Vintage Backcountry Skiing Binding – 1993 Dynafit Tourlite Tech TLT

Post by WildSnow.com blogger Lou Dawson | November 13, 2006

Got another binding set up in the museum yesterday. This time we honor venerable 1993 Dynafit Tourlite Tech (TLT), the grabber that started the revolution. Museum display here. Enjoy.

Complete 1993 Dynafit Tourlite Tech backcountry skiing binding shown above. The pink and purple color scheme is typical of late 1980s and early 1990s style.

Posted by Lou Dawson on November 13, 2006 | Filed Under Binding Reviews, History
Tags: antique, backcountry skiing, Binding Reviews, classic, Dynafit, tech, tlt, tourlite,

Comments

11 Responses to “Vintage Backcountry Skiing Binding – 1993 Dynafit Tourlite Tech TLT”

Mark Worley November 13th, 2006 9:04 am

Man, it looks so ridiculously simple and almost wimpy. The proof’s in the pudding, and Dynafit’s been whipping up some fine pudding!
Ron Raynor November 13th, 2006 11:49 am

Lou, Great addition to the museum. Wondering if you ever skied on the Emory Altitude LX? My first BC binding. Wish I still had them, I would send them right over to you!!! Thanks for many years of BC info! Ron
Clyde November 14th, 2006 9:58 am

To be fair, even if it never reached production, the Ramer 2-pin system should get credit for starting the revolution. Paul had the concept ages before Dynafit came out. Given the article he wrote describing it and showing photos of the prototype, it’s likely that somebody in Europe noticed. After all, the Euros borrowed his heel elevator too.
Lou November 14th, 2006 11:29 am

Indeed, Ramer deserves a lot of cred.
Rick Knowles June 8th, 2007 6:44 am

I was poking around the Marmot Mountain shop (Seattle) and found some Dynafit Low Tech bindings- they are similar to the ones in your museum; but probably older- no adjustment base, the U-shaped rod has a round cross section, and a bigger nastier top plate.

I bought them, they weight more then the TLT’s, sit very low on the ski and the rotation is pretty rough- so probably won’t use them; but cool to look at. A question- do they only have a single spring in them? Mine were in pieces- so grabbed the regular springs; but tough to turn?
Lou June 8th, 2007 11:08 am

Rick, the rotation might be rough because they need a thimble bushing on the end of the spring. Most springs are double, one inside the other, but the binding works with a single spring, just ends up with a much lower release setting. ‘best, Lou
Paul Bonnell December 26th, 2007 3:22 pm

Hi, Lou.

I am wondering if you or any of your bloggers know of a place to get a replacement base for one of these TLT’s. I have a mid-90’s set-up with the neon green and have a hairline crack in one of the bases near a screw head. Is it possible to replace this part?

Great museum and overall website.
Lou December 26th, 2007 4:59 pm

Paul, that’s a really common form of damage. I’d try Salewa/Dynafit USA

http://speedup.dynafit.us/

Please leave a blog comment and let us know how it goes.
Laca December 23rd, 2011 12:39 pm

hello, I have a dynafit tlt, the same modell which is shown here in the article. Is it crampon and brake compatible?
Chris K November 1st, 2012 9:52 am

I was just gifted a pair of Rossignol CUT 10.4 skis with “Tour (lite) Tech” bindings that look only a bit more modern than these … blue/purple plastic and green bumpers. Well, to be fair, the heel piece looks pretty much like my Vertical 10, more so than this.

I have no idea how to date these. I was thinking I might put them on some resort skis, but they don’t have brakes and it’s not clear that they take brakes … or that I could find the brakes if they exist.

(I might know where to find another set of similar age, if you want them for the museum. You might have to take the 191cm straight skis they’re attached to, though. 🙂 )
Lou Dawson November 1st, 2012 10:07 am

Chris, those old Dynafit (Low Tech) bindings are very cool, but I’m not sure how appropriate it is to put a +20 year old binding into active service. I do see these getting used, especially in Europe, but problems happen such as the plastic of the rear base plate cracking.

They did make brakes for those, but they’re of course not available in retail.

As for the museum, I’ve got quite a few older Dynafit bindings but am always looking for ones that are of slightly different vintage. If you end up with some, send me a photo via the contact link above and I’ll see if they’d be of use. FYI, we have a shipping budget for the museum, but no acquisition budget. Lou

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