Dynafit forward release upgrade?

Yes, I mean vertical release. In both instances, I was still attached to the ski by the locked toe pincers and was able to just step back into the heel pins, but unable to "tele" to a stop before immersing my head in the snow (though on occasion I have been able to stomp the heel back in while still moving).

All right then, what about filing the heel piece on the boot so that it allows the pins to be closer. Maybe that would do it?

I had the same problems with the TLT bindings- that's why I had one laying around to make the Hybrid binding. It ended up being partly due to improperly mounted bindings- the only bindings I didn't mount. I tried them on another ski and wasn't happy with them- same problem different ski.

I would hit something, ski would flex and heal would eject. It was usually a bump in the snow; but a couple times from hitting Cascade Pow- der. After awhile I got used to it and got pretty good at stomping the landings. Never got a shiner; but a couple scrapes around the eyes and forhead and once lost a glass lens.

what about filing the heel piece on the boot so that it allows the pins to be closer.

Might work. I don't know how much further they will move inward, maybe I'll try to measure the gap vs. the plate.

Changing the angle of the heel plate slots under the pins (flattening it out) would probably work to increase the DIN too, but it's a cast piece and I figured the pins would be easier to manufacture.

Interesting variation re the moving the heel closer or further for release. I have the tlt's and due to worn pins and a damaged pinhole (on one Laser) bought a new pair of Spirit 3's. The same size shell (29.5) has the pinholes slightly more rear mounted thus having a larger gap at the heel. Probably to protect the holes when hiking. When performing my initial check with the new boots, and maxing out the heel fore-aft adjust screw, it left too big a gap, I figured a remount of the heelpieces was required. Otherwise would release too easily. Now you guys find the closer gap causes the unwanted release.
Anyone know what the minimum spacing would be to be safe:  6, 7 mm? I would presume too big a gap would also prerelease, no?
BTW, I ordered a new toepiece from Lifelink a month ago. Not bad: $75+shipping. But they did not tell me backordered although they charged my ccd. Great service. No wonder TP grows. Marmot or Pro Ski did not have just one toepiece to sell or would have used them.

Marcus, I ski with the toes locked about half the time, basically, as you suggest, when I think the consequences of releasing prematurely would be worse than the potential for other injury. As I've noted, however, this doesn't do anything for premature forward ("vertical" on the East coast) release, though. When I was touring in Europe, it seemed most people had them locked whenever they skied. Several sources have told me that the binding will still release in this mode, with an approximate DIN of 12.

NickD, you might try switching to Comforts as they have a larger range of adjustability in both directions - it might make it possible to use the same holes (the footprint is the same, but the plastic baseplates are higher). I am a believer in using the factory settings for the heel gap - 4mm for TLT/Speed/Classics, 6mm for Comforts.