Dalbello Lotus Freerider-(Eggplant Color)

[pinkkid]

I have notice a few Dalbello boot users and also that is is going to take time and trips to the bootfitter in order for these sweet sweet boots to be perfect. I have only used mine twice now and have some questions but I better tell ya about myself since this is my first post. I use skiboards (5 years on them, normal long ski's prior for about 10 years, I am very happy with the switch to skiboards, hope you all don't mind me here... I LOVE snow & skiing!!!!). I am 40 years old and my husband and brother and myself all skiboard together at our local resorts Sierra Summit & Badger Pass, Yosemite and we get to Tahoe every other year or so. I have an almost 2 yr old son(my avatar, Korden) and am eager to get him out on the slopes... but not too soon!
Ok, business; I have a couple of questions though about the Dalbello's:
My boot tongue is white with that medal screw plate thing on top... well I have made some adjustments to that top screw plate because the top of foot just kills!!! Especially on the ski lifts! ugh! My toes seem ok, but yeah they do get cold. My boot size is 24.5 (7). Also, all the plastic this boot is made of, especially that tongue, seems to poke all over.... I am really hoping a thermal heat w/ neoprene toes will help along with a few more times using them.
The other thing is what flex are most of you using or recommend? Lots of possibilities to choose from with all those pieces!! right now I have nothing in the ankle, so it is the most flex possible. Inside I have the '4' plate, and like I mentioned I have loosened up the top medal screw plate... but can't loosen it too much more or the tongue will off.
ANY suggestions or helpful advise would be much appreciated! thank you!!!!!!!!!

 

[Calgal]

Welcome !
I have the same boot and bought it a yr ago.
I was having the same trouble as you are.....my feet killed me when on the lift. I had them re heated with the toe stretching neoprene inside and that seemed to help quite a bit. My feet get quite cold in them so I now wear a BootGlove over top and thermal insole applied to the orthotic foot beds.
Sorry I can't tell you what flex I have them at. I haven't got the heel lifts in them, I found that it pressed my foot too high in the boot and made the fit way too snug. I am going to try to adjust the steel plate on top of the boot, as I didn't even think that could be done until I read your post, so thanks!
Despite the little problems I have had with the boots and comfort etc,
they are an excellent boot to ski in.

 

[pinkkid]

Thank you very much for your reply!!! Just be careful with that top plate screw, too loose and the tongue gets all out of wack and will come off. I think there are different types of tongues you optionally purchase that interchange with these and other Dalbello boots... I think.
I will go get them heated and walk around all uncomfortable for 20 mins and I'll do the neoprene toe. I just know my local boot fitter is not familiar with these boots, but I did show him them and he was pretty stoked, so hopefully he'll enjoy helping me out with them!
I might try adding in the '4' heel flex, we'll see.
I did notice that the flex, which I am not use to, makes my calves and shins a little tender!

thank you again!!! and yes, I posted this twice, sorry!:ROTF:

 

[IntheClouds]

Hi pinkkid, welcome to the skidiva !
I have the Storms, not the Lotus, but I believe the build & parts are similar for the most part.
Get those liners molded & w/the neoprene toe piece. Comfy. The 1st 10 days on my boots the only pain would be on the lift. The weight of the ski's seemed to pull the boot right down. But it was not the tongue, it was the top side edges of the actual boot under the tongue.. The weight seemed to pull the edges down onto the top of my foot on the nerves. Loosening the buckle took it away. I've skied on them enough now that I don't need to do that anymore. Or at least not after the 1st run or 2. Even though the intuition liner was heat molded, it continues to mold to my foot while wearing it. So after a run, it is totally wrapped & compressed. I buckle down for the remainder of the day & never have to touch them again.

Not sure I'm reading everything right, but the piece that goes in at the back of the boot where the foot & leg cuff meet & break is the forward lean adjustment. You can go without to be more upright, or chose 1 of the adjusters to insert for a more forward lean.

The flex adjustments fit inside the boot cuff at the rear , and I believe, which location lower/higher inside the cuff that you insert them also effects the flex. Tons of choices to play with. Also, the white plastic piece at the top of the cuff under the booster strap is removable if you want a very upright stance or need extra calf room.
Have fun. Each change or adj. really has an effect so take those pieces with your boot bag so they are handy if you want to play w/them.

