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I come from a FIS-racing background, so I have always skied super stiff boots until recently when I stopped racing (Atomic RT Ti 150 95mm last). I was looking for a boot that fit well, was relatively stiff, and could drive a ski. The Lange RX was all of that. I skied the wide 100mm last version which fit my foot like a glove. I sized up to a 317 boot sole when I had been racing in a 304. For reference, I wear a 10 in most shoes. In retrospect, I could have sized down, but the racer in me was done with that. My foot for reference has a high arch that collapses quite easily. Its medium width, with a bony ankle and narrow heel.
First impression out on the snow was that this boot could drive all my skis (ON3P Vicik, Opus, Line Blend (2008 model)). It was great to have. I used it on moguls, trees, crud, groomers, and even some gates. It skied extremely well for an all mountain boot. I rarely found myself overskiing it, even when the conditions became tough. Its lateral stiffness is not that of a race boot, but thats not what this boot was made for, but for 99% of the skiing population, it will be plenty stiff. I would have put its flex around 120-125 when it was extremely cold. I used them a few times out in Jackson Hole hiking to Cody Peak. The vibram soles held up quite well, with minor scuffing along the bottom. Overall performance was great.
However, as time passed, I had a few complaints. First off, the liner was complete and utter crap. It deteriorated within 3 weeks of using it. This may have partially been because I removed my liners after every day skiing, which leads me to my next complaint. This thing SUCKS keeping feet dry. It is a Lange, but even duct tape did me no favors. At the end of most days, I would have soaking wet, freezing feet. Even on the super cold icy days, they somehow found a way to get wet. This may have been fixable if I had purchased an aftermarket liner (zipfit, intuition) but I did not have the funds at the time.
Overall, I would say this is a great boot, even with the leakage. I personally would not buy them again due to the leakage, but if you can keep them dry, they perform quite well. Price is right, but if you can afford an aftermarket liner, go for it to add even better performance. I still own the boot, but have moved to the Cochise Light so I can use tech bindings to tour.
The Lange RX 130s are by far the best boots I have ever owned. They are warm, they are comfortable, and they ski great. If it were not for the broken toe pads on both boots, they would have been very easy to give a 10.
Performance
As I mentioned in the fit, these boots are very comfortable, as well as being incredibly responsive. Above the soles, the shell is the same as the non-plug Lange 130 World Cup race boot, which sets the bar high for performance. The RX 130s met that standard easily; they are laterally stiff, allow little to no extraneous movement of the foot or leg inside the boot, making for an incredibly well-performing boot.
On the more park-oriented side of things, the boot's rubber boot board makes landings a nice amount squishier than with other boots' foam bootboards. I never had toe or shin bang in these boots.
Design
Quite simply, they look good. The translucent bright green is a little flashy for some, but I don't mind it. I'm sure it would be mostly covered by most Newschoolers' pants anyway.
Value
The $650 price tag seems steep, but is competitive with other comparable boots, and I consider it to be quite worth it.
Fit
I own the RX 130 L.V., or "Low Volume," which simply means that the forefoot is even narrower, at 97mm. For me, this is perfect since I have narrower feet, and like a tight fit to begin with. If you have wider feet, I might recommend getting the non-L.V. model.
Out of the box, these were the best feeling boots that I have ever put on, requiring no heat molding or break-in. The shape of the ankle, heel and foot is amazingly comfortable, while not sacrificing any snugness. I did still need a week or so for my feet to get used to the boots, dealing with lactic acid and such, but once they did, they felt as comfortable as any of my skate shoes. I never once dreaded putting these boots on.
I have skinny ankles/lower calves, so I had to move the upper buckles into their tighter setting, but that is the only modification I made to the fit of these boots.
Characteristics
Coming from a race background, I prefer a stiffer boot. The RX 130's offer plenty of that, although you need not be intimidated by the 130 flex index. While they are based off of Langes aggressive race boot shell, they will not kick your ass if you ski them less intensely. I feel that I get more response from a stiff boot in and out of the park, as well as giving more support when leaning forward landing switch. Compared to other boots I have worn, this boot is more than stiff enough to hold me up, and I never feel like my knees are going to touch my topsheets. The flex ramps up appropriately as you lean into it more. Despite all of the new technology with lower pivots, and supposedly more ergonomic flex systems, I can find no flaws with the classic 2-piece boot construction.
Durability
After one full season of skiing almost every day, I have not had to replace a single part on either boot. The only issue I found with the durability of the RX 130s is that on both boots, the front rubber part of the toes broke off, I think mostly due to kicking in while hiking. It doesn't affect the performance or safety of the boot at all, and is almost unnoticeable.
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