new AT dalbellos (work in progress)

**the vor** · 12-11-2008, 11:26 AM

Verb, any update on these from your end???

Sounds like they just shipped 20-30 boots to NA for testing and may perhaps have some available to consumers later this season. Getting very intrigued about this boot.

**verbier61** · 12-11-2008, 01:17 PM

unfortunately the size of the test prototypes do not fit my nasty foot... too bad. Anyway if the tests will be OK a march release of 2-3more sizes seems feasible

**yugi** · 01-13-2009, 02:34 PM

Mid-Feb some rascal with a mohawk told me.

**wilcox510** · 03-02-2009, 08:36 PM

any updates on these?

**Jonathan S.** · 03-02-2009, 08:39 PM

http://www.backcountrymagazine.com/i...=317&Itemid=64

**wilcox510** · 03-02-2009, 09:30 PM

Wow, havent seen a pink boot in a while. Too bad there isn't any real info in that little blurb..

Edited because I just found a little video about them... Cool that they will be available with tongues of varying stiffness.

http://www.zapiks.com/glen-plake-introduces-his-ne.html

**verbier61** · 03-03-2009, 09:53 AM

here's another pic, in yellow:

dalbello says there wil be a dyna-comp version and another, cheaper, w/o dyna holes

**Dromond** · 03-03-2009, 10:04 AM

I wonder what the fit and weight will be like on those.... Fuzzy liners look freaky.

**Roxtar** · 03-03-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Dromond

I wonder what the fit and weight will be like on those.... Fuzzy liners look freaky.

1600 grams.
Would Glenn lie to you?

**wilcox510** · 03-03-2009, 11:08 AM

It looks like the buckles don't have any sort of micro-adjustment, if so thats a big bummer. The yellow is a bit more tolerable than the pink.

**altis** · 03-04-2009, 07:29 AM

I'm not sure I go with the hinged tongue design.

Why not simply undo the top buckle instead? If necessary, include a Velcro strap to hold the liner and cuff together. Less fuss, less weight and less to break.

I've never been that struck on the various boots I've seen with walk modes anyway. They always seem very stiff with lots of energy-sapping friction as you flex them. Far more important, IMHO, is sole rocker.

**thin cover** · 09-03-2009, 07:19 AM

BUMP

Any word where these are available?

**L8APX** · 09-03-2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by thin cover

BUMP

Any word where these are available?

my rep said mid Dec release

**frorider** · 09-04-2009, 12:50 PM

dalbello virus tour was one of the 'editors choice' AT boots in the Backcountry magazine gear review.

weight per pair: 8 lbs 5 ounces. (virus light reported as 7 lbs 7 oz).

Of the 3 new GLen Plake-designed Virus models, the tech-fitted Virus Tour was most popular with our BC testers. ...'good touring ergonomics and downhill skiing chops'...when open, the tongue swings freely mid-shin for increasaed articulation. 'the best walk mode in the business'. 'stiff, consistent forward flex'. a few others said that the Tour's fwd lean 'seemed very upright when skiing'.

**mintee** · 10-08-2009, 09:03 AM

I was in a Diabello clinic last night and tried these suckers on. All i have to say is if I don't get a pair, I'm gonna cry like a baby. Rep said they would be available come December in VERY limit quantities.

Diabello's entire line up looks great this year, and I'm probably gonna push to sell them this year.

**verbier61** · 10-08-2009, 09:11 AM

same in europe, nothing before december....................
mabbe they're still producing them in montebelluna

**snoop** · 10-08-2009, 09:43 AM

Hey Mintee you said you got to try these on, can you describe the fit and flex and was it the lite, tour or freeride?

**mintee** · 10-08-2009, 01:07 PM

I'm not sure if it was the lite, tour or freeride, but it was mostly white and orange. The bottoms were solid orange with a very pliable type plastic. Almost like a hiking boot, but maybe a bit more soft.

As for the fit, well, it was very snug and felt like heaven. The 110 degree opening made walking in it about as easy as a pair of hiking boots. They were still ski boots in the fashion that they were pretty heavy, but nothing crazy.

The only problem I had, as I've had with ever pair of Protons I've ever tried on is my accessory navicular area seems to rub a bit more. To the extent that if I bought a paid I would have to press that area out, or surround it with a foam cutout. Hopefully I'll have a pair in December and will be able to write up a quick alpine review.

**zombinate** · 10-18-2009, 09:28 PM

mintee, any thoughts on a comparison fit between the other dalbello alpine models and the AT? Living in the Midwest, I may have difficulty finding a local dealer...

**Roxtar** · 10-19-2009, 07:40 AM

Just saw these in Outside's Gear Guide.
Their picture sure didn't do them justice.

**Flexon Phil** · 10-19-2009, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by mintee

I was in a Diabello clinic last night and tried these suckers on. All i have to say is if I don't get a pair, I'm gonna cry like a baby. Rep said they would be available come December in VERY limit quantities.