Not sure I'd play with the metal tongue plate as I believe that is what holds it on but doesnt effect fit, just allows tongue change/replacement to a softer or stiffer tongue. Note that whatever you do w/the tongue, the buckles place it right back down on the boot itself, molded placement on top.

 

[Calgal]

I am thinking I won't play around with the toe plate, since loosening it would let in snow underneath the plastic tongue. I was getting some snow/moisture under there as it is, which I think was contributing to my cold forefoot problem. The boot glove fixed that !
I am finding that this boot doesn't necessarily have to be buckled down super tight, since the fit is low volume to begin with. I think in the beginning I was buckling it too snug, and it was limiting circulation.

 

[pinkkid]

wow, good stuff here thank you!! I need to double check the "white plastic piece at the top of the cuff under the booster strap is removable if you want a very upright stance or need extra calf room" I don't have the boot in front of me and I'm not picturing that.
You may be right about the tongue screw plate, but that area is where my foot hurts the most and I felt that it helped some by loosening it a little but with my buckles already buckled therefore not re-holding it back down tight, maybe??? and YES the foot nerves are affected.. even after two weeks! You hit it right "The weight of the ski's seemed to pull the boot right down. But it was not the tongue, it was the top side edges of the actual boot under the tongue.. The weight seemed to pull the edges down onto the top of my foot on the nerves. Loosening the buckle took it away." I had one of those top edges really poke into me but quickly re adjusted!
I hate to buckle and unbuckle on the lifts, but sometimes you just have to.
I plan on taking my boots in for fitting this week or weekend and play more with the flex pieces when I go out on the slopes again.

Thanks!

 

[pinkkid]

good thought about the the snow getting under that plate, I didn't see any 'instructions' on that part anyways, I best leave it alone too! I may consider the boot glove too though. And I do find myself not buckling tight.

 

[IntheClouds]

Pinkkid, your welcome. Pull out that linder & recheck how your entire foot fits all over that shell. Just note it & get a bit familiar with that. When you get molded, make sure your heel is back in that heel pocket & you are buckled in appropriately while its cooling.

I am thinking I won't play around with the toe plate, since loosening it would let in snow underneath the plastic tongue. I was getting some snow/moisture under there as it is, which I think was contributing to my cold forefoot problem. The boot glove fixed that !
I am finding that this boot doesn't necessarily have to be buckled down super tight, since the fit is low volume to begin with. I think in the beginning I was buckling it too snug, and it was limiting circulation.

Calgal, I'm suprised you are getting any snow in there. I could imagine maybe some condensation ? But the way the tongue is made & has a rounded down lip all the way around keeps constant contact/seal against snow entry. I've had mine covered in powder all weekend. No snow inside.

You should not have to buckle down super tight. I've found that I initially buckle loosely. As the Intuition liner warms/wraps & compresses the first run, I buckle to perfect & forget about it. Play with your micro adjustments some & the different buckles as needed & get the feel of what works best.

 

[Calgal]

I notice lots of moisture in the liners when I take them out at the end of the day, when I don't have the boot gloves on. This moisture is always at the top of the toe box area, so I assumed it was some snow getting in.
I think I finally have them micro adjusted for optimal fit, my last time out was great!

 

[IntheClouds]

There were no instructions included. Asked my bootfitter for them at time of purchase. He checked several boxes of these boots, not included from Dalbello. However, he educated me on all the pieces parts & made alignment adjustments for my stance. If you don't get all your questions answered here, & you may not , you could certainly pose fit & pain questions over on Epic in the "Ask the Bootfitter" section. I believe all of the bootfitters there are intimately familiar with this Dalbello design & liners, & what actual shell tweaks can be made.

 

[pinkkid]

Pinkkid, your welcome. Pull out that linder & recheck how your entire foot fits all over that shell. Just note it & get a bit familiar with that. When you get molded, make sure your heel is back in that heel pocket & you are buckled in appropriately while its cooling.

Will do, cuz I really don't wanna buy another boot!!!!$$ugh!

