My psyche for Dynafit boots continues with the introduction of the Hoji Pro Tour replacement: the Dynafit Radical Pro Boot. Rad fact – Dynafit made a Women’s specific version that is on par with the Men’s, the only differences are color and women specific fit adjustments. Although the Hoji Pro tour earned accolades, it came with some debatable design features, most notably the speed nose, a feature that Dynafit has removed on this boot. There’s no need to update your quiver, the Radical Pro comes with a traditional toe lip, allowing for more compatibility with all bindings and crampons.
Dynafit markets the Radical Pro as an alpine touring boot catered to downhill-oriented backcountry skiers, or “freeride” as everyone loves to call it these days. I eat the term up because it makes me feel cooler than I am.
I have skied on the Hoji Pro Tour for the past three years and have felt the disadvantage of the speed nose. Some challenges are my inability to kick steps in a firmer boot pack, feeling unstable while taking my skis off in icy places, and spending time, as well as money, to build the dream crampon to fit this Cinderella slipper.
The major change in the Radical Pro from the Hoji boot series is the boots’ tongue system. The Hoji tongue has a V shape, and is built out of plastic and textile, and can be flipped out when the buckles are not engaged. The Radical Pro deviates from this design as it features a hinged tongue that pulls forward and is secured with four screws right above the toe box. Dynafit claims that the Radical tongue brings better power transfer as one flexes into the tongue. The boot is also built so the cuff and the shell are separated to help reduce friction through each stride when skinning, possibly adding even more mobility to the rated 60 degree walking range. I am psyched to see how that plays out on longer tours!
WildSnow Girl, Julia Dubinina, is a weekend warrior chasing snow in winter and sun in summer. A lover of long tours and steep skin tracks, she explores the Pacific Northwest and beyond. When she is not out adventuring, she is working away at her corporate desk job for a software company to make her next adventure happen.