Dynafit TLT Speed Review

The TLT Speed from venerable tech binding manufacturer Dynafit is a sort of hybrid. It combines attributes of race bindings for light weight, while adding features that enhance usability for the masses. Like many "hybrid" pieces of equipment, performance is literally compromised. Does this set of compromises hit your sweet spot? Read on to learn more.

Performance Comparison

Overall the TLT Speed is about average. There are some pros and some cons, of course. The end result is maybe a good value, and definitely something you should consider.

Testing the TLT Speed bindings on a long, solo slog (#elaborateselfie) to Wyoming's Jedediah Smith Peak. For a vision quest like this, reliable bindings are clutch. The TLT Speed didn't let us down.

Touring Performance

In terms of touring performance, we look at pivot range and resistance and heel elevations. The TLT Speed has virtually zero pivot resistance and a wide range of motion. While we never had any issues, there are widespread reports of boots disengaging the toe piece of the TLT Speed in regular use. It seems to be correlated to boot size and model. The issue, more specifically, is in touring mode, when doing anything that extends one's foot to the very front of the pivot range (as when doing a kick turn). In this situation some boots apparently disengage the lock and push the ski entirely off your foot. Again, we did not have this issue at all. Nonetheless, reports are frequent and reliable enough that they deserve mention here.

Powder snow conditions and an iced up TLT Speed heel piece. The heel lifters, in some conditions, can freeze in place.

There are three heel elevations on the TLT Speed, just like on the Editors Choice Atomic Backland Tour and the Top Pick Fritschi Tecton. The three TLT elevations, though, are all relatively close together. The overall range is more like that covered by the two lower levels of these other bindings. Three levels should bump up the touring score, but the fact that all three are so close together negates this.

The low profile and carefully cast toe piece of the TLT Speed shows Dynafit's long tenure in this field. These toe pieces are simple and excellent.

Downhill Performance

Downhill performance is right in the league of most of the bindings we tested. Stack height, toe/heel delta, and energy transmission are about average. There is virtually no binding elasticity with this sort of binding design. Release value is adjustable, but not certified by an external body. There are no ski brakes in the event you lose a ski. You must use leashes in any situation where losing a ski would be even marginally bad.

This set of downhill performance attributes is pretty standard. Some are much better, of course. The Marker Kingpin and Top Pick Fritschi Tecton are much better downhill, while the Top Pick and super simple Plum Tech Race 150 doesn't have any adjustable release. The G3 Ion LT has similar downhill performance. The Ion LT adds some spring tension in the heel piece that allows for a sort of "forward pressure" or ski flex allowance that enables at least a little release elasticity. Discerning skiers in high energy turns may notice this otherwise subtle difference. Aside from the addition of brakes, the downhill performance of the Plum Guide XS and Editors' Choice Atomic Backland Tour is quite similar to that of the TLT Speed.

The heel pins of the TLT Speed, inserting into the heel of our Top Pick AT boot, Scarpa Alien RS.

Ease of Use

Simple products are easy to use. Dynafit has been in the business of making simple and easy to use ski bindings for a long time. In some ways, the TLT Speed is the culmination of decades of usability refinement. Stripped down, but with some important luxuries, one could say that the TLT Speed represents maximum ease of use. Our testing bears this out. We had a fine time with these bindings. The one issue we had was in rotating the heel piece from tour to ski mode. On a couple occasions, occasions in which we are confident the mechanism wasn't frozen, something bound up in the heel piece to make turning it very very difficult. We got it to turn each time, but it took great strength to do so.

In this photo is the heel piece, in tour mode, with a boot hovering just above. The middle heel riser is deployed. The high heel lift is stowed over the rearward facing silver heel pins.

The similarly equipped G3 Ion LT represents the ease of use ideal. Getting in, getting out, and changing modes is easier on the G3 than on almost any other binding, inducing the TLT Speed.

In some conditions, turning the heel piece of the TLT Speed from ski to tour mode proved very difficult. Here, OGL tester Ian McEleney wrestles with the binding in conditions that aren't as icy and cold as they look.

Weight

For the price and the functions, the TLT Speed is light enough. You can readily pay more for far less weight, but you also suffer some ergonomic and usability compromises. These are light bindings, in the grand scheme of things.

Durability

We had absolutely no issues with the TLT Speed and anticipate none further. The construction is robust, calling on years of Dynafit experience in the field.

Best Applications

Great all-around, lightweight ski bindings for backcountry skiing. As long as you aren't hucking cliffs or skiing mach 2, the TLT Speed will keep up and lighten your load. Other options are close in weight and performance, with only marginal improvements.

To go from ski to tour mode, the heel piece of the TLT Speed must be turned, by hand, 180 degrees.

Value

For absolute value, the Dynafit Speed Turn is definitely better. You pay a premium for just a little bit of upgrades with the TLT Speed.

TLT Speed bindings on OGL tester skis approaching an alpine climbing mission in Grand Teton National Park.

Conclusion

Simple, basic bindings for all kinds of human-powered high and wild skiing.