Boot fit Qs

[GoldenBC]

So I’m in desperate need of an alpine boot. Nothing is in stock except I’m thinking probably some Dalbello DRS 130. I’ve never had a good look at them though. How do they compare to a Lange RS or Atomic Hawx Ultra? In particular how is the throat of the cuff and instep? Ultra works really well for me, Lange is far too deep.

[gregL]

So I’m in desperate need of an alpine boot. Nothing is in stock except I’m thinking probably some Dalbello DRS 130. I’ve never had a good look at them though. How do they compare to a Lange RS or Atomic Hawx Ultra? In particular how is the throat of the cuff and instep? Ultra works really well for me, Lange is far too deep.

I'm a fan of the Hawk Ultra for snugness of cuff/midfoot myself; the other two "slim" cuff options at present are Salomon S/Pro Alpha and Lange Shadow LV. This season I've been running a Hawx Ultra RS shell with Redster CS Professional liner and the HV tongue and love it. Nearly as powerful as the Redster CS, 300 grams lighter and I haven't fallen once in the parking lot.

**Are you looking for 25.5 or 24.5?

[GoldenBC]

Thanks Greg. I find the Shadow very roomy in the ankle/throat. The Ultra fits pretty perfect. I can’t ski the XTD anymore but I’m guessing that would be workable in the RS. Size 24 aren’t available though. Same with Salomon.

Is the redster that much bigger in the throat/cuff that you would put it in a class up?

[XXX-er]

IME a man having size 24 is too small for the mfger to make the boots or maybe the mfger does make em but nobody is gona stock something that doesnt sell, so i managed to find a 24 Dalbello 4 buckle alpine at Fanatyk in Whistler

For touring the size 24 Vulcan was good right out of the box, Vulcan was unisex all the way down to 22 , a later womens version had some pink accents on the ( shitty) liner but I think it was the same shell

In general a guy with small feet can't get the mens boot they want in a 24, a womans boot will be narrow/ made for someone who is 130lbs so at least for me @ 30lbs heavier a womens boot folds like a cheap tent

[gregL]

Thanks Greg. I find the Shadow very roomy in the ankle/throat. The Ultra fits pretty perfect. I can’t ski the XTD anymore but I’m guessing that would be workable in the RS. Size 24 aren’t available though. Same with Salomon.

Is the redster that much bigger in the throat/cuff that you would put it in a class up?

I have the Redster CS, which is bigger in the ankle shaft and at least as voluminous in the forefoot, but substantially tighter in the midfoot/navicular and styloid. No issue with the heels out of the box with the Redster; I was able to punch the Hawx Ultra RS shell for more heel depth no problem.

[gregL]

IME mens size 24 is too small or maybe the mfger does make em but nobody is gona stock something that doesnt sell . . .

Everyone makes men's boots down to 24.5, they just don't make very many of them.

[GoldenBC]

I have the Redster CS, which is bigger in the ankle shaft and at least as voluminous in the forefoot, but substantially tighter in the midfoot/navicular and styloid. No issue with the heels out of the box with the Redster; I was able to punch the Hawx Ultra RS shell for more heel depth no problem.

As voluminous in the forefoot eh? I’ve never heard that. Definitely takes it off my radar then.

Dynafit is the only one who doesn’t make a top boot in a 24. Everyone else does and most carry them. Our 24s outsell our 25s by a percentage point on average. Of those, I definitely bring in a handful of 130s. But I am biased.

[gregL]

Thanks Greg. I find the Shadow very roomy in the ankle/throat.

Yeah, the Shadow LV seems roomier everywhere than the old RS130 97mm fit.

[gregL]

As voluminous in the forefoot eh? I’ve never heard that. Definitely takes it off my radar then.

It's a tiny bit narrower out of the box but plenty tall; I had no problem making it wide enough for my 117mm wide forefoot. Midfoot/navicular was another story.

[mr_pretzel]

Why dont you just grind out a pair of plugs? The atomic STI has a narrow throat like the ultra

[GoldenBC]

Why dont you just grind out a pair of plugs? The atomic STI has a narrow throat like the ultra

Could be an option. It’s my understanding they are quite short in the cuff compared to the Hawx. Also I have a 105mm foot in a 24 with an neuroma and ski inbounds about 10 days a year so I don’t want to go too crazy.

[mr_pretzel]

Could be an option. It’s my understanding they are quite short in the cuff compared to the Hawx. Also I have a 105mm foot in a 24 with an neuroma and ski inbounds about 10 days a year so I don’t want to go too crazy.

They are taller in the cuff than the Z-line from lange and the old nordica/tecnica plugs (havent tried the new dobbies)

They punch really good so I’m sure someone as skilled as yourself could make them fit easily when a beater like me can do it.

Also 10 days inbounds a year at the funnest resort in NA? You must know of some even better spots then

[mntlion]

Thanks Greg. I find the Shadow very roomy in the ankle/throat. The Ultra fits pretty perfect. I can’t ski the XTD anymore but I’m guessing that would be workable in the RS. Size 24 aren’t available though. Same with Salomon.

https://www.thelasthunt.com/collecti...er.size_1=24.5


any of this fit you?

[GoldenBC]

Unfortunately no, but thanks. Can’t do the xtd, need more than 115.


Can anyone comment on a redster TI 130 vs a Lange ZB? Mainly thinking of the throat and the toes. Which fits longer?

[mr_pretzel]

Unfortunately no, but thanks. Can’t do the xtd, need more than 115.


Can anyone comment on a redster TI 130 vs a Lange ZB? Mainly thinking of the throat and the toes. Which fits longer?

I haven’t been in the TI(only the sti from when they didn’t have the TI for a few years), but the ZB is gonna be really stiff comparably. Probably a pain in the ass when KH gets cold spells.

[GoldenBC]

Well, an update to the story. I’ll let you guess what I went with.

Big ups to Waxman for making a set of lightly fitted Lange Wolrd Cup ZBs get into my hands. I spent a solid evening grinding and punching and skied them the next day and got damn is it nice to be out of a touring boot.

I haven’t finished fitting them yet as getting them wide enough for my forefoot and neuroma is a mission. fitting around the back half of the foot was easy. In fact, in classic Lange form, the throat is massive. Before skiing, I swapped the stock tongue for a. atomic Hawx Ultra mimic tongue and put some padding on the front of the ankle and heel pinch pads. First lap: forefoot needs more width, boot is stiff, ankle is sketchily loose to ski a boot this stiff.

Second lap: put entire Hawx Ultra XTD liner in, unmolded, pull the bottom screw, and out on the atomic dual strap. It skied a thousand times better but my forefoot was crushed.

Day two, little bit of hasty forefoot punching, grab single left footed warranty GFT and ski with stock liner in the other (with lots of padding). Sweet baby Jesus. Zipfit for the win. Need a little bit more forefoot space and to figure out what actual Zip to put in.

Thanks Waxman. The boots ski so damn well. This also reinforces to me how special the Hawx Ultra fit is. Way better ankle hold than a plug boot and it would take 30 seconds to fit it to my forefoot. Well done ONK.

[mr_pretzel]

The stock liner is horribly thin in those, glad these seem to be working out for you.

As someone who was once a Hawx skier, the gara LV works great in my ZBs, albeit it will take some time to break it in.