Thread: Dynafits...

Which model do I want???

My skis are atomic centurys.. 100mm underfoot..

My plan is to put dynafits on the centurys and then get a bigger, stiffer ski for mostly resorts and put the fritschis that are currently on the centurys on the new ski.. I only have AT boots without changable soles, so I cannot put a regular binding on another ski...

My din on the fritschis is set at 6.5.. so I don't think I need super burly.. I don't huck things...

I am not mechanically inclined, so I am a little leary of buying used bindings... should I get over it, and just buy used, (if I can find any?)

Good idea? Bad idea?

If you want brakes, go Vertical or Radical ST. If you don't need brakes, also consider Vertical or Radical Speed. All of these are 10 DIN.

For your resort ski, consider getting Barons which will still work with touring soles (adjustable sliding AFD) but should be more solid and a bit lower to the snow.

everyone has said I don't need breaks.. straps are fine?

I am not going to replace the fritschis at this time, the only thing that bothers me about them is that they suck to tour in... I am not a dentist, so...

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

everyone has said I don't need breaks.. straps are fine?

I am not going to replace the fritschis at this time, the only thing that bothers me about them is that they suck to tour in... I am not a dentist, so...

You need brakes. The few ounces you save wont make any difference uphill, and it only takes one instance of losing a ski on top while your fiddling with something to convince you that you need brakes.

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

everyone has said I don't need breaks.. straps are fine?

Get brakes. brs7887 wants to sell some Vertical STs that he says he has taken care of for $250 w/ 110mm brakes. Tell him I sent you.

If you don't buy them, someone else will.

Get brakes... leashes are not good in avy terrain....even the B&D leashes that a lot of the TAY crowd like...I've used the leashes and tried it all AND went back to brakes!!!
I like Verticals.

Meadow skipper deal above= jump on it fast!

Get brakes.

Straps are a PITA and if they don't snap, they are dangerous in an avalanche. If they are designed to snap in an avalanche, then they can sometimes also snap when you crash (or so I have been told). So they seldom serve a functional purpose.

I don't like brakes on Dynafits -- I use the B&D coiled leashes, but the newer Dynafit coiled leashes are pretty nice too. The old nylon strap ones suck.

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

If you don't buy them, someone else will.

Yes, yes they will.

straps are nice on glaciers or in deep powder. brakes are nice most everywhere else

edit: leashes are a clipsnap from a hardware store and a loop of cord

I have had B&D coiled leashes break twice and both times I've nearly lost a ski. I tried stronger connecting zip ties but if they are strong enough to resist a big fall...they are probably too strong to come off easily in an avy.
For bootpacking over the shoulder on short bootpacks they are a PITA as they flop around and unless you tie tips, skis flop around on your shoulder.
They whistle on your ski rack on your car.
They add to transition times.
They make you look like an Alexander Graham Bell early telephone experiment!
Fucking HATE B&D ski leashes and I gave mine away and went back to brakes. One of the most disappointing touring products I have ever tried.
but to each his own.

I sent a PM to brs7887...

provided I get a model that can have brakes, I can take them off or put them on, right?????

Can you screw....driver?

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

...provided I get a model that can have brakes, I can take them off or put them on, right?????

Yes.

....

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Can you screw....driver?

righty tighty, lefty loosey

Since you're a girl, everyone here now wants to know if you're a lefty.

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

Which model do I want???

I would advise going with the tried-and-true: Speed/Classic, Comfort, or Vertical ST. Used is usually fine. Radical series heels experienced a few issues last season (their first) and the binding remains essentially unchanged.

Brakes? Like most everything in touring, it's not cut and dried. You'll find most of the fast-and-light crowd going with nothing on days when they don't think the ski will go far, leashes of some sort when they are over crevasses, etc. Most of these people don't fall very much and usually don't remove their skis at the top to de-skin if there is even a tiny flat spot to stand on. There are a lot of serious tourists who always use brakes as well, but Dynafit brakes have some issues, especially older ones. There are also some people who use brakes when they expect higher than average avy danger and remove them at other times, but the process is not trivial and requires partial disassembly of the heelpiece.

Originally Posted by Sinecure

Since you're a girl, everyone here now wants to know if you're a lefty.

I am ambidextrous

^^^ hmmm, good genes.

Originally Posted by Scotsman50

I have had B&D coiled leashes break twice and both times I've nearly lost a ski. I tried stronger connecting zip ties but if they are strong enough to resist a big fall...they are probably too strong to come off easily in an avy.
For bootpacking over the shoulder on short bootpacks they are a PITA as they flop around and unless you tie tips, skis flop around on your shoulder.
They whistle on your ski rack on your car.
They add to transition times.
They make you look like an Alexander Graham Bell early telephone experiment!
Fucking HATE B&D ski leashes and I gave mine away and went back to brakes. One of the most disappointing touring products I have ever tried.
but to each his own.

Tell me how you really feel Scotty! That said I'd go with brakes for many of the stated reasons above. I've had leashes break after crashing...runaway skies aren't so fun.

Sent from my Vodafone 858 using TGR Forums

Originally Posted by Power_Sauce

I've had leashes break after crashing...runaway skies aren't so fun.

I've seen Dynafit brakes not deploy sufficiently to stop the ski for several hundred feet. The brakes have gotten quite a bit better with the Radical series, but the anti-rotation pin issue hasn't really been solved and lifter breakage seems common as well.

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

I am ambidextrous

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.


As Greg says, there are good and bad things about leashes and about Dynafit brakes. Scotsman, we all know that the B&D snap tie system sucks. B&D leashes work great with DIY fuses made of loops of 6 lb. test fishing line.

I'll disagree with Scotsman. My wife and I both don't have brakes on our 4 year old Vert STs and like it that way. Between us in those 4 seasons the bindings have only released a few times. Early on once, the zip tie broke on mine, the ski went flinging, and that sucked, as I went down 50 yards? on one ski to get it. Fine. I upped the zip tie to a little ring, problem solved, (for us). There is a lot more to this, but for us, and our conditions, (mostly spring non-powder), I don't need to lug the weight, or add the complexity.


"He was trying to reach an even higher state of unconsciousness."

Originally Posted by Big Steve

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

Nice one.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Can you screw....driver?

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

righty tighty, lefty loosey

Originally Posted by Sinecure

Since you're a girl, everyone here now wants to know if you're a lefty.

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

I am ambidextrous

Lots of win here