About this review This review is my own honest opinion of the ski bindings, which I bought with my own money in March 2020.

My take

The Dynafit ST Rotation 10s are great bindings for backcountry skiing. Since the DIN goes up to 10, these bindings are geared toward the intermediate-expert backcountry skier.

About the gear

• Model: 2020 Dynafit ST Rotation 10

About me

• Height: 5’ 2’’
• Weight: 105 lbs
• Preferred DIN range: 6 to 7
• Experience: 20 years

Test conditions

• When I bought these: March 2020
• Days tested: 15 to 20
• Boots: Scarpa Gea Women’s Boots
• Boot Size: 23.5
• Skis: Armada Tracer 98s
• Where I’ve used it: California, Colorado, and Montana.
• Terrain: I’ve used these in the backcountry and a few days in-bounds when my other resort setup wasn’t completed yet.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a backcountry-specific pair of bindings that were durable, lightweight, and easy to transition from uphill touring to downhill. I was also looking for a pair of backcountry bindings that were DIN-certified, which isn’t always the case with backcountry bindings!

Why I chose this gear

I chose to buy the Dynafit ST Rotation 10s for a few different reasons; how long these specific bindings have been around, the fact that they have a DIN rating, and the lack of moving pieces (i.e., their durability).

These bindings have been super reliable throughout the years and their design hasn’t changed too much, yet they continue to consistently carry skiers up the hill. In addition, these backcountry bindings are DIN-certified, unlike many others. I cared about this because I knew there would be a few times that I’d be taking these in-bounds, and I wanted to feel as safe as I could in the backcountry as well.

The final reason was the lack of moving pieces on these bindings that could potentially break, which would be the last thing I’d want on a long tour. There are other bindings that I was looking at, like the Salomon Shifts, that had had a few pieces break on my friends’ pairs, and I just wasn’t willing to risk that. The fewer pieces there are that could break, the less likely I will run into an issue!

What I love about it

• Release Reliability: With the DIN rating set correctly, I’m pretty safe and can rely on releasing if I need to or not releasing if I don’t need to.
• Downhill Performance: I feel very stable in these bindings! I have enough ability to transfer power, yet combined with the release reliability, I know I’ll come out if I need to.
• Uphill Performance: The bindings have three different height levels (two risers), which is helpful on steeper climbs. Unlike some other backcountry bindings, like the Guardian 13, I don’t have to worry about my risers getting knocked out of place.
• Durability: They have a long product life, and all bindings bought after 2019 actually have a lifetime warranty. I can’t really imagine repairing them myself, so the lifetime warranty is an added perk.
• Weight: These are light enough that they don’t hinder my uphill performance! I used to have frame backcountry bindings, and the weight difference between the two pairs is like night and day.
• Power Transfer: I feel like I have enough power and stability, but I’m on the smaller side, so someone that needs more power may want to go with the Dynafit Rotation 12s!

Issues I’ve encountered

• In-bounds: The only qualm I have with these bindings is that they aren’t the best in-bounds. There is less stability in the toe piece compared to in-bounds-specific bindings, but that’s to be expected.

Favorite moment with this gear

I’ve had some really good backcountry days with these bindings, but my favorite moment was probably when we were in the Indian Peaks and it was brutally cold and windy. Sometimes gear can be a little finicky when it’s cold, but that’s not something I had to worry about with these bindings!

Value for the money vs. other options

Backcountry bindings are going to be relatively expensive, but I do think these are worth the money. I looked at other options, such as the Salomon Shift bindings or the Fritschi Xenic 10s. The Dynafit ST Rotation 10s are in the same price range as other backcountry bindings. If I went for cheaper options, I could run into gear that is heavier, harder to transition, or less durable, which isn’t worth it, in my opinion!

Final verdict

With the weight and durability of the Dynafit ST Rotation 10 bindings, they allow me to tackle really long backcountry days! They’ll last me quite a few years, and I won’t be looking for new bindings any time soon.