The red and white hot, Dynafit Titan.
There is only one new ski boot wanted to try out this year, the Dynafit Titan, and I was excited when they arrived last week. I did a couple demo runs on Titan at last year’s demo day at Outdoor retailer, and I could tell that the boot offers a great combination of beef…at reduced weight than other heavy metal, four-buckle offerings.
To start out with, there is no denying the fact that the Dynafit Titan is a sexy boot. It’s red, black and white color scheme are seriously eye catching and the roaring snow leopard graphic on the side just makes you want to charge down the slopes.
Screws securing the sole are recessed to prevent damage from rocks.
With its TBS (Triple Binding Sole), the Titan is compatible with all alpine and AT bindings on the market. Combine that with its stiff flex and it makes the Titan a great option for those looking for one boot to ski with both their alpine and AT setups. Two sets of ‘sole-blocks’ come with the Titan, one with a rubber sole, a slight bit of rocker and ‘tech’ fittings for all AT bindings, and another that has no rubber and flat sole that will work with alpine clamps. Both sole sattach to the b
ody of the boot with a total of eight screws. While some may think this is a lot, the screws themselves aren’t as big and weighty as others I have seen out there. All the screws are recessed below the plane of the sole, which should protect them from getting beat up by rocks and keep them functional for a long time.
One thing to note is that the AT compatible soles come with Dynafit’s proprietary ‘Quick-Step” toe fittings (only offered on Dynafit boots), and even though I consider myself a pro when it comes to getting into tech-bindings, the ‘Quick Step’ fittings are a nice addition, especially when on uneven terrain and/or deep snow. Basically, the ‘wings’ restrict the fittings from moving past the pins on the binding…allowing for an easier and smother entry into the toe piece.
Like many stiff, four-buckle AT boots these days, the Titan is made with over-lap construction, as opposed to those with a tongue. While this type of construction tends to offer increased stiffness in ski mode, it also lends itself to a very good walk-mode with a large range of cuff movement, both forward and backward. Dynafit claims 30 degrees of movement. Like most boots though, whether it be overlap or tongue construction, the tour mode really doesn’t fully shine until the top two buckles and Velcro are loosened.
Heel Booster adds torsional rigidity without adding the
weight of “dual density” or excess plastics.
There are no ‘carbon stringers’ on the Titan to increase lateral stiffness like in the Zzero models, but it does have a Heel Booster which increases torsional rigidity with out adding more material or ‘dual density’ plastics, which helps keep the weight down for the overall package. The cuff itself is taller than other Dynafit boots like the Zzeros and it looks to about the same height as the cuff on the Black Diamond Factor as well. Two forward lean ski positions, 15 and 21 degrees, as well as a cuff alignment adjustment, ensures that the skier will find the best position, relative to their body type and ski style, for ripping the slopes.
Dynafit Titan cuff is similar in height to Black Diamond Factor.
The buckles on the Titan are well designed and shaped to maximize weight reduction. They are also made out of magnesium, known to be light and strong, to offer even further weight savings. There has been talk of the second buckle up from the toe hindering flex and or getting in the way of the third up from the toe buckle, but from what I can tell, this has been corrected in the production version and I find there to be no problem with buckle placement.
Rubberized soles on the Titan liner are great for wearing around camp and huts.
Even though I am not a big fan of tongue style liners and will most likely swap the liner out with an after market wrap version, you can really tell Dynafit has put a lot of effort to make the stock thermo-moldable TF-X liner quite bomber and comfortable. Not only is it protected on the outside with a cordura-like fabric to avoid abrasion from rivets, it also has a nice rubberized sole that wraps slightly 
up around the side of the sole, making it great for walking around huts and or a backcountry camp. The tongue on the liner is reinforced with a stiffener, which helps disperse the forces transferred from the cuff to your shin. Add on two pull tabs (front and rear) which helps one get their foot into the boots, a challenge for overlap boots, a soft fleecy lining and an anatomical last, and you have one of the nicest stock liners in the business.
For similar performance, I found the 26.5 Titans to weigh about 7 ounces less than my 26.5 Factors. In addition, by the books the Titan read to be more narrowly lasted than the Factor, but I feel the Titan is wide right where it needs to be and lower volume (like over the instep and heel area) in all the right places too. I’m looking forward to using the Titan this winter and will be pairing it up with some Black Diamond Justice skis (185cm) and Dynafit FT12 bindings. A pretty hot set up if I do say so myself!
