Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour vs Vulcan — Ski Boots Comparison

The objects at hand. Vulcan to right, spankin’ new Hoji to left. It is common knowledge that the Hoji designer’s point of departure was the Vulcan. So, it is asked, what’s different?

Demonstration boot white plastic does good job of showing the Hoji Lock cuff stop slots. This is an evolution of the Vulcan cuff stops.

I’ve never been certain as to how the industry measures cuff angles. Who really cares? To keep it clear, I measure with an angle gauge using the interior boot board as base line, and average out the heel cup and spoiler. In many years of experience, this method gives a “real world” idea of how one boot will feel in comparison to another.

Interior cuff angles plotted, right ray is Vulcan at 7.5, left is Hoji at 9. Vulcan has slightly adjustable forward cuff lean, for this measurement it was set to relaxed angle, if set to steeper angle it would end about a degree steeper than Hoji. Such variations are easily tuned by adding or subtracting material behind your calf at the rear of the liner cuff, or just molding the liner more aggressively.

Cuff height is similar, virtually the same at sides.

Hoji cuff taller at rear, to the extent you might notice it, but not a critical difference in my view.

Controversial Speed Nose of the Hoji. We give this a 50/50 chance of making it as a success in sales, most important effect is the tech fitting is located about 3 millimeters farther to the rear than most other ski touring boots. This causes a slightly better more ergonomic touring stride, due to the binding-boot pivot being located closer to the ball of your foot. How much difference does this make in real life? I’ve always like the effect. How much faster it got me up the hill is probably insignificant. As we’ve been covering in other posts and the comments, the Speed Nose has issues with binding compatibility.

Soles are virtually the same thickness, tech fittings at heel at same height.

Vulcan (R) has a bit more rocker at the toe, with tech fittings a 1.5 mm higher. This might result in the Vulcan having a bit more forward delta (heel higher than toe), but the amount of that effect depends on the actual interior sole shape and thickness at the ball of your foot, as well as use of insoles. At these small amounts, easy to tune with basic boot fitting techniques.

Moving on to what’s important (ha). Ski touring boot last width. Comparing width measured at exterior, Vulcan shell appears to be about 3 mm narrower at the metatarsal.

A better way of comparing last width is to measure the “ghost molded” stock liner width. Vulcan pictured here showed what I measured as fully 4 mm narrower than the Hoji liner. My research indicates the Vulcan last width is “103 mm” while the Hoji is “103.5,” I’d disagree with that, the Hoji clearly provides significantly more space at the ball of the foot. You can see it, and you can feel it if you do a shell fit. Now, for those of you who like tight boots, can the Hoji liner fill up this space adequately? In my opinion, probably. But that depends on the density of the liner foam — or the skills of your boot fitter. Main point for us here at WildSnow, Hoji is clearly a warmer boot.

Both boots are not exactly pleasant to put on and take off. But once you’re buckled in, it appears the Hoji lock can indeed provide the relaxing “pants down always” one-motion locking feature. Easy to carpet test for yourself. Note that Vulcan requires its removable tongue to achieve uber stiffness, an added hassle that is never appreciated, thankfully not something you need with the Hoji.

Some of you who actually ski tour (smile) might inquire of rearward cuff mobility. In my opinion, the Hoji is below average in that regard, for a ski touring boot. Hoji in front of photo, above, with Vulcan behind, both flexing rearward. They’re specified as 55 and 60 degrees “rotation,” respectively. While again who knows exactly how some guy in Montebelluna actually measures “rotation,” I’d just call it as the Vulcan having full movement range in touring mode, while the Hoji is limited in comparison, though still functional and better than certain competitors in the same “beef boot” space.