EarnYourTurns

Some boots incompatible with Dynafit Beast

 

Dynafit’s Beast 14.

Dynafit sent out a notice recently announcing a few models of boots that are known to be incompatible with their Beast binding, both the 16 and 14 DIN models. The Beast features a rotating toe unit and the heel unit requires a special after market Power Insert that covers the top of the boot heel.

The potential for this new heel insert to not work with boot brands other than Dynafit was a source of early criticism by boot manufacturers. It is possible the number of boots that exhibit problems working correctly with the Beast is larger than this notice indicates, but these incompatiblities can serve as examples of things to look for with other boot models.

Power Insert Incompatibility

All of the new generation of Black Diamond AT boots will not work with the heel plate for the beast. As you can see from the picture below, Black Diamond revised how the standard heel insert for tech bindings is shaped, and thus the alignment pins don’t mate properly. AT boots from Black Diamond made prior to 2013 may work with the Beast heel plate. I have not confirmed this, but they have a standard heel insert pattern, so theoretically they do.

Notice the difference in location of the alignment pins relative to notches in the side.


Affected Black Diamond AT boots:
  • Factor with Tech Pad
  • Shiva with Tech Pad
  • Swift
  • Quadrant
  • Prime
  • Slant

Toe release in “locked” tour mode

Another issue occurs at the toe in touring mode. The Beast toe has a lock out mode, but the jaws can still open if the boot shell contacts the toe unit when the boot pivots beyond approximately 60°. This could happen in a forward fall, or during a kick turn.

It is a known issue with three boot models:
Atomic’s Waymaker 110,

Ooops. Pivot too far the the Atomic Waymaker will cause the Beast toe to open up.


K2’s Pinnacle 130,

Ooops. Pivot too far and the K2 Pinnacle will cause the Beast toe to open up.


and Salomon’s Quest 120.

Ooops. Pivot too far and the Salomon Quest will cause the Beast toe to open up.


Even though the incompatibility is due to the shape of the shell on these boots, Dynafit is modifying the shape of the piece on their toe to minimize this potential pre-release in tour mode.

Beast toe will be modified for the coming season to minimize prerelease in tour mode with some boot models.


This will alleviate the issue with the K2 and Atomic touring boots, but the shape of the Salomon boot may still cause the toe to release in tour mode if the Quest pivots too far forward. As with all new technology, caveat emptor.

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