The binding is designed so that it can be installed on the existing inserts of a finished splitboard without additional holes. The two Dynafit Superlight Toepieces are supplied with corresponding adapter plates and form a complete and independent setup with the other parts.
Tester and test conditions
I have been snowboarding since 1998 and have mainly been touring since 2007. In the beginning I used snowshoes, then in January 2011 I bought my first splitboard (Burton Freebird). The following year a Spark Burner, soon with Spark XV boots, which (with the strappy straps for better lateral support) is my reference soft boot setup. My downhill position is +18° at the front and -6° at the back with 57 cm clearance.
I don't like to use the lift, instead I ski most of the vertical meters that I ski up the mountain under my own steam, on average it's around 1300-1700 m per tour. In terms of snow types, I've really had everything from powder to heavy slush to rock-hard frozen slopes. I noticed the higher weight and poorer edge hold in hard snow as a disadvantage of the soft boot system. That's why I made the switch in winter 2014/2015. I've been using the Phantom Alpha (from the 14/15 season) in combination with a modified Scott Orbit II (more information here: http://www.erstespur.de/viewtopic.php?t=6395) and on the Burton Freebird 162, Jones Hovercraft 160 and Amplid LabCarbon Split 162 snowboards.
Uphill and downhill performance
Uphill, you only have advantages with ski touring boots, so-called AT (alpine touring) boots, and a pin binding. The pivot point is further forward, which feels much more intuitive when walking. In addition, the better lateral support of the boots effectively transfers the pressure to the edge, which pays off with better edge hold, especially in hard snow conditions. Finally, you don't carry the binding on your feet up the mountain, but in your backpack, and this is noticeable: the rule of thumb here is that saving 100 grams on your feet feels roughly the same as having 700 - 1000 grams less in your backpack. The "Rocket Riser" climbing aids are two-stage, absolutely minimalist and work perfectly. In contrast to soft boots, you can use the ski touring boots to climb steps in hard snow, mount stable crampons and climb much better on rock thanks to the stiff sole.
On reaching the summit, the true face of an AT boot setup becomes apparent: it also has to be good downhill. The binding plate is placed on the board, twisted and fixed to the two cleats with two movable pins. On a few days each season, you notice the only disadvantage of the system: compared to the Voilé system, it is not self-cleaning, which means you have to remove frozen snow beforehand so that the binding lies flat on the topsheet and the pins can snap into the recesses. However, with a small ice scraper or an old bank card, this has never been a problem. The cleats can be infinitely adjusted from -30° to +30° binding angle. The Phantom Alpha holds the ski touring boot firmly in place and is quick to open. It is basically a classic stirrup binding, with the advantages of a low mounting height and built-in canting so that you can stand more comfortably on the snowboard.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Outstanding quality of components
+ Reliable
+ No breaking plastic parts
+ Significantly improved ascent performance compared to a soft boot setup
+ Unrestricted crampon compatibility
+ Lighter than a soft boot setup, especially on the ascent
- Cost-intensive (850 USD + shipping from the USA)
- Icing possible, but easy to fix
- Adjustment necessary on the descent
