This is a “First Look,” please also see our Dynafit Radical ST review.
Harrumph. I thought this stuff was supposed to hit the airwaves in a few days, but it looks like it’s out as at least two sets of photos circulated a few days ago, and now the video below direct from Dynafit themselves. So below please find an embed from Youtube that was released earlier today, as well as my take. Enjoy. And now that I can quit playing childish games with releasing information 48 hours earlier or later, let’s start talking about these interesting developments in Dynafit bindings!
Catalog shot of the new flagship Dynafit Radical FT backcountry skiing binding. Label 2 is a switch that changes the connector plate from free sliding to locked, to change ski flex under foot. That'll need a season of testing, for sure. Label 6 is one of the now famous but mysterious Power Towers, these will also cause lots of media optimism (shoot, the name alone should garner a few Editor's Choice awards), but again, these need complete on-snow vetting before we'll really know if they're revolutionary or not. This binding model also incorporates the Dynafit 'Power Plate' which extends support a bit more under the binding wings to left and right at the toe. Click to enlarge.
Zee 'Power Plate' provides support under binding wings. Solution without a problem? Perhaps for most skiers, but it could offer something for larger more agro turners.
Dynafit Radical binding heel unit, (this one from Baltoro red color model). Basic stuff. Instead of rotating heel to change lift, you flip the thingies up and down. Like Onyx. And no Virginia, still not changing from alpine to walk mode without taking ski off (if you're using brakes).
Dynafit radical heel in medium lift position.
The Power Towers are quite ingenious. They simply block boot toe movement past a certain point, depending on if binding is closed or open. They make the binding essentially a step-in (unless you've got ice in the way), but they do prevent using the 'roll in' method of getting your boot into the binding. It's said another advantage of the Power Towers is they prevent the binding toe from opening while you're skiing and causing pre-release.
Power Towers with binding closed.
Boot with power towers. Essentially, they prevent the boot from pressing the binding open in a sideways direction, but still allow release function.
Okay, with the details out of the way let’s review what will be available next season in 8 models of Dynafit bindings:
TLT Radical FT (The top of the line, with Power Towers and new heel lifters)
TLT Vertical FT (The old standard, unchanged, not sure if this is backstock or will continue being made.)
TLT Radical ST (Power Towers, new heel, RV 10, stripped down, very nice.)
TLT Vertical ST (Our favorite for the last few years, again, not sure if this is backstock or will remain in production.)
TLT Radical ST Baltoro (Red highlights to go with the Baltoro branding look that Dynafit has added this year.)
TLT Speed (Ye olde classic standard.)
TLT Speed Radical (Like the Speed, only with new heel lifter and Power Tower toe unit.
TLT Speed Superlight (Recreational race binding that’ll be great for touring. Toe locks when you step in, super light at 185 grams. RV values adjustable, with one adjustment combining lateral and vertical release in a very ingenious fashion. Goes to RV 10. Change in rando race regulations happening sooner than later will require all bindings to have adjustable release both vertical and lateral, so by working on this design, Dynafit is positioning themselves to provide the technology for this.)
TLT Speed Superlight, click image to enlarge.
Low Tech Radical (Race binding heel with regular style Speed toe).
Low Tech Race (Said to be like Atlantis, you know it might be there but hardly anyone ever sees it. Probably will be around 120 grams weight. Uses magnesium alloy in construction. Women’s winner of Mountain Attack race, yesterday in Saalbach Austria, is on this binding. Mireia Miro Varela knocked about 5 minutes off last year’s best women’s time with 2:55:34,224 for 3,008 meters vert, six changeovers/summits, 40 kilometers. Um, wow.)
Low Tech Race binding by Dynafit, heel unit does rotate. Click image to enlarge.
Other details:
New toe units have 4 instead of 5 screws, front pair is located 6 mm forward from old pattern.
New heel unit uses same screw pattern as before.
New Radical toe unit is made from drop forged aluminum.
Radical bindings weigh slightly more than equivalent (ST/FT) without power towers.
Toe lock lever on new Radical models is shorter than earlier FT/ST, which were a bit long and subject to damage from catching on things.
Binding ski brake widths: 82, 92, 100, 110, 130 (Note that various bindings are only available with max width brakes of certain sizes, so for something wider you have to purchase additional brakes. For example, Radical ST only comes with 100 mm as widest brake.)
Crampon widths: 82, 92, 100, 110
Binding screws will have torx head instead of posidrive (yuck, yet another screw driver bit to worry about having.)
Binding screws are still available in titanium if you want the ultimate in weight weeni-ism (I do).
Previous post about the new Dynafit products for 2011/2012.
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.
