I am still trying to get a feel for the Fire Arrows but thus far I am very happy with them. The first day I used them I got in the back seat once and was surprised it happened at all, but I think is was mostly due to the fact I hadn't really tightened up the boots and I was still finding the sweet spot of the boots. Once the boots are snug, there is no sloppiness and the boots can be flexed forward pretty aggressively. These boots are not as stiff in a forward lean as say a full race boot but certainly stiff enough for most everyone. I blogged in an earlier post about the new construction of these boots with additional material on the lateral sides of the boots to help tip skis on edge, but as of yet I don't know if this is a pure marketing ploy or if it really works. I can't tell the difference between these boots and my old ski boots in initiating a turn. Maybe if I had a very wide pair of skis and was on a groomer it would be more apparent, but why have a super-wide carver ski? Doesn't make much sense. Anyway, so far the boots are comfortable and are much stiffer and more responsive than the Salomon Quest 12s from last season. The heels and toes of the soles are replaceable (although Nordica does not yet have the replacement soles on their website but they have the replacement heels and toes for several earlier boot models on their website) so don't get worked up about wearing them out. I remember an article last year in SKI magazine that recommended taking your ski boots off if you had a longer walk from your lodging to the ski lifts because the walk would prematurely wear the heels and toes of your ski boots. True, but it takes a lot of walking to do this, much more than the average skier will experience in 7 to 10 seasons (assuming 10 days skiing a season) and by that time the boot will need to be replaced anyway; and if the heels and toes wear down, simply replace them. Easy peasy.
I also like the second buckle on the Fire Arrows which pulls your heel firmly into place. According to several long-time boot fitters I know here in Jackson, getting your heel back into the heel cup is very important for a proper fit and getting the most benefit out of your ski boots. The second buckle on the Fire Arrows does a great job of this, and I am surprised other ski boot manufacturers don't adopt this idea (although I know Scarpa has this feature in many of its AT boots.) The boot only has three buckles but they are more than enough to snug up the boot, and the buckles themselves are huge and easy to grab and manipulate with gloves on. The power strap at the top of the boot is of the garden variety velcro type, and about an inch and a half wide, but it is more than adequate and does it's job much better than the strap on the Salomon Quest 12s.
So, the verdict is a much better boot than the Salomon Quest 12 ski boot with a much stiffer forward flex. More thoughts on them as the season continues.