The Nordica Speedmachine 120 is a good-value boot for advanced intermediate skiers who want comfort and performance. It's a bit less aggressive than the Speedmachine 130 and it doesn’t have quite the same level of precision, but it offers a solid blend of many essential traits.
This season, Nordica reimagined how the shell of their flagship boot performs. The new design uses a honeycomb-shaped plastic that makes it stiffer where you need it, and more flexible around the ankle and cuff. It’s also lighter than the previous version and easier to get in and out of.
On the inside of the boot, Nordica combines their internal 3Force technology with black cork that’s heat-moldable for fit and damp to maximize power transfer from the foot to the ski. The result is a boot that feels very powerful, and confidently handles any terrain Mother Nature throws at it.
The 100 mm last on the Speedmachine is snug, but not so tight that it can’t be baked out with heat molding or time. It does have a little less room on the top of the instep than other 100 mm-lasted boots, but most people will be able to squeeze their feet into these boots without issue. The cuff is a bit tighter, but again most skiers can loosen it up with a little heat molding and some effort.
It’s the shell and liner that really separate this boot from most other options in its class. The asymmetrical EVA support in the back of the maleoli and the black, rather than the traditional tan, cork - both of which are heat-moldable – give this boot the ability to be molded to your feet for the most precise fit possible.
