Here’s a montage of blurry photos from the backcountry race kit outing with Morgan McGlashon. The gist is skiing in the backcountry with race gear is easier on the up, harder on the down, and generally more dangerous with the increased potential for falling or breaking gear.
In Part I, Slator reviewed the Dynafit Mezzalama ski and PDG 2 boot. Check out that post to get the full context on the rest of the review that follows.
Low Tech Race 105 Binding
Am I going to beat the heavyweight race gear drum further with the description of the Low Tech Race 105 (LTR 105)? Yes, I will. The LTR 105 is a binding that continues the clearly defined delineation of race-weight versus training-weight gear within the Dynafit Race series:
Race Kit
Race-weight: The DNA ski / DNA boot / P49 binding. This creates a total skis/boots/bindings package that weighs a scandalous 1,249 grams. This gear is not recommended to train with or take outside of ski resorts or flagged off skimo race courses.
Training kit
Training-weight: The Mezzalama / PDG 2 boot / LTR 105 binding. This combo totals to a more civilian 1,715 grams. This gear is great for training, and possibly for big backcountry ski mountaineering enchainments.
There is a 466 gram difference (the price difference of $4,200 vs $2,100 will be left to discuss in the comment section below) between the race-weight and training-weight packages.
Looking at the Low Tech Race 105 with more focus, I find an atypical race binding (which isn’t immediately a bad thing). The toe and heel have different mounting patterns compared to other race binding equivalents like the Plum 99, the Ski Trab Gara Titan, or the BD Helio 145 (all of which share a standard race binding mounting pattern). The LTR 105 toe has a trapezoidal hole template design that Dynafit claims to decrease binding tear-out. The heel has a triangular hole template design that cuts weight by reducing the amount of screws needed. This inherently increases binding tear-out (less points of attachment equals more force imparted on each attachment point). Maybe I’m simply adverse to change, but I feel the standardized rectangular hole pattern is simple and effective.
Annotated Low Tech Race 105 binding.
The LTR 105 toe unit has a strong spring set which is confidence-inspiring while clicking in, and the toe lever has a progressive lock mode to accommodate worn out tech inserts. Both quality design features. The heel is a non-U-spring race design including two threaded steel rods that sit in a High Tech Synthetic (plastic) housing. The housing is reinforced with an aluminum exoskeleton for structural rigidity both around the tech inserts and around the binding screws. The lack of a flat mode is a serious down-sell for this binding and the plastic housing doesn’t inspire aggressive [Attack Turtle style] skiing like an all metal equivalent. Dynafit addressed former issues of concern while redesigning their race skis, and again with their race boots. I would imagine that they’ll do the same in the near future with their race bindings.
SPECS
Mass (g) claimed: 106, measured: 120
BSL Adjustment Range (+/- mm) 0 mm (Adjustment Plate Low Tech Race available, +/- 10 mm, 33 gram)
Riser Options 1 at pin height
Release Values (vertical / horizontal) None stated
Materials Forged Aluminum toe and exoskeleton heel, High Tech Synthetic heel, Stainless Steel tech inserts
Brake Options Low Tech Race Brake available (30 g)
Ski Crampon Capability Yes
Mounting Pattern Toe: Trapezoid, Heel: Triangle
MSRP: $549.95
Recommendations
Boot Pairing: Race boot like the Dynafit PDG 2
Ski Pairing: Race ski like the Dynafit Mezzalama
Similar To: Ski Trab Gara Titan, Plum 99
Intended Use: Skimo racing and training. Not ideal for backcountry use
Overall: Simple lightweight skimo binding with no flat mode
Taking skimo to the backcountry
I went for a long backcountry tour with my friend Morgan who’s very experienced moving in the mountains and works as a mountain guide for Exum Mountain Guides based out of Jackson, WY. She was interested in a high volume training day moving in the alpine. I had used the Dynafit Race setup for fitness touring on the resort, but this would be a great excuse to test out the race gear off-piste.* Here are some lessons learned from our outing:
Mostly in control on the Dynafit race kit.
— Race skis make going uphill about 70% easier (empirically-hollow, feelings-based metric). Turns out having gear about 70% lighter than my traditional touring gear makes the uphills feel easy and breezy.
— Breaking trail with race skis doesn’t make it much easier for your non race ski friends following behind. They will be re-breaking trail and quietly cursing your skinny skis.
— Skiing downhill in race gear takes significantly more energy. It’s a full body workout keeping enough tension to manage backcountry snow conditions on unwieldy race gear. This was a surprise that I will definitely take into account moving forward when race gear+backcountry terrain tour planning.
— Skiing downhill on race gear in variable snow is a serious hazard. Breakable crust, heavy powder and icy luge-style out tracks are dangerous. Wear a helmet and don’t expect to ski freeride style.
— There is a possibility of race gear breaking and some might argue that this equipment isn’t intended for backcountry skiing of specific sorts. Be prepared for equipment malfunction/failure. Bring a fix kit and have a plan. This point scales linearly with your weight/size. If you’re a bigger person on light gear, you’re exerting more force on that kit.