 

[IntheClouds]

I notice lots of moisture in the liners when I take them out at the end of the day, when I don't have the boot gloves on. This moisture is always at the top of the toe box area, so I assumed it was some snow getting in.
I think I finally have them micro adjusted for optimal fit, my last time out was great!

Cool. I've got 20 + days on mine. They are great. I occasionally notice what appears to be beads of condensation? on top of the toe box, but I'm in CA where we ski 50 degree days, and, I have to totally unbuckle & take off the booster strap, walk to the car, so the liner & shell loosen up enough so I'm not peeling it off my foot. Plus, my foot stays very warm & sweats a bit. So the occasional condensation could happen for several reasons. So the liners are warm as is the plastic of the boot. Seems to work best. Once those boots are cold, like the end of the day on snow, they are pretty molded & frozen in place. Hence the tendency to "peel" them off.

I do encourage both of you to pull the liners out & inspect the boot construction. Then put your foot in & check that out too. You can see how that boot is constructed when it's empty & where those edges may be effecting upper foot when weighted. Also make sure your liners are overlapping properly, the can easily get overlapped in the wrong direction when you have them openned up before you put them on. And it's also easy to get an edge of the boot tongue UNDER the actual boot, which would hurt.

One last thing, I put mine on when they are Warm. They sit on the floorboard of the car w/the cuff facing the heat vents (NOT on high heat).

 

[pinkkid]

I'm in CA where we ski 50 degree days.
I do encourage both of you to pull the liners out & inspect the boot construction. Then put your foot in & check that out too. You can see how that boot is constructed when it's empty & where those edges may be effecting upper foot when weighted. Also make sure your liners are overlapping properly, the can easily get overlapped in the wrong direction when you have them openned up before you put them on. And it's also easy to get an edge of the boot tongue UNDER the actual boot, which would hurt.

InTheClouds-Tahoe area mostly is your skiing area???? We will be skiing Sunday April 6th there, not sure where yet, we kind of like the small less crowded places like Homewood or Diamond Peak, but Kirkwood is looking good to try! Once a year or every other year we make it up to Tahoe to skiboard, otherwise over at Sierra Summit or Badger Pass.

Yep, I have gotten the overlapping all wrong before and had to re adjust... I'll figure em out yet... mostly thanks to you all, I am very grateful for this forum!

 

[IntheClouds]

pinkkid,

Yep , Tahoe! and it is phenomenal skiing right now. Well, if I wasnt home at the moment it would be ! Let me know when you are coming up. I know on the 6th I'll be at Sierra at Tahoe w/my son. It's his ski team day.

 

[pinkkid]

Sierra at Tahoe is fun too. I'll let ya know if we go there!
Snow is phenomenal all over our Sierra's this season!!! An amazing ski season for sure!

 

[IntheClouds]

Yes it is. Just totally amazing ! Makes it hard to get anything else done.

 

[pinkkid]

yep, but gotta work to pay for the ski trips & passes! can't wait till my 2 yr old is ready to learn! Gonna be a hoot!

Thanks again and I'll post how the boots are coming along once I get em heat fitted and take em for a run! I know for sure sure I am going on St Patrick's day, got brand new GREEN Burton ski pants to wear!!!!! LOL!

 

[num]

Pinkkid, looks like your toddler's doing pretty well so far! The old butt scoot :D

 

[SnowHot]

Hi Pinkkid! Welcome!
I'm sort of ashamed that I missed this, since I'm a huge dalbello Krypton fan.

I have the Storm, and am thinking about getting the kryzma in the near future.

The lotus is similar to the storm but slightly softer and with some difference in the buckle placement.

If you have the intuition liner, there is something you should know:
1 Definitely have them heated with the toe caps to allow for toe wiggle room!!

2 When you buckle up in the morning, leave them slightly loose.
Reason: The Intuition liner "fights back" instead of compressing and packing out, like most liners. If you buckle tight before the heat of your foot warms the boot/liner up, then it will fight back and you won't get a comfort fit all day.
If you start loose, then adjust the buckle after an hour or so of skiing, you'll have a perfect fit and feel all day long!

 

[pinkkid]

LOL!!!!!!