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Dynafit Mod — Easy Switch Between Tour and Alpine Mode

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This modification adds a small homebrew device to a Dynafit backcountry skiing binding for easy switching between tour and downhill mode without taking your skis off. Unlike other methods of switching, it requires no contortion or gymnastics, and won’t break the red post off the binding. We’re in the process of figuring out how well it works with ski brakes installed, will report back on that soon. Caution, this is more an experimental mod than anything we suggest spending time on.

Dynafit backcountry skiing binding mod Dynafit binding modified.
Dynafit Backcountry Skiing Binding ejection mod.

This mod is made with a 1 1/4 inch paint scraper blade, a chunk of angle iron, a small section of steel tube, and a length of 5/8 inch aluminum plywood trim “C” channel. I got the idea from backcountry skiing publisher Brian Litz, who told me over the phone he’d seen a guy who’d made something that you “push down with a ski pole to change modes with a Dynafit.” It wasn’t tough to figure out what such a thing would be. A bit of trial and error, and here it is (this is an experimental version — we’ll build a cleaner one with nicer finish when we have time, as it works quite well). Check out the video (Windows media, broadband). I riveted all the essential parts together, and welded the small chunk of tube used for the “pole tip socket (see video).” When we refine the design we’ll post a how-to, but I thought this would be a fun pre-season idea release for all you Dynafit fans out there.

Posted by Lou on September 27, 2005 | Filed Under Binding Reviews, Gear Mods 

previous post: Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Torque Plate
next post: Retracting Dynafit Ski Binding Brakes With Ski On Foot

Comments

4 Responses to “Dynafit Mod — Easy Switch Between Tour and Alpine Mode”

  1. wanek November 5th, 2009 4:16 am

    hi!

    did you ‘refine the design’ with the dynafit switch mode?

  2. Lou November 5th, 2009 7:46 am

    Never figured out how it could work with ski brakes, and without brakes the rotation method works fine to get out of alpine mode into touring mode.

    The “rotation” method is easy. First, lock the toe. Then just lift boot and ski high enough to reach back and rotate the heel unit to the side till your boot pops up and out. I rotate by inserting my pole grip between the climbing post and boot heel.

  3. Bud December 9th, 2009 6:25 pm

    Hey Lou,
    How is the how-to coming along, very interested in doing this myself, we be great for touring with non-dynafit users.

  4. Lou December 9th, 2009 6:56 pm

    This thing is pretty tricky, so I’m not doing a how-to. Not sure I really could without a huge amount of work. As you probably know, there is a simpler way, so long as you’re not using brakes you can just pull your heel up as you rotate heel unit and your boot heel will pop up and out. Lock toe first. Some people do this by picking a ski up and letting the weight of the ski pull the binding off their boot heel, as they rotate. There are videos on the web… don’t have the link at the moment, ask Andrew over at straightchuter.com

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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