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Thread: Power straps: cutting the cord

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    Power straps: cutting the cord

    I've been doing lots more tours these days on my DyNA Evos, and as a result have gotten used to the wonderful joy of fiddle-free transitions: just rip skins, flip the lever and ski, no tongues, no power strap, no buckles to mess with. It's great.

    I just picked up a pair of (used) new TLT6s, and my first day out on them was in low- to moderate angle powder, no power straps. I didn't miss it under those circumstances. I used power straps on my older TLT5s, but was thinking of getting rid of them on my new setup. Yeah, I can go and see what they ski like in more serious terrain, but I'm just curious who else here has given up on power straps for more serious skiing conditions, and if so, what they think. I know some (GregL) have played with the clever solution of attaching them to the tongues, which makes sense - they're there when you need them, but not when you don't.

  2. #2
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    Mar 2008
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    I don't use the Dynafit power strap on a mercury while touring cuz they are another thing to mess with, I may put it back on the boot in bounds if I remember
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  3. #3
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    Mar 2011
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    Squamish, BC
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    I use booster straps, or ghetto $3 cut-down rack straps.
    way quicker and less fiddle than powerstraps. I can loosen them for walk mode just by pushing the latch release through my pant leg. then it's just a quick pull to tighten them up for ski mode (or just don't bother if it's low angle or just a short pitch). plus the added bonus that there is no velcro to catch on the inside of your pant fabric.

    The downside is that if you do it too tight, it actually overpowers the cuff buckle (on vulcans, but same mechanism), which then has less tension to hold in the walk-mode peg. A couple times now that's actually kicked me into walk mode momentarily while skiing.

    I agree that fiddling with the tongue sucks too. I've mostly just been leaving it in, which isn't a bother especially if it's steeper.

  4. #4
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    If I have a really long approach i take the tongues out
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  5. #5
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    Dec 2010
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    These days I'm leaving the power straps on the back of the cuff, but fastening them behind the tongue and leaving the tongues in 95% of the time.

  6. #6
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    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rossland BC
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    Dynafit Mercuries with Intuition alpine wraps. Removed and discarded the power straps. Ground down the bump stops. Leave home with the tongues in my pack, and put them in for the descents. Sometimes leave the tongues in for shorter, steeper climbs, but I don't find swapping adds much to my transitions. I find regular power straps either compromise boot flex (if tight and strong) or else do nothing. I use booster straps on my Raichle/full-tilt alpine boots, but haven't felt the need on my Mercuries.

  7. #7
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    I've skied a bunch in TLT5M and TLT6M without touching the power strap. For one spring/summer season I removed my TLT5M power straps, toured 30+ days on them sans power straps. IME, they do ski a bit better with power straps. It takes only a few seconds to fiddle with them and I'm seldom in that much of a hurry. But it's fun to know they ski fine without 'em.

  8. #8
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    I found with my TLT5M I needed the power straps and often the tongue. (mostly for 105 underfoot ski, 90 underfoot was fine without)

    I ski my TLT5P with no tongue or power strap ever. I did a day of lifts last weekend and gave the tongue a try in my TLT5P and they were too stiff.

    I did try replacing the spoiler recently to go more upright and can't believe I hadn't done it sooner. All the sudden I feel much more in control and can pressure my ski tips much more easily and consistently.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by timmaio View Post
    I did try replacing the spoiler recently to go more upright and can't believe I hadn't done it sooner. All the sudden I feel much more in control and can pressure my ski tips much more easily and consistently.
    Yup

  10. #10
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    May 2012
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    No strap for touring, I've removed it from my last couple of BC boots and don't miss it. I only put the tongues in my TLT 5M's when skiing gnar. I am not a great skier and my legs are generally too tired to notice these subtle differences. I'm also one of those guys who occasionally make a run and only realize I didn't lock the cuff for the descent when I reach to unlock it to hike back up.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by timmaio View Post
    I found with my TLT5M I needed the power straps and often the tongue. (mostly for 105 underfoot ski, 90 underfoot was fine without)

    I ski my TLT5P with no tongue or power strap ever. I did a day of lifts last weekend and gave the tongue a try in my TLT5P and they were too stiff.

    I did try replacing the spoiler recently to go more upright and can't believe I hadn't done it sooner. All the sudden I feel much more in control and can pressure my ski tips much more easily and consistently.
    Yes, I did this too, after Jonathan Shefftz had been telling me to do it for months. So far, I agree!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Colorado
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    I removed the powerstrap from my TLT6Ps before I ever put my feet in them, I also have never used the tongues. No complaints.
    "High risers are for people with fused ankles, jongs and dudes who are too fat to see their dick or touch their toes.
    Prove me wrong."
    -I've seen black diamonds!

    throughpolarizedeyes.com

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    13,477
    I leave my p-straps loose on my Maestrales, if I tighten them too much, they overpower the buckle and cut off circulation. I've thought about removing them completely, but I guess it's nice to be able to really buckle them down on steep, choppy shit. But I'm a crappy skier too.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by timmaio View Post
    I did try replacing the spoiler recently to go more upright and can't believe I hadn't done it sooner. All the sudden I feel much more in control and can pressure my ski tips much more easily and consistently.
    Pics? Details/beta on things you learned/would've done differently. I've been looking to do this on my Mercuries and am trying to figure out the best way to go about it.
    "...if you're not doing a double flip cork something, skiing spines in Haines, or doing double flip cork somethings off spines in Haines, you're pretty much just gaping."

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by shafty85 View Post
    I've been looking to do this on my Mercuries and am trying to figure out the best way to go about it.
    Mercury FL is adjustable by merely flipping the lean/lock plate. timmaio is talking about gen1 TLT5, which lacked the flippable plate.

  16. #16
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    Mar 2010
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    I used the proper OEM gen2 spoiler which I bought from Dynafit. I just followed directions on wildsnow.com, used a plastic mallet and a set of metric tapered punches and it went super easy. It took me half an hour including fussing, cleanup, etc.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Steve View Post
    Mercury FL is adjustable by merely flipping the lean/lock plate. timmaio is talking about gen1 TLT5, which lacked the flippable plate.
    Yeah, I've got the forward lean in the position I prefer it, but I would also like to be able to raise my booster strap so that it is higher up and making better use of the height of the intuition liner (not looking to adjust forward lean). To do this I need a taller spoiler and was hoping that this would provide some insight on a DIY (didn't realize there was an OEM part for the TLT5).
    "...if you're not doing a double flip cork something, skiing spines in Haines, or doing double flip cork somethings off spines in Haines, you're pretty much just gaping."

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