Hoji's at it again. New Frankenboot.

[N3vrast]

Haha, Nice!

I will continue on this path as long as people continue to enjoy my style of skiing.

Cheers,

Hoji

Well Eric you`ll be skiing until you`re a hundred then!

Any chance we can see a bit more edits on the Raven though? I realize that pow-shots are the money edits, but it would be nice to see them get some screen time. It is surprisingly little information on the Ravens online (reviews, etc).

Keep up the good work, I think some TGR techies are preparing for a broke future after your work in progress post.

[kootenayskier]

Awesome to hear - looking at the current dynafit lineup, I didn't know what to do for future boots. The TLT7 and Khion didn't look to be for me and my Mercuries won't last forever.

Rob, maybe take the screenshot down so it doesn't get out as easily?

It will be interesting to see if the ratchet strap is an actual feature on the new boot, or just a repair from a broken buckle? I like the idea of a ratchet strap - could get the boot tightness absolutely dialed and would have so much adjust-ability. In regards to the locking mechanism, I re-watched the edit and it looks like he pushes the mechanism down into the boot - not flipping it down similar to scarpa's locking mechanism. Be very interesting to see how that works. The Ultra Lock system works for me - simple, minimal parts that can break. Can't wait to see what Eric comes out with.

Very interesting. After a couple of years of seriously underwhelming product releases, it's encouraging that perhaps Dynafit haven't completely lost the plot. They need Eric to also help them with their skis.

[XXX-er]

Since you bring it up one had to suspect he didn't work on the Khion ... something about the elegant design that didn't work.

I sold my Mercury's & upgraded to new vulcans for like 85$ soon as I heard the Khion was coming

Cuz I was worried about finding the next boot

[wilcox510]

A bit off topic, but since we are talking about modifying Vulcans... Vulcans are the best AT boot I've ever had, I just wish they were a bit stiffer without the tongues. I hate screwing around with the removable tongues, and they are just a bit too soft for my taste without the tongues. Ive got an intuition liner in them with helps and a big ass power strap with a buckle on it (like the new ones come with). It just seems like the front of the shell is a bit low without the tongue. Would putting a driver plate or something like that on them help? Any other ideas?

[retirwntm]

Haha, Nice!

I was wondering if anyone would really notice that shot! I specifically threw that boot shot in the edit to be a quick teaser moment for the real techies out there and I am very stoked that you noticed! It would be great if everyone could refrain from posting screen grabs of it, I just don't want it published everywhere quite yet. It is all good and I appreciate your die-hard enthusiasm but it is of course sensitive material, a little discretion is greatly appreciated.

Some clarification on the topics mentioned in this post:

-I exclusively skied the Beast 14's unlocked (except for the Whistler park shoot where I locked the toe for obvious reasons) the entire time I was filming with MSP last season and I experienced no failures, prerelease or breakages. The Beast 14 in my opinion is an amazing binding and it's performance blew my expectations out of the water: I was skeptical to ski the toe piece unlocked at first but as the season went on I became 100% confident in it's abilities and it has become my go to choice for charging.

-The shot of me locking the Beast 14/Radical 2 style toe pieces with a more classic heel pieces was filmed on a lighter weight backup pair of Hojis on a dawn patrol run to get scenic shots and do some AC work on a zone we were controlling to keep it in play for filming: The cheese wedge in-run was under this zone so we controlled it throughout the trip to prevent the slope from getting loaded, becoming a threat to the jump. I would use my lighter weight back up skis for these dawn patrol runs to save my legs for the filming that would follow later in the day. These runs were very fun and the control work we did was quite effective, it was a great warm up run back to the lodge and we were able to keep the jump open for the entirety of the trip. This specific shot was staged to capture a moment in good light at the top of a peak, chances are I did and redid the motion of locking the toe several times to get the shot (movie magic) and in reality to do the control work I probably wasn't actually locking my toes anyway because we were strategically ski cutting small pockets of low density snow/not pinning it down the mountain. I selected this shot show that I was skiing in Dynafit bindings but in hindsight it might have not been the best choice because it didn't represent the set up I was filming on.

