– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

They Said It Couldn’t Be Done — Installing Dynafit Binding Fittings in Scarpa Denali Boot

by Guest Blogger August 16, 2008
written by Guest Blogger August 16, 2008

Buck Corrigan ACMG, AMGA, UIAGM

(Editor’s note: As of 2014 this method of retrofitting boots for ‘tech’ binding compatibility is unnecessary, as you can purchase all manner of “sole blocks” that come with tech fittings, which could be retrofitted to any boot after appropriate modifications. More, the variety of tech fitting equipped boots is now phenomenal — a boot can be acquired that suites nearly any purpose. Thus, we publish the below for historical reference.)

I heard from some clients here in Revelstoke that there has been interest in retrofitting the Dynafit binding fittings to the Scarpa Denali randonnee boot.

I did this to my Denalis a few years ago, and until a summer/ski mountaineering trip (lots of scree and gravel on the approach to the glaciers) they held up well.

Scarpa Denali with Dynafit binding fittings installed.

Scarpa Denali with Dynafit binding fittings retrofit installed.

I practiced on a pair of Technicas with my Dremel tool just to see how it could be done. The Technicas are a different type of shell material, not as rubbery as the Denalis. But experimenting gave me an idea of what I was in for.

Front of Denali with Dynafit Fitting.

Front of Denali with Dynafit Fitting.

The Dynafit plate (salvaged from a trashed pair of boots), is extremely hard, no thought of drilling it, but it already has holes in it to aid in holding it to the boot during the molding process. I used some stubby Salomon screws, cut them even shorter so they wouldn’t protrude through the boot sole and just screwed them into the boot. I routed a slot on the underside of the sole rubber to accommodate the head of the screw and glued them back on with contact cement. The re-gluing of the sole is the tricky part. I’ve had to re-glue a couple of times and recently changed to a system where the screw goes right into the vibram, through the plate (via the existing plate holes) and then into the boot. An old tried and true method from the sixties!

Front toe with retrofit screws.

Front toe with retrofit screws.

The system has worked fine for me. Getting the plates aligned square to the toe is a bit tricky, but it’s possible to get the plate in place, then put the boot on the binding and ski to be sure everything is aligned properly. After that, mark it well, then epoxy and screw the plate and boot back together.

I’ll most likely buy a pair of the new Garmont boots with the Dynafit-capable sole in the future, and we may see more manufacturers bringing out Dynafit system boots, but for now, I’ve got my Denalis with Dynafit fittings — a pair of boots I really like!

1 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Friday Mug Contest — Heroes Of Backcountry Skiing
next post
Coffee and Gasoline – Outdoor Retailer Part 4

1 comment

Josh Lewis March 6, 2016 - 11:35 pm

The article update alludes to “sole blocks” which is used in combination of a modification. Can this method be applied to plastic or standard mountaineering boots? Ever since my back got messed up in a climbing accident I’m trying to create a light alpine touring setup. Considering that there is a huge rave about dynafits I figured I’d at least see if it was possible.

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Slim on Revisiting the Blue Ice Harfang Crampon
  • Chris on Revisiting the Blue Ice Harfang Crampon
  • Ben on Revisiting the Blue Ice Harfang Crampon
  • Jason on Revisiting the Blue Ice Harfang Crampon
  • Ben on Revisiting the Blue Ice Harfang Crampon

Gear Reviews

  • Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket

    May 19, 2022
  • Patagonia Women’s Stormstride Pant

    May 17, 2022
  • The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski Trab Magico.2 Skis, Titan Vario.2 Binding, and Branded Mohair Skins

    May 13, 2022

Trip Reports

  • Techniques and considerations for ski mountaineering on glaciers

    February 16, 2022
  • Making the Most out of the Alaska Range

    February 14, 2022
  • Emergency Layers for Backcountry Travel

    February 7, 2022

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Totally Deep Podcast 99: Big Geography with Roman Dial and Alex Lee

    April 20, 2022
  • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 98: Live at the EMGT with Cam Smith

    April 12, 2022
  • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 97: Talk of Gear for Next Year

    March 23, 2022

Tips & Tricks

  • Fueling For Ski Touring

    May 3, 2022
  • The “New Math” for Sheltering from the Storm

    May 2, 2022
  • A Simple Ski Crampon Mod

    April 21, 2022

Ski Touring Stories

  • Backscratchers in My Brain

    April 6, 2022
  • Blessing of the Freeheelers & Bon Voyage Grand Traversers

    April 2, 2022
  • Mentorship On My Mind

    March 31, 2022

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

A Simple Ski Crampon Mod

April 21, 2022

Elegant F1 Mod: Explorations with the...

March 10, 2022

Atomic Salomon Backland MTN Boot Stop-ectomy

March 26, 2021