Review: 2012 Tecnica Cochise ski boot

Summary:

Description: Tecnica's entry into the side county market is lead by the very well fitting Cochise.  While the Blizzard  "flip core" series and particularly their Cochise is getting all the rave reviews, Tecnica, the boot division's "Cochise" is just as much a formidable player in it's own fast growing category "side country". Sidecountry is one of the fastest growing category aimed at skiers that enjoy "earning their turns" by hiking to their preferred lines be it in bounds or it. Where the Cochise (and little brother Bushwacker and little sister Crossfire) succeed in still being good as a ski boot going down the hill as a climber hiking back up. The Cochise has one of the most efficient walk/hike systems offered today with it's IFS (Itelligent Freeride System (who comes up with these acronyms anyway?)) and unique "Power Lock" power strap does work very well (I am sure we will see variations from other manufacturers down the road). This sidecoutry series from Tecnica also allows the ability to swap the soles from DIN to Dynafit and back as you please a feature that Atomic Tracker or Salomon Quest  do not offer. The Cochise comes standard with the Dynafit compatible versions where the other boots in the series come with the DIN ones. Optional soles are $40-50.00. 

Background: My regular boot from last year was a Tecnica Inferno 130, so I was interested in seeing how the Cochise differed on snow. Since I am one to use cars as basis of comparison, I will not stop here. Where my Inferno 130 felt like a BMW M3, the Cochise feels like the Range Rover, an SUV that was meant to be off road but still has it's proper english mannerisms and can be driven comfortably on the autobahn but not quite the M3 on the back roads. While I haven't taken the Cochise in it's intended off piste environment…yet..I have no doubts that it will perform admirably.

On snow: On hard snow the Cochise felt like a relaxed Inferno, it was easy to feel the family relations. lateral reaction wasn't as precise as my Inferno but that was not to be expected either. This is a boot that I expect to be an 80% boot for my skiing this year. Since I will be doing some guiding, videoing and photographing friends that will be visiting Tahoe, the Cochise with its great options will be a very comfortable boot to use and still have the ability to rip it up. 

Product:

Shell Size Tested: 25.5 300mm snell

Width: 100mm @ 26.5

Flex rating: 120

Ski tested with: '12 Blizzard Bonafide

Footbed:  Full custom  Instaprint

Modifications done to boot: swapped Dynafit soles for DIN ones. 

Environment of Conditions:

*Location of review: Northstar

*Runs Taken: 10

*Snow Conditions: Chalky man made to marbles. 

*Demo or Own: Own

Tester Info:

Username: Philpug

Age: 47

Height/Weight: 5'10" 185lb

Ski Days/Season: 40-60

Years Skiing: 35

Aggressiveness: Moderate (Finesse) 

Current Quiver: 12 Blizzard Bonafide, 12 DPS 112RP Pure, 12 Kastle MX88

Home Area: Squaw & Northstar

Preferred Terrain: bumps, off-piste, trees

Foot: measures 26.5cm with a b/c width and limited dorsal range. 

Other boots in class: Atomic Tracker 130, Salomon Quest 12, Black Diamond Faction

See product page HERE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by butryon 

Philpug,

What about the 130 v the 120 flex? Would it be closer to your inferno?

Thanks,

Ryon

Fit on both boots is different than the Inferno. The 120 is wider and the 130, while both that and the Inferno are both 98mm, the Cochise is narrower in the toe box and higher in the instep.