I recently had an online boot-fitting session with Dahu, the remarkable Swiss ski boot that advertises with SeniorsSkiing.com.

Before sending a pair of loaners, the company asked for my street shoe size. I could have used their App to determine foot volume but didn’t go through that short step. As it turned out, the boots they sent were the correct size.

Why is this Swiss-designed ski boot remarkable? This is not the same-old prettified with a new buckle or a different color. Dahu was conceived and developed to be fitted more easily, minimize ski boot discomfort, and maximize skier performance.

Although I have not yet skied Dahu, I am convinced it is the ideal boot for older skiers.

Here’s why: The boot has a comfortable, insulated leather inner boot with a patented grooved rubber sole that interfaces strategically with grooves in the shell. This interlocking interface enhances the boot’s torsional stiffness, thus maximizing energy transfer from skier to ski. 

Worn separately from the shell, the inner boot delivers traction in all conditions. Good looking, too.

Dahu’s shell is made of Grilamid polyamide composite, a Swiss product combining lightness and durability and consistent flex at all temperatures.

The shell features a hinged tongue with two micro-adjustable buckles and a hinged, releasable rear, incorporating the patented aluminum Powerbeam spine. Similar to the inner boot that interfaces with the shell, the Powerbeam helps transfer body energy to the ski. It also contributes to each skier’s ideal stance. 

Like another Swiss product – Swiss cheese – the shell is filled with holes. This feature eliminates the vexing hotspots on most skiers’ feet. Those of you who’ve engaged skilled boot fitters to reshape conventional boots using hair dryers and other tools will know what I’m talking about. By analyzing the common hot spots on most skiers’ feet and removing those sections of shell, Dahu has overcome that issue – extremely important for skiers whose feet have changed with age.

I haven’t skied them yet, but my 40-minute Zoom fitting session assured me it will be a good on-hill experience.

Words don’t do this boot justice. I strongly recommend visiting Dahu’s website to get a more visual picture of the way this unique product works.

One additional thing:  Dahu named its shell, Corsair, after the aircraft carrier fighter planes. I’m sure it’s a lot easier to slip foot into liner and liner into shell than it is to land on an aircrat carrier. 

Students of Naval history will recall that corsairs also were pirate ships operating hundreds of years ago. Based on ease of fit, comfort and performance, I think Dahu’s Corsair shell and that super comfortable liner will be plundering attention and sales from the rest of the industry.

20 Comments

  1. Steve McQuide says:

    I do not understand how you can meaningfully review a ski boot without skiing in it,

    • Jon Weisberg says:

      Steve, My expressed intent with this article was to describe the boot and the fitting process. As stated, I have not yet skied Dahu, but based on everything I’ve learned about it, it will ski well. That said, I hope to give it a proper “review” once it is skied. Jon

    • I totally agree.

  2. Hi Jon,

    Another great boot for seniors is the Full Tilt Classic.
    I am 68 years old and had a total hip replacement 10 years ago this coming March 1st.
    When I got back on the slopes the next season, I had traded in my Lang Race boots for the Full Tilts and never looked back.
    The Full Tilts are easy to get on and off are warm without heaters or warmers and are like skiing in bed slippers.
    I purchased the boots from Richelson’s Feet First in Plymouth, NH.
    I had them do a full stance alignment with custom foot beds.
    It was well worth the investment.
    I enjoy reading your articles and hope you might high-lite the Full Tilt’s in a future article.
    Sincerely,
    Ken Breen

    • Jan Brunvand says:

      I, too, am a big fan of Full Tilt Boots. I have two pair, both rather old now, or shall we say “vintage.” I also found a pair of rear-entry Head boots at a local joint called The Ski Truck. I seldom have to walk far from the car to the lift, so walking in ski boots is not a problem. I wear bison wool socks that are soft, stretchy, and warm. Usually I put a toe warmer pad on too, though I don’t think I really need it. Warm, comfy, easy to get on and off, AND kind of cool looking boots.

  3. Mary-Jane Sackett says:

    I bought a “Boostster” which was detailed in a past edition and feel it really helps me get into my boots much more easily. Last season I was using the old “hair dryer in the boot trick” to warm/soften them, but that is out of the question in a locker room this year. Since I almost always use hand warmers, putting them in my boots before I leave home, also helps to soften up the boots.

  4. Stephen Peters says:

    Apex has been making boots like this for years and continues to refine their models. Having skied in Lang, Salomon, and Nordica for years, I switched to Apex about 5 years ago and would never go back. Warm feet, easy walking, and no loss of control.

