2026 Nordica Speedmachine 3 130 BOA DD Ski Boots Review

The Lowdown

BOA versus buckles — that will be the question that dominates the market for the foreseeable future. The reality is that most brands designing a BOA ski boot are taking an existing, successful product offering and updating it. So if you are familiar or have experience with Nordica boots over the past 5 years, they aren't reinventing the wheel, but merely refining what was already a great product. The closure system is changing, but what isn't changing are things like the plastic they are using and the high quality liner in the boot. They are harder to put on, but easier to adjust. They take a long time to tighten at the top of the lift, but are easier than buckles to release tension at the bottom of the lift. 

This is a 130 flex performance ski boot with a mid volume fit. It has a fixed cuff, which means no walk mode, but is easy enough to walk in with gripwalk soles. The fit will work well for the majority, but if you have a narrow or wide foot you should consider Nordica's Promachine and Sportmachine lines, respectively. To see if it would be the right fit for your foot or what flex, volume or shell size you need, you should go talk to a boot fitter.

Ride Impressions

I rode the Nordica Speedmachine 3 130 BOA DD ski boots for the majority of the season in my typical 26.5 mondo point size. I would go true to size on this product, no need to size up or down. Getting the right volume, as well as size, is vital on any boot that you are purchasing. For me, I usually ski in a 97mm last. This boot is a 100 mm last, and I can feel the difference in terms of contact with the shell when everything is tightened up. The BOA dial seems to do an effective job at tightening the boots (although it takes a little bit longer at the top of the lift than buckles), and I would say it is at least as comfortable as buckles. The boot was more than stiff enough with a good ramp up in flex through the range of flexion. 

I thought that this would be an ideal boot to be using if I was still instructing. While the fit isn't as precise as the LV boots I normally ski in, the comfort level was ideal for long days on the slopes. I find that skiing off-piste doing open parallel, skidded and slarved turns is a type of skiing that this boot does really well. While carving, it has plenty of top-end power. When rolling it over onto edge on firmer snow conditions, it doesn't react as quickly as a lower volume shell (it probably doesn't help that I was on a 112 mm underfoot ski). 

This boot really shines as a true performance level mid volume boot. It will work best for somebody looking for a comfortable out of the box fit without much need for shell modifications, while still delivering a high-end performance comparable to any other 130 flex shell on the market. 

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Who Are They For?

The Nordica Speedmachine 3 130 BOA DD would work best for an expert level skier who isn't looking for the absolute tightest, most responsive low-volume fit. Somebody who likely does some backcountry skiing but also spend a lot of days in the resort, choosing to have two different boots. They are the type of skier to ski off piste when possible and pow when it is available, but will also happily rip groomers when the conditions are icy. They want the high level of performance that a 130 flex provides but are also going to spend lots of time skiing slowly and methodically, perhaps with kids.