Dynafit Ridge Binding

I feel bad for giving a poor review, but I've used a lot of different tech bindings, and I am greatly disappointed in the Ridge. I originally got them because I like Dynafit bindings, I wanted something with a solid brake (which they do have) and I was happy that Dynafit is finally using a "drop-in" style crampon, like Plum.

Here's are the problems (and a few good points):

1) Step in is not very good. This is really surprising, because Dynafit's advertising would make you think it is magical, but actually I find them considerably less reliable (in terms of how many tries to click in) compared with the tried-and-true Dynafit Radical or earlier Vertical model. I have compared side by side and I typically find I am in on first step with the Radical, but it takes me 3 or 4 tries with the Ridge. This is with very standard, popular boots (Atomic Backland Pro, Scarpa Maestrale, both current models). 1 star

2. Snow packing is terrible. The problem is that there is a very deep hole under the toe springs. The tried-and-true method is to hold your skis vertically and click in / out a few times to clear snow, which falls out of the binding. Works great on Radicals. Snow gets trapped in the Ridges. I've never had this much trouble with any other binding. 0 stars.

3) The "wings" that you use to unlock and rotate the heel are clever, but are mostly a solution in search of a problem. They do work, but they also can get iced up (though clear easily in my experience). 3 stars. (nothing wrong, but nothing special)

4) "Zero-gap" is 2 mm gap, which means you need yet another gap "feeler" to keep track of if you have multiple boots. Compare with the Marker Cruise, which has zero gap and so requires no such tool. Note that very few "zero gap" bindings actually are that. The clever thing about the Cruise is that it has a gap of about 4 mm of travel on the pins themselves, but above that, the top of the bindings justs out a bit, so that it just kisses the boot. Very clever and very easy to adjust. This is all "fine" as it is not worse than other bindings, but why create yet another new standard? 3 stars.

5) "Performance". Supposed to be better because of the elastic travel and "zero gap". Maybe. I cannot tell the difference. 3 stars.

6) Heel lifters. Easily flipped, but also they easily flip themselves, and then get in the way when you are trying to step in. ATK has this problem too, but ATK has magnets and a way to push down and secure the heel lifter. It's a bit annoying, but it works, whereas with the Ridge, despite being heavier, there is nothing in the design to prevent this. Again compare with Marker Cruise (which like the Ridge you turn 180 to go from ski to walk): on the Cruise, if the heel lifter accidentally is flipped over the wrong way, it doesn't matter, as it is short enough to not be in the way of stepping into downhill model. 2 stars (because the heel lifters are nice, otherwise).

7) Weight. Nothing special here. 3 stars.

8) Brakes: Strong, and auto-stowing. Works very well. 5 stars.

9) Crampons: Not as easy to just drop in as Plum (for some reason, but Dyanfits are more fiddly), but still a vast improvement over all other designs. 4 stars.

Average = 2.7 stars, but I'm rounding down to 2 because Dynafit ought to know better after all these years!

A couple of comparisons worth making:

Marker Cruise is a very similar binding in terms of design philosophy. This is my favorite binding for winter use. Most would consider them to heavy to make sense for a dedicated "big day" binding, especially if your day includes carrying skis on your back, but they are so convenient and easy to use that I love them anyway). I find everything about them much better, especially the step-in and heel design. I've had zero problems. Step-in is fantastic, and snow clearance is excellent. The only downsides are 1) bigger delta (if you care about that, you can always shim), 2) slide-in-crampons (everybody should just pay Plum to license their's -- it's the best!); 3) slightly heavier, but not enough to notice.

Dynafit Seven Summits. Much much better heel design, but apparently the same weirdly designed toe piece. I'm replacing my Ridge heels with these, because the hole pattern is the same. We'll see how that goes. The problem with the Seven Summits it that it only has one heel-lift flap, and to get two heights you have to turn it 180. Not a big deal, but still, in this day and age, one ought to be able to do better (and many bindings do!). It is considerably lighter than Ridge, so that's a plus.

I'm curious to finally try the much-storied ATK Raider Evo and I may just replace my Ridge/Seven Summits hybrid with them if I continue to be unhappy. Unfortunately, the hole patterns are too similar to the Cruise to replace with those, which would be my preference.

Hey again,
I'm excited to finally get my bindings mounted, but my local ski shop is looking for a jig to use.. do you have one that I can buy?

Is the heel of the Dynafit Range bindings fixed (with the 2mm gap) or will it flex back under compression?

I want to mount these on a pair of Black diamond Helios 104. Has anyone had this set up? Can I be confident the 98 mm brakes of this binding will fit over a 104 waist ski?

How’s the heel/toe drop on these bindings? Does the toe piece come with a shim toe level out the drop like the Freeraider?

Thanks yall rock.

How wide of a ski will the 98mm brake accommodate? Thanks!

Does this have the same mounting/hole pattern as the radical/rotation? Thanks!

Do these bindings still have a gapless heel or has that changed? I saw a note in your mind the gap article. Mostly trying to make sense of what 7mm of forward pressure means in the binding description.

Also do the brakes need an afd because they operate similar to a free ride spacer on the ATK bindings or is there a gap?
Thanks

Hello,

Would the 98mm brake width work with a 104mm ski? I saw in another question that you said they run a little wide. Or would I be better off getting the 110mm brake?

Will the 110 brakes fit on the Armada Locator 112 (length 180)?

Can the vertical and lateral release be adjusted independently?

Also, any early indications of pre-release issues specific to sole styles or boots? (I'm having pre-release issues with mine, my shop has only seen one pair of them in person)

Thanks!

Does the toe piece offer any elasticity similar to the Rotation?

Crampons? Do the regular dynafit crampons fit? If so, how is it that they are “quick-in”??

Hiya- How do the riser heights compare to the Radical? Flat... medium.... highball... higher, lower, about the same?

What’s the hole pattern?

Will this have a brakeless version? What's the weight without brakes?