With a DIN of 16, Dynafit claims their new, jacked-up binding, the Beast, is the lightest freeride touring binding on the planet. Unlike other Dynafit bindings, whose toe pieces only release laterally, the Beast’s rotates, like most alpine bindings, affording it a bit of give and allowing it to absorb impact vertically without (necessarily) releasing you. That’s a good thing for backcountry skiers who like to launch off stuff. At just shy of four pounds per pair, they’re Dynafit’s heaviest binding to date, though still significantly lighter than other beefy AT bindings like Marker Dukes or Salomon Guardians. The only catch? They’re pricey ($1,000). But if you’re a skier who hucks himself off cliffs in the backcountry (like I want to be), or one who only wants one pair of lightweight, do-it-all bindings (like I do), then these limited-edition bindings might be your next ticket to ride.
