I have some Freerides which I like a lot but the skis they’re on will need replacing sometime next season. I can’t decide whether to lift the FR’s off them or go for the lighter Explores. How much of the difference is marketing? On group tours and just glancing at people touring I see mostly Explores with the odd pure or dynafit but I think I’ve only ever seen other FR’s in a lift queue :D

To give some background I’ve been using Dynafits since 2001, prior to that Fritschi Titanals II then Skalp 8007. I’m more of a ski tourer who does some off-piste and piste skiing so I’m not really the demographic for the Freeride/Naxo/Marker type binding. A day’s touring for me is about 1500-2000 meters climbing.

Now with that background you would think I would be a foaming at the beard Dynafit zealot… but, apart from having no beard, I’m not. I ski Dynafits because the people I tour with use them and I simply wouldn’t be able to keep up on heavier gear. Around Grenoble nearly everyone uses Dynafits, it is a religion. On steeps I can see the attraction as it is easy to lock the binding so it wont release.

For skiing I actually prefer the step in and out convenience of the Fritschis and I’m pretty expert with the Dynafits. I’ve never had any problems with the Titanals and the Explore is a slightly better binding although I’ve not skied it enough to form an opinion about reliability. The Freeride Plus is a tougher binding than the Explore with more metal parts and less flex and play… but on softer touring boots I think you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. At least not with my 80kgs - beefier skiers may have other opinions. My touring on the Freeride Plus has been limited to the 800 meters of vertical on our local Chamchaude play area. Yes somebody of the same fitness on Dyna’s will be at the summit and have already quaffed the Genepi before you arrive but it is not a big deal. The main thing I don’t like about Fritschi touring is the pivot point set forward from the toe which makes conversion (kick) turns less comfortable. My final two days touring this season were on my Fritschis.

A compromise is the Silvretta Pure. I took out the Freeride version of this binding and I liked it. It is lighter than the Fritschi, although not by much, but has step-in step-out convenience. They had had manufacturing issues which should now be fixed.

Possibly a bigger issue with the Explore vs. Freeride Plus is the DIN setting - the Explore tops out at 10. Not much if you are a heavier skier and touring with a backpack - especially hut touring. You may have pre-release issues which would worry my on steep slopes.

The newer Naxos (21) might also be worth a look. They climb well despite the weight but still look a bit too complicated too me.

In conclusion, if you are going to be touring a lot with people on similar weight kit and similar fitness you are not going to be absolutely hammering your bindings with resort mogul skiing and jumps then go for the Explores and save some 400g in weight.

davidof - 08 August 2007 02:27 PM

Around Grenoble nearly everyone uses Dynafits, it is a religion.

I recall you commenting on that before. In Switzerland the premier choice seems to be the Explore by a long way. I presume because it’s Swiss and there’s a natural conservatism about using the same all the time.

For skiing I actually prefer the step in and out convenience of the Fritschis and I’m pretty expert with the Dynafits. I’ve never had any problems with the Titanals and the Explore is a slightly better binding although I’ve not skied it enough to form an opinion about reliability. The Freeride Plus is a tougher binding than the Explore with more metal parts and less flex and play… but on softer touring boots I think you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. At least not with my 80kgs - beefier skiers may have other opinions.

I’m using some Garmont Endorphins which are really stiff. I have some MegaRides which I like but I’ve only actually used them three days. I’ve wondered if I had used the MeagRides more and got rid of my reservations about them not being stiff enough that I might just get some more Dynafits. Silvretta or Fritschi of course I can change boots apart from the huge irritating fact that the MegaRides and Endorphins have different sole lengths at the same mondo point

In conclusion, if you are going to be touring a lot with people on similar weight kit and similar fitness you are not going to be absolutely hammering your bindings with resort mogul skiing and jumps then go for the Explores and save some 400g in weight.

How much of the saving is down to removing the brake though? Any idea what the brake weighs?

ise - 08 August 2007 02:49 PM

I’ve wondered if I had used the MeagRides more and got rid of my reservations about them not being stiff enough that I might just get some more Dynafits.

I’ve grown up on floppy touring boots and find stiff alpine boots hard to handle off-piste. I guess a lot depends on what you are used to and what compromises you are prepared to make. You should try the Scarpa Spirit 4. Four buckles, fairly high and stiff and Dynafit compatible. The plastic is more solid than that of the Megaride.

For touring there is no problem with Dynafits with respect to release. The ski brakes need careful setup and add around 250 grammes to the overall weight. They won’t stop your ski on very steep slopes mind.

How much of the saving is down to removing the brake though? Any idea what the brake weighs?

The ski brakes add 170 grammes to the Fritschis. That puts you at near the 1900 gram mark, so I think there is only 150 grammes difference between the Freeride Plus and Express, maybe less for the old Freeride binding. Hardly worth worrying about.

I think the only real choice for you is do you want to go super light and loose 1200 grammes and go Dynafit? Does this make sense in terms of the skiing and touring you will be doing and the fact you will now have a pair of skis / boots which are less capable on piste? Would it open up whole new vistas? Nearly every ski tourer, with the notable exception of Jeremy Janody, who has converted to Dynafit has never gone back although I feel there is a bit of a machismo thing to it now. Like carrying ice axes on the Grand Montets cable car… and calling it a tram.

davidof - 09 August 2007 04:48 PM

The ski brakes add 170 grammes to the Fritschis. That puts you at near the 1900 gram mark, so I think there is only 150 grammes difference between the Freeride Plus and Express, maybe less for the old Freeride binding. Hardly worth worrying about.

