The Trinity 95 surprised testers with how much fun it was to ski once they tuned into its unique flexion mojo and they pushed it into gold medal status in the All-Mountain Walk category.
The new 2018 K2 Pinnacle 130 LV returns with a revised, lighter weight liner, new slimmed-down buckles and a fresh look. Testers say this is still a strong skiing boot with lots of All-Mountain mobility options for good skiers.
Testers noticed that this year's lighter Intuition liner opened up the fit a little bit over previous versions, placing the fit on the fence between narrow and medium territory, they said. Good anatomical contours, right out of the box, they agreed, but those who performed custom liner molding tests did prefer that fit over stock. The upper portion fits along medium-width standards and is fairly padded—which testers liked against the shin and they said there was room in the cuff for thicker calves (it's not a stove-pipe).
Reliable and strong with a predictable turnover from one set of edges to the other, the Pinnacle 130 LV holds its own (and an edge). Testers say this is still one of the best hybrids for transmitting lateral power to the ski. The crew was in agreement that the upper cuff sits a touch upright but that it didn't hamper a move to the front of the ski. Some testers feel a little fore-aft free play in the cuff, but beyond that minor amount of movement things were solid front and back. The boot is regular alpine weight—which skis well but may not make it the longest skinner, however the easy-to-operate cuff release is still one of the best, offering long and fairly unhindered travel.
The Pinnacle 130's (and Pro and 110's) are tech binding compatible and rockered Vibram soles are also available separately. Gone this year is the releasable hook-style buckle power strap (and testers didn't mind), replaced with a straightforward four-buckle closure and 40 mm Velcro power strap.
Testers gave the 2018 Full Tilt Descendant 8 high marks for its warm and highly customizable liner, a category best entry and exit score and a lightweight feel on the foot. However, they cautioned strong, technical skiers that the cuff's overly forward stance and very soft flex combined to collapse under load.
Cruisey, schmeary turns made off the heels worked well, testers said. Lateral power may have been there, but testers said it was difficult to access due to the over-flexed leg position that the forward lean and soft flex left them with.
There are many available options for the Descendant 8, which falls under the Full Tilt Evolution style shell. There is a stiffer, #10 tongue available.
Testers gave the 103 mm 2018 Fischer My Hybrid 100+ Vacuum Full Fit medium-width out-of-box fit marks and suggested that undergoing the Vacuum customization process was the go with this one if achieving an even, wide-last fit is desired.
The stock fit was overly snug for a 103 mm boot, testers reported, with a particularly tight fit over the top of the toes. They liked the fuzzy (cute) liner for its well-cushioned feel against the foot and leg. Testers liked the well-distributed flex feel against the shin but also mentioned it felt softer than 100.
Playful quickness and enough support for nice, drawn-out turns, testers said. Good for a less aggressive skier that doesn't plan to hammer on it was testers' consensus. Testers liked the cuff's range of motion for walking when released but had some initial trouble figuring out the release mechanism.
While we didn't perform Vacuum custom tests at this year's test (Fischer's decision) our previous custom tests have shown it to be an effective fitting tool. The My Hybrid 100+ is built with the Soma Tec abducted stance, which is particularly well-suited to more "duck-footed" stances.
Our test team called the 2018 Fischer Hybrid 120+ Vacuum Full Fit a precise, quick turner that skied well right out of the box. Vacuum molding will be the ace in the hole for wider and higher volume feet.
The highly cushioned liner was pleasant on initial try on, but testers agreed that the Hybrid 120+ didn't feel as wide as a 103 mm last would suggest. They noted it ran slightly shorter than most and said the forefoot, instep and navicular areas felt more mediumish in fit. They thought that Vacuum forming was the smart option for those who didn't find the stock fit ideal—both the upper cuff and lower boot are Vacu-Plast, the heat moldable plastic that the Fischer Vacuum system matches to foot and leg shape using pressurized bladders. For high-volume footed skiers chronically in-between sizes, this might be one to go up a size with, testers also thought.
Testers liked rolling turn to turn with the Hybrid 120's upright stance, finding that linking quick turns came easily. Balanced, accessible power on edge, is how one tester described its on-snow character. Generally, testers trended toward precision moves rather than powerhouse carves, but most said there was plenty of torque on tap when they asked for it.
