It’s going to be hard to win a guy like me over from Dynafit’s proven reliability, but take a look at G3’s new AT binding offering, the ONYX. (More information here.) G3 ONYX features highlights are:
- Tour Lock-out Mode
- Boot-toe stop
- Base Plate Mounting System- Allows or 33mm of adjustment for different size boots.
- Din Range 5-10
- Pole Acuated Ski to Tour Mode Change
looks like a heavier version of dynafit.
But ski to tour mode would be so much nicer! Also I wonder if it could competatively price dynafit down.
I can not wait to get my hand on this binding
While the ONYX does look pretty…the biggest reason (aside from durability and skiing performance) I use Dynafit is because of it’s weight.
Wonder if the mounting holes match up with Dynafit mounting holes?
Santa, can you please get me one? I’ll be a good boy in 2009!
looks like a freeride item, but don´t understand why its din range is only up to ten?!?!?!
At OR these things iced up like crazy (a G3 tradition since the targa ascent) and all of the plastic parts were creaky and not confidence inspiring. I honestly think they are pushing this thing to market before it is ready.
I tried the demo unit they had at Mountain Equipment Coop in Vancouver.
The lever to press the toe jaws is very difficult to actuate (press open) even when using ones body weight and a ski pole on the lever.
Maybe up to ten times the pressure required to open the Dynafits.
For note, I weight 200 lbs and had trouble unless leaning directly on lever with ski pole.
To re-emphasize my beef with this lever, it was not just me with this problem.
The lever was marked badly by all the ski poles that had pressed it down and looked a little unsightly with the damage to the plastic.
Also, the heel lifters are fiddly.
Their is one that slides forward into a position it should not be in and then will break if you use it as a lifter by accident.
So, two bad features!!!
Otherwise, they would have sold me this unit. The features are great but it lacks the simple force required for Dynafit and looks like the user can accidently break it in the field.
agreed canwilf. i experioenced the same thing when i demoed them. will be interesting to see how they sell.
I’ve had the chance to tour on these bindings. I will say that the ability to easily change between ski and walk mode is nice to have. The range of adjustability is great too.
However, I would probably not buy these again. The Heel lifts are my biggest complaint. They don’t stay put when you want them down, and it is hard to actuate them in the correct order with a ski pole. The issue of them breaking if they are used in the wrong order is also worrisome. In short, after touring on Naxo’s and Dynafits, I found myself increasingly frustrated at the poor design of these lifts, especially when they collected ice and snow. While the former bindings are predictable when using the lifts, the G3’s would take multiple attempts nearly every time.
My second complaint is the toe entry system. I’m afraid that they will ruin my boots by gouging away the toe plastic around the tech system points in the front. Every missed entry equals boot damage.
The extra weight is definitely noticeable, although I wouldn’t let that be my decision maker if the binding were truly superior in other ways.
Eric…I would agree with your thoughts from the time i’ve spent on the onyx. we’ve warrantied some at the shop for broken lifters…and i could see getting into the toe piece being a real challenge in tricky and steep terrain. i’m not sure the big to-do about going from ski to tour mode without stepping out of the binding either…since i do it all the time on my dynafits.
To answer Evan’s question above. The holes do indeed match up with Dynafit mounting patterns. I suppose this is a double edged sword persuading some to replace dynafits with G3’s. I would guess that until some of the issues are resolved with the G3’s, it will work in the other direction.