For this year's boot test we designated two of our veteran testers to have the VFF Pro built specific for their foot, leg and stated skiing needs. After extensive testing, modifications made by DaleBoot technicians and then on-snow re-tests, these boots were made available to other testers of similar foot size and shape. For these subsequent tests the VFF Pro's Intuition liners were either remolded or a completely new Intuition liner was molded for the new tester. Test results for the women's specific DaleBoot builds were the best ever this year.
Girls want options (at least our women testers do) and DaleBoot offers more than any other custom technology boot, in our opinion. The lower shell can be made to fit as narrow as a 92mm last or as wide as a 112mm. The upper cuff can be selected for short, average or long lower leg shafts. The lower boot is completely custom molded at the Salt Lake City factory based on measurements and tracings of the athlete's foot, and then the appropriate upper cuff is attached prior to shipment. On site (in our case at the boot test center at Mt. Bachelor) the shell may be additionally modified as needed, the Intuition liner (traditional tongue or spiral wrap, in a variety of volumes and densities) is custom molded and the skier's stance geometry is checked and the boots' angles modified as needed.
These steps above yielded some of the closest yet most comfortable fits of our test, but in a couple instances where the fit wasn't ideal after a few runs, testers popped in, got a couple quick tweaks performed and headed back out, dialed. This process wasn't specific to our custom testing program but rather is a exact replica of how DaleBoot deals with every customer.
On snow the VFF Pro is a sensitive and reactive ride. Testers liked how light weight the boot feels underfoot and how close the foot feels to the ski. The shell plastic is thin and there is only a three-quarter length internal bootboard separating the foot (and liner) from the ski. This highly tuned-in forefoot feel is a hallmark of the DaleBoot design and testers dig it.
The buckle system remains tricky for testers, but they say that closure gets cleaner after a few runs around the learning curve.
Kudos
Caveats