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Dynafit Titan TF-X

1. performance a/t boot
2. stiffness impresses
3. dynafit-compatible
4. 8lbs 12oz

The Titan represents Dynafit's effort to please a new demographic in the A/T market: performance skiers who want their touring gear to feel exactly the same going down as their favorite Alpine rig.

Previously these skiers (I suppose I should count myself among them) were basically out of luck, but there is a new crop of Alpine Touring boots which do indeed offer Alpine or near-Alpine performance plus a walk mode—while still managing to keep the weight reasonable.

The Titan weighs a beefy 8 pounds 12 ounces (manufacturer's spec; 27.5), but that does put it a good six ounces lighter per pair than Black Diamond's performance-oriented Factor ski boot. I haven't had the opportunity to compare the two boots directly, but one of my partners skis the Titan. He says they seemed stiffer than the Factor, and indeed match or exceed the stiffness of his Alpine boots. At his weight (over 200lbs), that's an impressive statement.

Like Dynafit's Zzero boots, the Titan does employ a "stopper" to block forward flex past a certain angle. For a boot in this weight class, that does seem to me like a bit of a cheat, though my partner says he can't feel the stopper. I suspect skiers in my weight class would be more likely to notice the stop point, so call me a bit of a skeptic regarding the Titan's feel. That said, other reviewers have spoken glowingly about the Titan's stiffness and downhill ride.

The Dynafit Titans are of course Dynafit-binding compatible, meaning you get to recover quite a bit of that boot weight if you choose to use Dynafit bindings. On the touring side, the Titan's cuff releases past upright in walk mode, allowing a more natural stride, more comfort, and less fatigue. Clearly, the Titan doesn't skimp on uphill performance despite its downhill-oriented design. If the Titan does indeed deliver Factor-level performance plus a modest weight savings, I'd say it's well worth a closer look (gear preview: 02.08.10).

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