With due respect to Dynafit for producing an otherwise excellent ski touring boot — The Hoji Pro power strap is lame. The end of the non-buckle side is a thick wad of plastic that’s difficult to insert into and remove from the buckle. You can cut the kludgy end off and taper-melt the webbing so it inserts easier, but the factory-length strap is already too short for an easy grab-and-pull, cutting the tip off makes it even shorter. My solution, demolish and replace.
The short OEM strap with the wad of plastic cut from the end, that made it worse in terms of length, though easier to insert and remove from the buckle.
For some reason the WildSnow modshop has a box of power straps.
Nearly every strap in my stash was too wide. Width needed is 20 millimeters to fit the Hoji Pro ski boot power strap buckle. I found a set of Raichle straps that were close enough. As with most power straps they were loaded up with hook-loop, which I removed by cutting the stitching. I found quite a few 20 millimeter webbing options on Amazon, some are probably too thick but I’m certain the correct material could be easily sourced as nylon webbing is not the 119th element.
Custom longer strap above, ready for installation.
I tapered and fused the new strap end, then tapped with a hammer on hard surface to make it perfectly flat. It easily inserts in the buckle. A slightly stiffer end could be better. This could be accomplished by impregnating the end with epoxy, I didn’t feel a desperate need for that, perhaps later.
I have a slow-speed rotary grinder for removing rivets, water spray prevents heat damage. With care you can use a Dremel tool for this.
Short strap removed.
Rather than a rivet, I used a T-nut to fasten my new strap. I dislike rivets, though one could be used here. Lighter for scale.
The T-nut required a slightly larger hole. Step bit is the correct tool for a clean circular hole, rather than a twist drill.
Mocking up for hole location.
I used a heated drill bit to melt the hole in the webbing, done carefully so as not to be too large.
Finished.
Unintended consequence: With the added length, I can leave the power strap buckled while inserting my foot in the boot. Fiddle-fooling eliminator!
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
