Pro Guiding Service - Dynafit Tourlite Tech

Ten years ago, alpine-touring (AT) systems were the George Foremans of backcountry skiing while telemark systems were the Sugar Ray Leonards. Over the past decade, however, telemark gear turned to steroids, while AT gear tried fasting.

Dynafit's Tourlite Tech binding (800-443-8620) was the ultimate product of that fasting. The Tourlite (1lb.8oz./pair) gave alpine skiers a backcountry system with unfettered heel lift in touring mode, lock-down heels in skiing mode, and DIN-rated releasability in falling mode. And because it weighed less (and skied better) than the cable bindings and plastic boots of pinheads, many asked the obvious question, "Why telemark?"

Naturally, the Tourlite was not without faults. Although as reliable as the stalwart Sivretta 404, early models didn't accept useful accessories like ski brakes or crampons; changes to the base plate now accommodate both. Furthermore, finding the Tourlite was torture until 1998 when a change in US distribution addressed that snafu.

Most damning about the early years of the Tourlite was that it only coupled with lightweight boots made by Dynafit. These were feathery but overly flexible for the burly boys of the steeps. Now Dynafit produces two stiffer boots and the Concordia, Raichle's performance-oriented AT boot, comes with the proper fittings. Match the boot you like to the Tourlite and you can create a boot-binding system that's light enough to float like a butterfly, or one that's gnarly enough to sting like a bee.