Dalbello Veloce Space 95 W

Testers said that the "space" in question, when it came to the Dalbello Veloce Space 95 W, was the space made available to the toes and forefoot in the lower shell of this new BOA-laced, all-mountain, do-it-all model. They also said the lack-of-space found in the heel and ankle pockets paired nicely with the luxury forward cabin as the performance engine of this surprisingly capable 95-flex.

First, the tester takeaway on the flex feel was that it felt more stout than advertised at 95 and they said that the lower shell's medium-width fit map and BOA-powered snug wrap helped to control the skis with quick, responsive and intuitive moves no matter what snow or terrain they pointed them at. Lots of room to wiggle toes and spread out the forefoot put testers in tune with the boot floor, ski and snow surface, and the locked in feel at the rearfoot drove the power home with clean turn finishes.

There were some reports that the cuff didn't share the same anatomically pleasing shape as the lower boot, with several testers mentioning that the boot top was overly constrictive and some said the medial calf area became bothersome while skiing. Most testers were pleased enough with how the Veloce Space 95 W skied and fit around the foot that they gave the cuff a pass, but most suggested that a good liner cook would be the place to start if calf concerns cropped up.

Similarly split was the group think on ease-of-entry, with half of testers saying it was standard for the category or even easier, while others thought that the lower BOA impeded some amount of shell overlap spread and hindered entry a bit. Even then, it was a minor issue for those testers who considered it an acceptable toll in exchange for the performance and lower boot fit they garnered at what they felt was a fair price.

The Veloce Space 95 W was tested in the All-Mountain Access category because of its on-board walk mode feature. Testers liked the convenience that offered for standing in line or trekking from parking lot to lift but they mentioned the cuff's functional range of motion when released was a bit limited.