 Poster: A snowHead
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Data just in from the Snowsport Industries of America (SIA) shows that US sales of integrated ski-binding systems are up 22% on last season, following a 25% increase the previous year. These packages, which are rapidly changing the traditional image of ski and binding as independent units, are therefore likely to further gain hold in the market.
There is still a reluctance from many consumers (who may not want to transfer existing bindings to a new pair of skis, or want to make independent purchases between the ski and binding brands) to buy into the trend. Sales of skis alone are nearly 3 times those of integrated systems, but that ratio is down from 5:1 last season ...
Of course, data from Europe and other continents could be different. Maybe a UK retailer could give us some insight, if we have a snowHead in a skiShop!
Have you bought an integrated ski-binding system? Would you buy one? Would you want to keep your existing bindings next time you buy a pair of skis?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My skis have integrated bindings - Volkl 320 gamma with marker 10, I think. Next skis will also have integrated bindings, because I'm going for Volkls again, and they come with Marker bindings. Wouldn't want to keep current bindings anyway, because I know there are now better bindings available (the piston series, for instance) and my bindings are almost as beaten up as my skis! But then I'm in America anyway, so maybe I'm just following the trend. Actually the only bindings I would consider buying seperately are the new Line ones with the swivel heel release, because I've heard some good stuff about them. I've yet to find anyone who owns them though!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Dan, one where the binding is provided by the ski maker, i.e they may use specially designed mounts or similar techniques. At one time all skis and bindings were bought seperately, increasingly that is no longer the case so ski and binding makers are doing deals with each other
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My two pair this year are both "integrated" (Atomic/Atomic, Fischer/Tyrolia). Most of my friends are using similar set-ups.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If anything it's very much the other way round with boards. Very few people ride the same board as makes their bindings.
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The history of this goes back far longer than is generally appreciated. Head made skis, bindings, and a revolutionary 'Air Boot' in the early 1970s.
The Head binding was a plate model, one of a number which became popular in the closing years of leather ski boots.
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There's two types of "integrated" binding, as far as I can see.
One is where you have a specific mounting system, such as the Pilot on Salomon, or the Rails on Volkl. These simplify the mounting process, to the point that a consumer could mount their own bindings, BUT I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST THAT, as consumers have no way of testing them, and may not be aware of the correct way to set bindings up.
The second, which has been around for years, is where the skis have a pre-drilled plate, and the holes in the plate line up with the mounting positions for specific brands of skis. This negates the need to drill the ski, and should ensure a better mount.
Even for skis without plates on them, if you choose to buy a riser plate, normally you would get one from the binding manufacturer, which would have holes in it to take your specific binding.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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From a mechanical perspective this 'integration' isn't needed. Arguments that it helps the ski flex naturally are BS, as far as I can see.
The best thing that ever happened was the international agreement on the DIN/ISO ski boot sole design which meant that any skier could use any boot with any suitable binding on any ski. Free choice of brands. No inherent trend towards monopolisation and cartels. Every manufacturer free to specialise and make the best boots, skis or bindings.
Excessive branding, integration etc. reinforces the market power of the very few remaining brands. It leads to less real choice and higher prices.
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I was reading on a website that the advantage of the rail type bindings is that they allow the ski to flex through its full length, which kind of implies that the traditional binding prevents flex in the binding area of the ski.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Single point mounting systems such as the Salomon Pilot, will without doubt increase the flexability of the ski, however whilst this may be useful at times, some people may prefer stiffer skis
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Over the last, er, well at least fifteen years I've owned four pairs of skis. As I'll be buying a new pair this year you could call that five, so I change my skis every three years or so. In that time I've only had two sets of bindings and I wasn't planning to buy a new set this year.
I have the bindings checked after every trip, and not buying a "package" will save me about £100 this year. I've found Rossi B2's at £299 for the ski's only, but if I buy ski and binding the cost is exactly £100 more.
The downside is that I could try to sell my old skis with bindings on ebay, but probably won't shift them without bindings. It's a bit of a gamble price wise.
However, my wife is looking to buy a pair of K2's, Volkl's or Atomic's all of which have integrated bindings. The cost of any of these systems is about the same as the B2 skis only, so I presume that the integrated systems do bring the overall price down.
Conclusion, (marketing BS aside) my gut feeling is against the integrated bindings - but I have no logical argument to back up that feeling.
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I'm very much in favour of integrated bindings, especially the Dynstar/Look connection. I've used Look bindings for many years because I believe them to be safer, turntable heel etc. As all new performance Dynastar skis have activedrive, a premounted plate, pre-drilled for Look bindings as far as I'm concerned it's easy. We rarely use/buy any other ski although we do still have Salomom, Rossi and K2 skis in our ski room.
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You know it makes sense.
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marc gledhill, with any package deal (and spending more in a shop) you'll get a "deal" 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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David, I don't get your line of argument here. The safety of the Look binding doesn't arise from selling it in a packaged form with a ski.
As for pre-drilled mounting arrangements, a standard ISO hole pattern could be devised so that any binding would be compatible with any ski (in the same way that any boot is compatible with any binding).
Do you really want to be forced into packaged deals, especially in a rental situation? Isn't it better that you can move bindings around to blank skis from a choice of makers?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| Isn't it better that you can move bindings around to blank skis from a choice of makers? |
Donning devils advocate hat - why better. It's possibly safer with newer bindings and because of the potential of dumping old gear on ebay the total price of change may be marginal.
Hat off - I don't like being tied to products. I like choice.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Oooh, I think I bought ski's with integrated binding system without realising. Will be testing them out next week! Hurrahh!
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FAQ
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