Are Dalbello Krypton Rampage right for me?

F

Flemming

New member
*) Foot length: 26.1 cm right foot 26.6 cm left foot

*) Foot width: 9.5 - 10.5cm at the widest part on both feet.

*) Age: 34

*) Weight: 85-88 Kg (About 190 pounds)

*) Height: 191 cm (about 6.25 feet)

*) Medium strength (I am not very strong but not weak either.)

*) My ankle/legs are not very strong sideways (I once had a pair of inliners that flexed sideways. These where a pain to use) so I am looking at a boot that support here (if there are difference in support in sideway motion)

*) Skiing skill/preferences:

+ I rate myself as level 6-7 (3 x 8 days on skis + 2 odd skiing weekends.)

+ Like red slopes a lot and like medium to go semi fast but not lightning fast. Can also navigate a black slope but with slower speed. (European Alps slope ratings)

+ Have been very little to the park but find it fun doing small slow speed jumps, going through sinus slopes and goingf through tight curved hairpin turns (what is this type of ride called?).

+ Last time I went I tried a bit of off pist / powder which was fun but very challeging.

I plane to go skiing 8 days a year and hope to improve every year. So I prefer boots that I can grow with.

Two days ago I went to a local store nd got a jung sales person who didn't seem so knowlagable who fitted me with a pair of Lange CLR 80 and a Tecnica Magma both size 28.5. Even though the Tecnica seemed very comfortable and I knew from review it is a great boot I excussed myself and left the shop. (See my feet size details below)

I know the shop have a reputation for being quite knowlegeable so I went back today and talked to another guy. He seemd much more professional in his approach. First he looked at my feet then measured both of them, noting that I have narrow feet. He then asked about my skill level and what type of skiing I like the most. I told him my preferenced but explained I wanted a boot that I could grow with.

First then did he recommend boots. He paired me with completely different boots than the guy from yesterday, all size 27 (1.5 step down compared to yesterday). I tried I think 5 boots of which two seemed the most comfortable. These where the Nordica SpeedMachine 8 and the Dalbello Rampage with Dalbello being just slightly more comfortable (I wore a set of both for at least 15 minutes before evaluating. Also I tried the Nordica on one foot and the Dalbello on the other for an exteded period for direct comparison). Because I liked the Tecnica Magma from yesterday I asked about them but he told me that he thought they would be way too stiff for my level and he did not have them in my size (he only had size 28 in stock).

Common for all the boots I tried today was that they put quite some preasure on the inside of my ankle. I told the sales person about this and he told me not to worry. He had noticed that I had quite a big angle bone and that they could bootfit the boots in the right place if needed. They have a good service where they allow you to buy the boots, take them home for wearing (not able to ski them) for 8 days and if you don't like them or regret they provide full refund. So I brought them home. I was told that when I had decided they would help me do a heat fit of the liner and also provide free bootfitting in case of hot spots. They have a boot fit guarantee.

When I came home I looked the boots up on the net and discovred that they are freeride boots. I would have imagined they would have given me some allmountain or some of the lower flex race boots as I ski mostly on prepares slopes. This is also why I am looking for at second opinion. However, I would like to progress to off piste at some point.

Today I did a shell fit at home (they guy at the store did not think it was necessary) and I measured about 2cm from heel to shell wall with the toes just slight touching the front shell (Both me and my wife tried and came to the same conclusion even if it quite har to do accuarate measurement). Side to side there is about 1-2mm of space between foot and shell (estimated by moving feet around) with very little space at the inside ankle (it is as if it touches the ankle).

I wore the boots for around ½ an hour today at home (mixed sitting and walking around). The boot seem to fit quite snugly and I could feel the preasure at the ankle. When I took of the boot I quickly removed my skiing socks and looked for red areas. I noticed the following areas on both feet:

*) Red ankle. Seemed a bit sore.

*) Slightly red stipe across the top foot close to the toes.

*) Slightly red spot where the big toe is attached to the foot (the big knockle).

What do you experts think?

I plane to go skiing 8 days a year and hope to improve every year.

I would like to hear your opinion on these boots. Are they the right choice and if yes should I go with a number higher or smaller in size. Finally the flex rating on these boots are 80-110. Should I start at the 80, 95 or 110 setting? Would they Nordica SpeedMachine 8 or 10 be a better choice since I currently ski mostly on slopes (They also fit me)?

