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Backcountry Skiing Bindings

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Through years of testing and product development, backcountry skiing bindings have progressed from simple cable bindings to engineered machines that represent state-of-art materials science and mechanicals. This collection of backcountry skiing bindings covers the full historical range of modern bindings.

Late 1980s First Production Low Tech (Dynafit)
Backcountry Skiing Alpine Touring Binding

Early Dynafit bindings were first known as "Low Tech" and virtually hand made by inventor Fritz Barthel and his helpers in the basement workshop of their multi-generation family home in Austria. This is the first production model (see original prototype). Note the larger boot pins on the toe unit (right in photo below), as well as the heel release spring that was swapped out to change release. This heel spring design would remain in place for a number of years, until the mid 1990s when the current method of adjustable release tension was included in the heel unit.

Low Tech binding.

Complete early Low Tech binding. Please click photo to enlarge.

 
Low Tech binding toe detail.
Toe unit detail, the detailed hand crafting is impressive.
 
Low Tech binding toe detail.
Another view of toe, from the front in closed and locked position. To lock the binding in touring mode you rotated the lobe shaped part on the front, which engaged the ski top surface and kept the binding from opening.
 
Low Tech binding heel detial.
The heel unit had no for/aft adjustment, so you had to mount it with care. Some modern race bindings use a similar type of base plate, to save weight.
 
Low Tech binding heel detail.
One fascinating aspect of this binding is how the heel torsional (sideways) release spring and cap were based on that of the Iser binding, as shown.
 

Weight: 11.6 oz, 328 gr (with screws)

It's interesting to note the most popular bindings of this era, such as the Silvretta 404, were about three times heavier per binding. Considering that, it's easy to see how the popularity of Dynafit was inevitable.

This binding was donated to the WildSnow.com collection by Fritz Barthel.

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