I think the only real choice for you is do you want to go super light and loose 1200 grammes and go Dynafit? Does this make sense in terms of the skiing and touring you will be doing and the fact you will now have a pair of skis / boots which are less capable on piste? Would it open up whole new vistas? Nearly every ski tourer, with the notable exception of Jeremy Janody, who has converted to Dynafit has never gone back although I feel there is a bit of a machismo thing to it now. Like carrying ice axes on the Grand Montets cable car… and calling it a tram.

Thanks, I’d “decided” to go for the Explores but I’m more leaning to re-using my Freerides or getting more. I think you’re right, with the brake the weight’s not worth worrying about.

I do already have some Dynafits, hence the megarides. With the Stormrider PIT lights I’ve got then that makes the ultralight setup I have. I liked the Scarpa and the fit was excellent but the Garmont fit on my foot is just a little better, from excellent to perfect with a G-Fit inner.

My StormRider XL’s though are something like 4.5 kg I think, plus the freerides plus the endorphins so over 12kg in total. And, mostly it’s just fine. My idea was to have a new ski at under 4kg in weight (Movement Shaman, G3 Ace, BD Havoc, K2 Shuksan, Dynafit 7 Summit etc for a shortlist). By being able to switch between Endorphins and MegaRides I can lose a kilo’ of weight on the day if I want.

( I have a Camp Corsa axe, light enough to carry and not use but a nice shade of green that makes me look cool I imagine )

That is one of the good uses of the Dynafits isn’t it? You can make a heavier freeride type ski acceptable for touring whereas if you stuck something like a Naxo on it would be too heavy. Don’t forget to weigh the climbing skins too.

Sounds like your garage is as crowded as mine!

if you look at the end of this video there is a small demo of the Silvretta Pure Freeride binding

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5717652241360184929

which may be of interest. It weighs 1800 grammes with the ski brake.

Hello ise - great to meet you on here. Hope we can meet up next season - maybe on the North face again!

I changed my set-up last season because I wanted to ski differently - all over the mountains rather than on piste and following some great advice here and from davidof directly, I purchased a pair of Scarpa Tornado boots, what are termed ‘Freerando’ or as I view them, a hybrid touring/alpine boot. They are absolutely great. Coupled with Dynastar Legend Pro skis in 186 and Fritchi Freeride Plus bindings, I was very happy and found this entire set-up really great.

I was poorly advised in the past - especially regarding lengths and widths of ski. Most vendors view a persons height as the bench mark for selecting ski length, but at 90 kilos I was struggling until I got onto these longer and wider Dynastars. I carry an ABS pack as well and random binding releases were becoming a worry - a consideration highlighted by davidof on this thread. This is an extremely important point to consider if you are going all-mountain - binding release is just not an option in some places! Freeride Plus are a good safe option in this respect.

Your choice of bindings, I suppose will relate to the type of skiing that you want to do. Personally, I love hiking up to a chair lift/snow line, climb, skin for a couple of hours and then ski a fairly long backcountry route, maybe with another bit of skinning/climbing in between and possibly a walk out. The set-up that I have is very strong and robust, not to mention comfortable. Yes it’s a bit heavy, but it suits my needs and in my view these bindings give me an added safety margin. And contrary to what you might imagine, this set-up is great on-piste as well. I have skied about 80 days last season on these and I just wish I had that same knowledge the season before, when I was in Bourg. One set-up ‘does all-mountain’. For my purposes, its the adaptability of the Freeride Plus bindings that’s the attraction. You and I are a fairly similar build - before writing this I looked at a photo of us on Bellecote!

I haven’t tried any multi-day touring with these though! - I am reasonably strong & fit though and genuinely don’t mind the extra weight. I do find this topic interesting to the point of researching possible lighter options, though with the Scarpa Tornados, the Dynafit system is not possible. I will be cautious though as I really like this set-up - “If it isn’t broke - don’t fix it!” syndrome. I don’t imagine that I will ever return to ‘Alpine’ boots though and will probably test some other Freerando boots next season. Davidof has his finger on the pulse of all related developments, with some great research and facts on this site.

Hi BernardC ! I was actually skiing on the Fritschi Freerides that day on the North Face (http://snowslider.net/2006/04/18/2006-04-18-bellecote-north-face/). I think I’ll stick with them as well. When we get the conditions and the dealer has some stock I’ll try BD Havocs in 185, I think they stick freerides on the demos anyway.

Which reminds me, great video about black diamond here :

http://www.telemarktips.com/Interview14bird07.html

Drop by Zinal sometime, we’ll take our skis for a walk up the hill

Thanks for the invitation ise ....! Its a must!

Black Diamond have a much bigger range of skis than in the past - when in La Grave last season, all their models were available free to test at our hotel - Edelweiss. Plus I really rate the BD adjustable pole:
http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=1_66_94&products_id=1170

Great Chalet pictures by the way!

Hi folks,

I am also a “newbie” - just buying my first set of touring gear after moving to Rossland, BC. Does any one have experience with the Dynastar Altitrail, with Dynastar Legend bindings? Around here, pretty much everyone uses Fritschi bindings. I still have my downhill skis, but will use these on-piste as well. I am a pretty aggressive skier, female, weighing about 60 KG. Thanks for any advice you can provide!

Diana