2008 Head Raptor 120 RS boot review

So, I recieved a pair of the new Head Raptor 120 RS last boots, in a size 25. The sole length is 293mm. The last on this boot is supposedly 99mm, with a moderate thickness leather liner. The flex is 120, and is available in 130 and 150 in the narrower 95mm RD last (not sure if it is available in the 99mm last in the stiffer models).

The Raptor is a revamped boot for Head. The cuff is more upright, and the ramp angle has changed. It is based off the boot that Bode and the other Head athletes are skiing. For comparison, it is a bit more upright than my Head RD96, and I have a 3mm lifter on the toe for my RD's. It also has an adjustable spline angle, and can be straightened via screws by another 1-2 degrees (I haven't played with this feature). Other than that, it is a stripped down, bare-bones boot with the cool double-power strap and the bale-style buckles.

Fit-wise, this boot is almost identical to my RD96's, which have been streched in the toe by about 2mm. The Raptor feels more like 97 or 98mm in the forefoot: my foot fills up the footbet entirely. The heel is of similiar width to the old RD. It is very snug without being uncomfortable in any way (I have a C-width foot). I have a little less than 1 finger width behind my heel in a 25, and I wear a size 8/8.5 shoe. The calf is fairly narrow as well. The biggest difference over the old RD/RS is the slighly more forgiving forefoot.

Flex-wise, this boot is much, much softer than the old RD, which is known as a burly boot. The cuff is only about 1/2 as thick of plastic as the RD (which I had to soften considerably). Even after softening the RD (I thinned out the split tounge of the lower by at least 1/3, shaved the cuff down, and cut a huge V in the back of the boot) the new Raptor is about 5% softer. It was a perfect freeskiing flex, if not a little soft for the gates I ran. I will be using this boot exclusively on freeskiing days.

Responsiveness is equal to the RD, as would be expected. If I think "turn", I turn. There is no lag that I usually get in the consumer boots I have recently owned (XWave 10, Dolomite ProZ130). The boot goes wherever I ask it to, without questions or unneccesary bulkiness. As it is a fairly stripped-down boot, it feels light without being unstable.

The ramp and forward lean angles really worked for me on this boot. Out of the box, it skied noticeably better than my current RD, even though I have had work done to that boot to get my stance as neutral as possible (3mm toe lift, sole planing on R and L boot). I just felt very neutral in this boot: I am right on the cuff when I want to be, and can get my hips forward more naturally than in the old RD, which was my previous standard. I am able to get into the turn earlier and more powerfully than previously on my old boots, which made a huge difference in stability. Once I get dialed in with my bootfitter (Jim Mates of Seattle) I expect things to improve even more. I would prefer a bit more stiffness for running gates, but I will keep my RD's for that purpose. The Raptor 120's will be my everyday freeski boot.

I am still really happy with my pair. The 98 last is just about right, and is narrower than most that are said to be around 98mm. The liner is superb: a little thick at first, but it really wraps around my leg. FWIW, the internal boot boards are canted at least 3 degrees out from the factory, which also helps me (my knees dive to the inside, meaning that I need an internal cant to keep them tracking straight). And, the flex is perfect for all-mountain skiing. I have a small heel lift in there as well, other than that, it is stock. I can't say enough good things about it, yet I have only seen a couple of other pair all season. They don't seem to be that popular yet, which is a shame. At first, I was using a Dolomite liner, as the stock liner was a little to thick and putting my feet to sleep, but the Dolomite liner left a gap around my calf, and I wasn't getting instant engagement with the cuff. The stock liner is definitely the way to go, although if you want the thinner lace-up liner that comes on the 130/150, I hear that it can be ordered.

Just a follow-up: this is a great boot, but the stock liner is pretty lousy.  Really thick and lacking precision for a boot of this caliber. I replaced mine with a lace-up liner from the Lange Super Comp, and it really improved the responsiveness of the boot.  I have the Super Comp WC 140 boot, and even though there is a published difference in the last (92mm vs. 98mm), the real-world difference is much, much less. The Lange feels lower volume in the toebox, but around the same width up there, as well as in the heel. I compared it to a Super Comp HP fit, and it is significantly roomier than the Raptor 120 in the toe box and heel.  I like the Raptor very much, although I am skiing it on the relatively soft setting at the moment.  It is a great real-world performance last.  

Stance-wise, with liners and footbeds installed, the Lange and Head feel basically identical. The ramp angle is perhaps a bit steeper on the Lange, but it is really minor.  Aside from the flex difference, I could probably ski either out of the box and have a very solid stance.

yeah, I wish I had the 130, due to the liner.  The Lange liner is very similar, so I can use those for now.