Great review Steve, very good details and photo’s, I may go get a fit for these boots.Thanks.
Thanks Daniel! Having heard the last of the Titan’s being narrower than other AT boot offerings out there before I received them…I was a little worried they would fit that well as I sometimes need to punch/grid out the sixth toe area since my feet are a bit on the wider side. Though the true test about fit won’t come until I tour with them, I’m not sure I will need any shell work done on them. Like I said…The Titan felt wide in all the right places!
I’m putting some Intuition Alpine Liners in mine and I’m wondering if my other AT boots (Zzero, Factor) will even come out of the closest this year, since the Titans will then be stiffer than Zzeros and probably about 8-10 oz lighter than the Factors.
Steve,
You’re going to be blown away when you get on the Titans. At least as stiff (if not stiffer) then the Factors but with a real touring mode – not the compromised walk mechanism. You won’t have to get your dremel out
Looking forward to it Lee…especially when combined with the lighter weight. My first turns on them my be on the white continent.
Nice review Steve. I look forward to hearing more.
Red and white is perfect,I would be the most color coordinated Ski Patroler on the hill.Like that they go alpine or off-piste.
Steve, Just receive my pair of Titans today and can’t wait for the snow to fly. Can wait to read your review after some turns.
nice write-up, steve.
sounds like you may make a switch from the factor — but i suspect you’ve at least tried the zzeus. any idea if the titan is from the same last as the zzeus? (i hope so.)
i was stoked on the zzeus last year but find myself intrigued.
Hey Steve, Nice boots for sure. Can’t wait to get them out on the snow as well… Just was wondering about pairing them with the Justice??? Sure, they look sexy with the red/white, but you must have skied the new Zelot as well. Was it just me or was the Zelot, hands down a clear winner for AT?? Was up at nelson when you were up there, so conditions wern’t the best, but wasn’t impresssed with the justice…
Steve,
Great review.. You definitely got the gears turning a bit when it comes to where I might invest in this years ski gear. That is a pretty good looking boot and as you mentioned, would be a nice move up (as far as beef-factor) from the Spirit4 or the ZZero for that matter. I like the looks of the pairing with the FT12 and the Justice, sure to be a powder-ripping setup.
-Josh
@eric…The Titan is from the same last as the Zzues…so the same fit.
@alyn…I have skied the Zealot and it was a great ride. I think the Justice maybe didn’t get as good as feedback is because it is more of a backcountry, softer snow ski…where as the Zealot skis the hardpack better. And since most ski demos/test are held at ski resorts…you see where I’m going with this?
@Josh…knowing what you are looking for from your email…you should get new boots. Booster Straps often only make the flex of a boot more progressive…not necessarily stiffer. Add a lighter Intuition liner (and remove the power strap and rear spoiler…which I most likely will also do) and the Titan is relatively light for such powerful performance. With these mods…the Titan probably will weigh in at about a pound more than the Zzero…but also most likely a pound less than the Factor, but with similar performance as the Factor. Sounds pretty good to me!!! 🙂
I’ve demo’ed the Zzeus and Zzero and found them way too soft in ski mode. Great for hiking but not much else. Are the Titan’s really a ski boot or a hiking boot? Seems there are no products that offer both.
While they aren’t alpine ski boots, I think the consensus is that the Titan is one of the stiffer Dynafit compatible boots out there.
What AT boots do you use OMR?
Steve, not quite the Titan, but have your Dynafit sources told you when/how many/where the DyNa will be available? Sponsored racers only, or is a plain old powder skier going to be able to get some?
What size are you Tony? I’m on it.
mondo 29 in my spirit 3 & F1
Steve that setup looks super stylish indeed.
Want to get justices myself but it seems the recent BD discount hasn’t reached the shops yet.
You should contact your rep Rob…we have already received it here in the states.
How does the the Titan/Zzeus last compare to the Zzero last?
The last of the Titan and Zzeus is lower volume over the instep than the Zzero…and maybe a bit narrower in the heel as well.
