Though I’ve been happy with and using the Dynafit binding offerings for the last 15 years or so, it’s still cool that one of my favorite companies, La Sportiva, will start distributing a new “tech” binding starting this December. The new binding will be called the Ultra Light RT and at 175gr, it will compete with some of the lightest tech bindings out there. However, unlike some other tech binging on the market today, the Ultra Light RT will not only have a rear DIN release setting of 5-10, but the toe piece will also have 5-10 DIN setting…and will be the first low tech binding of it’s kind to do so. Safety first!!!
Some of you “tech” binding aficionados out there might recognize this binding, as in fact it is an ATK Race binding in disguise and rebranded under the La Sportiva name. What does this mean? Well, it means that, A) the ATK bindings are tried and true and not something just coming into the market, so you don’t have to worry about it not living up to standards, and B) you will finally be able to easily buy an ATK binding here in the states, which might have been challenging in the past. In a nut shell, La Sportiva now offers a super sick carbon fiber rando race boot with the Stratos, and now, a high/low tech ski binging with the Ultra Light RT. I wonder what’s next?
“Ultra Light RT is tried an true and not something just coming into the market”
— Although ATK put a picture up on its website around late February, it hasn’t been on the market until this month: http://www.verticalworld.it/magento/index.php/home/atk-rt.html
JS…i guess i was referring to the fact that it’s not ATK’s first stroll in the park when it comes to “tech” bindings in general. regardless…i’m sure these puppies have seen a fair bit time on snow already.
Yes, agreed, if any company is to be entrusted with such a new heel design (as well as whatever is going on with the toe unit adjustment), ATK would be a great candidate, as their rando race bindings are very popular with WC racers, plus I think they were the first to develop an auto-locking race toe.
What is the retail for us poor folk?
jeff…$700.
regarding the toe adjustment, it looks as though the screw adjusts the height of the locking mechanism for the toe lever…therefore changing the release values. looks really simple.
Yes, but the toe tension seems to be affected by the adjustment mechanism only when the toe lever is in “tour” mode. So for skiers who ski with the toe lever in ski mode, this seems to have no effect upon release values while skiing.
(I could very well be entirely wrong, but the toe adjustment seems to work by increasing the height of the wedge that engages with the butt end of the toe lever, and that end is engaged only when in tour mode.)
This binding only goes to 10? Perhaps 11 would have been a better choice.
dude…10 is the new 11. 😆
Reminds me of Spinal Tap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN5SCRvhMtk
Is the hole pattern the same as dynafit, or will people be re-drilling skis?
paddy mc…front holes are the same…but back is different.