Expert Review: Salomon S/Max 120 Ski Boots · 2021
Published on 12/03/2022 · 6 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the ski boots, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2021.
Once snow started to fall it was time to start skiing. With my marker frame bindings and Salomon s/max 120s I was able to ski before the lifts started to turn. All photos courtesy of Nathaniel Cavo
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the ski boots, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2021.
My take
The Salomon S/Max 120 is the perfect boot for an intermediate to advanced skier to do almost everything. Tight-fitting, comfortable, and performance-oriented, it is the perfect aggressive boot for heavy on-piste use.
A true test of both durability and comfort the s/max 120's had no issue with the bootpack to the top of Breckenridge CO
About the gear
- Model: 2022 S/Max 120
- Size: 26.5
About me
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 165lbs
- Street shoe size: 10
- Experience: 15 years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: February 2021
- Days tested: 50
- Skis: Faction Candide 2.0
- Bindings: Look Pivot 12
- Where I’ve used it: East Coast, Colorado, Montana
- Terrain: Park, Trees, Groomers, Powder
How they perform
What I was looking for
I was looking for something responsive and comfortable. I was used to ski racing boots, tight and only performance-oriented. So when I decided to end ski racing, I was looking for something that offered similar control to previous racing boots but with improved comfort.
Why I chose this gear
The Solomon S/Max 120 had everything I was looking for. I needed a boot with a relatively high and performance-oriented flex. I was also looking for a comfortable boot that wouldn’t become uncomfortable after an hour or two on the mountain. I had a few other options in mind when looking for a boot. I ended up getting a Full Tilt boot with an advertised flex of 100. After a few uses, I realized the boot wasn’t as performance-oriented as I needed. After returning the Full Tilts, I tightened my standards and concluded the S/Max 120 was the boot I needed.
After multiple seasons the boots only have a few scratches. The velcro on the strap is still strong, The buckles haven't fallen off, and the soles are still years away from being worn out
What I love about them
- Accuracy of Claimed Stiffness: The stiffness is 100% accurate. Accuracy is important when looking for a performance boot, and Salomon hit the nail on the head with the perfect amount of stiffness associated with a 120-flex boot.
- Comfort: Even with the boot being performance-oriented, the comfort is astonishing. Once custom molded, I can wear the boot for up to eight hours at a time with little to no issues. The custom mold also adds to the performance of this boot; it locks my foot in place, so it rarely shifts on me.
- Flex: A boot flex of 120 tends to be advertised as a performance boot, which the S/Maxs definitely are. With the performance fit and agressive flex, the boot responds however I want it to. The claimed stiffness is exactly what should be expected from a 120-flex-rated boot.
- Weight: The boots are very light compared to others—only 1,780 grams per boot at 26.5. When compared to the 2023 Lange RX 120 GW, another very popular 120 flex boot, they weigh in 370 grams (0.8lbs) lighter.
- Resort: Great on-piste performance boot. They give me so much power to really set an edge on my skis.The S/Max can do it all. They can rip anything the mountain offers, making it one of the most versatile boots on the market.
- Backcountry: Very good in sidecountry (lift access backcountry). Super light, these boots were next level here. I can control my skis through powder without issues and am comfortable doing so. Having no walk mode or pins is the only negative.
- Grip: No issues with experiencing not enough grip. The S/Max has models with GripWalk, though I have not used this before. GripWalk definitely improves grip over surfaces like the parking lot and is definitely a great option to have.
- Durability: Next to bomb proof. The boot has made it through multiple seasons of very aggressive skiing. It’s a very durable design.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Accuracy of Claimed Fit: Salomon claims that someone with a size 10 foot should get the 27.5. When looking for a performance boot, having something that hugged my foot was very important, and upon trying the boots on in person, the 26.5 was the correct fit for a true performance fit.
- Ease of use: They definitely stiffen up with the cold, which is expected. Putting them on after a night left in a cold car is pretty challenging and takes some effort. With proper ski socks, slipping them off at the end of the day is a simple task.
- Park: The boots definitely do produce some shin-bang. This is where one's shins bang the front of the boot after a hard landing or something similar. It’s a bit discomforting and sometimes produces some bruises, but once I had gotten used to this, the S/Maxs were a terrific boot in the park. They did ultimately become my go-to park boots due to their responsiveness.
- Adjustability: Adjustability isn't the greatest once the boots are molded to one’s feet. The boots are fitted to one’s feet and their feet specifically. When I lent them out to a friend for a day, he complained that certain parts of the boot were uncomfortable, and without remolding them, we couldn’t fix this.
- Hot spots: I have zero hot spots. However, if one lets a friend borrow their boots, they will likely have a few hot spots.
Favorite moment with this gear
While bootpacking up to the top of Serenity Bowl at Breckenridge, I noticed just how technical the terrain was becoming. Once at the top with skis clicked on, the pitch of the mountain seemed crazy. There are almost no other boots I could think of that I’d rather be in at that point. Finally, something durable and comfortable enough to last a bootpack in extremely low temperatures and a boot with the performance to make very precise turns to keep me going where I needed to.
Value for the money vs. other options
The S/Max are some of the more expensive boots in the Salomon lineup. The S/Pro is a little bit less expensive than the S/Max, and the main difference is the last. A boot's last refers to forefoot width. The S/Pros have a larger last, so a wider boot, and are less performance oriented and geared more-so toward comfort. The Technica Mach1 LV 120 is an extremely similar boot. They have the same flex, same last, heat-moldable shells, and a standard 4-buckle design. The prices also seem to be extremely similar between the two.
Final verdict
Tailored for advanced skiers who want a tight-fitting boot, the S/Max 120 from Salomon is the perfect performance boot. Unlocking power and control, this boot can keep up with someone on just about anything they encounter.
