Dynafit TLT Radical FT

Sure it's light, but is it strong enough? A classic question in the world of AT bindings. So when presented with the opportunity to scoop up a pair of these – with a newly designed, stronger toe piece – I seized it. But reputation of these bindings required legitimate testing so we flew half-way around the world. I figured what better place to test the strength of the new toe piece, and binding in general, than the powder capital of the world, Hokkaido, Japan.  

Our first stop – Niseko United, comprised of Annupuri, Niseko Village, Hanazono, and Grand Hirafu – had an interesting mix of in-resort and out-of-bounds terrain which made it the perfect proving ground for an AT setup. After multiple days of ripping around in and out of the resort, I’m happy to report these bindings live up to the hype. We had highly variable snow conditions, classic Japan powder, wind-blown hard-pack, and everything in between and these bindings held strong through it all. They even withstood the torque of tossing 360s off the plentiful pillows. Safe to say, you can confidently ski aggressively in all conditions.  

Though we felt confident in our testing, we decided to go cat skiing, just to be sure. Our experience at Iwanai Resort was better than imagined – bottomless powder on perfectly angled slopes with an optional cornice entry. But we all know that excitement can disappear quickly when your bindings pop off every run (like some AT bindings do). And while admittedly timid on the first run, I quickly realized I had nothing to worry about – they didn’t come off once. 

Okay, now for the uphill. Again, the stronger toe piece comes in handy, contributing to a sturdier feel than most AT bindings, especially when trying to hold an edge. Further adding to the underfoot strength is a runner linking the toe and heel pieces. This acts as a ski stiffener when locked and shock absorber when unlocked. Dynafit also addresses a common problem in AT bindings market, risers that are next to impossible to adjust with your ski pole. Their new risers have ridges and an angular design, giving you just enough leverage to adjust heel height easily. And of course, they’re light – almost half the weight of other products on the market – which can do wonders for your endurance in the backcountry. For both uphill and down, the TLT Radical FT is one of the top options on the market and should definitely be considered. 

Lastly, we come to the price point. This is pretty middle of the road on price, as far as high performance AT bindings go. But you can often find discounted pricing, pulling it down to one of the lowest prices you’ll find. And after traveling thousands of miles (we know they’re not exactly gentle with checked bags) and skiing thousands of feet, they still look like new. Of course, pick the binding that makes the most sense for your skier type and preferences, but this binding should be a serious contender for anyone who spends time in the backcountry. Happy Touring!