Following is proof of concept and presented as an idea, by no means is WildSnow recommending anything of this sort for ski touring.
Radical 3.0 Frankenbinder in front, Radical 1.0 in rear.
I jest about 3.0, nothing ‘official’ happening with combining Radical bindings models. At least nothing I know of. Concept here is the Radical 2.0 heel is proving to be a durable unit with good release components and a beefier brake. While the rotating Radical 2.0 toe does compensate for boot/binding toe pin incompatibilities, some folks simply do not like it (it weighs more, can be hard to get into, and can not be toured unlocked). You know who you are. Add that to the fact that a number of Radical 1.0 toes are floating around the universe due to heel unit breakage. Logical conclusion, perhaps combine a Radical 2.0 heel with 1.0 toe. So for the sake of science, it is done. Observations:
1. On the bench, using 2.0 heel with 1.0 toe results in exact same release action as using a 1.0 heel with 1.0 toe (though the release setting numbers will be off, see below). On the other hand, without the rotating toe, watch out for boot toe and ski touring binding interface that catches or otherwise lacks smooth lateral release. In my view that’s the whole point of the rotating toe.
2. Radical 2.0 is <> 1 mm taller at the heel (it looks taller than that), so additional ramp is not an issue.
3. Rotating toe provides no release resistance so 2.0 heel lateral release spring needs to be strong and release value settings are off when 2.0 heel used with 1.0 toe. I attempted to measure how much difference there is in the bindings when set to the same number. My methods were not precise, but I could see and feel an obvious difference. For example, with both binding heels set to release value 5, it is harder to twist the Radical 2.0 heel. In other words, if you normally backcountry ski at RV 10 and combine the 2.0 with 1.0 toe, you would want to experiment with setting lateral release perhaps several numbers lower then refine with testing. Self test on the bench and on the carpet — and perhaps on a release check machine. Vertical release is virtually the same for either binding.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
5 comments
Why not use an Ion toepiece? Superior harscheisen attachment.
Indeed, why not? Would work fine. Lots of folks like the Dynafit Power Towers and like I said, there are now quite a few Radical 1.x toe units floating around the ozone. But, remember this is proof of concept only, not a recommendation. Lou
Hi Lou, interesting combo. It got me thinking: I am considering going back to the Speed Turn binding for a variety of reasons, mostly to avoid the weight penalty of the Radical 2.0 and the heel-durability-issues of the Radical 1.0. I’m also very familiar with (and fond of) the older TLT Vertical binding style.
Originally, I thought of pairing the Speed Turn heel with Radical 1 toe (hence the tie-in, here), but my current intel suggests the latest iteration of the Speed Turn 2.0 toe ought to work just fine. Question: my searches of WildSnow.com have not turned up any definitive articles on the Speed Turn 2.0, generally speaking, and I’m curious for a WildSnow opinion before I pull the trigger. If you’ve already posted a relevant treatise online, please direct a link my way! Thumbs up/down?
Thanks for your consideration!
cheers,
tim
Hi Tim, the Speed Turn uses the same heel machinery as the Speed Radical, only with a toe without Power Towers and the old style top plate on heel. It is indeed for traditionalists. I’ve not reviewed as this basic arrangement is essentially what we’ve covered in dozens of other reviews over the years. As I’m a fan of the Power Towers I’m not that keen on a purchase of a new binding that could have them, but does not. What is more, I have no good read on if the Speed Turn might have some heel durability issues since it’s using most of the same parts in the heel as the Speed Radical. In any case, assuming you’d buy the latest Speed Turn heel with any of the latest strength improvements, along with a Speed Radical toe, that would be cool. Or, just go with latest Speed Radical as detailed elsewhere here, with the added metal plate in the heel unit. The flipping heel lifters are quite nice, and otherwise you’d have the same binding.
Send me a private email and we can discuss in greater detail. With so many binding brands/models available these days, I don’t think mixing various toes and heels is reality, I just do it here as a proof of concept and basis for discussion.
Lou
Isn’t this just the ION? (No rotation, but heel elasticity)
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