For any of you who aren't convinced that Dalbello is a serious boot company, you certainly haven't skied the DRS 130. Our newer testers found themselves shocked at this Frontsider--both for how it fit and how it skied. One tester wondered why the company didn't make the DRS the foundation for all its other overlap models, it was so surprisingly good. Testers may have been lulled into a kind of low expectation state by the shortage of letters and numbers in its name, as the current fashion is to cram the whole alphabet into a boot's call-sign, but they quickly re-framed their perspectives after making about two turns at speed. There's a reason why you see the race version of the DRS on the World Cup and it's not because of its good looks--though it is pretty sharp looking, huh?
Testers were most impressed with the combination of tight and right--there was nary a comment made about hot spots except from one tester who said it was pretty tight on the styloid process (which is an easy bootfitter's fix). All testers agreed it was tight, in a good way, and perhaps on the snug side of the 98mm last spectrum--which was also a good thing, according to testers (who hate a roomy-feeling narrow). The comfortable, anatomically correct flex feel was appropriately firm against the leg for the category, testers agreed, and there was universal consensus that the boot's stance angles were perfect. This was a surprisingly race- or chase-ready boot that went from box to foot to binding in a seamless and hassle-free progression toward confidently ripping down the hill.
The DRS 130 is as powerful and quick to respond as any boot our test team has encountered in the Frontside category, a bold statement considering the perennial entries in this group but it's a claim that was supported by its average Edge Power score of 4.92 (out of 5) and a Quickness score of 4.75. Testers cited a no-speed-limit stability level and a predictable turn entry, regardless of the ski or snow condition, though the DRS is certainly geared for firm, smooth pistes and intended to pair with a ski that's built to suit that application. The Frontside category is dominated by polyurethane construction in both shell and cuff and the DRS 130 is no different. Testers liked the simple, dual-side cuff adjustment and the down-hooking cam buckle power strap--and the fact that there was nothing goofy tacked-on that they had to mess with. The testers' wrap up: this is a good, technical skier's boot from top to bottom with virtually no flaws to speak of.
As a head's up for women and small-footed guys, the DRS 130 (and 140 and 110) are available down to a size 22.5.
Kudos
Caveats