G3's new dynafit compatible rando binding.....

G3's secret project rando binding is no longer a secret....

www.g3onyx.com/index2.php

looks interesting...some bits look heavier, clunkier than the regular ol' Dynafits, but the ski-tour mode for the heel piece is pretty slick...

Does look a little burlier, but at the same time, maybe something that is skiable in the resort with reliability.

I wonder, how much they had to pay dynafit to be able to use the patent?

Dynafit's patents just expired. Wild Snow lists the TLT as 351 g, and the new G3s are listed as 1.43 kg (per set?) so 715 g per. I really have to wonder about their design priorities. My thoughts are unless you can make Dynafits half the price, or half the weight, why bother?

hopefully they'll come out with a more bare-bones version in a season or two that'll give dynafit a run for their money in the weight category...but its a good first effort and some competition for dynafit can only be a good thing.

www.wildsnow.com/1618/g3-new-at-binding-dynafit/ has a nice write-up of some of the features... kinda cool that the bindings will be on a plate so one pair of bindings can be swapped amongst multiple skis that have plates.

I like some of the innovations -- particularly the ski/tour mode switch, but...

holy crap, that's a lot of parts to break.  Didn't the Targas have a long, rough road before they didn't break every other day?

Dynafit still wins on weight, which is probably the main priority for anyone looking at this type of binding.  It's got some promise though and lots of room to trim down.

But yes, competition for Dynafit is good.  Maybe they'll finally innovate some 6 gram ski/tour mode switch and achieve AT holy grail status.