Dynafit FT12 or G3 Onyx - a summary

[Drumlin]

After reading lots and lots of forum posts and reviews, I'm still torn between the G3 Onyx and Dynafit Vertical FT12 for my new touring skis. They will also be used for groomed pists a lot. So I'm trying to sum up here the advantages they have over each other. If I'm missing anything, or you disagree, please chime in.

Weight: Dynafit
Durability: Dynafit
Retention: Onyx
Ease of use: Onyx
Features: Onyx
Price: Equal
Warranty/support: Equal

[hutash]

Since weight are durability are major considerations for an AT binding I would favor the dynafit. Retention is important, ease of use less so. I would go dynafit just because it is used so much and has a long track record.

Why no consider Plum?

[AKbruin]

I don't think they're equal in price, unless you're getting a smoking deal on the FT 12s. I think Backcountry.com is selling the Onyx for less than $300, whereas I don't think I've seen the FT 12s for less than $450.

[GeezerSteve]

If a 10 DIN will suffice, the Dynafit Speed is lighter and the most robust Dynafit binding, and they can be had for around $300 if you shop around. GregL is reporting a bit longer heel pin on the newer Speeds. If your ski is stiffer than a noodle underfoot and/or you have a short BSL, the Speed pin length not a problem.

I hear this and that about toe pin retention, but I don't get it. Dynafit toes have more than ample retention in tour mode (so long as you don't have an older pair of boots, e.g., some older Scarpas, which occasionally blow out of the toe in tour mode, an issue which has been fixed on all tech boots, AFAIK) and in downhill mode Dynafit lateral release works great. The vertical (forward) release is occasionally an issue with Dynafits, i.e., a 10 DIN vertical release setting is sometimes more like a 9 DIN. Speeds work great for me and I'm a big boy and often ski with a full pack.

OP, all of this and more (e.g., Onyx breakage) has been discussed in numerous Tech Talk threads. Search, boy, search

[hutash]

AKbruin might also has issue with the Dynafit durability

[LeeLau]

Nice save on thread summary and relocating this to the appropriate forum!

IMO Onyx skis better inbounds as it feels (self-admitted subjectivity) it has better elasticity

[GeezerSteve]

Lee, I'll take your word for it. Dynafits are inelastic, teeth chatterers on ice and frozen, but IME ski very well on firm that's not frozen hard.

hutash, I'd wager that a substantially higher percentage of Onyx binding have failed. Also, many or most of the recent reports of Dynafit failures have been related to the FT12 toe overhang defective design, not present on Speeds or ST.

Re support: Dynafit stocks and sells spare parts. Don't know if Onyx does.

[LeeLau]

Lee, I'll take your word for it. Dynafits are inelastic, teeth chatterers on ice and frozen, but IME ski very well on firm that's not frozen hard.

hutash, I'd wager that a substantially higher percentage of Onyx binding have failed. Also, many or most of the recent reports of Dynafit failures have been related to the FT12 toe overhang defective design, not present on Speeds or ST.

Re support: Dynafit stocks and sells spare parts. Don't know if Onyx does.

Thx Steve! Yah as part of the testing regimen I have to take them inbounds and tour. Seems fair as many people have that question. Fwiw I agree with you re Dynafits and how they ski

G3 retailers that install Onyx usually keep spare parts or if they don't can order spare parts. I know that because i had a fair share of troubles with the beta Onyx

[Drumlin]

Why no consider Plum?

I live in Norway, and I haven't seen the Plum bindings for sale anywhere, I'm afraid.

[Drumlin]

I don't think they're equal in price, unless you're getting a smoking deal on the FT 12s. I think Backcountry.com is selling the Onyx for less than $300, whereas I don't think I've seen the FT 12s for less than $450.

Here in Norway, the FT12 and Onyx cost exactly the same. Would I be ripped off if choosing the Onyx?

[Drumlin]

I'd wager that a substantially higher percentage of Onyx binding have failed.

You're probably right about that. But is that counting failures on the first generation (09/10) binding? If you consider only the 10/11 version, do you think the numbers would be the same?

[GeezerSteve]

I don't know. I'm not an Onyx man, I haven't seen any info re whether the 10/11 binding addressed the early failure issues and, most importantly, the binding hasn't been around long enough to make any meaningful assessment re long term durability. On the other side of the equation, Dynafits have a very good record of durability, there's oodles of info out there on that and the FT12 toe overhang issue seems to be confined to the FT12.

[hutash]

hutash, I'd wager that a substantially higher percentage of Onyx binding have failed. Also, many or most of the recent reports of Dynafit failures have been related to the FT12 toe overhang defective design, not present on Speeds or ST.

Sorry, I am not saying they do, just that AKBruin is on his 5th? failure for the same set of FT12s. If they were a car he could claim a lemon law recall.

[AKbruin]

In all fairness, I think it's been mostly bad luck in my case. Most everybody else I know with the FT 12s has been pleased as punch with theirs (which, of course, has made my experience all that more frustrating).

[half-fast]

you can get mounting plates for the onyx so you can use one pair on multiple skis-and adjust fore aft position. I've got 10 plus days on a pair of onyx on bluehouse districts, one or two lift served just to ski them before I did any tours on them, no probs.