G3 Onyx and Rossi S7

[Donnie]

I just bought myself a pair of 188 Rossi S7, and I want to use it for touring on powdery days.. I know this isnt an ideal touring ski, and I have a pair of 06Gotamas with TLT for longer tours. The S7 will be my resort, slackcountry ski, and some longer tours if the conditions are perfect.

I have heard that the Onyx is a better than Dynafit FT 12 on such a wide ski. (145-115-123) What is the reason for this? I cant see why..

Duke and Baron is not an option since S7, Dynafit Titan (the boots i have), Duke/Baron setup will just be to heavy for longer tours. I have tried the Fritschi and I thought it felt to wiggly.

So my final question is: Do you think the Onyx is a good option for me?
I am 170 lbs, been skiing for seven years (three seasons offpist/backcountry), not the most aggressive skier, not dropping of huge cliffs, but i like to pull the throttle a little and ski steeps. (a few smaller jumps and drops, and i am still learning..)

The snow has finally started coming in Norway now and the only thing that stops me taking my S7 out for a spin is that i cant make up my mind about the bindings... Sounds sad but i am not the one to change skies and bindings every season so I want to make the right desicion.

Really hope someone can give me som pointers on this. Been reading everything about the G3 Onyx on every forum there is, and there really isnt much to find.. Have read the review on wildsnow, and read a few posts on prereleases and some other negative things but it looks like its mostly on the Beta version.. Does anyone know if these things have changed for the better? If there is someone who has experience with the Onyx as an everyday binding I would appreciate if they could let me know how it works inbounds and out..

Crossing my fingers for some answers.. :smile:

[skimaxpower]

Touring with S7 ?? - the binding's weight is the least of your worries.

IMHO: Go for the Barons, since you already have a light(er)weight touring setup. At least this way your Rossi's will be super bomber for in-bounds skiing as well.

[bptempleton]

I don't know how much better the onyx is, but I know they're heavier and I've seen quite a few people doing fine inbounds on s7's with dynafits. I would imagine that should be fine, especially cause you're not a huge dude.

[jondrums]

I don't think there's any sound basis for saying that the onyx will be better than ft12s. I still have yet to see a solid review on here of the onyx binding, so I'm withholding judgement bad or good.

my answer - get FT12's and be done. they are tried and true and we all know they work great.

[Donnie]

Thanks for all the replies! :) I really appreciate it.

I know the S7 is not an ideal touring ski, as i stated in my first post. But I dont see any reason for not using it as one, as long as the snow is soft, there is no steep icy traverses, and not too steep.. I know people who tour on Kuros, they use a lot of time on the way up, but they are laughing on the way down.. (would say the S7 is a bit more versatile) You wouldnt use a powder spesific ski for touring unless there is loads of powder... I dont mind using a few hours more on the way up, as long as I can have twice as much fun on the way down..

I have considered the Barons, and it seems like the most sensible option.. But if I could use a lighter touring binding, and not compromise the skiing ability of the ski, it would be perfect.. Hence why I am curious on the Onyx.. There is very little information on it, and hardly no reviews.. Its very strange considering how long it has been on the market...

When it comes to FT 12, I have been recommended not to use them on such a wide ski and that makes me a bit skeptic.. Maybe Dynadukes would be a good option.. Will the Dynadukes plate be compatible with the Barons, and if they are how do I get them? Is it possible to order them directly to Norway?

[alta825]

188 S7's and Dynafit Vert ST's here mounted at -1

Mostly BC usage, but I have had a couple of inbounds days w/ zero complaints, everything skis super solid Skis are driven w/ a pr of Spirit 4's but currently have some Titan's on the way. Scarpas just don't fit my feet all that well and the extra stiffness of the Titan won't hurt.

[Shorty_J]

Maybe Dynadukes would be a good option.. Will the Dynadukes plate be compatible with the Barons, and if they are how do I get them? Is it possible to order them directly to Norway?

I'm pretty confident that dynafits will be fine on a fatter ski... there are a lot of people running them on skis with waist's up to 120mm with no issues.

If you're not sure which way to go regarding bindings, I would say the DynaDuke is the solution (and it will work the Baron). It takes me a little longer than some to switch the bindings (maybe 30minutes for boths skis), but the small amount of added weight is still less than the difference between the Dynafits and the Onyx.

I have the Dynadukes on my Coombas and really like the product.

[jondrums]

dynadukes might be a solution, but I really don't think there is any problem with mounting dynafits on a wide ski - they are a really torsionally stiff binding - honestly, probably better than dukes in this respect.

[Winkler]

I'm not sure where this no dynafits on wide skis advice is coming from. Seems like a hang over from the days when people thought dynafits were a small step up from xc bindings. I mounted verticals on megawatts and have zero concerns whatsoever and all the touring I have done to date on said setup has been flawless, even wind fucked side hilling.

[skifishbum]

I'd dyna duke it. not sure but next years lighter weight marker baron thing should have the same mount pattern.
I dynaduked a pair of lotus 138 and have been stoked on the rig. A bit high on the stack height w/ dukes but gives you a versitile rig

[Jonathan S.]