"Steve, not quite the Titan, but have your Dynafit sources told you when/how many/where the DyNa will be available? Sponsored racers only, or is a plain old powder skier going to be able to get some?"
— In response to my inquiry (at Salewa N.A.), I was told that, "Yes, there was a very limited amount of availability and a select group of retailers and athletes were targeted for receipt."
— And in response to my inquiry at:
http://www.sport-conrad.com/index.asp?lang_id=ENG&disp=artikel&art_nr=74603014
I was told:
****
"The boots should arrive within the next two weeks."
"The length of the inner boots is the same, but the DyNA fits tighter, similar to the old Dynafit TLT4. The length of the outer shell of DyNA -size 26- is 287 mm. Compared to this the length of Dynafit Zzero 4 is 296 mm in size 26."
****
If anyone finds out any add’l info on the DyNA (both availability and performance), I’d love to get updates. (I’m not serious enough to upgrade from my heavily modified F1 boots to get the DyNA just for rando racing — the scene out here in the East is so limited that I’m organizing almost half the races. But the DyNA looks like it would be great for late spring and early summer ski mountaineering — way lighter than my Zzero4, and even way lighter than some old TLT4 I sometimes use.)
Pretty cool there is all this DyNA interest.
Jonathan…and whomever else is interested in checking out the new Dynafit DyNA race boot. Though I have heard that there may be only around 20 pair in the states this year…my guess is that there will be a few more than that. The available sizes will be 26-28.5…including half sizes. For now…if someone wants to get their name on a waiting list for when their size may become available, please contact me and I will get you in touch with the right people.
In the future, I have been told I will be informed about where you can check the boots out, once they get in the states and through distribution.
Here’s a link to the original post about the DyNA.
http://tetonat.staging.wpengine.com/2009/01/new-dynafit-dyna-rando-race-boot/
Definitely intrigued by the Titans, but what I’m really interested in is the Dalbello Virus. Anyone actually seen or skied them? Seems like there is almost no info out there about them (other than a marginally useful Backcountry review)
Steve,
What do you plan to do with the Vertical FT brakes on the Justices? I was considering a similar setup, but AFAIK the widest Dynafit brakes are 110mm wide. Dynafit brakes don’t engage reliably even if they fit the ski well, I’m concerned that they won’t work at all if they are bent to fit the Justices.
— F
Fernando, I’m not much of a fan of brakes on Dynafits…so I will probably remove them and not use them at all. That being said…the 110 brakes actually fit around the 115mm waist of the Justices pretty well…with a little rubbing I don’t think they would need any bending to work correctly…but a little grinding of some plastic on the inside of the brake wouldn’t hurt.
Fernando, if your brakes aren’t deploying properly, the issue is probably that the brake “pedal” can be pushed down past a tipping point; after the tipping point, the brake springs are doing more to hold the brake pedal down than to pop it back up. Solution from what I’ve heard is to pad the binding base plate with a few layers of duck tape. This should prevent the brake pedal from being pushed down too far.
Hey Steve, for the past few weeks I’ve been obsessing about new skis this season. After large amounts of time online I’m honing in on either the K2 Coomback or the BD Justice. I plan on using this ski for my primary touring ski from early season to late w/some corn skiing too.
I’ve heard the Coomback doesn’t do too well on hard snow and that the Justice is a better all around stick -from powder to windslab/frozen corn…
I’m 5,10, 175 w/out pack, 190 with, expert level, doing tours up to 8-9 hrs, skiing mostly in the Never Summer and Elk range in CO.
What’s your take on this?
Thanks, Doug
Doug…I think when updating to new skis, it’s usually better to go bigger or wider when faced with indecision, because usually the skier already has a skinnier ski in their quiver that will most likely handle the conditions that the bigger ski may not do as well in…ie, hardpack. I think if you like the width of the Coomback, but fear it will blow on hardpack…then I’d go with the Verdict from BD instead. BUT, I think the wider Justice is really what you want because most likely, since you live in Colorado…you will be skiing power. So…bigger…is better.
