chills for dynafit users....

[Trackhead]

I have Dynafit comforts. When I ski in no fall zones, I increase the forward pressure by a millimeter or so, make sure the DIN is maxed, and 'lock' the toe.

Other tips:
1. clean your heel groove well, a whippet works great for this.
2. clean your toe holes very well, then step in to the toe and go forward and back a bunch. The little grooves in the pins will help clear out debris. Then open the toe, and restep in.
3. make sure all the snow is out of the toe piece, if not, it won't completely lock out.

Mounting tips:
1. when you get your mounted skis back, put the toe in, lock it, and put the heel down to see if the boot heel grooves line up EXACTLY with the heel pins. If not, the person who mounted them just tried to kill you. They must line up within 1mm, or it causes excess tension on the toe pieces.
2. consider increasing your forward pressure more than what Dynafit suggests with to give you an effective longer pin length.

These bindings are safe, but you have to take some time to put them on right and understand how they work.

In the past year I watched Powstash walk out of his Fritschi Freerides in a 58 degree couloir. Yesterday I watched a guy walk out of his Silveretta's in a steep Teton couloir. And how many 'instant tele' modes have you seen Fritschi's do?

No binding is 100%. One more reason to ski slow and in control in the no fall zone.

[upallnight]

TH posts some good info.

2. consider increasing your forward pressure more than what Dynafit suggests with to give you an effective longer pin length.

I'd be careful with this one ("consider" it carefully). That space allows for the ski to flex and the boot to stay in position. If you shorten the space, the boot will be pressed against the heel piece and this may put more stress on the heel piece (or your leg).

In the past year I watched Powstash walk out of his Fritschi Freerides in a 58 degree couloir. Yesterday I watched a guy walk out of his Silveretta's in a steep Teton couloir. And how many 'instant tele' modes have you seen Fritschi's do?

Well, I've experienced it once in 9-10 years, and I've heard about it much more often than I've seen it. Fritschis are totally safe if mounted properly...many of the incidents seem to come from using Titanal version 1 (early models of it, too), hucking (which they're not officially rated for) or extreme flex on soft skis (think: tips & tails only touching the snow)...but I firmly believe careful mounting solves these problems. I've used many pairs over 9+ years in all situations and on many skis...and I know the problem can be solved.

The parameters TH suggests re: Dynafit mounting (heel piece to within 1mm) need to apply equally to Fritschis. If equal care is applied to the mounting of those AT bindings, I think the playing field is leveled.

I know many folks (earlier this year Newcomb skied "Talk is Cheap" on a pair of Titanals) who have no problem trusting them on you-fall-you-die terrain (me included), just as we/I would ski Dynafits on similar terrain.

Walking out of a shoe on a 58-degree couloir is tantamount to death! What happened? What were snow conditions? What ski? Who did the mount? What vintage Fritschi? How heavy is the rider + pack?

[upallnight]

No binding is 100%.

That says it all.

[Pow4Brains]

"Talk is Cheap"

Is that the one Koch coined on Cody refering to a no show after drunk talk at some bar?

[Trackhead]

One more thing.........

When you find yourself in a position like this, or other awkward tweaky, binding flexing positions, consider what might happen in the event of a release. Consider the what if?....................If the what if scenario is beyond your comfort zone, then consider downclimbing, or somehow avoiding a potentially disasterous release.

[Camilo]

Heh. . . your sig doesn't quite agree

[Trackhead]

Heh. . . your sig doesn't quite agree

We're talking about going down, not up.

[upallnight]

One more thing.........

When you find yourself in a position like this, or other awkward tweaky, binding flexing positions, consider what might happen in the event of a release. Consider the what if?....................If the what if scenario is beyond your comfort zone, then consider downclimbing, or somehow avoiding a potentially disasterous release.

You raise an excellent point. Sometimes when sideslipping, we consider our ability to edge into the snow, or whether tips and tails will fit through the narrows... but the impact of extreme ski flexion needs to be considered.

Having an axe at the ready for an impromptu anchor makes it easier to make the decision to take the skis off and downclimb. Also, not having twintips helps, too.

Mountaineering safety does get style points, in my book.

[JoshP]

Having an axe at the ready for an impromptu anchor makes it easier to make the decision to take the skis off and downclimb. Also, not having twintips helps, too.

Mountaineering safety does get style points, in my book.

Twin tips definitely make it easier to side slip though. No tail hangup/tail diving.

[upallnight]

Twin tips definitely make it easier to side slip though. No tail hangup/tail diving.

True, but I think there's a balance. I do have lots o' TT skis, but what I value most is a shallow twin that could still easily be planted in the snow for use as an anchor or just so the ski doesn't get away when I need to take my hands off it.

Most twins are a little too pronounced/park-oriented, but I still enjoy riding them. My own ski design would not go crazy with it.

[Pow4Brains]

When you find yourself in a position like this, or other awkward tweaky, binding flexing positions]

So I am pretty much sold on the Dynafits, but, how much do you think the added leverage of a “wider” ski increases this affect?
Is the width difference between a DP 95 Wailer or a BRO worth worrying about? I can’t make up my mind between the two!

[Meathelmet]

So I am pretty much sold on the Dynafits, but, how much do you think the added leverage of a “wider” ski increases this affect?
Is the width difference between a DP 95 Wailer or a BRO worth worrying about? I can’t make up my mind between the two!

