Dalbello Quantum Free Asolo Factory 130 Boot

I’m really, really enjoying these boots. I’ve paired them with Voile V6s and Majesty Superscout Carbons. I’m using a 26.5 and for reference spent many years in a 26.5 TLT6P (usually descending with the black tongue), 25.5 Salomon MTNs (the blue, stiff, kinda heavy ones), and 25.5 Dalbello Kryptons for inbounds. I don’t usually have fit issues with boots besides kinda low-volume feet; these are on the shorter side for their size, but I’m not having any problems. They’re a hair heavier than the TLT6s, but they go uphill the same or better. Stiffness downhill is similar overall to the Dynafits with tongues in place but feels way more progressive. And I love not carrying around and messing with the removable tongues. These are a lot better than the MTNs uphill in weight and ROM, but they’re noticeably softer on the descent (FWIW the MTNs ski so well I’d happily use them inbounds). So far I’ve used them to tour on and around Bachelor, Hood, and Shasta. Seen some nice pow and all the good and bad and variable PNW spring conditions, and they’ve been great! They hit a nice sweet spot for me between uphill and downhill. I’m 5’8” and around 150. Skiing for 35 years. I don’t jump off anything substantial, but I like to move quickly. Highly recommend!

Why is the shell of this boot so much larger than the liner? I am curious if this is a design flaw OR intentional for its intended purpose. I have never experienced such a size discrepancy in alpine boots. I am trying to decide between 28.5 and 29.5.

The liner in the 28.5 is painfully small but the shell is seemingly roomy. For example, I can get the liner to slide forward and back if I stand up and lean back.
I know the liner is somewhat heat moldable, but cannot fathom it will even increase in length??

Turning to the 29.5, the liner feels much better, but the shell is even larger. All my local boot fitters are unfamiliar with touring boots and arn't much help. Thanks in advance for any help!

Do you think these boots pair well with Volkl Blaze 106 179cm? Are they burly enough?

Currently, I use Fischer Ranger 120 with Blaze, but I am looking to reduce weights to optimize uphill performance.

Do these have a forward lean adjustment? If so, how? I have seen conflicting reports.

Cheers!

Hi there! Do you think the Dalbello Quantum would have enough power to drive the Navis Freebird (102mm)?

I love these boots. I am a former racer turned desk worker, lucky enough to get 40+ days touring on these bad boys last season. Most days were 2-3 quick morning laps, but I also had a few day on Mt. Washington (in crampons), and even did a skimo race. These boots rocked all of it and are still in surprisingly great shape for such a lightweight setup.

They fit right out of the box after thermo-molding the liners right in my kitchen. I went with a 28.5, and that was perfect. I am an 11.5 in regular shoes and wore 27.5 race boots. My prior touring boots were Dynafit Vulcanscans in a 27.5, which felt about the same as this 28.5. They are short for a 28.5 shell, but the heel sits in nicely, and the toe box had just enough room.

Going uphill, the double-pivot works incredibly well; you can pretty much run on your skis. They also have really good articulation when using crampons and scrambling around on rocks. I am looking forward to more ski-mountaineering in these boots. Compared to the Vulcans (which I loved), these things are on a completely different level going uphill.

In ski mode, I was pleasantly surprised. They are definitely a lightweight touring boots, and I only really skied them on lightweight touring skis (184cm 81 underfoot). With a setup like that, you have to keep your weight more centered and aren't going to be smashing the front of the boot. I tried them once on a pair of heavier skis (190cm 100 underfoot), and they didn't really have enough power to drive the ski. That said, the lateral stiffness is quite good, and when matched correctly to the ski, they ski great. The first day I tried them out was at a resort, and I was able to lay them over and rip off some arcs on the corduroy. After getting the feel, I felt confident on pretty much anything, including some questionable late-season conditions (pictured).

TLDR; Durable, lightweight touring boot with good lateral stiffness that excels on the uphill and is more than capable going back down. Perfect for both morning laps and ski mountaineering.

What's the difference between these and the 'Quantum Evo' boots, other than the Evo's only having one cuff buckle?
Which would be a stronger skiing boot?

I took a gamble and bought these boots online without trying on, in size 26.5 - I'm pretty much exactly 26.5 on Brannock device, and it's my usual size for Dalbello Lupo/Krypton cabrio boots. Well, sometimes people on the internet are right - these Quantums do run small. With a shell fit of about 15mm (maybe a couple mms more once the foot is lifted by the footbed) it could have been a nice performance fit - except the liners are too small, and I don't believe molding will help enough. And the tongue, probably stiffened over the instep area to compensate for the absence of the shell there, produces very unpleasnt pressure in navicular (?) zone, even though my instep is average/low - I had the same issue with stock MTN Lab liners too.

