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TBH I'm skeptical of both the new Shift and Hoji's boot. Since the shift isn't really the OP's focus I'll leave my opinions off the table until someone asks.
As far as Hoji's boot, I don't see who it's meant to appeal to? Folks who have too wide of feet to squeeze into the Maestrale, or is it specific to Eric's foot? If so, great for him, but I don't see how that helps the average consumer. I haven't had my foot in it yet, but at a 104 mm last I have a feeling it'll fit like a clapped Nordica rental boot, from mid-foot forward. Seriously who measures in at 104 mm, not even your grandmothers bunions stick out that far. Even if the heel pocket is the bees knees, how many folks will need work on the toebox, and there's no way of making your shell narrower.
I do like the walk function and (stated) ROM. That being said, I've never once felt like the transitions were any hassle in my S/MTN/Labs (as compared to say, a 3 piece boot). Not to say some people (Like hoji) wont be hucking in this boot, but numbers wise it seems lacking in the sendability department. You'd think for a dude who pops pillows like an addict pops pills, Hoji's boot would be a bit burlier. Maybe a bigger issue here is I'm assuming this is meant to be a descent focused boot, with a killer walk mode, instead of a 50/50 uphill/downhill boot.
Other things I'd like to know more about on the boot are numerical stats on flex (to be taken with a grain of salt, as one manufacturers 130 flex is anothers 110), crampon compatibility, and binding compatibility. Does this thing follow any ISO norms? I can tell you right now, with dynafits signature sharknose boots you'll never be skiing salomons new Shift MNC binding.
Price... out of my range for sure, but so is everything dynafit. However IMO, people who are looking at dynafit, generally have the expendable income to throw at a new set of boots (without prodeal), or are getting them for free from dynafit.
Everybody has a different foot, and everybody looks for different characteristics in a boot, so I'm sure there are folks out there who will be super stoked on this, like OP. Hell maybe I will be stoked on it once I slide into one, like your girls DM's. Pre-production products are hard to look to deep into, so it'll be interesting to see what this thing looks like when it's finally available. If anyone (hoping to see some of the blister testers/real ski nerds chime in here) has any hard numbers/ actual experience with this boot I'd love to hear about it.
**This post was edited on Dec 12th 2017 at 11:56:26am
