I’ve got to tell you, last week I was waiting on pins and needles for some Dynafit products to arrive…mainly the new Zzero 4 CF boots and Vertical FT bindings. I only tried the Zzeros on once in Tim Kelley’s (Dynafit Sales Manager) office last year, when Dynafit was with Life-Link and based Jackson, so I was anxious to see how they looked and fit now that they are in production.
Since I’ve had them in my hands, I definitely have to say I’m impressed. Light and stiff is the only way to describe how they feel. The weight is the first thing you think about when you pick them up. They even feel lighter that my ‘beater boots’, which are missing half the sole and much of the plastic down towards the bottom of the boot. I’m sizing down a little bit from years past, so that helps to shave even more weight as well.
Molding the liners went smoothly and I used nylons and some toe-caps to give me more room up front. I must say the new EVA Dynafit has chosen to use works great. It filled in all the gaps and compressed nicely around my ankles giving a solid fit, which is crucial for touring. I like to have my boots buckled as loose as possible when touring or booting, so a liner that fits and holds you in is important.
I was able to get out and make my first turns of the year with the Z-zero 4 CF’s (and the usual early season crowd) on Saturday and I wasn’t disappointed. They toured and skied great. This is my first time skiing in a boot with a traditional tongue and I was a little concerned that touring would feel different…but it didn’t. My heel stayed in the 
pocket as well and I had no problems with blisters or hot-spots after about 2500′ of skiing…which is about 7 laps on the skiable terrain on the south side of Teton Pass. The ski/walk mechanism worked as it should between laps and I think its low profile will keep it away from dangerous, plastic breaking rocks. The ‘Quick Step-in” pins on the toe are also new to me and it did seem that getting into the Dynafit binding was a bit easier, even after a few months of lacing up the running shoes.
The fit of the Z-zero is low volume, but plenty wide. Occasionally, I’ve had to get the sixth-toe area of my AT boots punched-out in order to tour without agony, but I don’t think I will have to with the new Zzero. They are wide where they need to be and not where they don’t. The forward lean has two positions for ski 
mode. I used the furthest one forward over the weekend and it felt right. The boots skied well and seemed to be plenty stiff. For kicks, I tried switching out the tongue with some others I had laying around the night before, and a few fit relatively well, for those that need customization. I skied with the stock tongues over the weekend and don’t see a need to noodle with them for now. I compared the height of the cuff to some older alpine boots I had laying around (Salomon X-Screams) and they were the same height.
Anyway, I just bought my plane ticket to ski Orizaba (highest peak in Mexico) from November 1-6, so I hope to get the Zzero 4 CF’s over 18,000′ right off the bat. I know their light weight will be on my side. Check out the Zzero’s and enter for a chance to win a pair at SpeedUp.Dynafit.us.
Tim K: what do you think of this post? Sounds good to me!
Steve: Orizaba sounds awesome.
steve, can’t wait to see the pics. shredded off the summit of mt. hunt yesterday. good stuff. were able to ski 3/4 the way down on cowboy cool whip! good luck in mexico.
Steve, I’ll go ahead and ask the inevitable question. How would you compare it to the Spirit 4 now that you’ve skied both?
The Zzero seems stiffer…with less of a progressive flex than the Spirit4. And obviously much lighter. I thought the Zzero fit a little bit wider as well.
I especially curious how the Vertical bindings will perform. I am a bit suspicious about too many plastic parts since I do not trust in Dynafit plastic material.
Ahh, nice to hear that you guys are gettin’ some, things have not fully begun here in the Alps and I am Jonesing for some turns…
Orizaba sounds fun, makes me remember all the pics from when my folks were there in the 70’s
Matus…the Vertical FTs are going on my Verdicts…so it might be a bit until I ski them. Let’s hope not though.
Hiking for some more turns tomorrow…trying ot get some elevation before Orizaba.
Hey Steve,
your saying you skied with them on the furthest forward setting. When I skied the Zzero 3PX and Zzero 4PX I found them to be stiffer on the more straight up setting, rather than the further forward one? Be curious to See if you find the same thing?
orizaba looks/sounds sweet. go get it.
Hey Grant!
I’m skiing today and will fiddle around with the ski settings.
Any further thoughts after day 2 on the greenies (I’m extraordinarily bored at work, and just need something interesting to read)? I assume you tried putting the stiff spirit tongues in them. Do they fit well, and are they much stiffer?
Sup Justin!
I did ski them a bit in the more upright ski position and they DID feel stiffer. I think I like a more forward ski position though, but really I think a good skier can adjust his/her style to anything.
I did try the stiff Spirit tongues and they fit okay…with some dremmelling…probably better. Since they are more than a 1/2″ taller, they gave the boots a bit more beef in front of the shin. The silver Denali tongues fit better, but are about the same height as the ones that come with the Zzeros and didn’t seem to make much difference.
Cool you found the same thing Steve, I was wondering I was just imagining it or not?
Tell the truth I was really unimpressed with the Zzero3px until I tried the stiffer setting, not bad at all now and I really like the Zzero4px apart from being a tad tight fit.