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Post by danboisvert on Jan 1, 2014 17:21:39 GMT -7
I spoke with Glen about them a couple years ago, too. From what I recall, Dodge had approached him about being one of their fitters, but he wasn't interested. Most of his work was with junior athletes, and Dodge wasn't making any boots small enough to fit them. If I remember right, he said he'd consider it if they started making smaller sizes, and did end up working on some of them for adults who brought them to him. I seem to recall him saying they were light and stiff, but not magic. From what I heard through others, some racers were experimenting with them, but weren't having uniformly good results. I think it'd be cool to see boots get lighter and have more consistent stiffness across a wide temperature range. Meput's comments about how cold they are will be in the back of my mind when I look at them, though.
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Post by meput on Jan 2, 2014 18:03:24 GMT -7
Did the full court press on Jan 1, to keep the feet warm in the Dodge boots. Once again temps were -5° - 0° with winds 20 - 40 mph for significant wind chill factor (I'll let the weather nerds figure out the actual windchill temps ). Armed the boots with Hotronics and Boot-Gloves. Wore insulated ski pants (rather than shell with layered long underwear). Worked well for the toes. Managed to make it about 2 hours until heels got significantly cold (pain ). Suspect the soles conduct heat (cold) more efficiently than does the plastic of a traditional plug boot. I will be monitoring this as the ski season continues. Unfortunately the 'loaf provides the "ideal" conditions to conduct a study of this type.
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Post by HighAngles on Jan 4, 2014 7:54:57 GMT -7
meput - are you able to wear your boots in your house for at least more than an hour without any heel pain?
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Post by meput on Jan 4, 2014 8:37:28 GMT -7
meput - are you able to wear your boots in your house for at least more than an hour without any heel pain? Interesting question. I have not tried it. Maybe a good excuse to spend some time on the slant board, even though my psyche, at this time of year, tends to say: ski boots = slant mountain . I am having some issues with fit over the 5th metatarsal joint. The Dodges will need some "love" in those locations. If I am going to have to ship the boots to Chris to be blown out in those locations (or another trip to Dumont/Downieville, Colorado ), it may warrant doing what you question. The heel pain that I have been experiencing gradually builds as the heel pad on the bottom of the foot slowly cools. I have not noted any similar discomfort when skiing in warmer temperatures with the Dodges. I need a second Hotronic pad under the heel area. Interesting mental image/ question - how many Hotronic batteries can you get around the booster strap?
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Post by HighAngles on Jan 4, 2014 21:05:29 GMT -7
Cold foot parts can sometimes have foot pain (fit problems) as their source. If I can't handle keeping my boots on for at least an hour (if not two) while I'm hanging around the house then I know I haven't yet achieved the fit I need to make it on the mountain all day.
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Post by smackboy1 on Jan 6, 2014 12:27:14 GMT -7
I am having some issues with fit over the 5th metatarsal joint. The Dodges will need some "love" in those locations. I feel your pain. It took Chris and Greg a couple of go arounds before getting my 5th met, 1st met (particularly the styloid process) all within tolerable fit. If you do decide to mail them back to HSS, I have some tips from experience. I believe there are 2 carbon fiber punch machines, one is a spot the size of a dime or quarter, the other is wider, more like a bar. Make sure you mark precisely the entire area that needs punching. The first time I tried tapping the outside of the boot with a hammer and didn't get the right spot. The second time Chris applied lipstick to the hot spots on my bare feet and I put my feet into the shell (with a centered footbed, but no liner). I pressed my feet to the shell and tipped my feet inside the boot to make a good mark the inside of the shell. That finally got the correct spots. As for the cold, the Intuition Pro Tongue liners are warmer than stock. But if you do get them at a place other than HSS, apply the HSS mods: 1) cut away some of the red layer to allow the heel to fit; 2) replace the laces with elastic on just the bottom 2 eyelets (to keep the tongue from pulling out). I sized up, 26 liner in a 25 boot. Hope this helps.
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Post by meput on Feb 5, 2014 16:33:19 GMT -7
After much time lost with this years version of the flu, telephone tag then emails back and forth with Chris at HSS; the Dodges are entrusted to USPS, enroute to Downieville/Dumont, CO. Liners marked per Chris's instructions. He wanted the liners marked to give him the orientation to punch the shells. We shall see.
Back in my Dobie 150's. Already miss the Dodge's. The Dodges have better feed back and quickness than the Dobie's.
Stay tuned for the next installment in the Dodge saga.
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Post by HeluvaSkier on Feb 19, 2014 18:52:13 GMT -7
I may get a chance to get on a pair of these... it should be an interesting experiment.
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Post by HighAngles on Feb 19, 2014 20:37:11 GMT -7
I may get a chance to get on a pair of these... it should be an interesting experiment. Agreed - looking forward to your thoughts.
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Post by HeluvaSkier on Feb 20, 2014 7:39:23 GMT -7
The boot's light weight and lateral stiffness intrigues me, but the experiment of putting me in them is to see what the durability is like. I hear they are softer than the race plugs I ski in, so they may make a good all mountain boot.
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