 Poster: A snowHead
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Ahhhhhh new boots day! Dalbello are not a brand I've tried before and these are around 300g lighter than any boot I've skied so it'll be a totally new experience.
Taking them to St Gervais/Combloux way tomorrow for a debut. They feel stiff at 130 so hoping the descent will be good but I'm mostly looking forward to skinning without blisters:)
many thanks to the Nicklasses at Concept for making sure I had the most expensive ones in the shop....(jk!)
I'll try to come back with a mini-review
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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UPDATE
Toured up to Combloux today to try these out. Was at the front on the way up which I'll attribute to the lightness of the boot  Didn't feel like my feet were heavy even though my ski+binding setup is quite heavy so thats a tick in the box.
Several hotspots leading to blisters on the way up so its back to Concept I go. I'm sure the guys will sort me out but it does make me think fondly of my boots fitted by S4F in Bicester which were like slippers from minute 1.
Question - how does everyone have their boots done up when skinning? Done up? Totally loose? Buckled but loosely?
The descent held a few surprises. Usually with 'superlight' touring boots I take the stiffness with a pinch of salt but these say 130 and man they feel like it. Super stiff! I'm used to my 5 year old 120 flex boots where the liners have packed in and the plastic has softened and these were a whole new ballgame. I feel like in the long run they'll make me a better skier but today I felt a bit all over the place and was unable to get forward enough to drive my tips. This was only my 2nd time out this season so still very much getting back into the swing. I feel ike the 'me' of February last year would've done a much better job of handling them.
All in all a mixed bag though I don't think any of that was to do with the boots themselves- rather the fit, the fact they're brand new and my need to improve as a skier to get the best out of them. Roll on the next outing (which may be a while as everything is melting)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Tight.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Meltus, before you start rushing back to the shop......
You say you were at the front all the way up? So working hard and sweating?
I find that your feet when touring can be blister free when temps are freezing in the depths of winter, come Spring even after 40 or so sorties without any issues I might suddenly get blisters.
So look at what you're wearing such as your socks, trousers and layering, many inexperienced people also still wear helmets and Google's on the ascent all adding to that sauna going on in your boots.
As for buckles you want to reduce heel movement, so buckles firm and then on the touring setting above the ankle, but can also depend on the terrain you find yourself in and of course if you're breaking trail.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I had the boots loose initially which I usually do when touring but perhaps a mistake with new ones. I did them up halfway but I think the damage was done so I'll try them buckled but in walk mode next time I go out.
I was in a cap, sunnies and baselayer on the way up - helmet and goggles in the bag but I may have overlayered on the bottom half.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Meltus, I need to use compeeds for first long tours of the season. I prefer having the buckles fully open but means I get some heel lift and need to protect the back until the skin toughens up
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Question - how does everyone have their boots done up when skinning? Done up? Totally loose? Buckled but loosely?
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Depends on how good the walk mode is. My Langes need to have the buckles fully undone or there is just too much friction in the walk mode. Powerstrap done up near to skiing tightness. Both forefoot buckles need to be tight in order to prevent movement of the foot.
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My Dalbello's have 1 foot buckle, 1 shin buckle and no power strap meaning customisation is limited. Will just have to experiment.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Meltus wrote: |
| I felt a bit all over the place and was unable to get forward enough to drive my tips. |
How's the forward lean? Too much? Too little?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hey,
I've now used them 3 times and the skiing down has much improved. I think my initial experience was due to it being my first ski in 6 months as much as the boot stiffness. I skied them yesterday and they skied very nicely. Forward lean is ideal for me and even at 130 allowed me to drive my dips well in soft chop.
I'm still getting blisters in some hotspots so I think I need the liners blown out a little more in a couple of places. I've tried compeeds etc but find they just slide off the spot where I put them despite having dry feet for application and leaving them for 30 mins before putting socks on.
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| Meltus wrote: |
Hey,
I've now used them 3 times and the skiing down has much improved. I think my initial experience was due to it being my first ski in 6 months as much as the boot stiffness. I skied them yesterday and they skied very nicely. Forward lean is ideal for me and even at 130 allowed me to drive my dips well in soft chop.
I'm still getting blisters in some hotspots so I think I need the liners blown out a little more in a couple of places. I've tried compeeds etc but find they just slide off the spot where I put them despite having dry feet for application and leaving them for 30 mins before putting socks on. |
I have to tape over compeed to get them to stay put when skinning. I tend to wind around the foot not just put a patch on top
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You know it makes sense.
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BTW - have you skied other dalbello (or even Full Tilt) cabrio style boots? I've got some Lupos and full tilts and I find the Airs slightly strange given how key to the design the tongues are. I'm interested how the Airs feel when skiing in comparison.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Never skied any other dalbello's or Full Tilt's I'm afraid. I can't say I notice anything enormously different to my regular (salomon) downhill boots other than an increased stiffness.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Meltus wrote: |
| Never skied any other dalbello's or Full Tilt's I'm afraid. I can't say I notice anything enormously different to my regular (salomon) downhill boots other than an increased stiffness. |
OK thanks
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FAQ
