Comments on: WildSnow Reader’s Rides — Frank Konsella Dynafit FT-12 & BD Verdicts

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:35:33 +0000

Good points there CookieMonster, take time to stop and munch a cookie, eh?

By: CookieMonster

CookieMonster — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:54:20 +0000

I ski with Dynafit and Fritschi bindings and rarely use the heel lifters – for a very long uphill pitch I might use the first setting. Too much attention is paid to gear and very little to track setting and form and stance whilst skinning.

The gear doesn’t do the skiing and it’s certainly not to blame for the fiddling. Usually I find that people rush rush rush uphill – what’s the hurry? – and not to sound pretentious – but where’s the zen in that?

All gear has irritating aspects when you’re in a hurry, when you’re hunched over your skis, and when you’re in a rush.

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:36:03 +0000

Matt, you are correct. Somewhere in the vast confines of WildSnow.com I recommend the paper method. The credit card method is a fail-safe, it makes sure there is enough space to accommodate some dirt on the sole or something like that.

Thing is, a lot of guys just crank their Fritschi toes down till there is no play. That’s a good way to rip out a knee or break a leg.

All bindings have play. Stick a race-ready alpine binding on the bench with a boot in it and check it out.

By: Matt Lucas

Matt Lucas — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:46:45 +0000

I think part of the sloppy feeling in Fritschis comes from them not being set up right in the toes. A normal shop will use an index card between where the balls of the feet and the binding to test how tight it should be. Upon testing, I think that the toes should be much tighter than that (almost to the point ripping a normal sheet of paper if you clamp it in under the boot and try to pull it out) – and i still release when I have to. I am a very loyal FFR+ skier, but will try dynafits this year and see room for both in the quiver right now.

By: Randonnee

Randonnee — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:20:19 +0000

Marco, I have the strength and mass to release Dynafit toes when standing on skis in boots and bindings on the carpet, simply by pushing down with the ball of my foot. I am a 220 lb+ former logger, so I am probably larger than intended for the binding. On hard snow or piste when I just make a simple turn on my FR 10 ski the unlocked toes will release, so I lock them. Of interest, I have never released the toe of my FT 12 accidentally on my Manaslu- it is set at DIN 9. Even with all of that I ski Dynafit bindings 80+ days per year, including on lift pistes when skiing with my family about 10 days per season (we prefer randonnee touring). I get out the Fritsches on lift skis only a couple of times per season for some higher-speed cruising in-area.

I own the Comfort and Speed Dynafit bindings, and the FT12. The FT 12 binding is the only one that I will ski unlocked in soft snow, and I have no problems- I like the FT12, the brakes are fine as well on the FT12. Definitely locked on firm or hard snow, but I rarely ski firm or hard snow on the Manaslu. Even when locked, I can easily twist out of Dynafit bindings, and I must use care with vertical release even with the toe locked. As Lou has pointed out, locking the toe does not increase the DIN of vertical release. I unhappily discovered this last season when getting up and out of breakable free-water ice crust over mush in the Cascades, and I left the ski behind with a little step-hop. I do ski steep slopes, even do the occasional pedal turn, confidently with toes locked and with the understanding of what will release my Dynafit. bindings-”smooth”. A qualifier that I like to mention is that when skinning I can actually walk out of Fritsches easily if I am not thinking about walking ’straight,’ so it is not ‘just’ Dynafits. Admittedly with my age and mileage, my goal is to be smooth and graceful, even at speed, I do not huck or bash as perhaps someone younger, as my goal is to preserve my health and function for a couple of more decades…