Latest posts for the topic "Dalbello?"

Dalbello?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:14:23 GMT

Ski boots that is.

I tried on a few pairs today, seemed ok (what do I know?) ski'd in a hire pair that were "similar" for a few hours without much trouble.

Are they reputable?

Is Viper a good model?

I thought the fitting at a resort would be a lengthy process, but it's pretty much "do you like it?"

Re:Dalbello?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:44:13 GMT

All that matters is if they fit and function correctly (appropriate flex forward lean etc.), how they feel in the shop is no indication of how they fit, so if the fitting process only comprised of "do you like it?" then they probably won't. If you want them to fit properly this is roughly the process the shop should follow http://www.foot-works.fr/fitting_process.asp?id_fitting=5 if they don't go somewhere else.

Re:Dalbello?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:44:22 GMT

Cheers. Know of there is a fitter in Megeve?

I don't know if a boot could have prevented the stiffness in my calf and Achilles after a proper dumping but I'm sure it couldn't have made it worse!

Re:Dalbello?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:46:35 GMT

The nearest boot fitters are in Chamonix, try and get an appointment with either Jules Mills or Damien Amblard at Sanglard Sport in Chamonix http://www.thebootroom.fr/eng/Home.html what these guys don't know about ski boot fitting you could write on the back off a stamp!

If they can't fit you in try Mark Festor at Total Feet in Archamps just outside Geneva, Gilles Marquette at Aux Pieds des Alpes in Chambery or Bruno Bornica in Serre Chevalier. Even in the Alps good boot fitters are few and far apart. Lots of the locals here in German speaking Valais undertake a 4 1/2 hr journey to get their boots fitted by Hans-Martin Heierling in Davos http://heierling.ch/index.php

Re:Dalbello?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:59:36 GMT

Mrs W has had a pair a few years ago infact I still have them in the garage she seemed to rate them 8)

Re:Dalbello?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:35:01 GMT

I had a pair, changed them to salmon last year. There good boots but unfortunately for me I didnt have them fitted properly and they were too big once worn in.

Can't fault the boots though. I think there still a little unknown in the uk compared to Italy...

Re:Dalbello?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:32:15 GMT

Can anyone recommend a fitter that has the same skill an diligence in Tignes?

Re:Dalbello?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:54:44 GMT

90% of all ski boots in the world are made in one small Italian village.
Dalbello is an excellent boot company ,, as all ski boots now!
As mentioned by others, what is important is, fit fit and more fit !
So let your feet do the "talking" !

Most skiers spent too much on skis and not enough on boots!

Boots are more important than skis !

Learn about boot flex index and canting adjustments!

Pavel

Re:Dalbello?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:44:43 GMT

I've rented three sets of boots and not had any complaints on any of them.

Nobody recommends specific brands or models.

It's a joke getting advice on kit.

Re:Dalbello?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:50:26 GMT

Tspill, Navada Sports are pretty good.

Tin pot, brand and model are immaterial its all about fit.

Sadly Pavel Montebelluna is no longer the force it was in ski boot manufacture. Production is steadily being shifted to Eastern Europe; by 2013 Bulgaria will be the world's largest producer of skiing equipment after Amer Sports (Atomic/Salomon) have completed their plan to move as much production as they can there.

Re:Dalbello?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:25:16 GMT

I recently had an extensive fitting session for my first "own" pair of boots, having always previously rented. The session in the shop was pretty rigorous and the boots (which happened to be Dalbello, but that was the shop's choice, based on their measurements of my feet etc), felt very snug, if not tight, but not uncomfortably so. The whole session took most of the afternoon, and included the replacement of the standard boot liner with a more bespoke one, from Zipfit. This was because I told the boot fitter that, despite the overall "snug" fit of the boot there was still some movement up and down the sides of my heels. After the change of liner (extra cost, of course!), the boots felt fine, although the toes were butting up against the front of the boot. I know this is what you should expect when trying boots on in a shop, so that when leaning forward against one's shins when skiing, the toes tend to come back from the front of the boot. The following week they went into action in earnest in Austria and after two days my big toes were black and blue under the toenails, being bruised by the constant contact with the front of the boot. For the third day's skiing I had to rent a pair from the ski hire shop, which were much "comfier", insofar as they didn't bruise the toes, but were also obviously not anything like so "snug" everywhere else. Anyway, once I got back home, I went back to the fitter, showed him my black toenails, and he then made various adjustments to the boots and also was able to lengthen them in the big toe area, and to give a bit more height over the big toe too, which seems to have fixed the problem. I will know after another week's skiing in early Jan, but am hopeful.

