Dynafit TLT Comfort or Classic?

Hi,<br><br>I am going to get a real randonnee setup this year with Dynafit bindings (I currently use all alpine gear with Alpine Trekkers, and while I love the workout, I want something else for longer tours).<br><br>I am facing the question many are facing, which is whether to buy the Comfort or the Classic. The Dynafit products page lists the classic at 1 lb 4 oz / pair versus the Comfort's 1 lb 11 oz, but their FAQ page lists the Classic at a mere three ounces less (1 lb 8 oz) than the Comfort. And frankly, I can lose more than 7 oz on various parts of my body .<br><br>I do not care that much for the Comfort's shell sizes adjustability, and I wonder how much of a pain it really is to switch between step heights on the Classic? Is the bending required really weird? It can't be worse than the Trekkers, now, can it?<br><br>Also my last question is whether the straps that ship with the bindings would detach if caught in an avalanche? It doesn't look like the Classic comes with optional brakes (and then that is weight again).<br><br>I do not plan to ski these skis in resorts at all.<br><br>Thanks for any help you can give to decide between the two bindings.<br><br>YA

i can't speak of the difference in the heel lifters...I've always had the Comforts (and their malfuctioning cousin, the Tri-Step).<br><br>I tried the brakes...hate them...they never seemed to deploy consistantly, most of the time they'd just stay 'up' even after I clicked out of the binding. <br><br>As for the leashes, you could always attach the leash to the binding with an intentionally 'weak link' such as a metal key ring and figure that if you were to get caught in slide, that weak connection would separate the leash from the ski.<br>

i've got a pair of each and actually think the classic is easier to switch between heel hights with your pole tip. on the comfort the red tube thing tends to ice up in our PNW snow. one nice thing about the comfort though is the heel pins are a 2mm longer which partially alleviates a pre-release problem that happens when the tip and tail of the ski are flexed down. i have a light pair of skis (trab sintesis) mounted with classics and regularly have heel pre-releases when jump turning in heavy snow. i have the comfort mounted on stiffer BD miras and rarely have that problem, so i don't really know if it's the longer pins or the stiffer skis. <br><br>i had the brakes on my classic but removed them after one day and just use the straps now. i just didn't like the brakes. the straps i got with the classics look like they are maybe designed to break in an avalanche, the straps with the comforts don't.

Thanks Greg. How do you like the Ski Trabs? I spoke at length with Mark and he mentioned I should try to convince you to let me try them, or at least get your feedback on them I am looking at getting a pair of Freerides maybe.<br><br>Thanks for the feedback on the Classic.<br><br>YA

That pre-release is no small matter. I was pre-releasing with the Tri-steps (same heel piece as the Comforts), so I move the heel-piece forward on its track until it just about jams my heel. Since then I have only pre-released once -- but I didn't like it, not even a little bit.

Is it easy to fix the pre-release issue on the Classic? Tim, do you not pre-release anymore? I am buying the lighter setup to do ski mountaineering (e.g. ski the Fuhrer Fingers on Rainier, and if I get the mental to do it, the Gibraltar Chute), and those are not good places to pre-release I'd say...<br><br>YA