[cascadeclimber]

My Dynafit Speed Radical bindings failed a couple weekends ago and Dynafit is denying the warranty claim since they are more than two years old, even though I have less that 30 days skiing on them. I've been asking around and so far everyone I've asked has either had the same problem or knows someone who has. It seems to me that Dynafit either chose an improper material or the design has severe stress risers causing premature failure. If you or someone you know has had a failure like or similar to the issue below please post back here or contact me directly. I think Dynafit should be recalling or at least replacing these bindings when they fail.

Loren loren@cascadeclimber.com

[Randito]

The first year the Radicals came out there were two problems that got a lot of attention. 1) Defect in the spring pins in the main pivot. These pins were supposed to prevent rotation while the heel piece was in tour mode. When the pins failed the result was that in tour mode the heel piece would easily rotate into ski mode. 2) The plastic pieces on the top of the binding that hold the elevators could crack. In a pair of Radical ST's I had issue #1 replaced by the recall and issue #2 replaced under warranty with in the first year. The damage shown in your photo looks like the plastic broke around one of the spring pins from rotational pressure. It is possible to buy individual replacement heel pieces: http://skimo.co/dynafit-binding-heels FWIW: I gotten rid of all my "Radical" bindings in favor of Dynafit Speed SuperLights and SKI TRAB TR RACE bindings. The lack of length adjustment requires precision in mounting and doesn't allow swapping boots. However I have had zero problems with these bindings.

[DIYSteve]

[radka]

[DIYSteve]

radka, you might consider the Dynafit Speed Turn 2.0, a burly binding without the Radical weak spots, only 1.5 lbs./pair, with a flat touring mode, available from domestic sellers for $280 and available from Europe for <$200. The Speed Turn 2.0 has a 4-screw toe, but without the power towers. The heel body is most recent gen Speed Radical body, but with the tried & true TLT Classic top plate (which I prefer to update with a B&D top plate and B&D Comfort-style volcano). If I were buying new tech bindings, that's what I'd get, with the B&D updates. I've seen too many Radical top plate failures.

[cascadeclimber]

To follow this up, after a week of calling, emailing, and posting on the Dynafit Facebook page they told me they weren't going to cover this because the bindings are more than two years old. Someone emailed me from one of these posts and pointed out that there was a voluntary recall of all Gen1 Radicals...something that Dynafit/Salewa didn't tell me, even though they obviously knew about it and that my bindings qualified. Days after I emailed them that info and asked why my bindings didn't qualify, they grudgingly offered to replace them. When I asked them why they hadn't offered this in the first place they non-sensically said this is their busy time of year. This is NOT the Dynafit whose bindings and boots I've been using for 20 years without a single failure. They seem to have too many products (12 different boot liners alone on their web site) and have lost focus, or at least the ability to produce a solid, reliably product.

[DIYSteve]

Yup, there was a recall of your binding. I'm surprised your gen1 Speed Radicals lasted that long. Everyone I knew with those gen1 SRs broke them early in their first season. It's the same company, just experiencing some growing pains. #1 rule of tech binding purchase decision: Never buy a first generation of any tech binding.

[Randito]

[joker]

Well, lousy story, but I'm glad you finally got them replaced. I was quite pleased to have Marmot still up and running and advocating for me when my Manaslu skis delaminated. Dynafit ultimately agreed to send them a different model (they were out of stock in Manaslu skis in my size) and Marmot gave me a pair of Manaslus off the floor. I really miss having that shop nearby... (also glad I didn't get that particular binding based on what I'm reading here! though perhaps there are lurking demons in my Vertical bindings...)

[DIYSteve]

Salewa Group bought Dynafit 13 years ago, in Feb 2003. Martin Volken's shop in NB seems to be tight with Dynafit NA.

[radka]

[Randito]

FWIW: I switched to B&D leashes instead of brakes after I had pair of Radical STs release in a fall and not deploy the brakes and the ski skittered a few hundred feet down the hill. The heel piece twisted during release and stuck in enough of a rotated position that it prevented the brakes from deploying.

[cascadeclimber]

[joker]

[DIYSteve]