Salomon Women's Idol 8 Ski Boots (Fall 07):
Specifically shaped for the narrower heels and distinct contours typically found on female feet, Salomon's Idol 8 is the female-specific counterpart to the men's Impact series, although the Idol 8 offers a little more flex because most advanced and expert female skiers women don't need the extra rigidity found in unisex and men's ski boots. Salmon set the flex rating at 80 (the max for their racing skis is 120) so most expert skiers will find enough support and rigidity for double-diamond steeps without sacrificing comfort features. The Idol 8 features Salomon's Advanced Shell Technology with a Second Skin Shell that has an average width of two millimeters, but in some places the thicker shell areas were reduced by as much as four millimeters to reduce the average boot weight by as much as 10% over last year. This season Salomon replaced their Spaceframe holes with an asymmetrical, multilayer construction (it's now called the Spaceframe Shell Profile) to optimize your energy transmission between your foot and the ski binding. The liner has a softer sole beneath your metatarsals for improved forefoot sensitivity, but the stiff Salomon Energyzer around the heel area of the shell helps keep the stiffness for full power transmission. Whether you're an intermediate moving up to advanced feats or an expert who wants performance with comfort features that keep you skiing throughout the day, Salomon's Idol 8 treats you right.