  5. Yeah Full Tilt boots for me also. I remember when they were Raichle Flexon then purchased by K2 and continued as Full Tilt. A boot as always if you have the right shaped foot. The fit like old slippers. When I think back about it I have been skiing in them since the 80’s. Must be up to my 2nd pair now.

  6. Richard Kavey says:

    How can you ethically review a ski boot you haven’t skied in? Perhaps the price to you – free – was an incentive. As the saying goes, cheap is good, free is better! Cheap shot? Yes! Deservedly.

    • Jon Weisberg says:

      Richard, May I suggest re-reading the article before making a criticism about ethics. 1. The article is not a review of the boot. It is a description of the boot and the fitting process. It clearly states that I have not skied the Dahu. 2. The article also makes clear that the boots are on loan, not a freebie as your comment inaccurately suggests. Think twice and read more carefully before tossing such cheap and unwarranted accusations. Jon

  7. Several years ago I discovered the best boot ever, the Black Diamond “Method”. Unfortunately, BD has quit making these boots. What I loved about them was a super flexible walking mode. Most other ski boots that advertise having a walking mode are just gimmicks that allow only about 2 degrees of extra freedom and only in the BACKWARD directions. These gimmicky “walking modes” offer zero flexibility in the forward direction. Meanwhile, REAL walking modes offers 40, 50 or even 60 degrees of FORWARD flexibility, making walking really easy. It’s a pity that this real kind of walking mode seems to be available only in alpine touring boots. It’s a real shame that most ski boot manufacturers offer only the gimmicky kind that does almost nothing for walking comfort. I will never again buy a boot without a real walking mode. But they are hard to find. I couldn’t find a REAL walking mode in any of the ski shops in the Portland, Oregon area. Only the gimmicky kind is available everywhere. Even when I described what I was looking for, nobody seemed to understand. It’s like they didn’t even know that there are really flexible boots available. That’s how rare these boots are. Please note that this extraordinary forward flexibility exiwts only in the real walking mode, but when you switch the boot to the ski mode, they become as stiff as any regular ski boot. So, you don’t lose any performance; you just gain more comfort in the walking mode to and from the parking lot and inside the day lodge.

  8. Bob Margulis says:

    I recently acquired a CARV (https://getcarv.com/) and putting it between the liner and the boot would interfere with the grooves (and the grooves, with the CARV). I absolutely love my CARV, which allows me to continue to refine my technique, and wouldn’t choose a boot that precludes my continued use of CARV.

  9. Thomas E Seybold says:

    I have been skiing the apex frame boots for the last three seasons, very happy with them. i’m 79 and have wore a few different brands, these are by far the most comfortable.

  10. Frank Scharo says:

    Great article. Like others I too kept my Salomon ’91’s well beyond life support replacing them a few years ago with Full Tilts, which are a great boot. I Just noticed that Nordica released a brand new rear entry boot, I can’t wait to see what these look like in the flesh. I sure hope they are better then last years attempt by Atomic, boy what a disappointment that was! To me the rear entry Atomics looked like a rebadged Alpina, I’m sure a great boot for some, but for me just nowhere near what the old Salomons were.

  11. Ski bum parz says:

    For those of you who have trouble slipping into your food so I recommended the dry guy. There are two basic types there are the simple once you slip into your boots or you have the larger style that you put your boots on too. They both work well the individual ones are only about $30. You use them to dry out your boots for a few hours after your ski day and then in the morning you plug them in an hour before you leave. Your boots will be as easy to put on as a slipper.

  12. Ski bum parz says:

    Sorry I forgot to edit that but maybe it’s because I’m excited to get on the mountain up here in Lake Tahoe.

  13. You don’t mention the model number of the boot for which you were fit.

    The Dahu web site is a confusing mess. Several models are shown with no explanation of the model’s characteristics.

    Perhaps you could help us all out as part of you promotion.

  14. Wyatt Johnson says:

    After reviewing the Dahu boot via Peter Glenn in Atlanta Georgia I clearly noted the boots listed were for “EXPERT” skiers. As an advanced 74-year-old skier, I’ve yet to meet an “EXPERT” senior skier.

  15. Harry Berg says:

    I’ve been skiing Apex since 2009, I looked at the Dahu boot and it seem harder to get the walking boot into the shell. I’ll keep my Apex

  16. We have been using our new Dahu boots and are finding it extremely difficult to slip the inner boots into and out of the exoskeletons. Is there any way to make that easier? As it stands, the boots are more difficult than regular ski boots and not worth the higher cost.

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