I am looking to break into the backcountry and am gathering advise on whether to get Fritschis or dynafits. here's what I want them for and perhaps that will help to advise me correctly. I am planning on putting these bindings on my powder skis: dynastar exclusive legend pro rider ('08, which I believe is 97 underfoot). I have a pair of K2 public enemys that I LOVE for non-powder days inbounds (and a pair of rock skis), so I will be using the dynastars on pow days inbounds, and for BC stuff, which I would really like to start doing a lot this season. I am 5'9" 150 (female). I am an aggressive skier but I don't tend to huck a lot of crazy cliffs, I also am getting back on to the ski patrol at my local mountain in the southern Rockies, so I need these to hold up to toboggan running if it's a snow day (I've been out of the country for several years and finally can get back into patrolling after a 12 year hiatus). I've had good advise both ways, but I'm curious what you guys have to recommend. thanks, LR

The freeride is a BC mainstay for good reason. I spent many seasons on them before switching to dynafit last year. I LOVE touring on dynafits and have skied them a few days at the resorts, but there are a few advantages to the freeride. The comparison between Fritschi and Dynafit has been covered exhaustively on places like wildsnow.com and the tetongravity forums, but I'll try to sum it up. Fritschies are pure "step-in" bindings, whereas there is a bit of fiddle factor with dynafits. Fritschis have a bit more of an aggressive climbing post set-up (higher top post), and put you a bit higher off the ski than dynafits. Dynafits, in spite of their seeming lack of beef, have a much stiffer connection to the ski than freerides and have a much better touring pivot position, though I hear the new eagles aren't too far off from dynafits now. If you are going for patrol and also are new to the backcountry, I would probably go with the Fritschi set-up. You will be able to pop into and out of your skis quickly, and won't have as steep a learning curve with your gear in the BC. If you end up doing lots of BC, you will likely end up with dynafit some in the future, but freerides have and continue to work for people in exactly the capacity you describe just fine. Either binding will be durable enough to handle whatever you want to throw at them, as long as you mount and adjust them properly.