Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour Ski Boot – Freeride – Allride

by Gary Smith
written by Gary Smith
  (This post sponsored by our publishing partner Cripple Creek Backcountry)
The Hoji Pro Tour tested where it belongs -- below the powder. Silver Couloir, CO

The Hoji Pro Tour tested where it belongs — below the powder. Silver Couloir, CO

Last March was the perfect time to acquire a pair of limited edition tester Hoji Pro Tour boots, and begin dialing them for spring. Colorado was finally getting frozen precipitation, while avalanche danger was reducing at about the same rate as my workload.

I had been following Hoji’s ski touring boot tinkering for years, and had gotten first hand info on his and Fritz Barthel’s “Little Machine” project over a hut brew, in the fabled dining hall of Argentina’s Refugio Frey a couple of summers ago. In Hjorleifson’s observations, the limitations to skiing performance in touring boots come from the lock system between cuff and shell. The various systems all rely on a static catch that allows for play as well as uneven distribution of power from the cuff to the shell. Enter the Hoji Lock. I’ll defer here to Lou’s excellent description of the Hoji Lock system as Lou was privy to the development of this boot since near its conceptual genesis.

Hoji. True skiing performance in a touring boot, coming from an incredible skier with a knack for gear adaptation, and aided by ski touring’s most revolutionary gear developer? The backstory is as great as the boot.

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Scott Cosmos 3 Ski Touring Boot — Used and Modded

by Louis Dawson
written by Louis Dawson

Shop for Scott Cosmos

First step in fitting nearly any ski boot, I start with a 27.5 that's usually a half size too short.

First step in fitting nearly any ski touring boot for myself, I begin with a 27.5 that’s usually a half size too short, and do a big toe punch along with opening up the liner toe. You can see the obvious bump of the toe punch. I also grind down the toe duckbill as much as possible, for slightly easier walk/hike action — that’s visible in the photo as well. If I end up loving the boot, I attempt to acquire a size 28 liner, but the modified liner is okay. Also visible in the photo: I swapped removable fasteners for the tongue anchor rivets, so I can remove the tongue while doing shell mods.

Due to ankle issues, I currently prefer a beefy boot as my daily backcountry skiing driver, uphill and down. (I’ll switch back to one-kilo class boots eventually, but for now…). The venerable Garmont last fits me the the best, so when the latest version of Scott Cosmos–numero tres–plopped themselves down on our front porch, I embarked on a fitting and mod project. I capped the shop work with field testing late this past winter, enhanced by my stumbling around the Colorado mountains this past spring.

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Fischer Ranger Free 130 Ski Touring Boot – First Look

by Louie Dawson
written by Louie Dawson

(Post sponsored by Cripple Creek Backcountry.)

We got the Fischer beef boots, field testing to commence when winter (hopefully) arrives shortly here in the PNW. For now, quick look.

Black, yellow, and stiff. The Fischer Ranger Free 130

Black, yellow, and stiff. The Fischer Ranger Free 130 ski boot.

Cuff height comparison. Range Free 130on the left, Atomic Hawx Ultra Xtd 130 in the middle, and Maestrale RS on the right. All boots 27.5. The Ranger is similar height to the Atomic, and a bit higher than the Scarpa.

Cuff height comparison. Range Free 130on the left, Atomic Hawx Ultra Xtd 130 in the middle, and Maestrale RS on the right. All boots 27.5. The Ranger is similar height to the Atomic, and slightly taller than the Scarpa.

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Comparo — Tecnica Zero G 17-18 and 18-19

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Randy Young

Tecnica Zero G, version 1 to left, 2 to right.

Tecnica Zero G, version 1 to left, 2 to right. Oddly enough, the new version appears narrower in the toe box but is virtually the same in terms of fit, perhaps the plastic is thinner or something.

The name and color are the same. That is all. Tecnica is releasing a new Zero G Guide “Tour” Pro for the 18-19 season and about the only thing it has in common with last year’s boot is its appellation. The 18-19 version is lighter, with a better range of touring cuff motion, stiffer plastic and a familiar but slightly different take on the ski/walk mechanism. Check WildSnow previous coverage here. Below is a field testing review with tech details where I felt appropriate.

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The Most Comfortable Hiking Shoes Ever? Perhaps Tecnica Forge

by Louis Dawson
written by Louis Dawson
Tecnica CAS Custom Adaptive Shape

Tecnica Forge line of hiking boots includes CAS Custom Adaptive Shape system the molds both the upper and a custom bed.

When I was a wee lad of 23, I’d become frustrated with mountain boots that only lasted me a couple of NOLS mountaineering courses. I was working as an instructor, backpacking hundreds of miles on granite gravel and rocks, snow climbing, and even rock climbing in my big klunky leathers.

While I did practice exquisite denial about the cost of my gear, and was even then buying equipment on pro discount, I could not help but notice the cost of my boots was a good percentage of the money I made per course — coin which otherwise was destined to buy oatmeal for consumption in Yosemite. Giving up on mainstream products, I figured something custom built by Europeans in the Alps could perhaps last more than eight weeks. Specifically, the shoe makers in Kitzbuhel Austria, who I figured must possess the secret of cobbling boots that didn’t become tattered ribbons the first time they kissed Wind River granite. In a series of overseas letters and a scratchy international phone call, I ordered a pair of Haderer mountain boots, made from a tracing of my foot.

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La Sportiva Synchro Ski Touring Boot — Review

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Colby Christoff

Onsen.

After a tough day of skiing waist deep powder, sometimes you have to walk right into the onsen (hot spring) with your boots on.

My first impressions of the new La Sportiva Synchro boot are for the most part positive. (Also see our previous Synchro coverage.)

— For a “125 flex” the boot seemed light.
— The “catalog” range of motion claimed by La Sportiva website is 60 degrees. I find the more flex I have in my boots, the less heel risers I typically need on my bindings. I found this to be true in the boot; I was pleased with the range of motion.
— The 102 mm last provides a wider foot with plenty of room. At first I thought I had too much room, but the buckles allow you to snug up the fit while maintaining performance.

And then, a few longer term observations:

With the very slow start to the Colorado winter season, and subsequently thin snowpack, I found myself constrained to the ski resorts and small backcountry outings for the first part of my Synchro testing (prior to our recent dumps). Luckily, a Japan trip in January put an end to that and provided a very legitimate trial to authenticate this review — and I’ve been skiing the boots ever since.

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