer similar performance in a fraction of the weight.

That weight difference comes primarily from using different plastic in the shell. The new Promachine 3 uses what Nordica calls “bimat” PU–a special blend of polyurethane plastics–in both the cuff and lower shell, allowing for variable thickness walls to save weight in areas of the shell that aren’t subjected to as much force while skiing. In practice, that looks like a spider-web pattern of thinner points that create a webbed “frame” along the lower and spine of the boot.

Inside, the boot features a completely new liner from Nordica, with a moldable cork tongue and ankle pocket to boost comfort and heel hold. Nordica also includes a very effective quick lace system over the plastic-reinforced tongue to further lock you in. The shell features traditional canting adjustment in the ankle pivots, a Grip Walk sole, and adjustable forward lean via two liner spoiler options.

Sticking my foot into the boot out of the box, it feels very…drum roll, please…low volume. It’s tight, and is probably going to require some boot fitting to work for most people. The toe box feels somewhat on the narrower end, and tapers towards the big toe (as opposed to the center). The ankle/heel area is very snug and should cause no issues with heel hold. Cuff height feels pretty average, and the instep height is low. Compared to the Atomic Remedy 130, the width feels a bit wider around the forefoot, though I feel that the Remedy offers a bit more toe room. Compared to the Tecnica Mach 1 LV 130, the Nordica’s fit feels a bit snugger and shorter overall.