Dynafits - do you trust yours?

Also - if you lock the toe (or not), you don't compromise vertical release at all, you just keep the ski with you.... I've had a few experiences, locked and unlocked, where the heel released vertically, allowing a quick tele move, and stomped back in on the next turn.

I also wonder why this one binding has created such fanatical supporters?

You see this question quite a bit, you know..... drink the coolaid, fanatical, etc.  For me it's very simple - they work and they're light. I can't ask for more. 

For me it's not a matter of overlooking their problems, because if it didn't work I'd drop them in a moment.  During my years of tele skiing I went through at least 8 bindings searching for improvements.  The TLT classic (Speed) was the only model when I first bought, then I went through the learning curve of how to use them properly.  First problem, in ski mode my heel kept popping out in heavy snow or with much upward force. After some frustration I discovered the shop that mounted them set the rear gap between binding and boots at 8mm! When adjust to the correct 4mm, this problem went away completely. Second problem, frequently while skinning I'd come out of the toe piece when doing a kick turns in switchbacks. Again after frustration, I learned to simply lift the toe lever 3-4 clicks to completely lock it out - problems solved. Third problem, it was annoying to have to get out of the boot to go from ski to tour model. Somewhere I learned the trick of leaning forward and rotating the heal post with the ski pole - perfect, your out (and no damage to the boot or binding).

Having learned these things and to deal with some of the true problems/idiosyncrasies (occasional rotating heel post when skinning, having to bend down with a full pack) - I stay with the same model.  Maybe this is why I don't have some of the complaints that other have. Tri-steps had real documented problems, Comforts have the plastic volcano breaking, brakes seem to have several issues, don't know about the latest models. I simply stick with ones that work well for me - 3 pairs worth.

I've also skied Fritschi's and Silvretta Pure - for me, their advantages don't overweigh Dynafits advantages. Now maybe the new G3 Onyx..... hmmmm. 

Hmmm. I have nasty heavy Freerides and Dukes, but I don't tour on them. In fact, I don't even have skins for the skis those bindings are mounted on now.

I trust my Dynafits completely, but they are paired with lighter and narrower skis and softer boots. Plus I've sort of figured out I need to ski a little differently on light setups over the years. I never had any prerelease issues with lateral Dynafit release, but I have released forward at inopportune moments, usually when decelerating quickly as a result of hitting a pocket of deep snow, a thinly covered ditch, or a death cookie. Twice I've been able to stomp the heel back down and continue, the other times I fell.

None of the "prereleases" has happened in critical terrain.

PS  Virtually all of the European ski tourists I know ski with their Dynafit toes "locked" all the time. This includes a couple of very experienced guides. They look at you in amazement if you don't pull up on the toe before descending.

PS  Virtually all of the European ski tourists I know ski with their Dynafit toes "locked" all the time. This includes a couple of very experienced guides. They look at you in amazement if you don't pull up on the toe before descending.

Them Euro's are all goofy!
Seriously though; every time we start a discussion about Dynaffidlies , I learn something new.
I'm going to lock my toe down all the time now based upon what has been said. Maybe with this added security I will gain enlightenment and become a dynafit evangalist!

Interesting thread. I just really skied by Dynafits for the first time today, having switched from tele.  They released at the toe before I even knew what was happening, while hitting a bump going slow.  I didn't mind the fall that followed, since the reason for the switch was old sore knees.  My Dynafit counselor, who has skied them much more than I, suggested that I press the toe into place and then swing the ski back and forth before clicking into the heel to make sure the toe was really set. Mine are set really light to keep the knees intact.

Interesting comment about the guides expecting you to lock your toes in tour mode. Yes, time is money, and I only met one guide who liked to wait. If you live all day on your skis, and fall maybe once a year, you may be in the risk taking mood.  If you ski less often and find yourself on one of those glacial tours at Chamonix where the guides never notice the clients who fall into the crevasses, then you decide if you want to lock out your toe pieces.  I personally would probably lock mine out since I spent so many years on tele.
 
Skiing with locked toepieces and falling used to be an art.  Especially with a full pack. Growing up before the advent of safety bindings put a few more tricks in the bag for keeping out of trouble.  However, the only time I screwed up a knee was on a European tour where the guide insisted I go on alpine gear, when I lived on tele. I got into a deep snow twisting fall and reverted to my tele  baleout. Tore up my knee when the alpine binding didn't release and my heel wasn't free. There is no one answer, and I certainly don't listen to all the European alpine guides. As per other comments on this site about snow professionals, they come in a variety of colors.

As per other comments on this site about snow professionals, they come in a variety of colors.

The ones I see most frequently are either white, or black and blue, depending on how hard the snowpack is.