Last tested
2023
Status:ongoing
2024

R3 130 TI I.R.

Smart choice Free
A great value, versatile freeride boot with a forgiving flex: for younger and less physically strong skiers
  • Buyer’s Guide reviews
  • In words
  • Technical specifications

Buyer’s Guide reviews

Performance by context
Ascent
Skiing
Walking
Climbing
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The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
Recommended use
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Recommended level
Technical Level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
High level
Weight
lightmedianheavy
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In lab
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In words

Intro
The lightest three-piece freeride boot on the market, it's been the weapon of choice for modern young skiers for some years now. Skiing, hiking, jumping or ridge walking: it works in most contexts, and is an excellent choice for a one-boot quiver. It comes with a GripWalk sole certified for both alpine and touring skiing, as well as the iconic Velcro power strap on the cuff to close the top of the boot, which can be adjusted to fit any size of calf.
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product
Walking
Easy to put on with a comfortable fit, it wraps and supports the average foot. It's lightweight for touring but the range of movement at the ankle is more similar to a freeride boot. A convenient feature of the tongue means you can walk well without removing it, allowing for a rapid transition from walk to ski mode. It is however missing a shell gaiter to stop snow from getting in. Suitable for short sidecountry uphills or for teens who don't care about the limitations of a freerider boot.
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Lab
The Grilamid three-piece construction has a split tongue to aid walking that is inexplicably fixed to the gaiter. The 45° buckle over the instep is good but not perfectly aligned with the grooves for the cables. The bootboard is very thin and easily moves out of place when you take the liner out. The lower buckles are difficult to regulate and attach to the ladder, while the Velcro strap is difficult to tighten symmetrically from right to left.
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Skiing
The streamlined shape of the boot looks great and translates into better sensitivity for the foot in all situations. The flex is progressive but for those who go hard it tends to give way at the front, probably due to having just one Velcro buckle on the cuff. A pro would definitely appreciate an extra booster strap or buckle higher up. This also compromises the lateral stiffness when paired with stiff fat skis or when you need to find a decisive edge. Suitable for a wide range of good (but not professional) skiers, especially young people who go from in-resort freeride, to the snowpark, to the sidecountry, with the occasional short uphill thrown in. Excellent value for money in this category.
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Technical specifications

LINER MATERIALS
Grilamid
SHELL MATERIALS
Grilamid
INSERT TYPE
Dynafit certified
Buckle description
two aluminum micro-adjust buckles + buckle strap
Sole description
GripWalk
Liner description
I.R. Tongue / I.R. Wrap
Thermal value
A
No. of buckles
3
Lean forward
16°
Available sizes
24.5–30.5 mp
Released in
2022
Made in
Italy
Price
649.95 €
Sustainability
Designed for recycling: boot developed so that it can be disassembled and repaired.
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the measure 26.5 to get all the details
1.520 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Liner weight
XXXXX
N/A
Shell weight
XXXXX
300 mm
External shell length
XXXXX
N/A
External shell width
XXXXX
N/A
Inner shell width
XXXXX
N/A
Pin distance
XXXXX
N/A
Force to 20° back
XXXXX
N/A
Force to 20° forward
XXXXX
52 °
Cuff ROM
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum cuff height
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum tongue height
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum forefoot width
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum ankle width
XXXXX
N/A
Sole thickness at toe
XXXXX
99 mm
Min. last width
XXXXX
101 mm
Max. last width
XXXXX
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Top stories
Thoughts
Necessity

Editorial

Thoughts
At the heart of every ski (duplicate)

Editorial

Location
Test Center Pontedilegno Tonale

Our freeride base camp 

Location
Base Camp Race

Sertorelli Sport Hotel

Location
Test Center Cervino Ski Paradise

To test the equipment and skins for the Race category, we based ourselves in Breuil-Cervinia

Location
Test Center Livigno

For the second year in a row, we headed to Livigno, aka Little Tibet.

Race
Intro
Race: boots

Innovation at the lower end of the market

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