Dynafit brakes - do you like 'em?

I'm a Brake man myself.

If, god forbid, I get in an avalanche, I want there to be every chance that my skis leave me and don’t drag me down. I’m not going to trust some supposed, untested “fusible link” to release my skis as they turn in to 6 ft cuisinart blades.  Plus futzing with any kind of strap is an extra bother if I can make the brakes work for me. My exception to that preference is during roped glacier travel where there’s a chance for a crevasse fall, which will likely knock off a ski with a releasable binding. Then I will use straps (in addition to the brakes).

As far as ensuring that the brakes deploy properly, I find that the Dynafit brake design is fine while their manufacturing process sometimes leaves just a bit to be "finished off".
Here's what I mean by that:
In order for the Dynafit brakes to deploy properly the brake rod portions between the two right angle bends need to first move laterally through the slightly oversized hole in the frame, and then rotate the brake rod pivots down below the ski base. The "hang up" usually literally comes from the friction associated with that initial lateral movement of the rod through the frame hole.  The holes in that frame are stamped and that process leaves burrs and causes extra friction. Then add a little ice into the mechanism and the springs don't have enough force to overcome the combined friction of the ice and the grabby edges of the holes.

The solution, of course is to "wear in" the brake rods with the inside surfaces of the frame holes.  With new brakes, before I oil them I mount them up and then cycle through their full range of motion from fully stowed on top of the ski to fully deployed below the ski base about a 100 times or more to “wear in” all the sharp edges and make sure they operate smoothly. On rare occasions I have even used fine valve grinding compound to get the actions silky smooth.  Once smooth and clean I oil all the pivot points with some good silicone base oil. Put some oil on the toe piece cross bar pivot and "spill" some on the ski top sheet in the toe piece opening below where the cross pieces meet to mitigate snow getting packed in that area and preventing the toe pins from full engaging.
Keeping them oiled and cycling them regularly after that is all that I find them needing to continue to everything function properly.

I have noticed in sun warmed snow that my Dynafit ST bindings have a willingness to rotate back to the ski mode. I don't have a vid cam on this so I don't know what is causing the binders to go back to ski mode as I walk, thus deploying the brakes. ONLY happens when pow turns to glop skinning. I have started to think that the brakes may go and the BD leashes Scotsman scored for me may be the go to retainer. I would set it up like the other posters here with the THIN ziptie.

Yes, Joe, I run into this while skinning in the deep heavy snow as well.
But I’m not so sure that you are correct in assuming the brake is the culprit.
I find that it is almost always the left ski and I believe it happens because of the heavy snow’s friction against the back of the heel piece as the ski moves forward causing a counterclockwise rotational force on the heel tower towards ski mode.  I think you will find it happens most in the “no climbing block” mode.  I have my din settings fairly low. It would probably happen less with higher din settings but I would rather put up with it than risk a higher setting.  If it got to be unmanageable I might try to figure out a fairing of some sort to protect the heel piece. When it happens I just pop the toe lever off with my ski pole, then step on the brake pad with my boot and rotate the heel tower back to tour mode and step back into the toe piece.
I would be surprised if the “no brake” contingent don’t run into the same situation in deep heavy skinning conditions unless they have their heel rotation settings cranked up to a very high din setting.

dynafit brakes seldom deploy on their own but i find them very useful for keeping a ski in place when clicking in in steep terrain. andrew mclean offers a mod here to make your brakes release more reliably

straightchuter.com/2010/01/3766/#more-3766

My personal opinion is that Dynafit brakes added enough to the overall weight that a Marker Duke or Baron is a better option. The whole point of Dynafits is to save weight. I'm interested in trying out the new Dynafit Guide leashes - those look a lot like the home-made leashes I already have.

My personal opinion is that Dynafit brakes added enough to the overall weight that a Marker Duke or Baron is a better option.  The whole point of Dynafits is to save weight.  I'm interested in trying out the new Dynafit Guide leashes - those look a lot like the home-made leashes I already have.

??? Huh?
Must restrain need to feel righteous.
I guess I'll take the bait. Depends on what your gig is...
Not sure what you are comparing.
There are other advantages besides the dramatic weight savings: Duke 5#10oz. vs Dynafit FT 12w/brake 2# 6oz.
The freedom of movement in stride, the ease of transition from ski to walk mode.
Duke you have to take the ski off to transition to use heel lifts.

I would say the for me it's not all about the weight.

My personal opinion is that Dynafit brakes added enough to the overall weight that a Marker Duke or Baron is a better option.  The whole point of Dynafits is to save weight.  I'm interested in trying out the new Dynafit Guide leashes - those look a lot like the home-made leashes I already have.

My 2c.
Having both Barons and Dynafits w/ brakes I can tell you that skinning with Barons and skinning with dynafifddlies is a whole different ball game.
If really going BC  touring and not sidecountry the weight difference and stride efficiency is EXTREMELY noticeable and you will wear yourself out pretty damn quick on Barons or Dukes.

Conversely, if all you are using them for is quick sidecountry hits from the lift-- not extended touring, the Baron is a superior resort/sidecountry binding IMVHO.
So as usual it depends on what you're doing

I have noticed in sunwarmed snow that my Dynafit ST bindings have a willingness to rotate back to the ski mode. I don't have a vid cam on this so I don't know what is causing the binders to go back to ski mode as I walk, thus deploying the brakes. ONLY happens when pow turns to glop skinning. I have started to think that the brakes may go and the BD leashes Scotsman scored for me may be the go to retainer. I would set it up like the other posters here with the THIN ziptie.

I have noticed this too. It happens a lot to me, but not to others without brakes. Does anybody have a suggestion?

I am particularily partial to brakes. Why? Avalanches. I want my feet to move just in case.