Featured Image: by Fischer Sports GMBH
Last: 100 mm
Flex: 140
Weight: 2,185 g/boot
The new Fischer RC4 PRO MV is so feature-packed and technology-driven that its coveted BOA H+i1 system—the new BOA system for alpine boots that only three other brands offer this season and has been touted as the biggest advancement in skiing in 60 years—is just one amenity that makes this top-of-the-line boot so intriguing.
The mid-volume centerpiece of the line, the RC4 PRO MV is a high-performance boot that’s the first (as well as the RC4 PRO LV) to offer a stock ZipFit liner—the hugely popular, long-lasting, better-fitting liner that skiers shell out around $500 for. Beyond 1,000-day durability, ZipFit liners lock your heel and promote healthy circulation. Additionally, a Carbonfused cuff that’s not just a standard plastic injection but internally carbon-fused offers stiffness and direct power transfer. Further, Fischer Scan-Fit last, developed with data from thousands of foot scans, ensures a custom fit.
“It’s the top of the pyramid,” says Fischer’s Christoph Lentz, the former ski racer and Fischer Alpine Boots Product Manager who led the project from start to finish. “We wanted to give the best of the best for ambitious, strong skiers, without compromise.”
The impressive offering aims to reestablish Fischer’s position in the on-piste, performance boot market, says Lentz. “It’s a chance to make a statement and drive home the message that we’re a performance brand. Now in combination with our on-piste performance skis, we have the full package.”
The boot comes in two versions: BOA or buckles (and two different last widths and flexes). Lentz says at the launch, testers skied both back-to-back, and the BOA-enabled boot won over even the most doubtful of traditional boot fitters.
“I was definitely skeptical—it looked awkward and bulky,” says Victor Major, an Aspen-based skier who tested the boot extensively last spring. “It’s completely the biggest change I’ve seen in a ski boot in a long time. You can immediately feel the benefits. You can crank it down, and there’s this even distribution of pressure and unprecedented micro-adjustability for a much more precise fit. It’s a proven technology that’s here to stay.”
Designing a boot with the BOA H+i1 system, Fischer focused on wrapping, ease of entry and performance. A single-component injection means the RC4 PRO MV’s entire lower shell is made of one piece, making the wrapping truly harmonious. There’s one point of adjustment for the entire lower shell, which offers the micro-adjustability testers are raving about. Fischer even adjusted the lace positioning on the smaller-sized boots to optimize the boot’s wrapping ability.
“The in-step played into how we shaped the last and developed the flaps—it’s a nice entry that you can slip right in,” says Lentz. “You can wrap it and get all the tightness and control you need. Plus, it improves warmth and circulation—the second buckle over the in-step is notorious for cutting off blood flow and is the prime driver for cold toes. The technology lets you ski longer and with more enjoyment.”
Fischer’s shells are heavier than its competitors—the brand leans heavily on its race background. “There’s something about having thicker walls, more weight under foot and a stiff, solid sole,” says Lentz.
Hard-charging Major, other athletes and testers agree.
“It’s the highest-performing medium-volume boot I’ve ever been,” says Major.