The Hike Lock mode cuff release mechanism works just fine for unlocking a smooth walking range of motion, testers said. The Hybrid 120+ is designed with Fischer's Soma-Tec abducted stance—particularly well suited to more duck-footed skiers.
We tested prototypes of the new 2018 DaleBoot AK 130 at this year's boot test and testers saw potential for this re-born On-Off Area medium (the shell is the former Black Diamond Factor MX) as well as some current flaws in the system—both stemming from the current Intuition liner.
The fit game is one of partnership between shell and liner—and much will be evolving with the AK 130 as DaleBoot finalizes liner development this Fall. The shell fits shorter than other boots of a given size (and this was the case in its previous BD form as well) and fairly average medium-width throughout the lower, with the exception of the heel, which is quite tight (and was before). The lace-up, tongue-style Intuition liner we tried was a little low and thin in the tongue, which gave the boot a short feel against the leg and allowed the leg to spill forward a bit out of the front of the boot. DaleBoot tells us that those elements will change in the next phase of development. Even with these few liner glitches, testers agreed that the liner feel of the new DaleBoot generation AK 130 is already better than the former BD liner.
The AK 130 is made of polyurethane in the upper cuff and shell, and the rigid bootboard is through-bolted to the soles with metal bushing connections, so this is a stiff and powerful ride—laterally testers thought it was Frontside powerful for driving edges on firm snows but a few found it overly rigid off-piste, where bumpy terrain rattled them a bit. Testers liked the side-to-side alignment straightaway but were disconcerted by the way the liner we tested allowed the leg to dump overly forward during flexion. We will be re-testing the revised version as soon as it's available. The AK 130 sports one of the best hike mode actuation switches in the business, and the range of motion is top-tier, both forward and rearward.
We are waiting to hear from DaleBoot how they plan to handle the sole-canting issue with the AK boots and what other former BD models may be rising again like the Phoenix.
A perennial favorite with testers, the 2018 Dalbello Kyra 95 did not disappoint at this year's test, proving that if ain't broke, don't fix it. Testers say it's a great all-mountain utility machine with broad skier type bandwidth.
Testers love the easy 102 mm fit and highly cushioned initial feel when sliding into the Kyra 95—its entry and exit marks were top of class too. This is a comfy, warm fit for thick feet and the average to wider calf, testers said, but they also found that the middle 45-degree buckle did a fine job of keeping the foot in place for solid skiing. Testers found no fit flaws here—one tester commented that it was like putting on a unicorn onesie, and we figure that says it all.
While testers said the Kyra 95 wasn't a hard-charger and had a softer than billed flex feel, they said it handled everything they threw at it without a fuss. They liked that the two-position flex setting worked easily to produce two noticeably different stiffnesses—a nice feature for an improving skier who's stepping up her game throughout the season. Quickness edge to edge was where the Kyra 95 came alive for our test team, who said it had a playful and lively feel underfoot and performed precise edge work. The cuff release mechanism is simple to operate and testers said offered surprisingly good range of motion.
Testers loved the fuzzy Thinsulate liner and sparkly glitter accents but acknowledged that the upgrade to the Intuition I.D. liner might be worth the 50-bucks for a higher-performance feel. For an enhanced walking experience GripWalk soles are available as an option.
Packed full of all-terrain and hiking options, the all new 2018 Dalbello Lupo AX 110 W impressed our test team with its dialed fit, strong flex feel, light weight and touring goodies. It is also one of only two* tech-binding compatible boots on the market that come in a size 21.5, that we're aware of.
Testers agreed that the fit is pretty dialed—essentially how a medium width should fit—a little extra room in the toebox, a good snug heel pocket and a comfortably even grip everywhere else. They said the upper cuff's stance is a little upright and the 110 flex rating is for real, so plenty of fore-aft support on tap for charging, if perhaps a little firm against the shin for some.
The downhill power-to-weight ratio here was commendable, according to testers who said it tipped and ripped as well as it drove to the front of the shovel, handling all speeds, all terrain and all turn sizes equally well, with no surprises. The hike mode is unique in that to access the boot's full range of touring motion, the tongue must be removed completely using a simple switch at its connection point. With the tongue out of the way, the comfy fabric gusset keeps moisture out and the boot rolls through a massive range. Yeah, you gotta stow the tongue in your pack, but you probably have one if you're slapping on skins, right?