Closing thoughts
The Dynafit Mezzalama ski, LTR 105 binding, and PDG 2 boot are skimo gear that feathers the boundary of backcountry-capable kit while still being light enough to compete at a high level of skimo racing. The skis are a great update with their new shape and construction. The bindings and boots could benefit from a similar update (which is already in the pipeline for the 21/22 season for Dynafit race boots).
Shop for the Dynafit LTR 105 binding
*The true story is I forgot my ski boots that day (doh!). I wasn’t going to miss the chance to spend a full day in the mountains with my best friend, so this tour was a better excuse than any to test out the race gear.
Slator Aplin lives in the San Juans. He enjoys time spent in the mountains, pastries paired with coffee, and adventures-gone-wrong. You can find him at @slatoraplin on Instagram or outside Telluride’s local bakery — Baked in Telluride.
12 comments
You mentioned a 30g brake for the LTR 105 bindings. I have not seen this available yet, is this for next season? Got any pictures?
TZED, these brakes will be available for viewing and buying starting Fall 2021. No photos yet unfortunately.
“The heel has a triangular hole template design that cuts weight by reducing the amount of screws needed. This inherently increases binding tear-out (less points of attachment equals more force imparted on each attachment point). Maybe I’m simply adverse to change, but I feel the standardized rectangular hole pattern is simple and effective.”
In theory, perhaps. But we’ve had a fair number of these bindings among our racers, and I’m pretty sure nobody has ever ripped out a heel piece from a ski (whether racing or training).
“The LTR 105 is a binding that continues the clearly defined delineation of race-weight versus training-weight gear within the Dynafit Race series.”
I strongly disagree with this characterization.
The LTR 105 is Dynafit’s race binding, period. Of bindings with standard boot compatibility, the only lighter bindings are the Plum 99 and PG U 77, both of which are extremely rare in North America.
By contrast, the P49 is more a showcase piece, intended mainly for uphill-only Vertical races, and compatible only with a single model of PG boot commissioned & rebranded by Dynafit. Of the Dynafit DNA race skis in use in the entire world, I suspect only several have the P49 binding.
For a training weight Dynafit binding, the next model above the LTR 105 is the SL 150. The P49 and matching boot really don’t factor into the tiers.
JONATHAN S. SHEFFTZ: The binding retention is less with a triangular hole pattern, while still being able to meet the minimum binding retention required for the majority of skimo racers. If choosing between two bindings of similar mass, why not choose the one with more attachment to the ski AND an included flat mode?
Concerning the LTR as a race binding: you’re right: the LTR 105 IS a lightweight, race-level binding. I misevaluated the P49. It’s less of a race binding and more of a ‘showcase piece’ or ‘concept car’ for Dynafit. I was surprised to weigh the LTR at 120 grams, putting it on a level playing field with the Skitrab Gara Titan, Hagan Ultra, Plum 120. With that in mind, I believe the other bindings are more functional for the same weight.
I think your testing of race gear in a backcountry setting was a bit skewed as you were doing it in winter conditions and not giving them enough credit for their high value on spring missions.
Totally different beast in good spring conditions. The setup you have would be great for someone who has a bit of practice and no more of the “attack turtle style”. You can rip fast big radius turns in spring corn and you’d never know from a distance they were on race gear. They have no problem holding an edge in steeper firm terrain. I’ve also seen little/no evidence of race bindings pulling out at a higher rate than any others. (Especially if used in a a normal backcountry skiing style, rather than straight-lining a mogul field in a race.)
As for winter conditions, I agree the Mezzalama ski will be lacking, but you can pair a race binding and boot like the one’s you have tested on some 90-100m lightweight powder planks and ski them hard and have a great time.
Binding pull-out could be a product of lighter ski constructions. That would be my guess.
STEVE, thank you for bringing up the point of winter vs. spring conditions in race gear. I can see race gear excelling with corn skiing or on firm planar spring snow (pre-corn?). I’ll have to test the gear out in those conditions and get back to you 😉 I can foresee challenges if encountering spring chunder (refrozen wet slide debris) or refrozen ski tracks. The idea of frozen variability in the snowpack makes me quiver in my race boots.
Applause for listing gram values as mass, not weight! Skiers on other worlds appreciate this.
Ordered the LTR 105 for a new skimo set up this season and the set received had a toe piece with no detente…not sure where the disconnect was but Dynafit did take them back… here’s a little video I shot about it: https://youtu.be/UNhxcbmGXk4
Definitely strange that Dynafit shipped you a LTR 105 with a toe lever that matches the pictures of neither the LTR 105 nor the SSL 150.
And the toe lever design on your pair just has a kind of cheaper overall look.
However, although a toe lever detent might help for pressing down with your thumb at a ski > skin transition, using your ski poles to do that at a skimo race is a big Big BIG no-no: poles must remain flat on the snow during the entire transition!
This isn’t just some ISMF silliness (and having copy edited every single ISMF document for this season, I am very well acquainted with all manner of ISMF silliness) but rather an essential safety rule, as otherwise poles tips (especially very sharp nordic-style tips) will end up causing some serious damage to other racers.
Ah never thought of that (the ISMF) bit…guess I need to work on my flexibility 🙂
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