It's been a few seasons since we carried Salomon's versatile all-mountain X Wave 8.0 boots but the changes and upgrades are substantial. While the boot is still intended for advanced skiers who tend to freeride all over the mountain stuff like the aluminum buckles are now replaced by lightweight titanium. Salomon recently revamped their Perfect Fit liners to include more soft foam along the liner and sole. If there's a clear distinction between the X Wave 8.0 boot and other higher-numbered ski boots in Salomon's X Wave collection it's that this one has a Custom Fit Sport liner offering a little more room and a forgiving feel that won't intimidate aggressive intermediates intent on moving up to the next level. Don't assume that the liner defines this boot as a platform dedicated to intermediate skiers--there's plenty of performance here especially if you're an advanced skier looking for a better balance of comfort with exceptional power transmission. The X Wave 8.0 offers Salomon's Spaceframe technology a shell construction that softens the external part of the shell (those hex patterns) for precision and fluidity along your turns and reinforces the instep for better power transmission. Spaceframe technology boots have a huge appeal for racers. Salomon's racer-oriented Falcon boots offer the same shell technology but unlike the boots that were made for a couple of high-speed competition runs the X Wave 8.0 Boot has a fit that's more oriented toward skiing all day. If you're wondering what separates the X Wave series from Salomon's Ellipse and Performa it's the extra stiffness in the carbon link insert in the back of the boot. Salomon balanced the softer bi-material cuff up top with a rigid carbon link insert. The Performa series boots have far more flex (and lower flex ratings) along the back of the boot. Both the Ellipse and Performa boots also opt for an Oversize Sensifit along the upper and lower boot buckles while the X Wave's normal Sensifit wrap is identical to the racing-oriented Falcon series so you get precision and easy step-in entry.