light weight fanatics take note:

Dynafit is apparently now making its own superlight, non-releasing race version of the TLT binding (similar to the ones the French and Italian World Cup rando racers have been machining on their own). They have no lateral release and no climbing height adjustment, but are absurdly light (257 grams per pair, vs. 660 grams for the regular TLT). This is the first time I've seen them for sale:<br><br> www.baechli-bergsport.ch/default.asp?WMF...&WREC=72127971&WKEY= [65534:72127971]&CIBACHREFID=Tourenbind/Zubehör<br><br>My German isn't good enough to figure out how much they would actually cost - it looks like they mail you a form for overseas purchases, you fill it out, and they deduct 7.6% in taxes from the price?<br><br>Also Scarpa F1's are on sale at Backcountry.com, $348.60 with free shipping . . . not many sizes left, though.<br><br> www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0607.html?c...cat_id=3&id=MEBssrIL

...And, doing a quick calculation between Swiss Franc and $US, that's about $282.00/pair, w/o shipping. NOT BAD, if you are following Andrew Mc's new "GoLite" philosophy. I'd be curious about injury factors, or the "learning how to fall all over again" factor.<br><br>Thanks for the research, Greg.<br><br>PS: I'm headed to a new find on July 24. Interested?

Greg: I've a tentative engagement at Baker the 20th-21st, but yes. PM me here or e-mail me at the Comcast address.<br><br>gregL

Yikes! 339 Euros for this thing! My basic grasp of German seems to indicated that it does, in fact, release both laterally and vertically, but you can't adjust the setting (obviously). And for 199 Euros, you can get a pair of the heelpieces alone, if you have Dynafits already!<br><br>Is saving 300 grams worth funky release? ???

300 grams is 300 grams, you Zubehör! (???)<br><br>Then again a pound of fat weighs more...

Paul: The price is actually in Swiss Francs, about $274.332 US at the moment. I believe it releases vertically but you need to file the pins or plate in your boot heel to change the DIN setting (I've heard you can make it release easier doing this). I don't think it releases laterally, as there is no spring/cam arrangment like the regular TLT, and of course you can't use the TLT brakes. I think they figure if you need these, you're skiing sub-1,000 gram 160cm skis and aren't worried about release or retention devices.