Dynafit Dy.N.A Boots - Part 2
Posted by Alex Wigley - Ski Theory on 12/26/2009
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Dynafit
Originally posted on Ski Theory.
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There
are a lot of great race boots out there, all with their own features,
quirks, and advantages/disadvantages. Dynafit released the Dy.N.A World
Cup Boot with the goal of eliminating any disadvantages and building a
boot that caters to exactly what the ski mountaineering racer is really
after, and to meet the demands of speed traverses, even steep skiing. I
had previously wrote an article on its features, those alone convincing
me that this was an awesome boot. But skiing is believing, here's all
the other info you've been looking for.
The Fit:
The Dy.N.A's sleek, anatomically correct fit, is not like the rest of
the Dynafit line although some similarities can be noticed. The heel
pocket is snug, not too tight, but enough to grip the heel without
pinching and/or creating blisters. The mid foot, begins to widen from
the heel, remaining snug with some room for the foots bones to move
while walking. The forefoot is nice and wide. It is at its widest at
the 1st and 5th metatarsals, which makes feels fantastic when walking,
and allows the foot to move naturally inside the boot without being
restricted. The toe box, is widened to the inside, allowing the big toe
to sit naturally and does not squeeze it it with the other toes. The
upper cuff is narrow, and hugs the athletic calf really well, where as
other race boots may feel more loose.
How It Walks:
One word will describe the way the Dy.N.A walks, unbelievable! There is
absolutely no restrictions on your foot. No walk mode limit, no instep
top out on the top of the boot, and barely any weight on your feet.
The stiff sole is great Breaking trail was much easier, as the boot
was smaller in girth overall, so your foot cuts through the snow making
life way easier in the deep. In the track, they make maintaining a fast
cadence easy, and are entertaining to pay attention to how light and
efficient they are. I loved the way they felt on the flats, regardless
of other arguments of a stiffer sole, and was powerful on the steep up
track.
Each stride
you take with these boots has a powerful kick. The 5mm flex of the
forefoot of the boot gives the boot a "pop" when your skinning, which I
have never felt on any other boot on the market.
How It Skis:
If you've been after a really light boot, but have not found anything
stiff enough, look no farther. I having some incredible conditions to
test it in, I decided to really test it out, taking it out in
backcountry knee deep bottomless powder, wind-packed sastrugi, in-bounds
chopped up crud and moguls, and icy groomers.
Having
skied other race boots on the market, the F1, some different Dynafit
predecessors, but none could hold a candle to these. You can drive
these boots just like any other touring boot. They are stiff laterally,
but the real treat is that you can drive your knee forward, and ski
these hard. Bottom line they charge. A massive advantage in racing,
you will be well ahead of the pack when skiing through variable snow
conditions, and not have to worry about holding back at all. Coming
from an alpine racing background using the stiffest boots and skis, it
was revelation to ski this boot with such monstrous energy transfer, a
big change of pace compared to the other Rando race boots on the market.
I know it may be hard to believe that such a light boot skis so well,
but this is something you will have to experience to believe.
Fitting The Boot:
Fitting the boot was just as easy as any other boot. Just toss it on a
stack heater, I wouldn't recommend using a convection oven as it may
overheat the thin race liner too quickly, and wait 12 minutes at 114
degree Fahrenheit. Make sure you have a toe cap on with a stocking, not a
sock, as they do pack out well, but also to make sure you aren't
swimming in it. I just walked around with it on, as it is a race boot
for walking, rather than standing in one spot with my toes elevated
(footbed out). After it cooled down, I popped the footbed back in, and
voila! Perfect.
This
being said, fitting the DyNA can be more work than other boots. Mine
did work out easily, but I have spent awhile on other peoples boots
making sure the little quirks fit, and concentrating on micro
adjustments. You can fit this boot in three different ways to customize
the volume. Boot shim in, Footbed in, or nothing at all; the choice is
yours, and do what feels best, or combine two if necessary.
One
thing to note, is that this boot has a significantly taller cuff than
the F1, which may require some extra fitting for some people with larger
calves. This is also a big advantage. A taller cuff means extra
support, and if you are thrown into the back seat, you will have a much
better chance of recovering.
Overall Impression:
Before heading out to test the boot, I dealt with a person who believed
he was too good a skier to even be in a Dynafit Titan. Nothing was
stiff enough to hold his ego in, as he tore into how poorly designed
touring boots are, and how nobody who really knew how to ski could use
them. Laughing to myself knowing the secret to skiing more, faster,
longer, steeper, harder, was using lightweight gear that still packed a
punch. The secret is out of the bag, and maybe we can hope that not
every skier realizes it, and leave the great vastness to those who chose
to accept it and move fast. For those who do, the Dynafit Dy.N.A World
Cup Race boot is the key to unlocking vast distances and massive
elevation gains and loss, with no compromises.
I
could of easily just wrote this review in two words, "no brainer," but
it would not explain and outline the reasons behind it. Race gear is
the future of ski mountaineering gear, and is the answer to
accomplishing more in the backcountry. The Dy.N.A World Cup boot is the
big stepping stone that bridges the gap between light but flimsy boots,
and really heavy but stiff boots, combined into an extremely light and
beautifully stiff boot. Not only will I be skiing this boot for
training and racing, but for everyday skiing, steep skiing, and guiding.
So stoked to ski these everyday!
