Comments on: Reader’s Rides – Todd’s Burton Split Board Set-Up

By: nOrm

nOrm — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:25:46 +0000

Indeed, after snowboarding for 22 years, I spent most of my time on AT gear last winter. I used to carry my board using snowshoes, then began using a splitboard. But I like touring… and the dynafit system is so clean and quick to transition (and light, and sexy, etc.) that I converted.

The biggest issue for me was short flat spots in deep powder. When you ski into the bottom of a bowl and must cross 100m of flat before continuing downhill, you can switch your bindings to walk mode and be across immediately without skins. Being on a splitboard could require 20+ minutes and a lot of effort to continue downhill.

I love snowboarding. The feeling of surfing in steep, deep pow is a sensation I have not found in skiing or anywhere else yet. There are tradeoffs.

Ideally for backcountry snowboarding, I’d like to see a new mountain/splitboard boot that is a hybrid hardshell (dynafit compatible) bottom with a softer top and integral highback. Something that is crampon and plate binding compatible, climbs and flexes well, and is super lightweight. I think a splitboard specific boot/binding is the next step in the progression of the sport.

But it still won’t get you across flat deep snow very easily.

By: Pierce

Pierce — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:34:49 +0000

Congratulations, you’ve made your first step towards becoming a skier! I’ve never tried splitboarding, but almost all my splittie friends and my boarder wife of 15 years have all switched to AT. Coincidence?

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:18:11 +0000

Great article, I recently started to board in the back country! It is an incredible feeling, I don’t know if I could or even want to go back to a resort. I have been trekking up Mores Creek Summit north of Boise, ID. I still use my snow shoes and board on the back, but I am getting close to picking up a split board. Thanks for the review!!

By: Lou

Lou — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:24:15 +0000

Randonnee, yeah, like I always say, no one item of gear is for everyone or is perfect. Also, regarding locking the “touring latch” on the Dynafit or “DIN Booster” as it’s called on the G3, remember that only increases the lateral release tension, it doesn’t change the vertical DIN.

By: Randonnee

Randonnee — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:10:54 +0000

I must remind the Dynafit-guru of another aspect = mass and force. “As for Dynafit in particular, people need to realize that unless the binding is properly adjusted, and properly de-iced before skiing downhill, they may have problems. Most incidents of not staying in the binding correctly can easily be traced to the above, and once the user learns the tricks of the trade, the problems end.”

Even with proper adjustment. on several models of boots and bindings, my mass and strength can cause the Dynafit toe to open. I can do it with new gear on the carpet by pushing down with the ball of my foot in the boot. Thus, I would modify the above for someone large and powerful. I would say properly adjust Dynafits, be sure there is no ice interfering with function, and lock the front lever. Yesterday I was sidehilling while climbing on steep icy crust, highest heel post setting, with the front lever locked. The toe released, and I had to sidestep down on one boot and one ski to a flatter spot to get the ski on. But then, a Guide would correct me and say I should not climb so steeply. It does add a lot of force, that is how I broke my FR 10 ski.

Anyway, lock those toes as appropriate.