Thread: Two part question. Boot fit advice and Dalbello Virus questions.

Hey all, would appreciate any and all advice. I apologize for the length of this in advance but felt those willing to help should have as much info up front. Thank you.
A little background. Use to have typical Lange feet - lower volume with narrow heel and wider forefoot. Also have somewhat flat feet with smaller/flatter than average arch. Also for my size (6'1" and 190 lbs) I have thin calves and ankles. Have skied mostly in Lange alpine boot, Garmont Tele and AT boots in the past.
However, all has changed. I'm recovering from broken right foot and surgery. Foot was crushed by 7000 lb trailer tongue back in August and although have made full recovery there are most likely permanent changes to my right foot. My foot is at least a full 1/2" or 1.27 cm wider in the forefoot. Still dealing with minimal swelling after skiing or climbing but in general foot is same elsewhere.
Right now my issue is with my Garmont Endorphin AT boots. Was never really happy with fit and flex of Endorphins. Now its real bad. Have had liner re-heated but right foot is still going to need extensive shell work to make touring or back to back days possible/pain free.
The other issue for me is I often flex the boot to the point where the 2nd from top buckle hits the third buckle below. Design flaw or just too soft a boot for me? The worse part is the junk liners and low cuff heigth. As most know, the liners are shitty and are gone after less than 30 days. My shins are getting trashed by the low cuff/shitty liner combo.
So the question is do I spend the extra dough it is going to take to get Intuition liners and have extensive shell work done and will this fix the issues I'm having? Or do I suck it up and find a better fitting/skiing boot?
I'm leaning towards the new boot so that I can sell the Endorphins now (before all the shell work) while they are still worth something. Is this the right move or are there ways to fix problems including flex issues?
If go with new boot - I'm thinking of going for the Dalbello Tour ID. Although the last is larger than I would normally be in it is the the only AT boot I've tried on that will accommodate my new right foot without shell work (I've tried on BD Factors, Dynafit Titans, and Scarpa Typhoons). Problem, my left foot is swimming - even with footbeds. This is all without heating liners. Will heating the liner and other work as needed be enough to deal with too much volume. What happens when they pack out? Do they pack out? - never have had Intuition liners.
The other reasons to go with Dalbello are that I really like the technology of the boot and the smooth flex. The walk mode is unlike any other AT boot I've tried.
The Virus Tour seems the most refined (Dynafit compatible and better liner) of the three boots and better suited for me but is there a big difference in flex from Freeride model? There seems to be confusion about flex of Virus Tour and Freeride. According to customer service rep from Dalbello, "there is not a big difference between flex rating of Freeride and Tour - they are pretty much the same). True?
Have been to several different shops but no shop in East seems to have all AT boots (let alone my size) and getting tired of the sales pitches. Looking for independant advice.
Thanks again for help. Cheers.

If your foot is swimming in them before molding, molding them wont help much. I too was thinking about the Viruses, but was bummed to find out they are actually pretty high volume. The liner may puff up a touch when molding, but not much, then it will start packing out. Those liners seem fairly thin to me, much thinner than other Intuitions (at least the Power Wraps). You will likely have to add shims under the liners, then maybe more padding as needed. Short story is, in my opinion, if they are loose before molding, its only going to get worse in the long run.

I would find yourself a good bootfitter, even if you have to travel out west to find one. You foot situation sounds complicated. I can reccomend some in the Tahoe area.

Complicated is a good word to described my feet as well as my life for the last 5 months - FKNA! Thanks, think I got a name of a good boot fitter from a friend today.
Anyone ever hear of Paul Richelson, C.Ped? Feet First Clinic in Plymouth NH?
That's probably a new thread inquiry. Anyway, he's a bit pricey but supposedly good.
The Dalbello. Ya really high volume - it was rather surprising. Have never tried on a Dalbllo and guess know why. I wear size 12 street shoe and the Dalbllos were a 28. My Garmonts are 28.5. I could curl toes all the way under and scrunch feet in the Dalbllo.
I was just hoping to hear something positive because the design looks simple and solid. If the design holds up over time, they would be a dream to climb and tour in. However, agree with others that wish the last was cut to fit a wider but narrower range of feet (or at least mine).
Spoke with a customer service rep from Dalbello/Elan in NH and she did said that shops out west (esp. in JH) are selling them well and have re-ordered - true or untrue? Can't say. She did say that this boot was an early release. She stated that many felt the top buckle cables were too long and shorter replacements were available.
Those that do fit the Dalbello, please post for feed back.
Might take second look at Scarpa Typhoons? Or does anyone want to make me a pair like the Dalbllos out of my FT Konflicts? Wish I had the talent. Someone did say somewhere that FT might have one coming out - no?
Thanks.