I made the switch over to a Spark Dyno DH Dyna-split setup and the truth is, those randos have always had a HUGE advantage over us on the up. But then how do you get back down? Enter the Spark Dyno DH, pretty much the final piece in the split mountaineer puzzle.
Those damn AT skiers. If you’re a splitter, at one point or another you’ve cruised up with a couple rabid Dyna-freak two-plankers who make you feel like a complete barney. You’re chugging with all you got in your clunky split binders as they glide and sidehill ahead on their tech toepieces like some goddamn magic elves.
Spark Dyno DH vs Phantoms
Admittedly, there’s not a ton of competition for best hardboot binding. There’s the Dyno DH’s and the Phantoms. Weightwise, the Spark Dyno DH bindings are actually slightly lighter than the Phantoms. I’ve heard the Phantoms pull your board tighter together but also heard complaints about the Phantoms being tough to get on in icey, raw conditions when the rime runs thick and the last thing you want to do is mess with your binders. And there are some claims to better performance, though in that I’m a little skeptical.
The thing is, the bindings aren’t as important in the hardboot setup — so much of that feel and performance comes from your boots and whatever mods you throw on them. The main job of a hardboot binding is to lock your boots in and transfer your movements efficiently. The Dyno DH’s get this done at a price that makes them one of the cheapest components of your Dyna-split setup.
After spending this fall riding them, from day trips to a yurt weekend, I can confidently say these bindings won’t give up when you need them; are quicker, simpler easier than any other split bindings; and create about the best interface for your hardboots you’ll find anywhere.
They kept my boots locked bombing down bowls, surfing through trees, even in a couple small drops. Admittedly, the whole setup excels in big, open speed runs, devouring vertical snow like a ravenous Yeti with the munchies. But they were surprisingly responsive when on the boney luge track heading back to the car from Baldy Knoll.
Not sure you’re ready for hardboots? Try out their stiffest soft boot binding, the Spark R&D Surge.
On short tours, you can clip your DH’s on your pack, bust out a trek with the quickness, and the easy interface combined with the tech toepiece ease of disconnection cuts your changeover to a fraction of what it would take with traditional split bindings; and even quicker than other more complex tech systems.
One final benefit — if you love the splitboard you use for your Dynafit setup since the Dyno DH slides into standard pucks (incidentally, I use Spark R&D Canted Pucks on my Dyna-split), you could take it up a booter and then ride your split downhill with a pair of Sparks and oh-so-comfy softboots.
The changeover to Dyna-splitting is just as life-changing as I’d imagined in my most delusional dreams. But the big surprise has been how the Dyno DH Binding ($250) to Boot interface has me crushing downhill almost as well as with my standard softboot binding setup. You either get this setup or get left behind.
Hey Matt, I also ride AT boots while snowboarding. I currently use the Dynafit Neo and after a fair bit of modification they are actually more playful than my soft boots (Deeluxe Sparks). Your hardboots can be very restrictive or very loose and playful depending on what you do to them. I love throwing methods and chucking 3’s off of cliffs and fun playful riding in general, I was worried I’d lose that with my switch to AT boots. But in fact the switch has made me a better snowboarder, with the AT boots touring is way better, you have… Read more »
Hey Mike great review! Thanks for all the info on your site, its my go to for gear reviews. This will be my 29th season of snowboarding. I have been split boarding for over 10 years now and I just switched to the dyno dh set up. I’m a bit nervous about making the switch. I have been on the spark surge with K2 aspect boots for the past few years and found they worked well. I splitboard about 100 days a year and switching to hard boots for a more efficient tour up. My only concern is I still… Read more »
Hey Matt. So to start off – I’ve been snowboarding and splitboarding basically about the same amount of time as you (though started off skiing so I have a hardboot history from my childhood) and you definitely sacrifice some freestyle flex and huckability with the hardboot change. The first couple days I tried it, especially in pow, I felt like a beginner starting again (though that was kind fun, to be honest). I’ve dropped some small cliffs in hard soles but you definitely lose the feel you get in softboots so you’re kind of landing numb. Though again, for pillows,… Read more »
Thanks for the reply. I think it will be an adjustment for sure. I go for my first tour in revelstoke here on wednesday nov 14 for a week long mission. I’ll report back to you after and let you know what I thought. Im currently trying to become a ACMG splitboard guide and wanted the hard boot set up to make back country travel easier and safer. I too come from a ski background as I ski raced before becoming a full time snowboarder. I haven’t really done any mods to my boots yet as they fit really well.… Read more »