I have heard that the Onyx is a better than Dynafit FT 12 on such a wide ski. (145-115-123) What is the reason for this? I cant see why..
By now everyone has probably seen the WildSnow.com post (which came out long after the OP's inquiry) and the gazillion comments that followed it, but any advantage the Onyx has in release/retention would be for skiers who prerelease from the Dynafit toe. (This is distinct from preleases that actually engage the release functions of the heel unit, whether vertical/forward or lateral – the Dynafit toe is designed to release only once the heel first releases.) The Onyx has tighter toe unit springs (and/or perhaps some other different aspect of the toe wings?), which seems to make it immune from such prereleases. (The Trab TR2 and ATK Race RT have adjustable toe spring tension – well, okay, neither binding actually exists yet in production form, so change the verb tense of the first half of this sentence as you wish.)
However, the Onyx vertical/forward release maxes out at 10 (although laterally it goes up to 12), so many skiers would be better off with the higher max 12 release setting of the FT12.

[Nordic75]

Have a look at wildsnow.com
they have a quick review of the Onyx. also a few short test reports from people that have used it in the comment section below the review.

Personally I would go for Baron's or Dynaduke plates.. I don't trust dynafits on wider skis.. the mounting pattern is quite narrow, which means the leverage/forces on the screws are going to be greater (the onyx pattern is apparently the same) and I've experienced toe pieces ripping out. I guess a lot of it comes down to how hard you ski and your weight.

[SiSt]

Just to quote from Hjorleifsons blog: "This trip was an excellent trial run me on my new Dynafit boot/binding set up. I skied on the Titan and Vertical FT 12 binding the entire trip. Everyone including myself was blown away by the Dynafit's performance. I skied the Dynafit set up hard and had no problems with binding retention thats for sure. A light weight bomber touring setup that is strong enough to huck and charge on, the future is NOW. "

Og forresten, siden du er norsk: http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/tilsalgs/annonse?finnkode=21549844

[Huck_Schmuck]

My gf has FT12s on some 177 S7s. It's currently her only set up, she's happy to lug the weight up to enjoy the down...

[jondrums]

more dynadukes are ready to ship out early next week, pm me if you want some

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

If you go with the G3 Onyx, get the ski brake upgrade. The runaway straps included with the Onyx are clunky and dangerous!

[Big Steve]

Where the hell did the Dynafits don't work on wide skis BS myth originate? Dynafits work fine on fat skis. WTF?

Jury is still out on the Onyx. Some early reports of field failures.

If I were OP, I'd get a lighter touring setup for, uh, touring.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I ski FT 12's on Lotus 120's. I had 8 inbounds days on them this year, as well as about the same number of touring days. All the world's problems disappear when I'm on this setup. I did not plan on using them at resorts, but they demanded I ski them and I listened.

[xtrmjoe]

I also have ft12's on Lotus 120's with dynadukes, I also did not plan on riding resort with them.
I did 2 afternoons to test them out and make sure they were set up right, and now I am loving them and have yet to put the dukes back on them. Moment rubys have dynadukes as well and have been charging early and late season resort days with the dukes mounted up. I have only released once out of the ft12's and all went well. Small 5-10ft cornice/cliff drops have been no issue. I have a few touring days on them so far hope for more this spring. Dukes feel heavy now when traversing ridges at alpine and kirkwood.

[PNWbrit]

Where the hell did the Dynafits don't work on wide skis BS myth originate? Dynafits work fine on fat skis. WTF?

Jury is still out on the Onyx. Some early reports of field failures.

If I were OP, I'd get a lighter touring setup for, uh, touring.

Basically what the big guy said.

Apart from the fact that the S7 is so much fun on the down it's worth dragging uphill surprisingly often.

[billyj]

Has anyone tried the Onyx brake with the Rossi S7? It's listed 110mm wide so seemingly too narrow but wasn't sure if there is any room. Thanks

[Wetdog]

I have Dynafit St's on 192 Voile Drifters, with a 128mm waist. It is a great set up which was intended for back country only, but I've done resort back country days on them which has required skiing groomers with no problems. Dynafits are perfectly fine on wide skis.

[Mr. Toad]

I've had no problems with Dynafits on Lhasa's, Lotus 120's, or Voile Drifters. 1st generation Onyx had heel lifts that fell off easily which led to the release lever popping open. Other than that they're ok. The new heel lifts have screw head that prevent them from falling off. They're heavier than Dfits plus I prefer the simplicity of the Dfit design.

[stuckathuntermtn]

bump. google is your friend.

They're on sale for cheap on bc.com right now.
I'm about 185 and ski hard-ish (?)
Definitely no hucking or park. I like trees and powder.
What about these on my Moment Rubies? I need some new boots anyway, and these skis are big enough to only be used in soft to soft-ish snow, but I will probably try to used them as everyday skis as Snowbowl because I'm a loony. I tend not to break stuff, but I did once bend a metal ski. wow. shocking, I know. And of course, I'd like to start getting out of bounds.
wwmd? solly fits? It seems like lots of people put all kinds of days inbounds at snowbowl with dynafits, even some burly patrol dudes. I assume retention is the main problem.

[Mark-R]

I'm 190lbs and have FT12's on S7's as my slackcountry setup, no issues, very versatile and a lot of fun.