Just got done with the annual Dynafit press event in Austria. While I’m embargoed for a few more days from publishing closeup photos and tons of detailed info (I like to play nice, rather than piss off my hosts), I got permission to share a few things. For starters, as web rumors say, the Dynafit binding line is indeed revamped with a different heel lift system (that flips up similar to Onyx), but more importantly, the toe unit has a system that both totally locks out the side pre-release possibility we’ve previously covered here, but also morphs the binding into almost a step-in unit. Ingenious, if it works in real life.
Dynafit event this year was held at Praxmar, a small mountain trailhead area with a tiny ski tow but a huge amount of very popular ski touring terrain rising around 3,000 vert above. The snow and weather were nothing to rave about today, but as always, being here in the old country and hoisting beers with a bunch of mountain loving Germans, Austrians, Italians (not to mention Jackson Hole hardcores) and so forth is always an enriching experience. Wonderful how love of mountain sport can be so cross language and even cross cultural. Photo above was basically the scene today, ski tour in the wet snow and rain but love every minute of it (or almost every minute). As always I demoed some skis narrower than I've skied on in a year, just to stay true to the Euro way. And as always, the latest version of 7 Summits do deliver, but were not exactly the floaters one wants on 18 inches of Euro Mank. All compensated for by the evening group meals and some preview vids from Sweetgrass Productions.
Zee backcountry skiing bindings of the hour. Item in front is a race inspired creation that I suspect will be very popular for lightweight touring. All the new binding models have super interesting changes, but how they work in real life remains to be vetted. Of great interest is one version (not shown) that has the well known but formerly cosmetic connector between toe and heel, yet in this case has a switch to change from solid to sliding, thus said to change ski flex. Not a bad idea. Some of this stuff could be game changing in the tech binding world. Testing will be a blast!
Before you guys start going crazy, know that how this stuff works in real life is an open question. And “traditional” Dynafit bindings are still a totally viable option so don’t get all hot and bothered about holding off on your shopping (the new ones with the toe features are slightly heavier versions of FT/ST, so there you for a disincentive). But the engineering that went into this whole deal is impressive and you’ll see all of it soon either here or elsewhere.
What else? Lighter weight boots on BOTH ends of the spectrum, more rocker in skis and a new steel edged weapon that’s somewhere in width between Seven Summits and Manaslu.
More, while all Dynafit skis are getting lighter, these guys are working their tails off to make lightweight skis ski better. That’s not BS, it is truly sincere stuff.
Other products? Dynafit clothing continues to be nice for slim builds, similar in fit to Patagonia athletic style. Not sure how much will be available in North America, but good options abound. I like the Dynafit rucksacks as well. Not many big changes in that area, but again, if you are going lighter and want to get away from carrying your load above your head (Dynafit backpacks keep the weight lower and closer to your center of gravity), check ’em out.
All for now, stay tuned of course.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
