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

If it's going to be heavier, they would do well to concentrate on delivering higher DIN settings/better elasticity. There's definitely a market for a burlier Dynafit.

Looks like they tried to fill in the gap under the jaws with plastic in an attempt to keep snow from getting in there (though it will be harder to get it out when it does). Those lifters look pretty flimsy, though, you can see them flexing quite a bit in the demo video. There's nothing un-slick about a twisting heelpiece that does different jobs in different positions.

I think that there are some nice innovations in the design.  Dynafit could have accommodated some of these issues in the past pretty easily, but when you have a lock on the market the motivation is pretty low.  Such lack of motivation often makes a company blind to new ideas.

Considering the binding weight for all the non-Dynafit competition, I feel that this will be competitive.  Also, it is likely that they will be able to reduce weight in future designs.  If not I am sure the Dynafit, given the new motivation, will see fit to help out in that regard.  However, a few ounces added may not be an issue if ease of use lowers the barrier for all those skiers who saw the Dynafit as a pain to use.  In that respect this binding may put as much pressure on the other brands as they do Dynafit.  All this presumes that there does not develop a history of the binding falling apart in use on a regular basis, such as has occurred with some new gear.

One of the biggest advantages of the Dynafit, for me, is that it offers unparalleled ski-to-boot control, something lacking in the other hinge/plate bindings that I have seen.  This binding is no different than the Dynafit from what I can see.

On idea that I have not seen posted here yet is the prospect for gearheads who really like the toe piece design of the G3 but do not want to add the extra weight of the G3 heal piece to mix and match from the two bindings.  Surely expensive, but there would appear to be no mechanical reason why that could not be done.  On the other hand you could go the other way as well...

In any case, my guess is that with the competition, both companies will now be refining and improving this class of binding in the future.  Good news.

Alan

Perhaps they'll come with a version that allows you to not mount the toe plate and which would limit the boot centering ability of the G3 binding. That could save significant weight. Obviously they need the plate in the heel to allow the ski to tour ability for the binding to slide.

gearheads who really like the toe piece design of the G3

Somehow the prospect of having to hold the lever down with my hand or pole and slowly releasing it while standing at the top of a steep couloir with the tail of my ski jammed into the snow doesn't sound appealing to me . . .

Here's a competing binding that actually does something different other than merely look different:
tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149703

DIN 14, vertical and lateral? Cool. Rickster, any pictures of the binding in touring mode? The TGR series doesn't show the heel lift options at all.