Ask and ye shall receive the beta. Or rather, ask me to ask and we might get it. Or something like that anyway.
November 21 Update: This just in from Dynafit. A lean-lock angle adjustment option will be available for winter 2012/2013. According to Dynafit, they’ve been working on this sort of thing and filed patents, but due to the development and manufacturing process a retail release is delayed. Because of their patents, we doubt we’ll see much in the way of aftermarket options, other than user mods we suggest here. So modders, fire up your power tools and get to work!
Original August 6 Blog Post: Word from on high is that the TLT 5 and TLT5 P boots from Dynafit will at some point next winter receive a “running change” that enables a two-setting forward lean adjustment. The new mechanism is said to work by providing two different slots to accept the lean lock tang that’s part of the upper cuff buckle.
I got various reports on how the lean will be changed by the user. As near as I can tell, it sounds likely some kind of switch will move something which blocks either one of two holes in the aluminum lean lock bar.
Due to basic geometry, a small vertical change in the location of the holes in the TLT5 lean lock bar results in a big change in forward lean. We know that from experience due to our TLT 5 lean mod last winter. Thus, the Dynafit OEM adjustable lean should be quite effective. In fact, it could even be too much so.
No word whether this feature will retrofit to earlier boots, or even be available for retrofitting if it does fit. I’d expect that at some point it _will_ be available, though perhaps not right away.
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. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lou.dawson.writer
15 comments
Well, if Dynafit doesn’t make it available, maybe B&D will come up with a fix–I sure enough TLT5s were sold and the most would prefer a choice that it would be worthwhile.
Yep
Bill B
Anyone figure out a fix to the lower buckle popping open while booting?
Lou, thanks for all the great information. I have some info to offer about mods to the TLT 5 boots. Not sure exactly where to post them. I have pictures too but I don’t know how to post them here.
For folks who need more width up front (I have a moderate 6th toe) I have had excellent success heating up the shell with boiling water and then squashing the whole forefoot with a woodworking clamp. It cools slightly flatter and noticeably wider and so far seems to stay that way. Much less stress about ruining the boot than punching out individual spots too close to the plastic joint.
For folks who like to be able to tighten the cuff without locking the ankle hinge (such as when touring rolling downhill terrain or kicking steps), I have replaced the power strap rivet with a tiny bolt holding a plastic “popsicle stick” that pivots over to block the cuff lock hole. The buckle still overcentres plenty to stay closed and the weight addition is negligible.
More info available if anyone is interested.
Derek, those sound like good mods. I’d be glad to publish. Email me via the contact link at top page. Lou
I would be interested in more info on the mod that keeps the cuff from buckling with upper buckle closed.
Harpo, he sent the photos, I’ll publish tomorrow or Monday if our Thanksgiving travel doesn’t delay things. It’s an easy mod, similar to just stuffing a credit card inside shell to keep the buckle tang from engaging the lock hole, only this mod is a piece of plastic on the outside of the boot. Looks excellent.
Now if someone can show me how to add a metal bushing to the lower boot/cuff joint for the TLT5p. My cuff is getting really loose after only a season of use. They need to put a metal bushing in the cuff so that the articulation is metal on metal instead of metal on carbon fiber.
Great mod, Derek–I’ll be psyched to check it out. My only–and I mean only!–gripe with the TLT is the profile of the buckle in the “open” position. It sticks out far enough I think it’s too prone to getting ripped off–which I did during a long bushwhack/descent last spring.
That said, the boots otherwise are fabulous. A great last, great performance up and down…just a great boot.
Thanks–and best holidays to all.
Rob C
RE bush issue. I used some self cleaning bike lube on mine and bushes have worn fine – so far.
re buckle issue. I bent mine a little and managed to bend it back a little. So not really a major yet.
I’ve just got used to the forward lean. It’s pretty cruisey but nice.
Biggest issue is the fit. No one could have feet shaped like that, surely. I’ll try Derek’s idea. Cheers
At what point does the surface area on TOP of the ski become a limiting factor? That is, as snow(of varying densities) accumulates on top of a ski, is the weight of the snow a linear function relative to the size of the ski or does it increase exponentially? Please give me some leeway on this question. I have not used more than 7th grade math in 20 years or so. What I am getting at is: Is there an ideal width(theoretically) for uphill travel…in continental vs maritime snowpack?-ps Dynafits does not answer the anti-spam today
@Greg – The only metal-CF contact is under the head of the rivet. There is a tube of Grilamid that comes out to house shaft of the rivet that the CF rotates on. Rivets will naturally loosen over time in any boot, the TLT5’s just let you get to that point faster. Take it to a good boot shop with a rivet press, repress the rivets and they should tighten up nicely.
With you in dynafit land any further update as to any release (or unlikelihood of it) of the lean mod from them? Love the boots but just a tad too much fwd lean for me. Also a little nervous to go hacking them up! *freaks*
Thanks!
Lou, could you do a blog post about installing the new two forward lean position Dyna TLT5 spoiler I just got in the mail? Seems pretty straight forward but I am a technical idiot and don’t want to mess up a pair of expensive boots. Seems like all you have to do is knock a pin out and then knock it back in. What tool is narrow enough to knock it out? Do you need any epoxy when you put it back in, or will friction hold it in place?
Lou: Ditto what Harbo requested and thanks again to the huge amount of help over the years that I have received following Wildsnow.com.
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