Thanks so much in advance for any comments you might have

Best regards

Flemming
 
wow, nice job on that.

First of all, if they fit your foot well, and you will get them heatfit and/or ground out to eliminate hot spots, then you should be all set. We can't really tell you how they fit, so you will have to judge that on your own.

that being said, they are a good boot, and there are a lot of people who like them. For your size, I would probably go with one of the stiffer flexes, but that all depends also on how you like your boot to feel.

the main point is that it's a good boot, but it matters if it fits your foot well. If so, go with it.
 
from what it sounds like, the rampage would be a great boot for you. the krypton series boots are fitted tight and snug, and designed to be totally custom fitted. they feel OK out of the box, but if you compare them to many other ski boots, they are fairly plain looking. the reason for this, is so that its easier to heat and stretch the shell. its a VERY supportive boot laterally (for your ankles), yet still has great foreward flex. right now, you can keep them soft, but as you get better and ski more aggressive terrain (excluding park), you can stiffen the boots up with the included plugs, or order the stiffer tongues from the Pro boot. the speedmachines are awesome boots as well, nordica and dalbello defiantly make the best boots in my opinion. but yes, as long as your shop does free boot fitting, get the kryptons, and get them fitted. as long as they are set up right, they are pretty much the best boots available today, for all styles of skiing.
 
pressure points are very common in any ski boot, unless you're extremely lucky. Especially boots which fit on the tighter side, ie; correct mondo sizing. Any decent store will always start with a shell check after a brief introduction/analysis. what they should be looking for are potential problem areas not just for correct length. They should discuss boot customization and proper alighnment through the use of a custom footbed.

There is lots you can do to a boot to make it bigger, it is much more difficult to get the same level of performance from a boot which is too big. Most stores will be able to punch/stretch the offending area to allow more room or in certain cases they will grind away excess material, though this method generally cant be used to achieve as dramatic results as stretching/punching. check out http://www.bootfitters.com to find a decent store in your area. and also go to the http://www.epicski.com/forums and check under the boot guys forum. I think you'll find lots of reading material there to.
 
First of all, I must tip my hat to you. This is one "What boot" thread that I could read without getting frustrated. You supplied the reader with more than enough information to accurately give you a reccomendation.

I think that the Krypton Rampages would be your best betm seeing how you liked them more than the Magmas or Langes. Much like yourself, I experienced some pressure points when I purchased my Salomon Foil boots. The shop was kind enough to grind out a few parts that were causing discomfort, and I absolutely love them.

It doesnt seem like you ski much, compared to myself. Im usually out anywhere from 4-7 days a week. Granted, my hill is 7 minutes away, and perhaps you have a further treck to your slopes.

Check and make sure the shop can do some basic boot fitting functions prior to your purchase, but from what I understand, the Krypton Rampage is you match.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far.

What about size? Should I try go 1 step down from 27 to 26 given that my feet are 26.1 and 26.6 measured or would I be better of with the ~2 cm shell fit gap I see now?

Best regards

Flemming
 
First of all, do not be concerned with the fact that it is a free ride boot. Race boots are designed for racers, and if you don't plan on racing, don't subject yourself to that torture. A freeride boot will be more comfortable as a whole, and give you all the performance you need. The Ramapge is amazing because it allows for some good comfort and flexibility, while allowing for good control of your ski. As far as sizing goes, every company fits differently. Wear the boots around, but keep in mind they are going to pack out, if your toes are touching the end of the boot after they fit it to you, the boot should fit. If there is any gap, go a size smaller. You shouldn't be so concerend with the shell size, as the actual feel, because every boot is a little different. Also get your boots fit if you decide to keep them, they will become the best part of skiing, as they will be customized to your feet. I think you made a good choice overall.
 
i thought rampages were like park rat boots, the pro was a freeride boot and the cross was like a all mountain boot.
 
+ Karma for proving that post count means nothing, and for making an awesome thread.

By the way, the Rampage would be a great boot for you.
 
Welcome to newschoolers!

I have the Krypton Cross boots and LOVE them. I had them do some punching in the forefoot area to free up a little extra room as it was a pressure point in that area.