-I really was not involved with the Khion (I think that is pretty obvious) and therefore I do not have much to say about it. What I can say is that there are good things in the works and I am quite optimistic that skiers who love the concept of the Vulcan will be stoked! Please be patient, the future is going to be exciting...

-The past few seasons I have been mostly using the Khamski 38 L pack from Arc'teryx. This pack is a work horse and is extremely versatile for backcountry skiing. For some strange reason the older I get the more is seem to carry on a daily basis, chalk this up to experience and responsibility I guess: You see Sh*t go down and you want to be as prepared as possible to deal with it. Obviously filming is a bit different than "normal" ski touring and a lot of the time I will ditch excessive article/weight at a safe regroup spot to lighten my load and maximize my skiing ability for a specific line. This technique is pretty common when filming via ski touring out of huts like GAH's Sentry lodge. I recently attended a ski pack design meeting at the Arc'teryx office and I will say there is some solid development happening in the ski back department: I predict will will see a 30+ L that will be minimalistic/lightweight and very nice for ski touring in the near future.

Thank you all for the positive comments, I am really stoked to hear people still enjoy my footage because I still really enjoy the process of getting it. I will continue on this path as long as people continue to enjoy my style of skiing.

Cheers,

Hoji

I'm so much better than you!!!















...at dentistry.

[XXX-er]

Yeah I agree exactly^^ something about how the boot skis with out the tongue I don't like as much and fucking with the tongues can be a pain so I don't take the tongue s out unless it's Gona be longer than an hr

[Judo Chop!]

Haha, Nice!

...

Cheers,

Hoji

Dude!

firstly... EPIC skiing! so stoked to see your edits all the time.

secondly, we very very much appreciate the insight into the gear. please keep it up!
Myself I've become an unintentional copycat, most commonly using vulcans, beasts, Rens and Hojis (and planning to get Ravens); and also tinkering with it all to tailor it all best for me. I've tried tons of other stuff but I've come back to the gear you make as the stuff that works for me. So keep up the innovations!! Especially around here - we're all very appreciative.

And keep shredding and filming it for us!

Hopefully see you around whistler! Beers on me.

[Eric Hjorleifson]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for respecting my request, I really appreciated it and please feel free to continue discussing the boots here.

I am stoked you noticed, my goal was/it to start building some anticipation for this new project with the core users that actually pay attention and that will use it for its intended purpose.

I am a big fan of the instep buckle design for ski touring boots and specifically with a ratchet style buckle that allows instantaneous tension adjustments with one hand. I have a couple pairs of Raichle ratchet buckles that are almost as old as I am (modified of course) and they have been working very well for me for the past couple years. I have been pushing for this style of instep strap/ratchet buckle for a while so we will what happens...


Thanks,

Hoji

[auvgeek]

Hoji, I suspect you're long gone but on the off chance you're still checking in: do you have any tips for those of us who are mechanically-inclined, have access to a machine shop, and want to mod cabrio touring boots like the Vulcan to ski more like alpine/race boots? I'm sure we could all learn from your experience.

I love the Vulcan. With the instep buckle, the heel hold is amazing. I always thought I'd get blisters on big days, but no more. I've added a booster strap and powerwrap plug liners. They ski pretty well, but the flex is not progressive and it bottoms out when skiing hard (even with the tongue). By that, I mean I hit the end of my ankle ROM.

This thread has me thinking I'll try to find a second pair of Vulcans for cheap to mod out. I'm thinking I could cut and rivet the upper from an extra pair of Scorpion 130s to make it stiffer, and maybe throw a Dalbello B tongue or Full Tilt #10 tongue instead of the stock tongue. Not sure if that would make them more progressive or not. I was planning to do something similar to a pair of Atomic Backlands for my girl, but now I'm realizing that it'd probably be better to work out the process on my boots first. (The Backland fits her better than any other touring boot on the market but she doesn't need it to be so light, hence the idea of modding it.)

[Lindahl]

A bit off topic, but since we are talking about modifying Vulcans... Vulcans are the best AT boot I've ever had, I just wish they were a bit stiffer without the tongues. I hate screwing around with the removable tongues, and they are just a bit too soft for my taste without the tongues. Ive got an intuition liner in them with helps and a big ass power strap with a buckle on it (like the new ones come with). It just seems like the front of the shell is a bit low without the tongue. Would putting a driver plate or something like that on them help? Any other ideas?

