Comments on: Dynafit Speed Radical & Plum Guide – COMPARO http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Sun, 19 May 2013 00:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: MtnPavlas (Pavel) http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/#comment-53366 MtnPavlas (Pavel) Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:49:09 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9466#comment-53366 Lou, Thank you for the comparo - very interesting as always. Regarding the position of the heel pins on the tech bindings being so high... why is that? I've seen many references (on this site and others), making claims the tech bindings allow for the boot to be close to the ski and I just don't find it so compared to my Marker alpine bindings. I understand if brakes are being used, then there must be some space between the ski and the boot to accommodate them but I'd think that with binders like the Guide or Speed, it's obvious they're targeting the weight-conscious skier (yes, I know, many folks are crying for the brakes). Anyway, just curious about this and also wondering if there would be a detriment to having the heel sitting lower (really close to the ski with some minimal space for ski flex). Also, just got the Guides and am quite disappointed that the ramp is another 3 mm bigger compared to (most?) Dynafits as I find it easier to bend my ankles to achieve a more aggressive forward lean when needed (e.g. on bullet-proof surface) than wrestling myself into the back seat in heavy and deep. Thanks for any pointers. Lou,
Thank you for the comparo – very interesting as always.

Regarding the position of the heel pins on the tech bindings being so high… why is that? I’ve seen many references (on this site and others), making claims the tech bindings allow for the boot to be close to the ski and I just don’t find it so compared to my Marker alpine bindings. I understand if brakes are being used, then there must be some space between the ski and the boot to accommodate them but I’d think that with binders like the Guide or Speed, it’s obvious they’re targeting the weight-conscious skier (yes, I know, many folks are crying for the brakes).

Anyway, just curious about this and also wondering if there would be a detriment to having the heel sitting lower (really close to the ski with some minimal space for ski flex).

Also, just got the Guides and am quite disappointed that the ramp is another 3 mm bigger compared to (most?) Dynafits as I find it easier to bend my ankles to achieve a more aggressive forward lean when needed (e.g. on bullet-proof surface) than wrestling myself into the back seat in heavy and deep.

Thanks for any pointers.

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/#comment-51312 Lou Dawson Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:40:11 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9466#comment-51312 Ben, you must have been in a snow cave all this time (grin). Here is the post: http://www.wildsnow.com/7174/dynafit-tlt-5-cuff-lean-adjust/ Try above first, before customizing binding. The problem with customizing binding is every time you switch to another ski/binding combo you'll have to do the same thing. Might not be a big deal for people who don't switch skis much, but for me it's a real problem. So I experiment with binding mods, but in the end I tend to mod the boot and not the bindings. Lou Ben, you must have been in a snow cave all this time (grin). Here is the post:

http://www.wildsnow.com/7174/dynafit-tlt-5-cuff-lean-adjust/

Try above first, before customizing binding. The problem with customizing binding is every time you switch to another ski/binding combo you’ll have to do the same thing. Might not be a big deal for people who don’t switch skis much, but for me it’s a real problem. So I experiment with binding mods, but in the end I tend to mod the boot and not the bindings.

Lou

]]> By: Ben http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/#comment-51306 Ben Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:57:25 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9466#comment-51306 Lou, Thanks for your timely response! My liners are great, if anything they are helping me out in this situation (intuition alpine liners). I have a first generation pair of 5's... So I don't have the option for a more upright forward lean. Did dynafit ever come out with a replacement metal piece for variable forward lean? I never tried to modify the existing pieces in my boots. I know you reported at one point that they were talking about offering something aftermarket to help with the problem but it didn't seem to come to fruition. I actually spied you at OR when you were at the Dynafit booth, never introduced myself though. What is the story with the forward lean on the new TLT 6's? Problem addressed or what? Anyway, let me know what I can do with my boots if you have any ideas with regards to forward lean. Thanks! Lou,
Thanks for your timely response! My liners are great, if anything they are helping me out in this situation (intuition alpine liners). I have a first generation pair of 5′s… So I don’t have the option for a more upright forward lean. Did dynafit ever come out with a replacement metal piece for variable forward lean? I never tried to modify the existing pieces in my boots. I know you reported at one point that they were talking about offering something aftermarket to help with the problem but it didn’t seem to come to fruition.
I actually spied you at OR when you were at the Dynafit booth, never introduced myself though. What is the story with the forward lean on the new TLT 6′s? Problem addressed or what?
Anyway, let me know what I can do with my boots if you have any ideas with regards to forward lean.
Thanks!

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/#comment-51299 Lou Dawson Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:36:06 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9466#comment-51299 Ben, hah, I already did that! Works well, just remember to get screws as well as the plates. In other words, you'll need the front 8 screws used for Radical toes. Please please let me know how well it works for you in terms of how they ski. Also remember that the heel lifts will be somewhat less effective with the added height at the toe. And before all that, are you using the lesser cuff lean angle on the 5s? And are you using a liner that's jacking your calf forward? Ben, hah, I already did that! Works well, just remember to get screws as well as the plates. In other words, you’ll need the front 8 screws used for Radical toes. Please please let me know how well it works for you in terms of how they ski. Also remember that the heel lifts will be somewhat less effective with the added height at the toe.

And before all that, are you using the lesser cuff lean angle on the 5s? And are you using a liner that’s jacking your calf forward?

]]> By: Ben http://www.wildsnow.com/9466/dynafit-speed-radical-plum-guide-comparo/#comment-51298 Ben Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:24:14 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9466#comment-51298 Hey Lou, I ski with TLT 5's and speed radicals. I'm about to mount up a pair of Manaslu's and I was thinking about some strategies to reduce my forward ramp angle. I've been skiing with the same boots and binding on a pair of BD Drifts feeling like I'm leaning way forward. My idea was to call Dynafit and order some Radical ST toe-baseplates to mount under my Speed Radical toe pieces in hopes of raising the front of the boot a few mm's. Do you think this is a good idea for reducing my ramp angle or are there easier ways of going about this? Thanks for any suggestions or help from anyone in the community! Hey Lou, I ski with TLT 5′s and speed radicals. I’m about to mount up a pair of Manaslu’s and I was thinking about some strategies to reduce my forward ramp angle. I’ve been skiing with the same boots and binding on a pair of BD Drifts feeling like I’m leaning way forward. My idea was to call Dynafit and order some Radical ST toe-baseplates to mount under my Speed Radical toe pieces in hopes of raising the front of the boot a few mm’s. Do you think this is a good idea for reducing my ramp angle or are there easier ways of going about this?

Thanks for any suggestions or help from anyone in the community!

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