 Poster: A snowHead
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My dad is 80 this year and not as agile as he used to be, surprise surprise. He now finds it hard to get up if he falls on the flat so needs to remove his skis to get up but often also finds it hard to open his bindings when on the deck. He could do with some bindings which are easy to release to facilitate getting up.... If anyone can remember that far back, the Salomon 555 were great from that point of view, though I am not advocating resurrecting 30 year old bindings!
Can anyone suggest any current bindings which he could open easily using his hand? This could make the difference between giving up skiing and pottering around for another few years....
Thanks
Jean
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skimax, you want any of the short throw heel lever models on the market: Salomon, Vist, Look/Rossi NX/Axium, Marker Free etc. Avoid the long throw heel levers as found on the latests Markers, Look/Rossi Pivot/FKS, Look/Rossi PX/Axial etc.
The release resistance is still a function of the din setting so the low the din the easier it is to release the binding - but you then of course have less retention.
I'd be attentive as to the din setting used for someone of that age due to the high risk of osteoporosis etc.
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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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Thanks for that, though the normal short throw heel lever models are what he is struggling with. I think he has some Rossi model at the moment. I was actually wondering if the long lever (I was looking at the Look PX) might actually be better as he would be able to get a better amount of leverage on it to open it because of the angle, so that answers that one though I'm not sure I understand why?
Problem with dad is that he gives it real welly when it is easy, but is a total wimp when things get tricky. So he doesn't want them popping when he's motoring, but does want them to release on a slow twist in the slush! But yes - need to revisit them each season as he slows down. But he is still skiing well so can't have them too loose or that is just as dangerous really. Think dad is fine re osteoporosis - that is mom's problem, and yes, she is still skiing too! Hope I still am at 80.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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skimax, it's almost as though you dad needs a lever carried in his pocket which would quickly slip over, or clip to the existing heel lever and lengthen it thereby providing the necessary leverage - do you have anyone handy enough in the family to make a device like that?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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skimax, I think my Look Pivots are harder to release than my Vists at the matching din setting. The Vists require a quicker/shorter 'punch' of pressure than the long angular pressure on the Pivots which I think is harder to achieve. However, & irrespective of the design used, the ski must be up against a firm/solid base for it to release & if you're trying to release the binding with your hand it's likely that pressure is being applied more across the snow than downwards so maybe this is his problem?
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Hmm - good idea megamum, will have to think about that.
spyderjon - I'm sure it is a problem of the angle he is applying pressure at... my mom gets really frustrated with him! It is a lack of coordination thing that has come with age I think. So was just checking to see if there was an inherently easier to open option.
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skimax, Are you suggesting that he needs to open the binding by hand?. Mrs Basil takes a ski off when she falls (she ain't 80 but has bad hips) and will either step on the release with her other ski or mostly use her pole, but I do see where you are coming from.
Something like a large bottle opener shaped device, pressed down in the release rather than lifted might be a summer project to play with as Megamum, suggests.
Hmmm, think I will have a look in my shed...
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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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Basil, great minds and matched posting/typing times and all that 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Full marks for still skiing at 80! I hope I last that long.
Another option would be touring bindings such as the Fritschis. It's quite easy to flick them out of downhill mode and, once one heel is released, it's usually a much easier job getting over onto one knee and then standing up. I have used this trick a few times when pinned down by a heavy sack.
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You know it makes sense.
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I think it is a lack of coordination using his pole and a lack of strength to use his hand. Good suggestions re constructing an "implement". Shall apply brain.
Re Fritschis - had thought of these as we use them on some skis, but I'm afraid these would seem far too new fangled and complicated for him - I suspect he would get very muddled swapping from touring to alpine mode and vice versa.... Bit of a technophobe even when he was at his best and now he struggles with the washing machine and can't work a mobile phone!
Thanks all for you r suggestions...
Jean
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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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| skimax wrote: |
| .....and now he struggles with the washing machine and can't work a mobile phone!.... |
I'm 51 at can't work the washing machine & my neighbour's kid set up my mobile 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| spyderjon wrote: |
| AndAnotherThing.. wrote: |
spyderjon, Do you have any thoughts on bindings for those recovering from ACL injuries.  
As the DIN setting is a standard, does it follow all are much of a muchness or would you say some designs are more suited ? |
AndAnotherThing.., the Knee Binding that was launched a couple of years ago is the only model on the market that is supposed to give a reduced load on the knee for a given din setting. If you search on Epic & TGR you'll find plenty of info/controversy on it. I've mounted a few pairs of the Knee Binding & it's certainly a very clever design but getting actual like for like comparisons are very difficult.
Then of course there's the timeless Look/Rossi Pivot/FKS design which allows any leg rotation to pivot on the heel rather than the toe, thus reducing the lever effect of the boot thus reducing the turning moment on the knee. This design was originated before Look had a fully functional toe piece & when they did they dropped the Pivot heel for a conventional design. Documented knee injuries with the non-Pivot heel have been no worse that when it was in production. Look reintroduced the Pivot heel a couple of seasons ago but this time with their full function toe piece (on the 14 din model only, the 18 din has the original all metal but less functional design) so in theory the Pivot 14 has the best toe/heel combination safety wise. The demand for the re-introduction of the design was however not really on safety grounds but due to the high degree of elastic travel the design has in both lateral & vertical directions combined which make them superb for the modern wave of freeriders & freestylers.
If I was guarding a dodgy knee (or to help prevent getting one in the first place!) I'd want a binding with a solid construction (ie minimum torsional twist) as when I torque test bindings with this feature their release values are certainly more consistent. I'd also go for a solid teflon AFD to remove the chance of a sliding AFD breaking/jamming etc. I'd also want a vertical release function in the toe. My choices, which exhibit all of these features, would be the Pivot 14, the Vist or the Salomon STH Driver.
With regard to your injury. If your medical specialist thinks you'll have an on going weakness I'd run the toe din's slightly lower, or maybe just one of them if you're happy having a left & right footed ski. |
would the reason for pivots being harder to release than vists not be due to the huge amount of elasticity? they snapback unless you get ALL the way. Also the controversy with regards to the Knee bindings is due to the fact that the majority of people on tgr/epicski/ns are aggressive skiers skiing park/hucking cliffs, which this binding does not work well with, I've heard a lot of recommendations on Knee bindings for applications very similar to this though, where you're skiing without major bumps on the bindings.
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FAQ
