Salomon X Max 120 Ski Boot
Before moving to Big Sky, if you had asked me what I thought about Salomon ski products, I would have told you the last piece of Salomon equipment I ever owned was when I was 12yrs old, rocking the second generation 1080; since then everything they made just seemed like crap, but I was ignorant to think that.
After cracking two sets of Lange XT 130 shells in three seasons, I had, had enough of the boot that I once thought was the perfect fit for me. Good fortune came my way and I was handed the Salomon X Max 120. I saw the 120 flex and laughed, thinking that I was too big and strong for anything but a 130, I was proved wrong again! This boot is amazing!
The Custom Shell technology that has gone in to these line of boots is incredible. After getting a proper fit done, I was opened to a whole new standard of boot fit. My once heralded Lange's now seemed obsolete and I had only a few runs in on these new boots. The Custom Shell created a perfect mold around my foot, it was comfortable, yet I couldn't find an area of the boot that needed to be shimmed or remolded.
My understanding is that Salomon pioneered this new technology and waited to release it until they were fully satisfied; contrary to the Fischer Vaccum fit which went with the faster release and cheaper plastics. As for the flex, as long as the temperatures were hovering around freezing the plastic transformed and skied stiffer than either pair of Lange 130's. In the spring time they felt more like the branded 120, but thats what you get for skiing in 40+ degrees.
The only down side to my transition was the loss of a walk mode which the Lange XT provided, but since my backcountry setup has been upgraded and I'm touring in A Dynafit Mercury, another underrated 120 flex, the cushy walk mode has become obsolete for my purposes.
This boot has given me the best fit and performance I have ever had in a boot, I highly recommend giving the Custom Shell technology a try, it may just change your entire ski game for the better.