• PRICE: £360 / €390 / $380
• SIZES: UK 6-12
• FLEX: 9/10
• LACING SYSTEM: Dual Boa

Magical things happen in red footwear. Case in point – the maddest, most out-there trip in film history, when The Wizard Of Oz’s Dorothy threw on a pair of ruby doozies and freaked over with talking lumps of rusty metal, airborne simian armies, little baby-men and houses falling out of the sky. But if you’re after some of whatever she was taking back in 1939, you’re not gonna get it with Nidecker’s Helios boots, which, as well as ‘Dark Forest Green’ and ‘Black’ colourways, come in a seriously spicy ‘Red Chilli’, too.

“An all-day set-up that you’ll be loath to let go of after the lifts and bars close”

Instead of sky-high mind-altering experiences, these tech-packed mid-range all-mountain performers will keep you whole lot more… grounded. Nidecker have again slapped the same super high-traction, durable and lightweight B.F.T Vibram Ascent outsoles that impressed us last year onto the bottom of this set. Engineered with the hardcore ICETREK rubber, you’re getting a next-level grip that’ll have you confidently stomping through the most challenging bootpacking conditions (and surviving the iciest of cheese-thumping apres balconies, too).

And then there’s the comfort – an area where the Helios goes stratospheric. Gel cushioning – a feature that’s been a big hit with team riders – takes care of the bigger impacts; an internal heel harness locks you in through kickers and carves alike; and the newly re-designed Silver-Level Heat Thermo Heat Moldable Liner (complete with a top Power Strap, unique to the Helios, for more support) indiscriminately hugs the gnarls and bumps of your battered feet perfectly.

But that all feels kinda small-fry when you factor in the eye-catching asymmetrical ergonomics. The Helios has thrown conventional design out the window in favour or fit, and works a buttery dream on your feet when combined with the two-way Boa system which you’ll fine-tune and tinker with to frankly obsessive proportions. All this, and you’ve got an all-day set-up that you’ll be loath to let go of after the lifts and bars close.