Still, I decided to keep the boots and try making them work. I thought about Intuition Pro Tour, probably LV in my situation? But I tried shoving in the liners from my Lupo FCR Carbon 130, which are essentially a Dalbello's version of Pro Tour MV (still unmolded, as I replaced them with Dalbello's version of Tour Wrap's straight away), and the cuff area feels too bulky. Walkability also takes a serious hit in comparison to stock Quantum liners.

Now you guys have these Palau liners - Tour Lite Pro / Tour Lite Pro Evo / Power LT - specifically mentioning the thinner cuff, which is good. Which one should I get though? I don't really care about extra stiffness if it compromises the walkability. For skiing performance I've got trusty Lupo FCR Carbon 130 with wrap liners. What I want from these boots is their light weight and exceptional walkability. As long as the replacement liners don't ski worse than the stock ones, I should be be happy.

So what do you think? Which of those Palau models would fit the Quantum shell better? Which one seems to be a better volume for the fit I've got? Which one is the closest match for a stock one in terms of walkability? I would much appreciate your opinion!

Which is better in downhill between this one and la sportiva skorpius cr in your opinion? Thanks!!

My toes are wide and the dynafit 103mm wide boots feel comfortable.
Can I punch these boots?

I have Solomon MTN Lab's from their first year and these look strikingly similar and I've skied Dalbello alpine boots for 15 years so naturally my curiosity is tickled. These are def lighter and prob have better ROM, which is dam near reason enough to upgrade, but how might they differ on the down?

Is the Quantum Free 130 compatible with a ski of 96 mm and 1.6 kg, or it is not stiff enough for such wide/heavy skis? In comparison, you seem to have a preference for the Sportiva Skorpius in terms of stiffness. To how much would you rate the performance difference between the two boots for a woman of less than 60 kg? Thank you.

I received these but will be returning them unfortunately, due to poor personal fit, so I have not skied them but thought I could share some notes to help other buyers. (Shipping and customer service have been outstanding at Skimo btw) The size 30.5 weights 1550g on my scale. (My 29.5 MTN S/Lab weights 1820g) Its a beautiful boot with elegant and robust design in the shell, buckles, materials, walk lever etc. Fantastic mid-weight liner. The walk mode is unbelievable - it offers virtually zero friction and as much range as my ankle can support (forward and backward) even with the cuff fully tight! Based on the many boots I've tried on recently, I would describe the cuff volume as medium, ankle space medium, heel pocket on the snug side, low'ish instep height, and medium length for the size. Contrary to other reviews, I find the 30.5 to be true to size - compared to Dynafit and Salomon. It is however, incredibly narrow through the midfoot and forefoot. Def not "medium" imo. And the toebox is the single most tapered shape of any I've seen (and I've looked at many!). The medial side (big toe) tapers almost as far back as the lateral side and curves dramatically to the center point. The toebox is actually shaped like a spearhead, pointed at the exact center. This would be ideal if your 3rd toe is the longest on your foot and your big toe is relatively small.... but I have never seen a human foot like that. Very interesting choice on Dalbello's part. Anyway, maybe good for a very narrow US size 13 foot. I'm a US size 12.5 and can quite easily do both buckles up at the max setting. The lower buckle feels particularly nice in how it distributes pressure from the top, as opposed to squeezing the width of the shell. Flex testing in the kitchen: the forward flex is easy at first but ramps up with travel. Aka "progressive". Feels like very nice suspension. Overall, substantially less forward support compared to my 2019 Salomon MTN S/lab, but not concerningly so to me personally. Can't comment on rear or lateral stiffness. Hope that helps someone (like me). Good luck!

How would you describe the toebox shape of the Quantum Free 130? I often struggle with excessive tapering on the big-toe side.

I am still torn over this boot and the Transalp Pro vs the La Sportiva Skorpius. I tried the Dynafit Radical Pro and it was too wide and high in the instep so that’s out of the equation and gives a perspective on my foot.

I want to find a more touring oriented boot to complement my excellent freeride oriented Zero G Pro Tours for big distance traverses, big vert days and more ski mountaineering oriented outings, but I want to retain as much power as possible in the boot.

I’m 6’3” and 190lbs. Given slim calves and a relatively low volume foot, ankle and instep, with average fore foot which would be the better choice for me? They seem more similar than different.

Hello!
With which boots from Scarpa line (or other) the, could be compared in downhill fell? More like F1 or Maestrale/Maestrale RS?

I was looking at three boots in this range for bigger vert, longer range days, the Dynafit Radical Pro,Fischer Transalp Pro and the Dalbello Quantum Free Osolo. I tried the Dynafit Radical Pro yesterday and it had too much volume over the instep and in the forefoot. How would these compare to those and the Transalp Pro? I presently am in the Technical Zero G Pro and have achieved a good fit with some fore foot punching for width.

How would you guys compare this to the F1 LT on the downhill and fit? Thanks!

What is the last width?
Thx

Talk to me about the fit. How do they compare with my tried-and-true TLT5?

TLT5 (perhaps along with the Salomon X-Alp) is the one boot that is both narrow and long enough for me at the same time.