Dynafit Ridge Pro Boot

How would you say these boots compare to the Atomic Backland carbon xtd 120? Would you say the last is similar? These seem similar from a downhill perspective.

Is the stock liner (Dynafitter 5) closer to an LV (9mm) or MV intuition liner (12mm)?

Is it possible to put a booster strap / the hoji cam buckle style to replace the velcro strap on the Ridge Pro? If so, do you guys carry the strap. It almost seems like the blacklight cam buckle would work.
Thanks,
Todd

5’ 11” 80kg.

These boots replaced an old set of hoji pro tours. Overall, I’d say I’m impressed. I skied these all last season on 100mm to 130mm skis no issues. Going up, they walk great, lots more functional ROM than the hojis. Feels more like a TLT than a hoji on the up. Skiing-wise, it skis very well with lots of power. It is definitely as stiff and but does not have quite the same “suspension” the pro tour had IMO.

I am a hoji fan and I thing the stuff he comes up with is remarkable. The 5 things I observed from the hoji are:
1) this boot fit like a glove out of the box I have pretty average feet, but a few problem areas. I think the tongue and closure system feels like it “conforms” better than other boots I’ve tried. This is completely subjective… your feet may vary
2) the hoji-lock no longer actuates the lower cuff buckle. I think this is a win. It’s a 2 motions transition, but it takes way less force to flip the hoji lock. I don’t have to mess with the strap/buckle tension at all between walk and ski mode.
3) boa: I’m still undecided on this. I really like how it even cinches the lower shell, but I do have to loosen it on the climbs some and It’s hard to get it in the same spot every time.
4) stock liners don’t match the boots intentions. I ended up putting some thicker hoji-free liners in which helped a lot.
5) forward lean: this boot feel pretty upright. Unfortunately I accidentally tossed the spoilers…. I’d be nice to have an auditable forward lean, but I don’t think that’s possible with the hoji mech
6) toe welt! I am really glad dynafit went with a toe rand on this boot to accept standard crampons.

After skiing roughly thirty days on my Ridge Pro's, I feel like I have a good enough sense of the boot to review them. First off, I am used to lighter boots with more ROM (F1 LT), but I have also recently been using the Scarpa Quattro, so my comparisons will be based primarily on those two other boots.

First off, make sure this boot fits you. It has a medium forefoot width, but a fairly low instep due to the floating tongue. If you have a low instep, then this boot will likely be excellent for you. If you have a medium or high instep, you may struggle (like I did). Eventually I found the right combination of a thin insole and a thin intuition liner (same one that is used in the F1 XT) to produce the fit I needed.

The Hoji lock system is awesome. Eliminating play in the walk mode is a game-changer as far as I am concerned for ski performance. It also makes the boot a lot more progressive, as the force of forward flexion is distributed around the shell, not just focused into limited contact points like happens on a lot of touring boots. Many people have noted that this is an exceptionally stiff boot, and I disagree. While it isn't remarkable soft, it does have a decent level of flex progression. I am 5'11" and around 200lbs, and I find this boot flexes similarly to my (admittedly very old) 130 flex Lange alpine boots. The upright stance works really well for me, and pairs well with the progressive, modern free-touring skis this boot was intended to be paired with.

Touring performance is surprisingly good, especially with a lighter weight liner. I find that I have as much ROM as I could want while skinning like a normal human being. There's definitely more friction than a race plus boot, but given the superior ski performance, I think it is worth it.

This boot is meant for people who want to really ski aggressively while minimizing any inefficiencies while ascending. For me, it strikes a perfect balance.

believe the hype around this boot. First thing you'll notice when you put on these boots, is how light they are. Shift in the walk mode and be blown away by the range of motion. Quickly lock down the cuff thanks to the #HojiLock and you'll think you put on different boots. These stiff boots let you drive wide skis through a variety of snow conditions. Reach the bottom of line and do it all over again, and again, and again. Fit wise, I found myself between a 27.5 and 28.5, butt the 27.5 would need a good bit of punching to be comfortable. Given the that the material is hard to work with, I opted for the 28.5 and stuffed in a 9mm intuition tour liner and couldn't be happier.

