From Frankenboot to finished product. Hoji's modified prototypes of the Dynafit Titan and TLT5 next to the Mercury.

Last week The Escape Route hosted an evening showing the "Evolution of Touring Equipment" with pro skier and recent Dynafit convert Eric Hjorleifson. About 30 people came to hear about the equipment that Hoji has help develop to get around in the backcountry.

Like many pros that wanted reliability on big descents, Hoji was a constant user of Alpine Trekkers and stiff plug boots for many of his earlier touring days. Of course he was tinkering with the gear back then too and with his own modifications had a set of Trekkers that actually were quite reliable.

But the stiff boots, unchanged from a race chassis, were beginning to get uncomfortable when Hoji would have to stand for hours at the top of a line during film shoots. He wanted a walk mode, but he also wanted performance. Unsatisfied with anything available at the time he took Dynafit Titan shell (“The Titan has one of the most supportive and solid lower shells currently available in the ski touring boot market.” ) and began to tinker.

What transpired was the Frankenboot (the Titan on the left in the photo above) which consisted of parts from seven different boot manufacturers. He tested the boot at the Golden Alpine Holidays lodge for a Matchstick Productions segment, which was also the first time he filmed with Dynafit FT12 bindings. He later showed this boot prototype to reps from Dynafit North America who described the possibility of them making such a boot as "impossible." There just wouldn't be a market for it. Hmmmm…

A few short years later, the Vulcan has transpired. Full 60 degree walk mode with unparalleled stiffness in its weight class. Hoji is now a boot consultant for Dynafit and continues to evolve his gear every year.