Bindings???

A snowHead

Hi all,

I recently bought some Scott Aztec ski's and need to buy some bindings for them. I have so far looked at Marker Squire 11, Tyrolia Peak 12 and Salomon STH 10 and if I'm honest, having never bought bindings before, I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for other than the right width brake and correct din settings for my weight.
I'm a fairly competent aggressive skier who particularly likes moguls, off piste and some fast carving. I weigh 10.5 stone wet through and have a budget of around 150 quid.

If anybody is able to give me some advice I'd be grateful.

Cheers

N

A snowHead

nickr, If you look on Ebay, search for "Storm Bindings", these are "Storm" skis branded Tyrolia bindings, rather like the Head Mojo 12/Tyrolia Peak 12 (DIN upto 12). Lightwieght composite 3D release system, can choose a variety of ski brake widths. Just about perfect. Don't be put off by the brand-name, these are the real Mcoy Tyrolia.
£70 plus £3.50 P&P. Your local ski shop'll mount for less than £20.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

A few years back I had Scott Maya (the same as Aztec) with STH 10 and it was a great combination for me then, but if you are a guy I think you need something that runs up to 12 at least. There are also things like deltas (height difference between toe and heel pieces) to consider but this can be fixed to you preference as long as the binding is strong enough. STH 10 is basically a girl binding, so you should be looking at STH 12 and higher. Out of the three Tyrolia will probably be the best.

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I would go for the marker or the salomon, both are nice and light weight and I'm sure will offer you enough retention in the ski. Prob best to buy from your local shop then I'm sure they will mount them for you free of charge

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks for the replies so far guys, just to throw something else into the mix, any views on Look NX 12 bindings? Slightly more than I want to pay but I hear good things about Look equipment.

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nickr, Look nx 12 are the same as rossignol axium, lots of plastic, light, standard binding aimed at intermediate piste skiing really.

If you want a proper binding that will last you years, you will need to get them fitted, but in your budget

here

http://www.sport-conrad.com/page/product-detail/__/shop/prod/1870

look pivot 14

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

As for DIN settings. I have no idea what 10.5 stone is, but if you can find out what your DIN setting should be on a binding, taking into account weight, length and ski level: try to find a binding which min and max is minimal 2 points from that value. So if your DIN setting should be 8, it is fine to buy a STH10. If it is 9, you should buy an 11 or 12. But you can also buy too strong, like a 16 would sometimes have a minimum of 8, which is too close if you should wear 8 or 9.

Most bindings mentioned are fine, in general try to use bindings with mostly metal parts. Plastic bindings break more easily. Look Pivot 14 are certainly good bindings. But the others will do fine as well.

After all it is free

My DIN setting is 7.5, speaking to the shop I bought the ski's from, they have suggested the Marker Squire 11.....
The Look bindings are notably heavier, obbviously because they're metal and better built - but, does weight have an adverse impact on perfomance? I would assume that lighter ski's are easier to initiate turns etc. As a light person would I notice the heavier binding when skiing?

Remember the weight of a binding will be nicely centred under your foot; the 'swing weight' of the ski will remain more or less unchanged so there shouldn't be much of an effect on turning or spinning.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Ok, so I can't get the Marker Squire because the brake width (90mm) will be too wide for my 76mm waist skis.
Seems like my choice is now between the Salomon STH12 and the Looks but struggling to get the Looks with an 80mm brake also.

Dan - I assume that was you I spoke to today at Snowtrax? Thanks for the help!

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Hey Nick,

Yep it was me that you spoke too, Will be in contact with you tomorrow, sorry haven't heard back from dynastar Smile

snow reports

Serriadh, only thing to be aware of with the earlier pivots is the enormous ramp the binding has, its 8mm on those, so many need spacers under the toe and longer screws. I have a pair of them with 5mm of spacers under the toe.

You know it makes sense.

Ruled out the Tyrolia's for the same reason as the Markers - cant find them with a brake less than 97mm. Shame because Ellis Brigham are selling them in the sale for £63!!!

I have to say, I'm kind of fixated on the Looks because they will match my ski's perfectly and a lot of people rave about them! I'm just not sure the Pivot's would be right for me - given that I'm not gonna be jumping off any cliffs or skiing anything stupidly steep and my DIN setting is only 6.5 to 7.5.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

That made me laugh - a very good point regarding the Pivots!
Yeah, looked at the Storm badged Tyrolia's and haven't completely ruled them out, good value for money but they're definitely in 3rd place at the moment behind the Pivots and Salomon's.
I never imagined buying a pair of binidngs could be so tricky!

A snowHead

would these not be perfect for you? they're exactly what you want, pivots, low enough din value just, right brake size and they're not that expensive.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Rossignol-FKS-120-World-Cup-ski-bindings-/110598105860?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Skiing_Skis_JN&hash=item19c0292b04#ht_1313wt_1037

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

nickr, What ski length did you buy of the Scott Aztecs, and which year? At 10.5 stone, and a choice DIN setting of 6.5/7.5 I'm not sure why you are wanting top-end/top-price binding. I'd still suggest the Storm branded Tyrolia Peak 12's are a decent bit of kit, notwithstanding their price they are an excellent build quality.

