PRODUCT SUMMARY
By powderjunky

THE GOOD
The Dalbello Virus is very light weight, very flexible on the uphill and alpine stiff on the downhills. Although Glen Plake is the one in the video, I used these on a 4000 ft day and was completely stoked on them.

The three buckles give you more stiffness than most four buckle touring boots. They have a great Vibram sole for scrambling.

The Virus has a lot of unique things going on, one the tongue has a hinge on it for even better touring mode, and the buckles are unique in the fact that they don't fall off when not locked down. The sole doesn't have hard plastic under the arch to help with flex and this feature does not impede the downhill performance.

They are cheaper and better than most AT Boots out there. Watch the video above.

This boot also comes in a "Lite" version, which weighs only 3 lbs 8 oz per boot.

THE BAD
Not much to say here... Since there are some unique things going on with the Virus boot, it might take you a second glance to figure out what is going on. Some might not like the fact that you can't replace or swap out the heel and toe pieces, but that doesn't bother me.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Dalbello Virus AT Boot is the best touring boot out there.

I recently bought some Black Diamond Factors and was blown away by how stiff they skied and how great the tour mode is. However, The Virus is just as stiff, maybe a little stiffer, on the downhill, and the tour mode blows the Factors out of the water.

While the Factors give you good forward flex on the uphill, it offers no backward flex. The Virus on the other hand flexes both ways and with the hinged tongue makes this the best touring boot on the market. Also the Virus is significantly lighter than the Factors.

Even though Glen Plake is the one in the video talking about the boot, I tested it on a 4000 foot day in crappy, breakable conditions and it skied amazing. If you like the way Scarpa's or Black Diamond boots fit, you will love these. I would trade my Factors in a second for a pair of these.

OUR ADVICE


AVG USER ADVICE

powderjunky wrote on 12/11/09 at 10:38:10 am pst:

FYI- This boot will be available in retail stores in the next two weeks.

Their Advice

Tony wrote on 12/11/09 at 7:12:04 pm pst:

Hey thanks for the review. Can't wait to try them.

Any idea how they compare to the scarpas for sizing? Did you use the same size virus as you would a scarpa boot?

Their Advice

Colin in CA wrote on 12/11/09 at 10:53:00 pm pst:

I tried on one of the local rep's demo boots about a month ago. Despite the fact that they were a size too small for me, they felt sweet. I could tell even without skiing it that the touring mode was ridiculous. I'm sure they'll sell out of these.

Too bad I already have Factors too.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 12/12/09 at 10:02:35 am pst:

Tony,
Let me find out what size they were.

Their Advice

Swiss Miss wrote on 12/13/09 at 7:23:36 pm pst:

I almost bought a pair of Garmont Lusters (w's radiums) but then I saw these... I will definitely have to try them on, if the fit, I'm definitely in! Does anyone know if the Virus Light goes down to a size 23.5 or 24?

Their Advice

SkiWaheenie wrote on 12/13/09 at 11:01:20 pm pst:

Hi Swiss Miss,

Glen's wife wears a size 5, so they are doing everything they can to make sure the boot comes in small sizes! I'm not sure how low it will go this year, but hopefully next year for sure.

Their Advice

pjc wrote on 12/21/09 at 07:20:24 am pst:

Just tried on in a store, ski mode stiffness is amazing when compared to touring mode flex. Only question I have is will these work in marker baron bindings?

Their Advice

Swiss Miss wrote on 12/23/09 at 8:04:45 pm pst:

Just ordered mine on Monday! Can't wait to ski them. They come in a 24.5 this year, and will go down to a 24 next year (different shell sizes, according to the Dalbello rep I spoke to).

Their Advice

Swiss Miss wrote on 12/30/09 at 7:21:58 pm pst:

Took them on their virgin tour today. Amazing! This whole time I thought it was my skis that I didn't like, or AT gear in general. I can actually make my skis go where I want them to now! I'm so excited, they're going for another run on the pass tomorrow. Ski to walk mode is a breeze and so much more comfortable. Wow.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 12/30/09 at 7:51:27 pm pst:

Nice!!!

Their Advice

Richard wrote on 01/04/10 at 10:56:09 am pst:

Junky; which flex do you think the Virus Tour performs? Thanks for the review.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 01/04/10 at 2:14:47 pm pst:

Richard,
I am not sure what number to give it, but because of the double hinged tongue, it is super flexible on the way up and then probably a 120ish on the way down if you throw the stiff tongue in there. I kind of think the number ratings aren't too accurate as my factors claim to be the same as my alpine boots, but my alpine boots are way stiffer.

Their Advice

Peter wrote on 02/28/10 at 9:59:27 pm pst:

Speechless! Plake there ya go again. Takes a ski bum to figure out how to put together boots for ski bums.

Their Advice

Anton wrote on 05/10/10 at 09:01:04 am pst:

I read a lot of review for these boots. They are all false. Virus boots are in my opinion the worst alpin boots. They are good for starters but not for whom go to mountains a lot.
Pay attention to internet reviews, they are plenty of fake users especially in europe.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 05/10/10 at 12:59:29 am pst:

Thanks Anton, I disagree with you, but it is good to hear both sides. Can you list specific reasons why you do not like these boots? Any insight would be much appreciated to help make this review as helpful as possible.
thanks!

Their Advice

Anton wrote on 05/11/10 at 12:50:31 am pst:

The big tongue on the front is too stiff in uphill and too gummy in downhill. On the insole a lot of snow always has been accumulated because it has a strange and useless draw. They work not verty well with fixed bindings (they could hurt my knees) so I cannot use them when I ski with my family on slopes.
Globally they are a nice (to see) boots but dynafit, scarpa and also Garmont boots are in my opinion in other level when you want to do ski touring.
Bye.

Their Advice

Bill Burns wrote on 06/09/10 at 08:51:39 am pst:

Mohawk not included.

Their Advice

Jethro wrote on 08/19/10 at 3:07:42 pm pst:

The best touring boot in 21 year of backcountry skiing. Good touring mode, good narrow profile.
When in ski mode has a lovely stance and stellar rigidity in back of the boot.
If you ski Raichle Flexon/Full tilt on the field this is the boot for off the field.
Small volume fit.
Only gripe- the buckles can fall of the wire bail.

Their Advice

Columbus wrote on 09/09/10 at 10:52:02 am pst:

Anybody knows if they will fit with Marker Duke/Baron bindings?

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 09/09/10 at 1:24:19 pm pst:

Definitely Columbus, they will fit all standard touring bindings

Their Advice

Gidget wrote on 10/29/10 at 01:00:44 am pst:

They look like great boots. I would like to try them but I have the problem of having super small feet (35 euro) which is about 3 1/2 or a size 22 boot. Would you ever custome make a pair?

Their Advice

Virus Lite Review wrote on 02/16/11 at 11:01:06 am pst:

Here's a link to our review of the Virus Lite: http://www.skiingthebackcountry.com/ski-articles/dalbello-virus-lite-boot-review

These are without a doubt some of the best AT boots on the market right now.

Their Advice