First Look: Dalbello Quantum Ski Touring Boot

The last time Dalbello had a true ski mountaineering boot, the Sherpa, was 2011, almost a decade ago. Since then Dalbello has tipped their hat to the backcountry realm by including a walk mode on a few of their awesome alpine boot models. With the Panterra and the Lupo TI models they even included tech fittings for compatibility with true backcountry bindings. However, these weren’t contenders for serious backcountry tours due to excessive weight and a limited range of motion for walk mode.

At the latest Outdoor Retailer/SIA Snow Show, held at the Denver Convention Center, Dalbello showed off their return to the ski mountaineering realm with a backcountry boot called the Quantum. It will come in three versions, with the lightest, the Quantum Asolo Factory, a carbon-infused version weighing just over 2 lbs per boot (2 lbs., 1.5 oz / 950 grams). Besides being ultra lightweight each boot features a huge cuff range of motion thanks to what Dalbella refers to as a dual-link cuff.

Cuff Range of Motion

The best way to describe it might be a split-cuff, or a clam-shell style cuff, with a front and back half that pivot on separate axes. This allows a HUGE range of motion. The front half of the cuff lays down so low there is absolutely zero resistance from the cuff to forward leg movement in tour mode. Range of motion to the rear is almost as large. The net effect is a touring mobility where the only resistance to movement is the flex resistance of the liner which, as I found out at the recent WWSRA demo day at Winter Park, isn’t much.

What? No Buckles?

Notably absent from the Quantum are any toothed buckles; there aren’t any. Instead the boot is secured around the lower foot with Dalbello’s version of a BOA lacing system called the Quick Lacing System. Like BOA it sports a lace system using Dyneema cord that is tightened by a racheted wheel. Unlike the BOA system, you can loosen the tension on the laces just by turning the dial backwards, allowing you to fine tune compression on your lower foot.

The cuff is tightened around the lower leg via the tension on a Dyneema cord that is secured on the front half of the cuff by a clamp. The cord runs from the touring mode lever on the back, through some eyelets on the side to the front where the overall length is clamped with a cleat. It is simple, and effective. In downhill mode it exhibited a similar level of control as a Scarpa F1 LT.

Two-Piece Bonded Scafa

Something Dalbello is touting is the construction of the lower shell. It is built as two pieces, a left and right half, that have a tongue-and groove interface which is bonded using infra-red light and some chemical wizardry. They developed this method of construction to allow for greater sculpting of the shape of the scafa. Ordinarily the degree of sculpting they wanted can’t be done because it prevents the shell from being popped off the mold. With the option to “weld” two halves together those shaping limits could be overcome. The benefit is that there is more allowance provided for bony ankles without post production punching of the shell, hence more comfort for more people out of the box. However, I found that the lower shell was harder to get in to than a typical overlap shell. It also begs the question of whether the tech inserts in the toe can maintain dimensional tolerances to work reliably with all tech bindings on the market. In my limited test run it was not an issue.

Conclusion

There are a fair number of new concepts in this boot that might arouse the average consumers skepticism. On the other hand, the Quantum is aimed at the section of the backcountry market that is more likely to give new technology a try. Boots like the Alien already pioneered using Dyneema^® cord to hold the cuff together, and BOA proved the durability of a wind up lace system. The main difference between each version is the plastic used. All use a polyamide plastic, but the Quantum Asolo Factory has carbon in the lower shell and cuff. The Asolo has carbon in the cuff only, and the basic Quantum uses no carbon in the plastic, lowering the price and the flex stiffness. If the two-piece bonded scafa proves durable Dalbello should have a winner here.

Dalbello
Quantum Asolo Factory
MSRP: $750
Weight: 2 lbs, 1.5 oz (950 g)
Size range: 22.5 – 30.5

Quantum Asolo
MSRP: $700
Weight: 2 lbs, 5 oz (1050 g)
Size range: 22.5 – 30.5

Quantum
MSRP: $650
Weight: 2 lbs, 8.5 oz (1150 g)
Size range: 22.5 – 30.5