The Lupo AX utilizes two different high grade polyolefin plastics in the lower shell and cuff to shave substantial weight without a reduction of stability. This tech-compatible boot comes with rockered, lugged GripWalk soles for use with backcountry bindings, but alpine soles are available as an option.
The new 2018 Dalbello Panterra 120 hit the gym in the off-season to return to our boot test stripped and ripped with a new look, new soles, new buckles, a little less baggage but the same wide ride fit that testers have come to love—and it still skis strong.
Dalbello calls this a 100-102 for its set-and-forget, backward latching VVF (Variable Volume Fit) bottom buckle that will close the lower boot from a 102 to a 100 mm via a crafty expansion slot which the buckle can tighten up like a, well, like a buckle. It's cool because once that buckle is set the way the skier likes, he doesn't mess with it anymore, and just gets in and out with it closed—lock it up and throw away the key. But the real point to this is that this boot really fits like a 102 mm. It's a wide ride. It has a tall fit over the instep and a big wide tube of a forefoot and toebox, so big thick feet (and legs) do well in the Panterra—it's one of our testers' particular favorites for a high volume instep fit.
Dalbello stripped out the unneeded heel inclinator bootboard (it went up and down like an Impala low-rider's rear end), gave it some new grippy soles, tractiony mid-arch cladding and a scuff resistant shell exterior—all useful changes that also shaved excess weight. The switch to an Irfran (polyolefin) shell and cuff material similarly shed some poundage, but testers say it didn't drastically change the performance character of the Panterra 120. The lighter weight quickened up the pace of turns, they said—an improvement over the previous Panterra's sometimes ponderous transitions, but the lighter package didn't seem to undercut classic Panterra power to the edge, which testers said remains solid and bankable.
The cuff release is simple and effective for gaining some stride with the top and Dynalink buckles undone and testers report that the soft versus hard flex setting adjustment works well, though too soft for most in the soft mode. There are options available to upgrade to an Intuition (I.D.) liner and to swap on rockered GripWalk soles for use with GripWalk compatible bindings.
The all new 2018 Dalbello Lupo AX 120 is the slightly softer, roomier little brother to the narrow, carbon-cuffed Lupo Factory, and the AX 120 comes with all the same backcountry bells and whistles and put skis on a mean rail (testers said) for 300-bucks less!
The Lupo AX shares the same lower shell as the non-hike-mode Krypton AX, so testers found a roomy-side-of-medium-width fit here as well. The AX suffix indicates a medium, whereas sans-AX the Lupos and Kryptons are narrows (for the sake of nomenclature clarity). What was clear to testers was that an extremely easy slide in was followed up by a very easy fit in the lower boot—cushy, cozy and warm. Testers agreed that thicker feet will be fine here, so both medium and wide guys should have this on the short list if they're looking for ease of fit with backcountry styling.
While not Grilamid, like the skinny Lupos, the AX 120 is noticeably light (polyolefin lower, nylon cuff, Pebax tongue), which testers liked, but they also liked that for its heft, it still managed to roll a ski up on edge and rally powerfully through chunder and smooth pistes alike with consistent stability. As with the Lupo Factory, many testers found the boot's ramp angle a bit too flat and its firm-flexing cuff a bit too upright—a combination that put them into turns on their heels--a little heel lift and extra rear spoiler and the problem would be solved, was their consensus.
Testers dug the unique tongue-free walk mode feature once they figured it out—the tongue is released with an easy-to-use pin and then the tongue gets stashed in your pack. Without the tongue hindering forward rotation, the cuff is free to walk and skin like no other, and the weatherproof gusseting keeps the feet dry and warm. The AX is tech-compatible and comes with rockered, lugged GripWalk soles—alpine soles are available as an extra.
You can see by testers' custom score averages that the way to unlock the comfort, balance and performance potential of the 2018 Dalbello Lupo Factory is to take the time to custom mold the Intuition-built I.D. Max Hike liner—getting this lightweight full-thermo job matched to the foot and leg evened out the fit and helped tap the Lupo's beastly power and quickness.
