Comments on: G3 Releases New AT Binding — Yes Virginia, Dynafit Compatible

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:23:22 +0000

Lou, you commented on the auto rotation problem reported by Matt. I’ve certainly experienced this in wet snow as well. Is there a fix?

By: Guido

Guido — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:49:53 +0000

Chris: interesting perspective on the brake/no brake issue…after suffering a broken thumb during the course of running tackling a non braked dynafit bindinged ski that jetted away while trying to click in on hard glacier ice and a 60 km wind, and numerous frustrating time lags due to a sliding ski click in while heliskiing where time is of the essence, i braked the ski for convenience sake…and never looked back. The weight is negligable. I’m old enough to have toured on securafixed and d/h gear…i don’t remember whining about it back then either, most photos from that era show a fairly euphoric shit eating grin; on the up or the down.

By: Nathan B

Nathan B — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:05:20 +0000

Chris, given that G3′s offering weighs almost 50% more without brakes than Dynafit’s does with brakes, well, I guess you must not be planning on doing any serious vertical either. Wow, are you for real?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:55:20 +0000

@ Nick, @Jonathan S, @Nathan B, @Curt – I realize that everyone has is entitled to their own opinion and style. However I have to say it: If you’re putting brakes on your dynafit setup, you obviously are defeating the purpose of having a lightweight binding and are probably not doing any serious uphill vertical worth mentioning. Putting brakes on the Onyx, which is heavy on its own, is even more backwards thinking in my opinion. For inbounds dynafit users too. If I find myself inbounds with my dynafits, I have no qualms about using cords rather than brakes inbounds. It has always worked out great for me. I have always been baffled as to why brakes are manufactured for dynafits. Maybe if dynafit gave out a better cord system with their bindings… (no bondage for me) I had to make/buy my own cord system. (Thanks Lou for the ideas) Bottom line for me: I am looking forward to the toe piece anti-icing features of the Onyx and seamless downhill/touring mode switchover. Cheers to G3 for having what it takes to make a new dynafit compatible product.

By: Curt

Curt — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:59:43 +0000

Having started as a backcountry telemark skier in ’81, I enjoyed the gear’s freedom, lightweight, and effortless switch from skiing downhill to immediately shuffling along laterally to find a better untracked line thru trees. No need to figit with changing from locked heel to free heel. I even kept a little kick wax on to get me up some easy hills or over to another bowl without skiining up (Teton Pass area). Eventually freeheel parallel technique replace the tele turn 90% of the time. I switched to the Dynafits a few years back, but taking the skis off to switch to free heel -just to traverse a few hundred feet for a better untracked shot- that is enough to occassionaly turn me back to my tele skis (depending on the terrain). If G3 Onyx can pull off the easy switch from fixed heel to free heel- then that alone is a big advantage for having the easy mobility to really zig over to a better descent fallline. The Dynafits are slow and a pain in the ass to switch> Plus ice seems to get under the toe springs so I have to carry a little pin to scrap it out- meanwhile the telefolks are halfway up the skin track. For easy of use,heel lift switch, and switching modes, my Fritchies are much easier than the Dynafits, but their weight is obviously the drawback. Looks like G3 has addressed most of the Dynafit issues- but having had a G3 telebinder lever blowup, (common) I hope they make the heel lifters and other plastic parts stout enough. A ski brake would entice me use it at the resort… Lastly, has anyone rigged up a homemade plate to switch Dynafits from one pair to another pair of skis without glue and screws? Would probably entail a plate with snowboard- K2 style screw-in inserts.