Have you tried a mtn lab? Its a pretty sweet boot with comparable ROM etc

[shafty85]

do you have any tips for those of us who are mechanically-inclined, have access to a machine shop, and want to mod cabrio touring boots like the Vulcan to ski more like alpine/race boots?

This thread has me thinking I'll try to find a second pair of Vulcans for cheap to mod out.

Wouldn't that be like asking for Coke's secret? (hint, it's cocain )

I have been looking for a cheap pair for over a year. If you find any, I'll label you a lucky sob - though America does have way more great things at prices I could only dream of up here.

[buenonda]

hello

about the foward flex

- Soft shoes ( under 120 or 120)
slight and medium flex good for the greater part of the skiers but flabbiness and lack of support for strong supports. the flex goes too far and the shell tends to collapse.


- Stiff shoes ( 130 to hell)

strong support to massive energy with progressive flex stop, accuracy and responsiveness but tolerates only the powerful and technical skiers (wrapped and perfect control of pelvis position: the key of a good skier)


to get out of this dilemma it's very difficult with a 5kg boot so with a lightweight one (3 to 3kg5)... we need at least Hoji ;-)

for me the vulcan gets roughly the same flex as a true 130 alpine four buckles boot:

- the carbon/plastic upper cuff is very rigid
- there is no play because the mecanicm is far away from the pivot with a big surface of transfer
- the inside cuff is stop foward by the lower shell ( but no stopper like the mercury) and close to the pivot
- the tongue is very rigid but totally free on the upper

but not very responsive, lively.

I have the feeling a large part of the bending depends on the deformation of lower cuff.
and only on big loads.

a bit like having a lot with suspension damping but little spring. or like having a WC race boot at the beginning of the flex and a 120 four buckles at the medium flex (I mean the top of lower shell in the middle foot starts to collapse)
perhaps the flex is too located or there is friction between the upper and the tongue

on dalbello krypton the upper shell is more engaged on the tongue by the shape of their tongue and by the buckles.

but on the over hand the free play between the tongue and the upper shell helps ski touring performance

I hope Eric is working on it ( in fact I'm sure but I can be wrong )

another thing that perhaps can be better is "the fashion of titened booster"
I know it heps too have a stronger lively flex feeling and we're all using it, AT, freeride and race boots.
but in the same time when we have our buckles and booster very titened there is no play between our tibia bone and the tongue or the linner.
our sensations on foward flex are "unconnected" to the tibia/tongue contact and we lost quick adjustment of the boody.

also this little play heps to go easily on the front and engage the curve ( if your not a powerful technical skier :-) )

my two cents before the snow coming

[buenonda]

spring effect and minimal or no friction between the shell parts's is certainly the key of a nice foward flex

[Jim S]

(drops mic)

Awesome Hoji.
Loving my Mercury boots.

[kootenayskier]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for respecting my request, I really appreciated it and please feel free to continue discussing the boots here.

I am stoked you noticed, my goal was/it to start building some anticipation for this new project with the core users that actually pay attention and that will use it for its intended purpose.

I am a big fan of the instep buckle design for ski touring boots and specifically with a ratchet style buckle that allows instantaneous tension adjustments with one hand. I have a couple pairs of Raichle ratchet buckles that are almost as old as I am (modified of course) and they have been working very well for me for the past couple years. I have been pushing for this style of instep strap/ratchet buckle for a while so we will what happens...


Thanks,

Hoji

As a life-long Raichle/Full-Tilt user, I couldn't agree more. With a well fitting (narrow) heel pocket and precise adjustment of the instep buckle, the rest of the boot can be relatively roomy, allowing for both high performance powder skiing and comfortable feet. <y Mercuries are ok, but could be better.

[neck beard]

-The past few seasons I have been mostly using the Khamski 38 L pack from Arc'teryx. This pack is a work horse and is extremely versatile for backcountry skiing.

Would you mind politely asking them to please put a pocket on the underside of the lid. Please. It makes no sense not having one. It is a great pack otherwise and I have been gluing a small zip up pouch on the underside of my lid for the last few years.

Please.