Dynafit TLT 5 Boot

[Jonathan S.]

Can you elaborate? How was the design modified - is it going to result in less slop? Have you been able to see any differences in slop-resistance between the newer 12/13 rivets and the older ones?

I have a compare/contrast picture, but it's kind of hard to see, since have to look kind inside the shell at the cross section of the rivet assembly.
IIRC, the term Dynafit told me was gusset -- or was it gasket? Well, whatever g word it was, essentially there's now something in there between the cf cuff and the metal rivet.
WildSnow.com finally discovered it and blogged about it:
"Rando ski boot cuff pivot wear is a [sic] the elephant in the room. The gorilla in the attic. The animal that takes a $1,000 shoe and makes it resemble a pet chew: A few bites by the big fido (you, we trust), and they’re a mess. Loose, wiggley, simply not what you paid for."
Hmm, well, the blog has some useful information in there somewhere ... otherwise, with the old boots, yes, I've sent them back every September. Costs me something like $15 in postage for two pairs of shells. (Return shipping from Salewa is free.) My original-generation DyNA and TLT5 each have about half a million vertical on them. With the rivets repressed, they are as tight as new. Nice that the new design will stay tighter longer w/o repressing, but unclear to me what that has to do with elephants, gorillas, and pet dogs....
As noticing it so far, the slop was noticeably previously only after a couple hundred thousand feet of vertical. I'm at over 167,000' vertical so far this season, but that's spread across three different pairs of boots (original-gen DyNA, TLT5, EVO), so nothing to report thus far.

[Jonathan S.]

I have a compare/contrast picture, but it's kind of hard to see, since have to look kind inside the shell at the cross section of the rivet assembly.

This picture is from the outside, but at least it shows how the rivet on the right is protruding more because of the redesign:

[MultiVerse]

^ Any rivet press with sufficiently wide "cups" can get them all nice & tight again. (I've had this done 2x on my original-generation DyNA, and once on my newer TLT5.) I couldn't find a place locally, so I've just sent them back to Salewa in Boulder over the summer (or rather during the one month I don't ski each year...)

The cuff rivet design was modified for 2012-13 on both the TLT5 and Evo (although many prior-year TLT5 boots are being sold as 2013-14 stock by various etailers). Must be the same on the new TLT6. Hard to notice at first, which is probably why a certain blogger said it was unchanged.

Thanks for the information Jonathan, especially about the running improvement to the newer model years.

I took the boots to Wasatch Touring (The Sports Loft in SLC says that they can do it too) and even though they “yarded” on the boots the fix didn’t quite get it done. The boots are better than before. The problem, according to the shop, is that the carbon cuff has been ovalized and might need replacement.

My boots were purchased from Europe before they were available to most U.S. retailers and they’ve seen regular 8-to-20K weeks throughout the season since then so all things considered they’ve served me well but the cuffs are loose even after having them tightened with a rivet press.

I’ll send them to Salewa at the end of the season to get their opinion but for anyone else with loose cuffs it’s probably better to deal with it sooner rather than later in order to postpone a much more expensive fix.

[Jonathan S.]

^ Don't give up hope yet!

I too let my [original-generation] DyNA loosen up way too much, in part b/c I was told by someone at Dynafit that it wasn't a concern.
After it got even worse (at around 305,000' vertical), I asked a different person (i.e., the person actually in charge of this stuff and whom I should have first contacted), who said I should just try repressing the rivet.
Oh no, said I, the problem is not with the rivet, but instead with "ovalizing" wear of the cf cuff.
He insisted that repressing the rivet was worth a try.
So first I tried using some vise grips that seemed perfect for the task. I exert what seemed to me like massive amounts of force, but didn't do anything. I called up all sorts of various specialized machine shops nearby, and although they liked the idea of trying to fix something that offbeat, nobody had sufficiently large cups (or whatever they're called).
I paid the postage to ship the shells to Salewa, thinking it was a complete waste of money.
I was glad to be proven wrong!
(Note that sometimes one or two rivets might have some noticeable resistance after repressing, but that goes away almost immediately.)

[Bromontana]

That's a lot of fucking vert, Juan. Being a new member of the TLT5 tribe I wish to give thanks and good tidings for your substantial contributions. Mahalo

Boots are so rad-tastic you don't even need to ski to enjoy them.