That being said, 8 hours could be along time to haul around a 115mm waisted ski…depending on your fitness and how much vertical 8 hours of touring really entails for you. I’m going to try to use the Justices for some longer tours into the high peaks of the Tetons, but won’t really know how they will perform until I get some time with them. I have no question that I will be able to lap powder slopes for 8 hours with the Justices, the bigger question is how they will perform to the wider variety of conditions that you get in the higher alpine elevations, where a skinnier ski, like the Verdict, might just be the better call overall for that type of ski tour.
Hope this helps. I’ve only spent a little time on the Justice so far, but others I know rave about its great overall performance.
@Nathan B: Thanks for the tip, I’ll check that out.
@Steve: Thanks for the info on the Dynafit brakes, and also for the response to Doug re Justices vs Coombacks. I was considering either ski not for long tours, for which I have a pair of Karhu BC 100s that I love, but for those (more frequent than I’d like) times where I mix inbounds and short backcountry tours in Tahoe, depending on snow conditions, available partners, and avy danger. The BC 100s are great at slow speeds with lots of turns in softer snow, but they are thrown around quite a bit inbounds. Since I don’t ski really fast, BD Verdicts or Zealots would probably be wasted on me, but the Justices are tempting.
Now if only snow would start falling on the Sierra…
— F
So did you put the Intuitions in those already? I’m sure it was a limited test, but on day one was the increased cuff range of motion noticeable on the way up compared to the Factors?
I did JW…and the mold went smooth with good results. Since I modified my Factors to have more cuff range, it was hard to tell the difference…and I’d say my modified Factors have the more cuff-range than the Titans. However, I’m certain the Titans have more rearward cuff range than non-modified Factors. All that being said, the Alpine Intuition liners are WAY higher than the stock ones in the Titan and even the Boa liners of the Factors…and I felt really improved skiing performance as well as getting rid of the tying of laces…which I have in ski boots. The Titans skied great…next time out I’m gonna ride the Justices…to make sure my mount is good before heading to the White Continent.
Modifying Factors post.
http://tetonat.staging.wpengine.com/2008/11/fitting-and-modifications-to-the-black-diamond-factor/
Thanks a lot for your really helpful posts! I wonder how the lest of the Titan is compared to Factor. I have tryed the Factor and it sits on really smug. I have also stepped into the Dynafit Zzero 4 C-FT and they did not feel nearly as good. My foot is kind of flat and low volume.
Another question: how do you feel about putting a dynafit on such a wide ski as Justice? I have Dukes on Line`s Sir Francis Bacon with same width 115 and I am not comfortable with that on hard pack while climbing.
Thanks!
Hey Øyvind…i think the stiffnesses are similar…but the factor skis a bit more powerful. the titan definitely is a bit lower volume…but wide in the right place.
i use dynafits on megawatts and justices…so no problems with them on fat skis. don’t even worry about it.
Steve…are your ZZeros the same size as your Titans? I’m a 28.0 in the Zzeros, should I get the same size Titan. Of course it’s always best to try before you buy, but what’s your best guess?
nate…i’ve had both 26.5 and 27 (different shell sizes) Zeros…and use a 26.5 in the titan…and it fits great after molding…very tight before. i think the shells run a bit bigger with the titan than the zero…but if your 28 Zeros fit well (and not too big)…i’d stick with a 28 titan. hope that helps!
Steve
Do you know how to adjust the forward lean on the Titans and Zzues?
Thx
nick…you got me with this one. i see the two holes in the bar in the back…but mine only lock into one of them. is this what you are finding also?
I’m wondering if they used to lock into both…but miles and miles of touring have bent the bar to make only one setting functional? i vaguely remember them both working…but i like the more upright one.
looking forward to the major improvement on those next year!
oh really gilles?
really 😉
yep see the two holes in the back on the walk/ski mechanism, was wondering if this can be taken apart and maybe adjusted and set with one hole showing.
So I guess Dynafit does not make it readily available on how there forward lean adjustment is made?
nick..i just fiddled with my titans again. they locked into the most forward lean position…but it took a bit of force on the back of the cuff to get it work.
i don’t think there is any extra adjustment. you just have to forcefully lean forward when you flip into ski mode. keep playing with it. word!
Hey Gillesleskiur…. How about some hints as to what those changes are going to be? Any chance that will be a mid season release this winter?
no chance for a mid season release, more hints when i ll be aloved 😉