Once it's modified to fit your foot, it is an incredibly comfortable boot that will give plenty of performance. It has a very smooth forward flex that won't surprise you with a sudden "wall" but has enough guts to initiate nice turns and control of your skis.

It's one of the best boots on the market today, and if it fits your general foot shape (which it sounds like it does), get it. You will not be disappointed.
 
Thank you all for the good advice.

Today I will go to the shop to try one shell size smaller just to see if they fit better. I am decided about the rampage boots but have 2 concerns I hope you can help me with

1) Are they as cold as people sometimes write in here? (We are talking the 07/08 model) Please comment if you have experience with this boot.

2) The shop said the could heat the liner after I decided to help "wear in" the liner. However, I have seen several places that people said they are not heatable. What is the truth?

Thanks again.

Best regards

Flemming
 
The toebox is meant to stretch and is built sort of lightly. On powder days I've definatly had numb toes just because of the lacking insolation in these boots.

It's the only downside of these boots that I have found.
 
2cm sounds about right as a shell fit - you will be giving yourself a lot of pain if you go much less than that..
 
Just buy them. If they were too narrow for you you'd know about it. Have them stretched in the future if needed.

As for being "freeride" boots, this isn't an issue.

For heat fitting the liner, I don't sell Dalbello so I don't know, but it should always be done first - all it does is start the break-in process.
 
I think the intuition liners are supposed to improve the warmth of these boots. They make whats called an "ID" liner for dalbello which is standard in the Il Morro boot or you could buy them for the rampage.
 
Wow! It is nice to get so much useful feedback so fast. Thanks a lot.

Where is it possible to get the ID liner from Dalbello if I want to replace the stock liner (if I find it too cold)?

What is the price of a ID liner replacement?

Thanks

Flemming
 
I ski in the Northeast, and do a fair share of night skiing with single digit temperatures and even some negative 10 degree nights (farenheit) this past season, and I did not find my Kryptons were any colder than any other boot I've owned.
 
Search "Rampage" and find my thread. They're saying that the standard liner is really cold, but it seems like it is several suggestions on this.

The guy in my shop rides them, and he says they're not cold. And he don't wanna trick me.

But I've heard something about taping your innerboots or something to make them warmer? If somebody has tips to get warmer shoes, put em here!
 
I do have the corss, not sure on the difference in the liners though.

I do LOVE the boots though. There hasn't been any terrain that they cannot handle. Park, pipe, railing groomers, and powder.
 
Thank you for all the feedback.

I have had the boots for about 5 days now. Been wearing them for ½ hour indoor each day to verify the fit.

In the shop they fitted nicely except for pressure on the angle which the shop said they can fix with some bootfitting.

After wearing them for 5 days they have changed a little bit:

1) Left foot now fit very nicely and comfortably with only a slight pressure point on the ankle (less than when new).

2) The right foot still have some presure on the angle and I have noticed some pressure on top of my foot behind the toes where it gets a little sore. Also it is as if the boot tries to press my foot together where my toes attaches to the foot.

I am still a little in doubt mainly because this is my first boot purchase and I do not know what to expect.

My questions are (t:

1) Do tou think the the presure on the top of right foot will go away when broken in? If not can it be fixed by bootfitting on this type of boot (given that it not overlapping shell)?

2) I contemplate getting a custom sole for the boots or use the inserts that came with the boot to try lift it a bit (move the inside ankle away from the shell)? Will a custom boot significantly change the fit?

3) I have read the cuffs are a little lower than other types of boots. Will this be a problem given my 6.25 feet hight (192 cm)?

4) I can still return the boots to the shop until saturday. Should I insted try the Nordica SpeedMachine 8 or 10? They have a 2mm wider last

Again thanks a lot for all your comments

/Flemming
 
Hi Flemming,

The main thing to remember, (and given that this is your first boot purchase), is that these boots won't feel like other boots you have worn..Rental boots aren't designed to fit the same way that your own boots will.

As you know, when buying your own boots, the idea is to fit as small and firm as possible, assuming the liner will pack out a small amount and conform to your foot shape, calf, shin etc.. - ID liners are great in this regard.

