Q: Bellowed Boots in Non-Dynafit AT Bindings

Hi All,

I'm hoping some of the ATers here will benefit me with their experience...

I'm going to run Scarpa's NTN boot the TX Pro this season and would like to be able to use them in my Fritschi Freerides. However, when the boot is in the Freerides the sole underneath the bellows is not supported (there is about a 1/4" gap between boot sole's Vibram(tm) and the bar that connects the toe and heel pieces) and even moderate pressure forward deforms the boot while in the binding.

I can see nothing but trouble with that sad fact.

I was thinking about installing a shim (maybe blocks of HDPE screwed in to the ski?) but for that to be effective as a support I would then worry about added friction impeding the toe release.

I'm kind of at a loss. Perhaps people who have used bellowed AT boots like the F3 have discovered a way to make bindings other than Dynafits work?

(In the meantime I'm keeping my eyes open for a good deal on Dynafits!    )

Thanks,

r. 

If anyone else is curious about this issue, this is what Scarpa just sent me:

"We would not recommend using the Terminator X Pro's in AT binding other than Dynafit. The main reason the TX Pro will not work well on other AT bindings is because the lip that sticks out from the toe is smaller than a normal AT boot. There’s not as much plastic to hold the boots in place very well. Also, with the bellows these boots will flex right out of the binding unless you construct some kind of shim that sits under the ball of your foot. The standard shims fit with a TLT binding, but the bar running underfoot on all other AT bindings will get in the way and the height of the standard shim will typically not be tall enough. With these factors there’s a very good chance that the TX Pro's will come out of any other AT binding on a fairly regular basis…probably when you would least want it. This boot was designed for just an NTN binding or a Dynafit binding."

r.