[bilman]

Finally spent a week touring on the TLT5 Mtns on K2 Waybacks with Speed Radicals and thought I would provide my two cents worth. The setup is extremely easy to ski with or without optional tongues on slopes tested up to about 40 degrees in about 10" of soft but settled snow (5'9";160 lbs plus day pack); at higher speeds and longer turns I found the skis wander a bit. Inbounds the ski tips lose grip at moderate speeds but don't believe this has anything to do with the boots. These boots are almost as light as my old leather telemark boots and climbing is just great. Once below -10C I get cold heels let alone cold toes. I have Sidas boot heaters but the cables broke after a few days use - cable was taped to the liner over the flex zone so as the liner flexed the cable shortened and bent with each step (looking for a solution). While I hate to lose the lightness, I am also considering purchasing a second pair of boots primarily for warmth (and stiffer might be nice) and possibly fatter skis next year. Any thoughts on Vulcan or Mercury as the second part of my "quiver" to be, and how much warmer they might be?

[saxon]

My Mercuries aren't noticeably warmer than my TLT5's, they were in fact quite a bit colder before I got the toes punched (but that's my feet). But then I find my TLT5's comfortable down to -15C, and to -25C if I make an effort not to stand still.

[Andyski]

Thanks Jonathan.

Having a bitch of a time getting the pins out to swap the lean lock. Using a punch/hammer and have succeeded in nothing more than scoring a sweet dimple in the small side of the pin so far. Any tips??

[Plinko]

Having a bitch of a time getting the pins out to swap the lean lock. Using a punch/hammer and have succeeded in nothing more than scoring a sweet dimple in the small side of the pin so far. Any tips??

Andy,

Push the pin out from the other side, (punch/hammer against the LARGE end of the pin). The pins have barbs that only allow them to move in one direction.

Check here for more info:

http://www.wildsnow.com/7174/dynafit...f-lean-adjust/

Specifically, the last 4-5 comments at the bottom.

[superdigg]

Andy,

Push the pin out from the other side, (punch/hammer against the LARGE end of the pin). The pins have barbs that only allow them to move in one direction.

Check here for more info:

http://www.wildsnow.com/7174/dynafit...f-lean-adjust/

Specifically, the last 4-5 comments at the bottom.

Had no problem smacking out mine but you need to rest on a suitable surface like a vise (with rubber) or a 2x4 with a pre drilled hole.

[Jonathan S.]

I had to punch out six pins (for three pairs of boots: original DyNA, TLT5, and DyNA EVO), and it was definitely one of those things where you get better over time. Come to think of it, the first pin might have taken me as long as the next five pins combined...

A few tips:

1. I used a relatively pointy nail punch. A punch with a flat end would probably work better, since that way the force would be spread out more instead of creating a dimple in the pin.

2. I placed the opposite side of the boot against a piece of soft scrap wood, and also drilled a hole in the wood for where the pin would come out, i.e., kind of like a supporting wood donut.

3. The hole in the boot is a constant diameter, and the pin has only a slight taper at the small end. And since the pin has a series of "barbs," as the other poster mentioned, you can also try punching out the pin from the large end.

[Besniwod]

Finally read through all 46 pages. Loads of useful information.

I just received my TLT5 Mountains and am looking forward to putting them to good use. The flex is pretty soft though. I am thinking of buying a pair of Dalbello "B" stiffness tongues and grinding them down so they will fit into the Mountains like this guy did with his Mercury boots: http://www.earlyups.com/featured/gea...ercury-review/

Has anybody else tried something like this with their TLT5s?

The Mountains fit really nice and tightly around my narrow feet and chicken legs. I have fairly bony ankles but there are no pressure points and my heel is very well locked down. The low instep helps with that too. My feet measure about 255mm and 260mm and I have squeezed my feet into 25.5 Mondo TLT5s. The shell fit is just over a fingers width or about 13mm on my longer foot. There was quite a bit of pressure on my toes at first but I have made a bit more room heating up the liners via the Intuition rice-in-a-sock method. I wanted a tight fit everywhere else so I buckled the boots on the loosest setting while wearing a toe cap under a thin ski sock. There is still some pressure on my toes in walk mode but when the boot is locked into downhill mode they feel perfect.

Also, I remember Federico mentioning the rivet slop experienced in the TLT5P shouldn't be a problem with the Mountains, presumably because they lack carbon in the cuff. Is this true? Has anybody's Mountains developed slop in the cuff rivets?

[Moralkaka]

I have done that to a pair of full tilt flex 8, but on a pair of tlt5p. Works really well. Ads to the dyna-fiddle though, but go for it :-)

[Besniwod]

How did you find it affected the flex compared with the stock tongue?

