Dynafit Tech Heel Inserts — Part 2 — State of the Union
(Check out Part 1, Toe Fittings)
Master Step heel is a significant improvement to the three decade run the “standard” boot heel tech fitting has enjoyed.
Compared to the brain swelling complexity of “tech” toe fittings used in ski touring boots (stay tuned for additional reports, making them isn’t easy), heel fittings haven’t been through much evolution until recently. We like the new Master Step version as it appears to enjoy a steroid enhanced connection to the boot. But the earlier “standard” heel fittings, properly maintained, did fine for millions of skiers over decades of use (with exceptions we mention below). Herein, the basics for those of you new to ski touring gear: we report on what Dynafit will be supplying for tech heel boot fittings, 2017 and onward. (Please note this post was made possible by Dynafit financial support, while we retain 100% editorial control.)
Historical note: Other than very early prototypes, the original retail Low Tech heel fittings invented by Fritz Barthel we’re virtually the same thing as what’s presently the “Standard” fitting. This is the steel lug you’ll find embedded in the heels of literally millions of ski touring boots manufactured over the past thirty years. Considering its minimal attachment (small screw and a couple of pins pressed into holes) it was amazing how few people experienced failure of this part.
Nonetheless, the fitting coming off the boot heel has not been an unknown occurrence. This especially so for ski mountaineers who spend time off skis, hiking in rough rocky terrain where the fitting can be pried or otherwise peeled as if attacked by tiny destructo-gremlins hiding in the rocks. (Yes Virginia, gremlins exist, if you have standard tech fittings and use your boots hard, we continue to recommend yearly maintenance).
Masterstep fittings are held with a screw inside the boot, as well as pins that press into the boot shell.
The standard rear fittings always worked for us — but the new ones are looking super nice. Both the Master Step and Master Step Light “bolt” into the boot internally. That’s a much better configuration than the sometimes fragile, single tiny screw of the standard fitting. Further, the full Master Step fitting boasts four anchor prongs. Fair to say it’s “twice as strong,” as Dynafit states. (We experimented some time ago with retrofitting a through-bolt for the heel fitting, was interesting.)
Master Step full version (light version has 2 anchor prongs instead of 4.
Clearly, Master Step fittings will hold you in. On the other hand, it’s worth mentioning that in terms of release and retention, they perform exactly the same as the standard tech fitting. Read on.
Vertical heel travel of a classic tech binding is dictated by how far the binding pins move down and out of the binding as your heel moves up — minimal distance as indicated by the arrow.
Power Insert heel adapter by Dynafit. A nice upgrade for aggressive skiers (works with any classic tech binding) but unnecessary if you use the regular version Master Step.
I mention the elasticity issue to be complete. It’s not a deal breaker for most skiers, and indeed a recent trend to “retro” type tech bindings (e.g. Dynafit Speedfit & TLT Speed) shows how wonderful the original system is. Indeed, for the most efficient human powered skiing, using the “classic” tech binding mechanics with two pins at the boot heel is what we continue to recommend. It’s how you’ll get the lightest and most efficient bindings under your feet. At least for now. In a few years, who knows?
Meanwhile, nice improvements on the Master Step fittings — especially the heel. If you’re interested in more backstory, check out this early prototype Low Tech (Dynafit) ski touring binding.
Dynafit boot with QSI toe fitting and standard heel fitting.
Master Step is definitely an improvement over earlier ski touring boot heel tech fittings.
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12 Responses to “Dynafit Tech Heel Inserts — Part 2 — State of the Union”
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” Most of using tech bindings efficiently and gracefully is about practicing techniques for entry and exit. ”
that ^^ would be a good subject for an artical maybe even some movies
I think the reason some skiers lock out their bindings is that they don’t observe and develop the proper snow-clearing protocol
so miss it once, the
ski falls off and they complain about tech bindings falling off
^ I agree. See far too many (nearly all) users stepping into bingings and setting off before cycling through a simulated ‘tour step’ to clear the sockets.
I use tech bindings. I like them, and I rarely lock them out. But I have had a few experiences where I’m pretty sure they were prereleasing at the toe because chatter inducing conditions were overcoming the toe spring tension, not because I had failed to clear ice from the sockets/under the toe arms. In my experience, this problem only occurs under certain firm conditions. It isn’t something I worry about most of the time. But I believe it is a real phenomenon, at least with older Dynafit bindings (the only ones I’ve experienced this with). Of course, maybe it’s just me, but the fact that this question hasn’t been decisively resolved after countless skier hours on tech bindings is kind of my point re. data.
Are this year’s boots (2017/18) all going to be equipped with the new heel inserts? Or at least most of them? Do you know if the Maestrale RS2 is?
Does that mean that the only reason for the Beast heel inserts was that the original heel insert might get pulled out while using the Beast bindings? Or are there other modifications to the shape of this new heel insert?
Rob, the Beast heel inserts served two purposes, they were stronger, but apparently they also protected the boot heel shelf from possible damage when using Beast bindings. Master Step is a bit thicker than the “Standard” fitting but it doesn’t appear to do what the “Power Insert” did in terms of creating a steel rim and shelf.
The question is a bit moot, as all Beast bindings are discontinued, though a few are still in the retail pipeline.
Not sure if I made it clear, but there are two versions of the Master Step heel fitting. They look the same from the outside near as I can tell, but one has 4 anchor prongs and the other has two, and is called the “Master Step Light.” Any of the lighter weight Dynafit boots will probably have the “Light” version.
Regarding Scarpa and other brands, for 2017-2018 you’ll only find Master Step fittings in Dynafit boots, Scarpa will continue to use QSI, and other boots using “Certifed” fittings will have the standard version. This according to Dynafit folks.
Lou
You guys reminded me… i need to do a basic comparison photo of the old and new fittings. I’ll get on that! No rest here! (smile)
Lou
So, can older boots be retrofitted with the new fittings? Just curious. I did have a heel fitting failure once, and it wasn’t super fun; pseudo-telemark turns followed the loss of fitting in the backcountry.
Hi Mark, nope, no retrofitting due to the entirely different way the Master Step is fastened to the boot. Lou
I got the word on what brands of boots while have, what…
For 2017-2018 you’ll only find Master Step fittings in Dynafit boots, Scarpa will continue to use QSI, and other boots using “Certified” fittings will have the standard version. This according to Dynafit folks.
Newcomers to the sport, note that the majority of non certified fittings are perfectly fine, but all fittings should be bench tested before leaving the ski shop.
Yeah I saw some photos of the RS2 and it looks like the old fitting. Thanks for confirming.
And the reason I was asking about the Beast compatibility is because I have a pair of Beast 16, that I hadn’t mounted anywhere yet, partly because I didn’t want to put the insert on my boots.
Yeah, if figured the older boots couldn’t be retrofitted for the new fittings given the way their affixed within the heel.