To be honest a brake width of 90mm is not going to cause any big deal with a 76mm as you'll have a 7mm clearance either side of your ski edges.

Buying bindings is only a headache if what you want is past your budget. Been there, done that. Mad

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Got the 2012 Aztecs in a 165.

My initial reasoning for looking at more expensive / different bindings was simply because I have skied the lower end Scott / Salomons previously and wondered if something else might be better.... but I also wanted something that was going to look good on my ski's as well.

With regard to brake width I've been advised by a few different people and also read that a brake width of about 15mm or more than the ski waist wont be suitable. I assume this is because you risk the brake digging in when you edge???

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

nickr, I can slightly see your point regarding the brake width, but seeing as most bindings have a system that closes as well as lifts the brakes that may not really be an issue (well, maybe with the Atomic Neox).

With the greatest respect you are a lightweight skier on a rather short ski, you may quite easily find that DIN 6.5/7.5 means you are not quite in the mid-range of say a DIN 4 - 12 (which would be DIN 8/9). I'm not saying go for a binding with less DIN scaling, but I'm not sure you really need a heavy-duty binding, and would suggest that you could look at some of the lightweight composite ones.
However, if you are wanting a beefier set, that may look a tad "over-speced" on your skis.

Advice?........... go with your head and wallet.

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Having previously expressed an interest in doing some touring - a friend of mine has suggested getting a touring binding?
Forgive my ignorance but would there be any major difference skiing a touring binding? They presumably sit higher on the ski?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Now you're opening a can of worms. Presumably your question is, "Can I use a touring binding for resort skiing as well?"

You can, but only if you're willing to compromise. I have met people who use Fritschis as their only binding, but they were all small, light folk who didn't ski very hard. They won't clamp you to the ski as well as a true alpine binding, and they've got a high stack height. Plenty of people use Marker Barons as their only binding, but Barons are expensive, they've got a high stack height, and they're quite heavy too (more than even the heavier alpine bindings) which is important if you're actually going to skin very far. I know people who use Dukes and Barons as their touring bindings, but they're all hellishly fit. Salomon Guardians probably have too high a minimum release value for you (and are heavier and more expensive stilll!). I've used my dynafits on piste for a couple of days in the absense of any better bindings... they feel quite harsh and unforgiving, and I don't feel like wearing them out prematurely cos they're pretty pricey to replace.

So, it'll be an expensive compromise, and if you don't take to touring it'll be a pointless compromise, too. I don't know if I'd necessarily class your Aztecs as an 'all mountain' sort of ski either, so they might not be an ideal choice for touring.

After all it is free

nickr, Consider a Marker F10 or maybe a F12, but maybe better on a F10 given your light weight. I ski on Dukes, just got my wife ready to go next season on F10's. Her Marker Free 12.0's are going at the right price if you were interested? They'll do all the things you ask for initially but if you want a touring binding thats a different brief altogether.

Cheers for all the advice everyone, it's been very useful and I've learnt a lot.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Serriadh, I'd ski Dynafits day in, day out in resort and I'm not that light and don't ski gently. Just bought some Guardians on the recommendation of people that have skied them for my fat skis and apparently they're more solid than some alpine bindings. The answer with everything is to be more fit. Toofy Grin

Fritschis are weak, lame and horribly sloppy. Dukes develop slop in the toe and are awkward for touring.

The downside to Dynafits is their limited release and their tolerance to boot wear. For pretty much everything else they outperform even alpine bindings for a similar DIN. The biggest problem I've had is trusting them on drops onto anything but powder as they aren't that elastic. Main issue now is getting my left boot to click into the binding as the toe is so worn from rock clambering!

If someone made a burly tech binding with high DIN I'd ski that all the time.

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snow reports

meh,

Of course they'll work; they're skis! But instead of having to work harder to ski a turny skinny stick in all conditions, you could just get a fatter rockered ski and relax a little.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Serriadh, what I meant is that I ski dynafits day in, day out including on lifts and have done for a few years because I had nothing else. Smile

I can afford more than one pair of skis and boots now so am diversifying.

A snowHead

Marker Barons would suit the bill as an Alpine binding that can do a bit of light touring (referring to the duration and exposure of the touring, not the weight of the equipment Wink

)
The Dukes have a higher DIN setting, but even the Barons go up to 13 which should be ample for most folk

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Markymark29, its common enough to get complained about on TGR a lot. Very Happy

I have no idea about Duke maintenance though. Making sure everything is tight couldn't hurt though.

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nickr, Let us know what you went for in the end. snowHead

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Have been reliably informaed that I can swap an 85mm brake from a Marker touring binding (although looking at the marker website, more likely a junior race binding) and put it on the marker squire 11.
Bindings plus new brake will cost £100.

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nickr, think we might have a Marker narrow brake at the workshop, came off a Jester I think and we will never use it as our narrowest ski is 89 underfoot. If I'm not imagining this then you can have it for a nominal sum. PM me and I'll check with the workshop if this item really exists or is a figment of my fevered imagination.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Cheers Midgetbiker but I've already located one. Ta.

Help!!

Bindings???

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