The Zzeus is a solid boot. I purchased in the fall of 2008, to be my one boot. Replaced my garmont adrenalines I had before I discoved the truth about dynafits. There will only be lighter and lighter boots made. I'd rather buy heavy than light right now, because inevitably I'll get a lighter touring boot that I won't be able to use in DIN bindings. Since my purchase I decided that no ski hill was worth paying for last year and toured lots, after touring 40 days before new years I lost count.
Biggest thing I like about the boot is the range of motion in walk mode. I ditch the top strap for all my touring, just is a nuisance on any boot you're not charging on. The little touring catch for the top buckle broke off on one boot. At first i was annoyed, but then realised without the that connection the range of motion increases even more. Now i purposefully leave that buckle loose for touring and just tuck in in my snow pant cuff.
Liner is heavy compared to intuition, and will probably be my next upgrade. All the walking has caused the ankle rivets to wear into the liner, but the liner is withstanding the abuse far better than an intuition or the garmont liners from my adrenalines.
Buckles work great, though the 2nd buckle snaps onto the side of the boot instead of the top, like some touring boots. Walking in snow hasn't popped the buckle open much, but its not often that i sink deep in hard snow, being a lightweight guy. kicking steps in steep snow hasn't been a problem either.
Unlike Adrew, I use the laces, habit to have that liner move with me while i'm walking, keeps my heel in the liner better. Liners have a rubberised sole, for walking around the hut, but i usually bring booties to get my stank feet out. walk mode latch is tiny, and i hope i never have to fix it in the field.
I have narrow feet and they fit well, perhaps narrower than adrenalines, but i was comparing a packed out boot to a brand new one. Overlap cuff is great for buckling down tight, buckles are placed closer to the toes than tongue designs. Range of motion and dynafit compatibility are the two main advantages of the zzues over the adrenaline. Plus a tighter fit gives me better responsiveness. Need a stiffer boot? i guess thats why the Titans were made. Built off the same design but I went for the sale price, and being a light guy (160 lbs) could use that 300 bucks somewhere else.
I’ve had many pairs of boots over the years. I guess this pair of Dynafit ZZeus TF-X’s would be about my 12th-or-so pair (my third AT boot). As I get older, my feet become a little wonkier and fewer and fewer boots seem to work for me. A pair of Denali TTs got sloppy on me, a pair of BD Methods pinched my heel and didn’t have enough room in the toe area. I picked up the Dynafit Zzeus at the beginning of last season and I think I’ll hold onto them for a while. Of course, at 2 kilos each, they are a little heavy compared to the new light and beefy offerings from many of the manufacturers this year. Sometimes even the most rabid gear fan (me) needs to settle down a bit and accept that what they have is pretty dang good.
