Nordica‘s Speedmachine 3 boot series was built for the skier who’s looking for exceptional performance and control, whether they’re ripping fresh corduroy or taking advantage of an all-time powder day. The BOA closure system has been on the lower cuff for a while now, but these mark the first Nordica boots to see a BOA on the upper cuff, and it does wonders for the fit.
I’ve been wearing the Speedmachine 3 130 BOA DD on the mountain for several spring days of varying conditions, testing out the fit and performance as much as possible. This boot features a 100mm last and medium volume. It’s currently available in sizes ranging from 24.5 to 30.5 (I wear a 28.5). The listed weight for the boot is 1920 grams, and it features a Bimat PU cuff and shell in addition to Gripwalk® Extra-Grip soles.
When you first try on a pair of these double-BOA boots, you might be initially thrown off by the difficulty of getting both in and out. The BOA on the lower shell seems to make it a bit more difficult, but that does go away as the liner molds to your foot. The 3D Cork Fit Primaloft® liner feels pretty comfy from the get-go, but it gets even better once it’s actually molded to your foot (can be done in store or through a break-in process on the mountain).
I’ve got very high instep, so a lot of boots tend to crush the top of my feet. The Speedmachine provides a decently tall instep and 100mm last, so my feet stayed pretty darn comfy. They do hit the side of my feet pretty hard, but it’s nothing some simple boot work wouldn’t fix. If you’re sensitive about space in the toe box, you’ll be happy to learn that this boot gives you plenty of room to move those digits around, and the Isotherm Liner Material keeps your feet warm and dry throughout the day.
I found the heel hold and ankle retention to be the most impressive part of this boot. The BOA system on the cuff locks in my foot like no other boot while the BOA on the lower shell allowed for great fit customization, especially for my weird feet. I didn’t do any heat molding, but the boot seemed to break into my foot in just around 3 or 4 days on the slopes.
I haven’t been able to test the boots out in deep snow conditions given that that hasn’t really been a thing here in Colorado this winter, but I was able to test them on proper groomers, moguls, and soft spring snow, and I can say that the heel hold stays strong no matter the terrain. Being a 130 flex this is a pretty stiff boot, which translates well to both stability and power. The Speedmachine really seems to shine on corduroy, but I felt very much in control whether I was hammering through moguls or powering through choppy mashed potatoes.
The best way to buy ski boots will always be to visit a boot fitter that knows what they’re doing so they can look at your feet and give you a few different options to try on. But if the Speedmachine fits well and you’re wondering how it will hold up on and off the trails, the answer seems to be very well.
If you’ve got a narrow, low volume foot, you’re very likely going to be swimming in this boot. If you’re a lighter person and/or can’t flex a boot very hard, you should probably look at something with a lighter flex. If you’ve got a very wide forefoot, this boot might squeeze you a bit too hard, no matter how much work is put into it (consider the Sportmachine instead). However, if you’re an aggressive skier with a medium-volume foot, especially if you love to carve it up on groomers while dipping off-piste here and there, this boot will likely make you very happy.
