Tecnica Cochise 130 DYN GW Boots

Tecnica’s Custom Adaptive Shape (or C.A.S. for short) is the brand's way of creating a shell and liner that are easily customized to every skier's foot. Out of the box, the shell and liner have an anatomical shape for optimal comfort and the best out-of-box fits we've experienced. Dimples located on the shell at the forefoot, ankles and heel pocket reduce surface tension and facilitate the thermo customization process which makes it possible for a boot fitter to easily modify the shell to better fit your feet. 

The C.A.S. liner is made from a dual-density micro-cell material that is durable yet also easy to customize. This ensures not only a custom fit but also extended liner longevity to greatly extend the time it takes for the liners to pack out. A qualified boot fitter is able to heat and punch the microcell material in problem areas of the liner as well as grind it up to 2mm to resolve problems. Tecnica didn't skimp on the quality of the liners, they are solid and beefy with fibreglass reinforcements surrounding the top of the cuff, a built-in spoiler, mouldable material around the ankle, a flexible achilles and an adjustable tongue.

This new version of the Cochise is made with similar plastic to the previous version but this time Tecnica has found a way to use less material in the lower shell and still make it more anatomical. This has led to a weight savings of up to 15% without having to compromise the boot's downhill performance in the name of weight savings.

The Cochise 130 boots use four micro-adjustable aluminum buckles, two on the upper cuff and two on the lower shell. The upper two buckles have built-in catches to allow the user to keep the buckle latched on the buckle ladder while providing more internal room in walk mode without the buckles flailing around while touring.

Above the top two buckles on the upper cuff, you’ll also find a 45mm-wide, cam-style power strap that uses no velcro. This design makes it faster and easier to tighten and lose the Cochise so your transitions while touring are more efficient.

With most overlap construction boots you will find that they are difficult to get into, especially on colder days when the plastic is less malleable. To minimize this Tecnica has used a softer plastic over the instep to make it easier to get in and out of the boots, they call this their ‘Quick Instep’ construction.

One of the bigger changes in this new version of the Cochise is the ski/walk mechanism as it is now located on the exterior of the boot’s spine rather than on the interior. Tecnica calls this their “T-Ride” walk mechanism which features a small dial that lets you lock the ski/walk mechanism while into ski mode. By turning the small dial towards the lock icon you effectively lock out the walk mode and ensure that it will never revert back to walk mode from ski mode. Brilliant.

You’ll find Grip Walk soles standard on the Cochise 130s along with Dynafit Certified Tech Fittings so they can be used with a wide array of bindings. The Vibram-branded rubber soles provide good grip on most surfaces and the with the addition of an Arch Grip (rubber patch) under the instep, traction is only improved more.

The Cochise 130 is also available in a Cochise 120 DYN GW, Cochise 110 DYN GW as well as for the ladies a Cochise Pro W DYN GW (with a 120 flex), Cochise 105 W DYN GW, Cochise 95 W DYN GW and a Cochise 85 W DYN GW. With lots of options when it comes to performance and price there is a Cochise in the line that will work for everyone.

Other boots in this 50/50 hybrid category that we have reviewed previously are the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 Boots, Nordica Strider Pro 130 Dyn Boots, Fischer Ranger Free 130 Walk DYN Boots and the Full Tilt Ascendant AT Boots, however, this is only a 3 buckle boot with a 120 flex.

Customization Liner: C.A.S.
Customization Shell: C.A.S.
Soles: Grip Walk, VIBRAM - Low tech inserts
Shell: Polyurethane with Quick Instep
Cuff: Polypropylene with co-injected carbon back spine

• Recco reflector built-in.
• Quick Instep: Soft instep material makes getting into and out of the boots easy.
• Arch Grip: a rubber arch grip connects the Vibram toes and heel for better grip.
• 4 Light alloy buckles with hiking position and micro-adjustment.
• Asymmetric Power Transmission construction delivers more lateral power and increased edge grip, thanks to the interior shell being thicker than the exterior.
• Optional lock-mode delivers complete confidence for remaining in ski mode on the downhill while removing any potential play in the boot.
• Powerstrap: 45mm strap - Power Lock with a built-in hook to eliminate the need to open the strap completely.
• Gripwalk: Pre-mounted.
• Binding Compatibility: GripWalk, Tech / Pin.
• Tech Fittings: Dynafit Certified.
• Velcro Spoiler.

With what I would consider average feet (not too narrow and not too wide with a normal amount of arch) my feet felt right at home in the Cochise 130s. The liners were plush, soft, supportive and warm with a deep heel pocket that firmly planted my foot snuggly in the rear of the boot without any mods needed. This is not normal for most other touring boots I’ve tested. Typically I’ve had to tape on an achilles heel lock to the exterior of the liner after heat moulding it to better fit my foot. Other than minor hot spots at the little toe locations in each boot due to the boot’s 99mm last (which was quickly rectified by heat moulding the liners)— I’d say the Cochise 130’s fit like a glove—a testament to the quality and attention to detail they put into their liners.

Comfort aside, I was also thoroughly impressed by how powerful of a boot the Cochise 130’s are. They performed amazingly well in any condition at the resort, big pow days, groomers, and re-frozen garbage snow was no match for them. They were able to drive my 112mm waisted Volkl Katana V-Werk Skis with ease. The boot's ability to deliver skier input and drive the ski as I wanted was intuitive and effortless. In more technical terrain I found the boot's 130 flex had no hard stop but rather was progressive and friendly.

It’s no surprise how well the Cochise 130’s performed in-bounds given that Tecnica has cut its teeth in the alpine boot world, so how did the Cochise 130’s fair outside the boundary lines? 

Their walk mode was adequate, albeit not overly generous at 50°; I would have liked more of the boot’s flex to be available to the front, rather I found most of it to the rear of the boots. This is due to the boot's overlap construction which is responsible in part for its burly 130 flex rating. Undo the top two buckles and let them latch on the buckle hangers and you eke out a few more precious degrees of flex, which helps.

External ski/walk mechanisms that ice up and pre-release back to walk mode from ski mode like the ones found on the Scarpa Maestrale Boots are never any fun and thankfully the Cochise 130s didn't have either of these issues. Tecnica integrated a locking feature into the ski/walk mechanism, and while it is certainly helpful in eliminating any switching between modes—I would like to see it be more of a self-locking system like that found on the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro Boots. The lock mechanism on the Cochise 130 Boots is simply too small to easily engage with gloves on and so I found I just didn’t use it at every transition which I really should have.

On the downside, you know I have to mention the Cochise 130's weight, while not obscene they are definitely heavier than other options such as Scarpa Maestrale XT Boots which also provide a 130 flex with 56° of cuff rotation but are 20% lighter. While I am not saying these boots are direct competitors, they do inhabit some of the same space when it comes to buying options for consumers. The Scarpa Maestrale XT Boots are more backcountry orientated while the Cochise 130s lean more to reining over the resort given their extra weight and overlap construction. Driving my light-weight Blizzard Zero G 105 Skis may have been overkill for the Cochise 130 Boots but the overall combined ski/boot weight savings proved to be an efficient combination on the skin track. If I was planning bigger backcountry missions, however, I would have likely opted for Tecnica’s much more qualified and dedicated backcountry boot—the Zero G Tour Pros.

If you can’t afford a dedicated touring boot and a resort boot then the Cochise 130 is likely what you are looking for as long as you don’t mind having to lug a little extra weight up the skin track. If you do, then opt for the Zero G Tour Pro Boots and go super light.