One thing to remember is that SKI BOOTS are not designed to be walked around in, sat around in etc.. You want the boot to be comfortable when it is flexed forward (i.e the forward-lean position or stance which you adopt when skiing)

That is where it should be comfortable.

I've very rarely seen or heard of a boot which leaves the shop and feels perfect, and then feels the same after a week of skiing - it just doesn't happen.

The main thing to remember (and it sounds like you have), is that the shell design of the boot is suitable to your foot type - most other things can be altered/manipulated if your bootfitter knows what he/she is doing.

First thing you should do (if you have any pain/pressure in almost all areas) is to get custom footbeds made. They will put your foot in its natural position, take pressure away from your arch, and overall make your foot stationary - this can often alleviate most issues created by skiboots (remember, the base of a skiboot is flat and hard plastic - and standard insoles given with a boot are always shithouse/useless)

I wouldnt worry too much about the cuff height.

RE: The pressure over the top of your foot - if it doesn't go away, a common solution is for a bootfitter to grind down the bootboard (removable plastic plate under the liner) which essentially would drop your foot lower in the boot. Fairly common practice, and often done to fix issues like you are describing (we don't stock dalbello, so someone familiar with kryptons would need to clarify whether the bootboard is removable/grindable as there has been cases with a very FEW boots where it can't be done )

There are no guarantees going to the Nordica boots will be any different, but thats an issue for you and your bootfitter to go over. If you DO, i would advise against the speedmachine 8's, they are probably too soft for you.

Overall, no matter what boot you end up getting - make the extra investment and get custom footbeds made - you definitely won't regret it.

Hope that helped

 
ALSO - o matter how hard to try to wear them in whilst at home..the pressure you put on a boot in your living room is nowhere near comparable to the pressure you exert on a boot when you are skiing - you really won't be able to pack out a liner without actually skiing in it.
 
Thank you Silence for your great reply. You made me much more comfortable in my choice. I will definitely go with custom soles.

Just one more thing. If you think the Speedmachine 8 (index 100) is too soft wont the Rampage be too soft as well (index 80-100)? I weigh 190 ponds (85-88 kg) and I am 1.92 heigh (6.25 feet). I am not particular strong but not weak either.

Regards

Flemming

 
Just tried again tonight to wear them for ½ hour but with the zeppa insers (lifts the side of the foot). This made the boot fit even better. Now I only feel a slight preasure point on the ankle. I know everything will change when I ski them. Thanks for all the help.

I just noticed that the Il Moro is not much more expensive than the rampages at the shop I am looking. So now I consider those over the rampages. Mainly to get the ID liners (affraid of freezing my toes).

Regards

Flemming
 
looking at flex ratings across brands is unfortunately pointless, as each manufacturer has its own scale

e.g. Salomon flex 90 is stiffer than a Nordica flex 110 which could be the same as Tecnica 70...

So don't compare flex ratings across brands, you can ovboiusly compare them within brands though..

Just one of those annoying things, really.

Life would be much easier if it was a universal standard.
 
Silence: Do you think the Il Moro will be to stiff for me? They cost very little extra compared to the rampages so I consider getting them instead of the Rampages. Mainly for the ID liner which everyone says is fantastic (its "only" the silver version).

Regards

Flemming
 
being a boot fitter as well. and dealing personally with both the il moro and rampages, along with hte other models. id say the ill moro would be fine for you, a tad stiffer if im not mistaken. but you are a bigger guy, you shouldn't have any problem with it. plus you will absolutely love the IDs.
 
ANd by the way do all the Kryptons fit the same, i.e., if a Rampage fits me, will a Cross or an Il Moro fit just as well?

Regards

Flemming
 
Hey Flemming, the Il Moro is very similar in stiffness to the Rampage, they are both very soft boots. In your first post you expressed concern that you hadn't tried "all mountain" or "soft race" boots. If you thought that a park oriented boot might be too soft for you to perform well on piste, you might consider the Il Moro, considering that it is a tiny bit stiffer. Also, even though it is more expensive, it comes with the ID liner standard (which is MUCH warmer) and will probably cost you the same as buying a Rampage and an ID liner separately. If you like the way the Rampage fits, you will like the Il Moro too, pretty much the same all around. Lastly, when it comes to fit, the ID liner may stop the pressure point in your ankle that you are getting with the regular liner.