The Lupo Factory experience isn't for wimps or wannabes. Just getting into the boot takes a certain level of skill and commitment. The lightweight, rear-articuluated lace-up liner goes on the foot first, gets laced, then the foot and liner enter (i.e. get crammed into) the three-piece shell. Keeping the shell's tongue, internal weather-proof gusset, overlaps, straps and buckles all clear for takeoff is a little bit of a cluster—but once the foot has a clear path to the floorboards it slams right down into place. This is an overall narrow fit, with extra room at the forefoot and quite a bit of space in the toebox—testers said this clean, even, narrowish fit came only after liner molding. Prior to liner cooking, fit scores were more scattered. The upper cuff crawls up pretty high on the leg shaft, and the tongue has a nicely padded feel against the shin. Testers say this is not an open calf fit at the boot top—slender feet and long slender legs will do best here.
Testers were in agreement that the internal bootboard ramp angle is fairly low, the cuff is pretty upright and the 130 flex is plenty stout—this put testers on their heels and left them struggling to get up and out in front of this boot. Those who could (taller, more aggressive, i.e. real men) tapped into megatons of shovel-bending force, and those who couldn't ended up moving side to side, tapping into megatons of lateral, edge-driving power. The lightweight Grilamid lower shell and hand-laid carbon upper cuff are undoubtedly strong and super transmissive of skier inputs, just a little hard to harness for three-dimensional skiing. A lot of skiers mentioned needing a little bit of heel lift and a little bit of rear spoiler in the cuff—good suggestions, and easily accomplished.
The Lupo Factory started the removable tongue hike modality last year, and this year it's available on all the Lupo models for men and women. The industrial-strength cuff release mechanism is pretty standard, but by completely removing the plastic, external tongue, the cuff is free to hinge widely forward and aft, with a light and unhindered quality and a rolling stride enabled by the rockered GripWalk soles the boot comes with. Yes, the cuff must be stashed somewhere, like a pack, but for a decent length skin mission having a pack would make total sense, right? The weatherproof gusset that hinders entry initially is what keeps snow out of the boot while touring, which can be done with low-tech or A.T. bindings. Alpine-norm soles are available for a more area-based attack.
Not for big, hard-charging, all-mountain attackers, but will work well for everyone else. One tester said the Kyra 95 was a “comfy, cushy Cadillac-cruising cougar-mobile.” Blue square to black diamond to bar stool, this was a tester favorite for its versatility and instant success on snow.
So evenly roomy testers checked fit boxes in straight rows. No hot spots or specific complaints were recorded. The liner is well cushioned. The stance is upright and easy going. The flex is smooth and a soft 95ish.
Goes everywhere willingly and is game for a challenge. Will quicken its step when it has to, but is just as happy puttering along. Testers said this is one can you just slip into and immediately have a good time on the hill. The hike mode is easy to use and yields a surprising swath of movement fore-and aft for high-performance après ski action.
Adjustments abound. We especially like the two-position flex adjustment and the dial-a-ramp-style bootboard inclinator. It’s easily adjusts with the turn of an Allen key.
The VFF Pro was a Triple Crown star in our women's boot test. It excelled in fit, performance and its custom fitting process. It would have won a quadruple crown had testers loved the jiggery buckle system; oh well.
Fully custom-built in every way possible to each owner’s personal foot and leg dimensions. Local dealers send foot measurements and tracings to DaleBoot’s Salt Lake City factory where shell components are tailored in tricky fit areas. The upper cuff is chosen based on height and length of leg and can be pre-stretched at the factory for larger calves if needed. The factory delivers a fully bespoke boot back to the dealer.
The boot is fine-tuned back at the shop where an Intuition liner is thermo-molded (spiral wrap or traditional tongue, various thicknesses and densities available). All our custom testers underwent the entire process and were stoked with the end result.
Fit equals performance so it’s not surprising that all the custom fitting generated high quickness scores and comments about “accurate steering” and “confident heel hold” in tricky situations. Testers said the boot was surprisingly powerful on edge considering how light and thin the plastic feels. Very little separates the bottom of the foot from the ski.
The variable flex feel is the boot’s signature element (hence the VFF name: Variable Forward Flex). Testers liked the long-travel flex with the ability to tune the stiffness with the adjustable, spring-loaded flex cable. The spring adds to a snappy, resilient feel that had our testers hammering zipper lines and looking for piles of corn to harvest.
The ease of canting a DaleBoot is unparalleled. Just snap on the canted sole modules and you're done. What’s also cool is that it's not just the initial build that's custom. If you need additional customization that's part of the deal (and the price).
Post: "Anybody who has trouble finding an off-the-shelf fit that works for them should consider DaleBoot. It’s perfect.”
