For decades freeskiers have relied upon Dalbello’s cabrio style boots for charging big mountains, airs, and navigating the terrain features that the modern North American freeskier aspires for. The various options for low and medium-volume widths, combined with a progressive flex from the three-piece design allows the boot to respond with a suspension feel in mixed snow. For 2023-2024 Marker/Dalbello/Volkl reinvigorates this line of boots, calling it the Cabrio Series—bringing new life into this already trusted line of ski boots.
The new Cabrio series feature redesigned shell lasts, liners, and a new Dynalock Instep Buckle that optimizes heel hold and power. “The Dynalock buckle has been adjusted for a better ergonomic positioning, a more efficient closure, and buckles down over the hinge point (around the instep)–so you have the smoothest flex and better power transmission,” says Geoff Curtis, VP of Marketing/Dalbello/Volkl. The Cabrio LV 130 takes this design and morphs it into what was the Krypton—a 99mm lasted freeride boot without a walk mode that is constructed with a new Pbax Rnew tongue, and Grip Walk soles compatibility soles. It’s the daily driver resort freeride boot that has no compromises.
The new Cabrio LV Free 130 mirrors the LV 130, however features a new re-designed walk mechanism and adjustable forward lean, along with an updated liner and bi-injected tongue. “The big new thing on the Free is the tongue is bi-injected, meaning it has a softer material injected in the lower part tongues. This gives a little more flex when climbing,” explains Curtis. Additionally, Dalbello updated the ultralon moldable liner with a PU reinforced section near the top—which provides more boot leverage and turn initiation without making the boot too stiff. Dalbello is also offering a Cabrio LV 105 W which carries all the new features in a slightly softer flex.
Accompanying the new boots are Volkl’s new Revolt 114 and 96. The Revolt line of skis are their athlete inspired models which spotlight a new artist every season to design the unique topsheets. Designed as a park ski and building upon the Revolt 95, the Revolt 96 has been tweaked to ride across the mountain, the 3D radius shape and new flex pattern provides a lot of pop and energy for airs and transfers. It complements the new Revolt 114, which has a wide shovel for easy planeing in deep powder and was a collaborative process with their top tier athletes—Markus Eder, Stian Hagen, Ian McIntosh, Kye Petersen, among others, and is designed to charge in all soft snow conditions.
Lastly, Marker/Dalbello/Volkl complete their freeride system with a slew of new binding options which in turn make it easier and intuitive for skiers to choose which product best matches their needs. Keeping that specificity in mind, Marker has updated the Duke PT binding line (their hybrid alpine touring binding), allowing three options in terms of weight and DIN releasability.
The Duke PT 16 keeps the heavy-duty heel piece, and is joined with a Duke PT 13 which has the Griffon heel, and a Duke PT 11 which utilizes the Squire heel piece. Furthermore, Marker added a new pin-tech binding, called the Cruise. Offered in a 12 and 10 release value, the Cruise is perfect for the skier looking to buy their first tech binding. “It’s easier to step into and overall is very simple and easy to use in terms of step in and climbing modes,” notes Curtis. The binding requires 30 percent less force to step into than their Alpinist model, and has independent adjustment of the vertical and horizontal release values. It’s ideally suited for touring soft snow all winter long, and for logging morning laps at your ski area for exercise.
Through small updates and refinement, Marker/Dalbello/Volkl are building upon the successes many of their freeride and backcountry products have had, and notching things up. Their 2023/24 line addresses the gamut of backcountry and freeride oriented skiers so their kit matches what they’re looking to get out of any day in the mountains no matter if that is via a chairlift or a trailhead.