I dont see how a wider ski would increase "leverage" in that said situation,wich is in the picture.
The flex of the ski is the main thing,i.a, how much the ski droops,and hence "squeezes" the binding.

Stiff ski or a ski with less side cut (dosnt hang up on its tip&tails so easily)
is less prone to that.
So going the bro way could be nice..
Bro radius 30(?)m VS 95 Wailer 24(?)m.

But the wailer could be a sweet ski with dynafits...Drool..

[ninjabirdman]

dynafits . . . are probably the most reliable and bomber AT binding ever.

is this including NX21s? not challenging, just curious.

as somebody who beaters a fair amount i'm a bit sketched out by the locked in dynafit toe, and the naxo seems to offer the closest thing to an alpine toe release. definitely not as light as the dynafits, but maybe burlier?

[PNWbrit]

is this including NX21s? not challenging, just curious.

as somebody who beaters a fair amount i'm a bit sketched out by the locked in dynafit toe, and the naxo seems to offer the closest thing to an alpine toe release. definitely not as light as the dynafits, but maybe burlier?

Reliable and bomber in the sense that they don't often break - they release ok but nothing like an alpine binding.

[upallnight]

is this including NX21s? not challenging, just curious.

as somebody who beaters a fair amount i'm a bit sketched out by the locked in dynafit toe, and the naxo seems to offer the closest thing to an alpine toe release. definitely not as light as the dynafits, but maybe burlier?

Well, you don't HAVE to lock the Dynafit toe. That said, if you beater often I wouldn't go the DYnafit route.

Yeah...the Naxos and Fritschis are WAYYYYY heavier than any Dynafit ("definitely not as light" = big understatement). If you want alpine release, you should get an alpine binding (+ trekkers). The Naxos may be the closest thing to an alpine toe, but Naxos and Fritschis definitely don't have as reliable release performance with AT boots as alpine bindings + alpine boots.

Naxos have more metal than Fritschis, which *should* make them more reliable and burlier. That said, I've been totally pleased in many years on Fritschis -- and equally pleased with my Dynafits.

[upallnight]

Reliable and bomber in the sense that they don't often break - they release ok but nothing like an alpine binding.

Agreed.

One counterpoint - A Fritschi or Naxo that breaks is a little easier to replace in the field than a Dynafit. It's a little easier to work some magic with Voile straps. With Dynafits, unless you have an extra one you might be stuck.

(Never had to do a field repair on either in 9-10 years....knock on wood.)

[ninjabirdman]

if you beater often I wouldn't go the DYnafit route . . . Naxos and Fritschis definitely don't have as reliable release performance with AT boots as alpine bindings + alpine boots

translation . . . i should just stop sucking as much

[PNWbrit]

Agreed.

One counterpoint - A Fritschi or Naxo that breaks is a little easier to replace in the field than a Dynafit. It's a little easier to work some magic with Voile straps. With Dynafits, unless you have an extra one you might be stuck.

(Never had to do a field repair on either in 9-10 years....knock on wood.)

A broken dynafit toe is difficult to do anything with although it's simple to carry a spare (especially if several people in group are on them). Even if the heel gets destroyed it's still possible to use just the toe. I know someone who did three days on the Haute Route like this.

[harpo-the-skier]

People have been mentioning the Dynafit breaking and the necessity of carrying spare parts (or whole bindings) to make the binding workable. I just bought second hand 2/3 of a Dynafit comfort for a spare, and was wondering what I should carry when I go on multi day trips. The only thing I have broken on the comfort are the red Volcanos and the ski crampon mount, neither of which made the binding unworkable. So what have other people broken?

[verbier61]

as you can see in pistehors.com, the main problem is the crampon mount (to be improved in 2007 version)..... other parts have a very strong reputation

[upallnight]

People have been mentioning the Dynafit breaking and the necessity of carrying spare parts (or whole bindings) to make the binding workable. I just bought second hand 2/3 of a Dynafit comfort for a spare, and was wondering what I should carry when I go on multi day trips. The only thing I have broken on the comfort are the red Volcanos and the ski crampon mount, neither of which made the binding unworkable. So what have other people broken?

maybe carry a spare toepiece...that would have you covered.

[AltaPowderDaze]

as you can see in pistehors.com, the main problem is the crampon mount (to be improved in 2007 version)..... other parts have a very strong reputation

that new toe plate is heavier by 6oz if i recall. it also raises your toe higher off the ski and will require that most crampon manufacturers modify their current crampons.



for those sitting on the dynafit fence: go ski them and tour on them. it takes a few runs to get used to them but once you do, the heavy AT binders find their way to the back of the closet.

[manderson]

maybe carry a spare toepiece...that would have you covered.

Good call. I don't know why I never did this before.

Just out of curiosity the Comfort and the TLT should be interchangeable aren't they? I should be able to use a TLT heel and a comfort toe piece or vice versa shouldn't I. I think the mounting holes would even be in the right places too. It would get expensive to keep spare Comfort and Tech parts.

[corn dog]

The comforts have thicker plastic shims, by a few mm. You can swap plastic bits under the toe-piece, but not at the heel since its all screwed together. The comfort heel piece has more range of adjustment, a tlt heel piece will fit the holes in the ski but may or may not end up in the right place if you already mounted comforts.

[cj001f]

Just out of curiosity the Comfort and the TLT should be interchangeable aren't they?

Except for the plastic base plate they are exactly the same, save color. The only one with a different toepiece is the Tri-Step, which sucked. A spare toe is ~$75 from Life-Link