Expert Review: Dalbello Krypton AX 110 Ski Boots · 2022
Park City. All photos courtesy of Lauren Dobbins
About this review: This review is my honest opinion of the ski boots, which I purchased with my own money in July of 2020.
My take
The Dalbello Krypton AX 110 ski boots are a 3-piece (cabrio) design that allows the boot to be comfortable while performing in the toughest conditions. Please note that these boots are unisex, NOT women-specific. The difference between my model (2020) and the 2022 model is the last has increased from 98mm to 100mm.
Keystone
About the gear I own
- Model: 2020 Dalbello Krypton AX 110 with custom liner and footbed
- Size: 23.5
About me
- Height: 5’3.5”
- Weight: 130 lbs
- Street shoe size: 7
- Experience: 20+ years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: July 2020
- Days tested: 130+
- Skis: Nordica Santa Ana 93 and 98
- Bindings: Marker Squire 11
- Where I’ve used it: Colorado, Utah, and California.
- Terrain: Any inbound terrain at the resort (from green to double black).
How they perform
What I was looking for
I always loved cabrio-designed boots over the traditional 2-piece for their ease of taking on and off, as well as their progressive flex. Also, as someone with little ankles, I like having a buckle that goes across the joint to really lock them down. I had bought a pair of Dalbello Kyra’s the season before and found that I was floating in them; they had a wide last and were too big for my needs. However, I knew I wanted to stay in Dalbello boots, so I went to a small authorized dealer specializing in Dalbello and were true boot fitting specialists.
Why I chose this gear
Because of my skiing ability, I needed a stiffness that can be hard to find in women’s specific boots. I opted for a unisex boot as a result. Although this boot is a 110 flex, my boot fitter removed the stiffener inserts in the back to make the flex be at 100. These can always be reinserted. In addition, I replaced the liner that comes with the boot with a specialty liner that is sized at 24.5 (one size bigger than the boot to allow for a closer fit). The shell is a 23.5, but a shim was added to size them to a 23, which is the performance fit for my shoe size.
Monarch
What I love about them
- Accuracy of Claimed Stiffness: The stiffness is there as advertised! Although cabrio boots have more flex to them, I found these boots to perform as expected in difficult conditions.
- Comfort: Cabrio boots feel very comfortable in comparison to their 2-piece counterparts. They have a progressive flex, which prevents bottoming out and the dreaded shin-bang.
- Ease of use: Cabrio boots shine with how much easier they are to remove. I can pull the tongue of the boot very far forward to allow my foot to slip in and out easily.
- Resort: These boots dominate the resort. They relax with my foot when I'm on catwalks and then rebound with me on the hard stuff.
- Adjustability: The micro-adjusters on the buckles allow for a lot of customization on mountain. If the buckles don’t give enough mobility, they can be moved to different positions on the boot when back at home (with the proper tools).
Issues I’ve encountered
- Backcountry: These boots are not capable of touring due to having alpine soles.
- Walk mode: There is no walk mode. While I didn’t desire a walk mode, this feature may be desired by people who uphill.
- Grip: These boots don’t have GripWalk soles. I have a removable rubber sole for walking around the parking lot. Without these soles, I have fallen many times.
- Durability: While the shell holds up well (minus scuffing), the buckles are very easy to break. I have bent mine by hand when trying to tighten them.
- Other: The one downside to a cabrio boot is their responsiveness. If someone is very aggressive and/or heavier, a traditional 2-piece boot will provide better support.
A little scuffed, but looking good after 130+ uses!
Favorite moment with this gear
These boots made me become a better skier. I took a December day trip to Crested Butte after skiing on these boots for about a month. I was skiing down a mogul run and wasn’t used to driving the boots as hard as they needed. When I took a weird turn right into a mogul, these boots slingshot me backward, and I landed flat on my back! I laid there and said to myself, “Ok, I guess I need to really drive harder….” I’ve been pushing hard and skiing better ever since.
Value for the money vs. other options
Dalbello boots are priced to be on par with most major higher-end boot manufacturers (i.e., Lange). Disclaimer: I spent a lot of extra money to have these boots fit me perfectly. I had the shell molded, replaced the liners with custom cork liners, and added a custom footbed. While they retail for around $500, I paid over $1,000 for these customizations. Since I ski over 70 days a season, these upgrades were worth it. The stock boot will work appropriately for someone who skis less than that.
Final verdict
Dalbello Krypton AX 110 Boots are an excellent option for someone who needs a high-performing resort boot and wants a comfortable cabrio design. I’ve used these boots for 130+ days over two seasons, and they show no sign of slowing down. I highly recommend any boot in Dalbello’s lineup for anyone who wants a cabrio boot!