Diabello's entire line up looks great this year, and I'm probably gonna push to sell them this year.

RC was by with them a few weeks ago...still not as snug as a Krypton. Since I am hiking to the back bowls of Blue, I am not getting them.

**wilcox510** · 10-19-2009, 10:20 PM

Not sure I understand what that means Phil, except I gather they are higher volume than Kryptons. What about the flex (and any other thoughts on them)?

**zombinate** · 11-06-2009, 03:42 PM

Had a chance to try these on at the local ski expo (otherwise a HUGE waste of time). The version I tried was the Virus Free, which is the orange model without tech inserts and with the non-intuition liner (similar to the one in the Rampage). Compared to other 3 piece dalbello's like the Krypton, the shape around the foot is about the same, but I agree with Phil that the boot seems to be higher volume. I.E. the space above your foot is greater/higher. This may have been due to the liner, but it seemed rather big. No boot board in these either, so construction is on par with other AT boots, with Black Diamond still being the exception. Boot features seem borrowed from the latest Garmont stuff in that the latches have a retention system, so you can open the throw for touring, and the walk/ski lever has a similar very "mechanical" appearance. Walk mode seemed nice as long as you opened the throw on the latches. Without doing so the boot gives a nice flex back, but is stiff forward (IE it is easier to point your toes). In ski mode, the flex was midstiff at best. I'd compare with the Megaride,Spirit 4, or Method. For those familiar with the Krypton, the Virus uses a similar flex system where two leaves close together. However, the Virus does not seem to have a place to put in the stiffening shims, so any variation in stiffness seems like it would need to be done with a tounge replacement. The Rep I talked to did not know whether this would be a featured replacement item, but it seems likely as it is so obvious.

Overall, I liked the design for the backcountry tourist, but would be hesitant to see it as a big mountain or Freeride boot despite the name. Seems of the three variations of the boot offered the middle "tour" version is the most refined.

**LightRanger** · 11-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by zombinate

Had a chance to try these on at the local ski expo (otherwise a HUGE waste of time). The version I tried was the Virus Free, which is the orange model without tech inserts and with the non-intuition liner (similar to the one in the Rampage). Compared to other 3 piece dalbello's like the Krypton, the shape around the foot is about the same, but I agree with Phil that the boot seems to be higher volume. I.E. the space above your foot is greater/higher. This may have been due to the liner, but it seemed rather big. No boot board in these either, so construction is on par with other AT boots, with Black Diamond still being the exception. Boot features seem borrowed from the latest Garmont stuff in that the latches have a retention system, so you can open the throw for touring, and the walk/ski lever has a similar very "mechanical" appearance. Walk mode seemed nice as long as you opened the throw on the latches. Without doing so the boot gives a nice flex back, but is stiff forward (IE it is easier to point your toes). In ski mode, the flex was midstiff at best. I'd compare with the Megaride,Spirit 4, or Method. For those familiar with the Krypton, the Virus uses a similar flex system where two leaves close together. However, the Virus does not seem to have a place to put in the stiffening shims, so any variation in stiffness seems like it would need to be done with a tounge replacement. The Rep I talked to did not know whether this would be a featured replacement item, but it seems likely as it is so obvious.

Overall, I liked the design for the backcountry tourist, but would be hesitant to see it as a big mountain or Freeride boot despite the name. Seems of the three variations of the boot offered the middle "tour" version is the most refined.

I tried on a pair of the Tours this morning (the green and white ones, right?). They were a 26.5 and I'm usually a 27.5, so my toes were a bit cramped.

The walk mode is like nothing I've ever worn. Blows my Factors away (no surprise there... at least in the rearward motion). Flex seemed decent. Hard to compare to anything because I was teleing until I grabbed the Factors in the spring after I broke my leg. I think the rep said something like 110. It was a medium stiffness.

Can't say much about the fit because I was in the wrong shell, but the volume through the midfoot felt equivalently bigger than the 27.5 Krypton Cross I also tried on this afternoon.

**dookeyXXX** · 11-06-2009, 06:52 PM

Yo Scuts:

where did you try 'em on? i happen to be a 26, so they'd fit me, i gather.
just curious to suss 'em out as i'll be in the market for some touring boots this season (though honestly for the tours i did last year my beat up Nordy Nitrous worked out okay...)

that said, i've always wondered about using either the Flexon/Full-Tilt or Kryptons with a super soft tongue as a touring boot (saw some vintage '80s ski porn at Harvey's in SLT over Labor Day and the skiers were hiking in Flexons with super soft tongues...i believe they swapped 'em out before the ski down, but they didn't show 'em doing that, which would be a wee bit of a hassle if you're in steep terrain, but not so bad if it's a leisure trek).