[Moralkaka]

Noticed the added stiffnes for sure, have yet to ski with original liner because used a powerwrap last trip. But carpet testing says it will be a very nice fit :-)

[superdigg]

^^^Pics is always nice

[nexus6]

I just got some Vulcan tongues from Dynafit. All it's going to take is cutting out the square hole in the tongue in a different spot. Probably not as progressive as the Full Tilt tongues but seems like a much easier fit.

[GeezerSteve]

Also, I remember Federico mentioning the rivet slop experienced in the TLT5P shouldn't be a problem with the Mountains, presumably because they lack carbon in the cuff. Is this true? Has anybody's Mountains developed slop in the cuff rivets?

I've put lots of miles on my TLT5Ms and have no cuff rivet slop.

Re the stiffness, I initially thought my first gen TLT5Ms were a bit soft. But then I modded them to get 3* more upright and they seemed plenty stiff, with or without tongues.

[Besniwod]

Thanks for the answers.

How much did the Vulcan tongues cost nexus6? I contacted Dalbello and they said the recommended retail price for the tongues was $145! I have read that the parts are actually cheaper when you go through a dealer but if it is anywhere close to that ridiculous price I will have to look elsewhere.

I have gone for a performance fit in these boots but am a little worried about the pressure on my toes in walk mode. I don't really want a bigger shell as they feel great in downhill mode and I don't want to lose that tight fitting performance. They liners feel pretty tight when I put them on out of the shells so I am going to try stretching the liners more outside of the shells.

[nexus6]

Thanks for the answers.

How much did the Vulcan tongues cost nexus6? I contacted Dalbello and they said the recommended retail price for the tongues was $145! I have read that the parts are actually cheaper when you go through a dealer but if it is anywhere close to that ridiculous price I will have to look elsewhere.

I have gone for a performance fit in these boots but am a little worried about the pressure on my toes in walk mode. I don't really want a bigger shell as they feel great in downhill mode and I don't want to lose that tight fitting performance. They liners feel pretty tight when I put them on out of the shells so I am going to try stretching the liners more outside of the shells.

$145! they better be made of pure magic for that price. Vulcan tongues were $15/pair from direct from Salewa. Just hand flexing them they're way stiffer. I can easily fold up the TLT5 tongue by hand, not the case for the Vulcan tongue.

The liners are a tight lasted compared to the shell so you might get some room stretching them. I had to punch the shell in the toe for mine in the end. After 5 days the stock liner felt like a sloppy towel so I ended up just putting in Powerwraps anyway.

[Besniwod]

Yeah, they must be made out of pure cocaine or something.

I hope I won't have to punch the shell. There is nobody in my area who I would trust to punch the boots, especially seeing as they are grilamid.

I will try contacting Salewa about the tongues.

Did you use the Plug Powerwraps?

[nexus6]

Yeah, they must be made out of pure cocaine or something.

I hope I won't have to punch the shell. There is nobody in my area who I would trust to punch the boots, especially seeing as they are grilamid.

I will try contacting Salewa about the tongues.

Did you use the Plug Powerwraps?

Pretty sure Dalbello tongues are made in Columbia.

I punched my own. The grilamid was actually easier to punch than regular PE boots since it's so thin. Just used regular Powerwraps. I have a narrow foot and needed to take up some room. The TLT5 isn't as narrow as people think, the stock liner is just really narrow lasted compared to the shell. Although I had to move the top buckle latch to the outer setting since the Powerwrap is thicker around the leg. Adding a Booster strap really helped the flex pattern too. The Booster Strap guy will make you one with a plastic buckle for a small extra charge. No use weighing down your TLT5s with a big hunk of steel. Locked out the Activeflex and relocated the lower buckle higher so it hold me back into the heel pocket rather than just squishing my instep. One sweet boot now.

[Besniwod]

What method did you use to punch the boots?

[superdigg]

The Booster Strap guy will make you one with a plastic buckle for a small extra charge. No use weighing down your TLT5s with a big hunk of steel.

Kewl!!! This is the reason I don't have a booster on mine. You contacted SkiMetrix about this?

Locked out the Activeflex and relocated the lower buckle higher so it hold me back into the heel pocket rather than just squishing my instep. One sweet boot now.

Also nice move!

Description and/or pics would be terrific

[Moralkaka]

^^^Pics is always nice

There you go. Not a perfect fit in the toes, but good enough.