Lots of good information here on performance and specs. Thinking this could be a great boot for me. I have a few additional things I would appreciate Skimo's observations on with regard to this boot. As the Ridge Pro has been out working for a few winters, I am wondering if you have a sense of the durability of the boa and the ability to repair the boa (incl in the field). Also, how is this boot in terms of an old guy getting into and out of---and getting the liner in and out of---I am thinking multi-day snow camping here (for context, the last several vintages of the scarpa maestrales RS boots are too much an effort to get the liner in/out of, making it a last choice for my multi-day touring). Thanks for any info you can provide.

Would you say the ridge 27.5 is the same as a Technica ZGTP 27.5 except wider??
I bought the Tchnica's two months before the ridge came out. The Technica's are just too narrow for me.

Is this boot actually about the same weight as the tecnica ZGTP in the same size? A lot of people are throwing around 12xx as the weight of the ridge, but it looks like that is in a size 26.5, not 27.5.

Thanks!

A

Do you have a true weight of a 28.5 in this boot please?

HI,
I wear a 25.5 in the salomon S/Lab Mtn. I have never tried on dynafit. I am really intrigqued by the Dynafit ridge pro. I love that my salomon boots only have 2 buckles and a booster and I like the quick transitions. What size would you reccomend.
Thanks,
Todd

I've skied in these boots ~8 times so far this season, fortunate that they fit my feet quite well and haven't really had any "break-in" process. Coming from the Hoji Free 130's, these boots walk significantly better (unsurprisingly). The floating tongue and closure method are easy to get along with and the boot does feel significant enough for driving a 104 underfoot, ~1700g ski. I've skied mostly soft conditions with these, looking forward to seeing how they handle the Spring. They weigh in around 3000g for the pair in 29.5 - about 700g less than my pair of Hoji Free 130s w/ intuition liners in the same size.

Size for Size, How tight is the heel pocket in comparison to the Salomon Summit? I need an easier boot to get on and off.

I would like to pick up a pair of these for spring tours, but might not be able to make it in to get fitted.

I use the Fischer Transalp and Traverse in 28.5 with the Darn Tough RFL OTC Socks, and it fits perfectly. What size do you think I need for the Dynafit boot?

What's the difference between the size 28 and size 28.5? I noticed that they have the same BSL. Is the 28.5 just a slightly smaller liner or thicker footbed?

Weight: 1225g with intuition tour liners and my footbeds, which puts it about 200g less than my radical pros and 200g more than my Blacklights.

Fit: Volume-wise, it's also between the blacklight and rad pro. It's a mid-volume boot in my estimation; less than the rad pro and a touch narrower than the Scarpa beef boots, but certainly wider than the blacklight or F1. You can control instep volume a touch with the floating tongue, but not width.

Up: Great low-friction ROM. It's not a slipper, but it walks better than the Radical Pro / Hoji and WAY better than the Quattro / Maestrale / Zero-G / etc. It's a great all-around touring boot in this respect.

Down: It is plenty still, but more of a linear stiffness than the radical pro, which is much more progressive feeling. It skis quite well (way, way better than my blacklights or the F1, etc.) and I've used it with skis from 100mm waist to 124mm waist (all 179-184cm in length) in good to not-so-good snow, and it drives all those skis just fine.

Overall: A great boot that sits in the do-it-all catagory. Light enough for long missions, tours well, and can drive skis well. It's not the lightest, best touring boot, and it's not the best skiing boot...but it's a pretty darn good boot.

Are you guys gonna have any 25.5 in stock?

Just bought this boot and am super impressed with both the stiffness at the weight and the lock system (and they fit so well I could ski them all day right outa the box)!

Curious though, forward lean states 12 & 15 degrees. How does one adjust that? Would like to try it with different forward leans.

Was excited to finally get my hands on a pair of these. I feel like the shell lives up to the hype. Awesome walk mode, easy transition to bomber feeling ski mode. Boots flex super quiet which I like. Unfortunately the fit is too high volume for my feet otherwise I'd totally be rocking these. Had to return. Salomon touring boots tend to fit my skinner feet better. Ding'd them a point because like almost all boots the stock liner seemed pretty useless compared to an intuition or other premium after market liner.

Hi,
Ho upright or not are the cuffs laterally? In the absence of "cant" adjustment in modern AT boots, this is an important point for bow legged myself. I can barely make ZGTPs work with thick shims on the medial side if the liner. Fischer Transalp is tilted out much more, but has poor heel hold for me.