By the way, what country are you from ?? Good luck, I truly think that you will be happy with either Dalbello model, so don't sweat it too much.
 
word on the il moros. they are wicked soft. that works out great for me, as im only 150 and love soft boots. yes, if you want, you can put the stop blocks in, but then you really kill the amount of forward flex possible. for your weight and skiing style, i wouldnt even look at them.

also, as im sure you already found out, custom made footbeds make a WORLD of difference.

as for the ID liner, its no so much for warmth, but for fit. the entire thing is extremely moldable, and it molds to both the outside of your foot, AND the inside of the boot shell, making for a practically zero slop interface between foot and ski. plus, they are about half the weight of standard liners.

to the kid who asked about the fit between the different kryptons, they are all identical. the differences are:

Krypton pro uses stiffer shell material, and comes with soft/firm tongues. the foam in the liner is also noticeably stiffer. the boot boards included include a soft foam rubber bootboard, and an hard plastic preformance one. the old pros used the most moldable material. new ones are ID, and entirely moldable.

Rampage and Cross use a softer shell material, and the soft tongues. Soft bootboards only. the foam in the cross liner is still pretty damn stiff compared to most boots. the rampage liner is even softer, and about on par with most park boots. its still a very good skiing boot all mountain.

The Il Moro is a slightly different animal. the lower shell material is softer than the others, the upper cuff is the same. the slap rachet thing is kinda dumb, and doesnt do that much, but whatever. the tongue is the same soft one used in the other boots. the liner is the ID liner, but noticably softer foam than the pro. ive owned crosses and Il Moros, and the ID liner is 100 times better than traditional liners. try them on cold, they feel like shit. heat them in the shop, and mold them, and they feel like, "the hottest, wettest, tightest pussy youve ever fucked" as our local rep so eliquantly put it lol.

so ANYWAY, if you want the ID liner, your best bet, especially for your weight is to take back the rampages and upgrade to pros. the stiffer shell wont hurt you at all, and itll be cheaper than buying an ID liner for the rampages. if you do wanna just get the liners, just ask the shop to order some, they go directly through dalbello.

as for temperature of the boot, my feet always go numb, and i dont even feel the cold. however, they are pretty chilly boots, and if thats gonna bug you, invest in some hottronic bootboard heaters. they can be worked into the custom footbeds, and will keep your toes toasty.
 
yo...amazing post once again but..i had the same problem with the ankles just keep bringing them back to the store and getting them grinded down, stretched out, etc watever you need to fit ur foot cause they are AMAZINg and so comfortable

also, they are a tad squirly on teh steeper stuff so get a booster strap if u want helps it SO much

peace
 
In the shop we looked at Nordica SpeedMachine 8 or 10 and the Dalbello Rampage. Based on my experience (3 weeks on ski and I rate myself as lvl 6-7) they recommended these two boots. The Rampages fitted the best out of the box so I ended up going in that direction.

Ofcourse I am a bit worried they will not be stiff enough for on-piste slopes. However, given my current level and given that I have not yet turned into an aggressive skier (I think that comes wilh level again) they might be allright I assume flex wise.

I started considering swaping the Rampages for Il-Moros because of the ID liner. I would have thought they would go stiffer than the Rampages (the rampage has soft flex tongue while Il Moro has medium flex according to website). The Rampages are listed as 80-110 whereas the Cross is listed as 90-120 so the cross shouldnt be much stiffer and it is not listed as a park boot on the website)

How is the molding process for the ID liner?

Is it heated by a heatblower or in the owen llike intuition liners? (I know my shop can heat treat liners to kick-start the breakin process and they can make customer foamed up liners but I am not sure if they can work with heat moldable liners like the ID liner as they do carry that type of liner so if I know what is involved I can ask them) .

By the way I am from Denmark ;)

Thx

Flemming
 
I am quite sure that you do not bake the ID liners in the oven. Instead you place them in the boot and attach a device that heats the liner from the inside. If you go to http://www.dalbello.it/technologies/id-thermo.html and look at the bottom picture you can get an idea.

Does anybody know if it is a heat blow. If anyone have tried the process please enlightned us with a step by step guide.

Best regards

Flemming
 
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