Overall, I didn't mind too much the not-perfect first fit, as the after-care was excellent and I now, hopefully, have a very snug and secure-feeling boot yet without the bruised toes !

I'm no expert, but I should imagine it's nigh-on impossible to be 100 percent sure, simply in a shop, even with the best boot-fitter in the world, that a boot will perform perfectly in action, so the follow-up is vitally important, not just the up-front service.

Re:Dalbello?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:19:12 GMT

Billip1 and his experience happens to most skiers. Rare is the perfect boot fitting at shop.
I have a new ski boot from another boot company and it is now three weeks. I am still making "modifications" after several days of skiing. This is due, not to the quality of the boots, but to my strange feet and my "unique" skiing requirements !

Skiers take the time to get boots "right on" , then do not change for at least 10 years!

Again fit fit fit is most important element! That depends on a great ski store with a great boot fitter who is patient and will make constant minor changes !

Billip1,,know all about those black toes. I had many a foam injected boots! Now they have you wear a "cap" over the toes before injecting the foam ! Saves the toes from "the black death" !

Pavel

Re:Dalbello?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:22:24 GMT

It's also easy to forget to keep those toe nails cut very short in ski season.

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:18:22 GMT

Trencher wrote:It's also easy to forget to keep those toe nails cut very short in ski season.

Yes, absolutely.
I have been banging on about toe nails for years mainly with laughter and being ignored the result.
Good to hear someone authoritative saying the same.
Ladies in particular need to note that beautifully pedicured nails may need to be sacrificed to avoid black toes after a weeks skiing.

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:15:34 GMT

Old Andy,

Do you realize what you are asking?

The inner conflict you are creating ?

Better skiing with no pain,,,,or better '"beauty" !

Here comes to retorts,,,,I can hear the footsteps coming,,,,,,must go on hill before,,,,,ah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gulp!!!!!

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:21:17 GMT

pavelski wrote:Old Andy,

Do you realize what you are asking?

The inner conflict you are creating ?

Better skiing with no pain,,,,or better '"beauty" !

Here comes to retorts,,,,I can hear the footsteps coming,,,,,,must go on hill before,,,,,ah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gulp!!!!!

Ah the vanity of life ...
I wonder how many of us succumb to that?
:oops:
I am still inclined to rest the tails of my skis up on my boot when in the crush of a telecabine so it looks like I am skiing longer skis that I really am ....
:roll:

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:33:19 GMT

Are the tongues on the Zipft liners thinner than the tongues on the liners that came with the boot? If they are then there could be too much room at the front of the boot (fig a.). This could have allowed your feet to slide forward until your toes made contact with the front of the boot (fig b).

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:48:36 GMT

Swingbeep: I still have the original liners, so I will check. Thanks for the tip. But my feeling is that the Zipfit liners are fairly chunky, with lots of leather on them, whereas the included-with-the-boot liners are more like slipper boots, but anyway I'll check it out.

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:29:35 GMT

It's a bit of a long shot Billip1, but on the Zipfit website http://www.zipfit.com/linertech.html Sven Coomer states "Zipfit owner and designer, Sven Coomer, made this first ever plastic reinforced and asymmetrical tongue-shell in 1972. This tongue-shell remains the best. Before the tongues were made with thick leather, foam padding and neoprene lining.
Today it's the same tongue-mold and neoprene lining. Only the (thick) foams have been replaced with the new and malleable OMfit cork and ceramic moulding composite which is proven to be the most effective and durable shin and instep protection; anatomically adaptable, while allowing the use of very thin and most sensitive tongue profiles."

Re:Dalbello?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:51:43 GMT

One of the wonderful things about Zipfits, is the little injection points on the tongue and the liner 8)

I have had extra material squirted into the tongue and each side of the ankle.

I love my Zipfits :D