Gear Review
Dynafit TLT Vertical ST Alpine Touring Binding
Know the code
By Tyson Bolduc
Ranked #541 - Alpine Touring Bindings
December 19, 2009
These bindings are designed with one purpose in mind and that is to be the light touring binding that you can still feel safe going down on. Some people expect a touring binding to perform like a regular binding and that is just not what this is for. If you want a light, high performance touring binding then these are the best. However, try them before you go on some long touring trip in Montana with a 45lbs pack on. They take practice to use and work on, but once you get the hang of it they will change your backcountry experiences.
View Details: Dynafit TLT Vertical ST Alpine Touring Binding
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Change me.
11 Comments Last Reply: November 24, 2010 By: jmnew202124622
Per the "45 lb. pack in Montana" portion of Mr. Bolduc's post, last year I found myself in Montana, wearing a 45 lb. pack, while being towed 8 miles by a snowmobile in my Dynafits. I'm a big dude - 230 lbs. I never popped out once, no damage, etc., and significant forces were being applied to those bindings. In short, Dynafit's ability to bind adequately and safely is a non-issue.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Coffin: I have the dynafits on 2 set up now, have skied 55+ degree chutes on them, 35 degree boiler plate, etc, as well, they are not flat to ski, they is some loft and angle on the boot.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
With due respect to Mr. Coffin and T. Bulduc, I've skied slopes a lot steeper than 45 degrees on these bindings and gone places a lot further than Montana and think these bindings absolutely rock. I originally got them just for racing, but after trying them for a few tours, now they are all I use for backcountry skiing. They are the lightest thing out there by a long shot and incredibly durable for "normal" backcountry use, ie, touring, not hucking. The connection is metal on metal, so there is zero slop in the system, which allows you to feel the ski much better. They can also be instantly cranked down to provide almost no release if you are skiing something where you absolutely do not want your ski to come off. They take a while to get use to (a few tours) but there's no going back once you've tried them.
Helpful Votes: 6 Yes
Dynafits have been widely used in Europe for decades. For any doubters out there that dont think these are bomber, I don't think there's much stronger endorsement than having someone like Eric Hjorleifson shredding on your product: http://vimeo.com/11180259
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
The Dynafits shred, and allow the ski to flex underfoot because the pins in the back of the boot allow it to flex. Also I believe they have the most lateral rigidity of any backcountry touring binding. I have had a pair for 5 years and I have never had to hold back because of these things. I recommend them.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Backcountry rippers don't use dynafits? What do they use in the 'Dacks? Snowshoes? There are more dynafits around in the backcountry these days than any other single binding, unless you are conducting your poll in ski resort sidecountry. I personally feel much more secure in dynafit bindings skiing hard in all circumstances than I ever did in fritschis. I've seen those things torque out of mounting jobs, lose their BSL adjustment over time, shed little bits of (important) plastic, or somehow eject their user from ski mode into walk mode. On the other hand I've skied a pair of 12+ year old dynafits, purchased in a consignment shop several years ago in every concievable backcountry situation, as well as at top speed on resort groomers and off piste in full-on spring bump conditions, without a single problem, ever. I am not an anomaly. Furthermore I think there are very, very few people out there who've tried dynafits and gone back to their fritschis, especially if you remove from your sample the people who are so badass they can't bear to leave their plug boots in the pantry when its time to go touring.
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
I would also like to point out that Mr. Coffin's claim about dynafit bindings requiring dynafit boots is false. Scarpa, Black Diamond, Dalbello, Garmont, and others all make boots with 'tech' fittings, making them dynafit compatible. Dynafit's boots are pretty great as well. Another point in his review that is misleading is that dynafit bindings don't allow the ski to flex under the boot. This is actually true of the Fritchi type bindings, but not of dynafits. The way the dynafit heel engages the boot allows the ski to flex under the boot as you ski, giving you a nice feel for the snow surface. IMHO the reason that dynafit bindings haven't taken over 99% of the backcountry market is because of the kind of incorrect information in Mr. Coffin's review.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
I too am commenting more on Mr. Coffin's review. In the years I"ve logged in the bc, whether it's guides, serious rippers or tourers both in AB and BC....they all use Dynafits. Unless you're heli-skiing, the Dynafits ultimately allow you to cover more ground and bag more peaks and pow. I love Freerides, but just use them in front and side country.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
More of a comment on Mr. Coffin's post. There are several bootmakers that make a Dynafit compatable boot. I've skied Scarpa's for years,( the latest Skookum is an incredible boot). I've used my Dynafits for 11 seasons now on a pair of Bandit XX's (yeah I know, get an upgrade), everything from in bounds groomers & moguls to bullet proof 40-50 degree chutes & have never had the slightest worry about the integrity of these bindings. I'm not exactlly a small guy, at 6'2", 235lbs. these bindings have served me well. Like most things in life, it's a matter of personal preference, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these bindings or purchase a new pair.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
I would have to further what Tyson had to say earlier in the review. Unfortunately, as light as the dynafit bindings are they still have yet to win over the majority of backcountry rippers for good reason. Like the team pro mentioned above, you can "still feel safe going downhill" on these. The only reason they could be considered the number one system on the backcountry market is the fact that they can only be used with their own boots. One undeniable fact in the backcountry community is that some form of a Diamir Fritschi binding system will be the most skied binding out there. The ease of use and the fact that your boot will actually stay in the binding are big selling points. I am not saying there isn't a place for dynafit's system but they still have a long way to go in development so that people will feel truly secure in charging while in that type of binding. Also, flat to the ski is not always the best for performance. There is a reason integrated binding and ski systems have emerged in the ski industry - to let the ski flex under the foot - and have shown up in the backountry technology as well. Just explore your options and make sure you demo dynafit before you jump in head first. They make some good quality stuff but it is the sort of thing you don't want to have any doubt about when you are up skiing a 45deg chute and diving into a turn. Best of luck.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
As for AT bindings it has the best retention, stiffest toe, Best walk mode, lightests and closest to the deck of the ski which is better for performance. There is a reason it is the number one system in the backcountry market.
Helpful Votes: 19 Yes