Thread: Salomon AT Binding

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

How about any Duke like icing up of the latch mechanism?

This is still my main concern with the Salomon, and only time will tell as the binding gets into widespread use. I assume those latches are springloaded, and are connected together (i.e. all of them move together, and cannot move independently) -- what if just one of them has ice buildup in the mechanism?

I do like several of the design features on this binding: (1) Salomon appears to have used what is basically (if not exactly) their alpine heel + brake (should allow for brake arm interchangeability) -- but I don't know if the alpine heelpiece has been modified in any way to accommodate the taller A/T boot heel, (2) the adjustable-height toepiece instead of the sliding AFD that the Duke has (allows for lower stack height; I wonder if there is some tradeoff in strength or rigidity though, that would explain why Marker chose their design), (3) the rails lay flat against the ski, which should minimize any torsional slop that all the raised-rail designs (Fritschi, Silvretta, Naxo) suffer from, and (4) the binding does not move fore/aft when switching to tour mode, like the Duke (I really dislike this feature on the Duke).

I don't care about the switchability between tour/ski without stepping out of the binding. The Duke's flat ramp angle doesn't bother me either. The stack height could be lower on the Duke, but again, I get used to it and it doesn't really matter.

The one design feature that I really like on the Duke/Baron is the connection between the binding and the mount plates. It makes for a very rigid connection when in ski mode, with no slop, even after many days of use. I haven't heard of any complaints about lateral sloppiness in the Duke. (Fore/aft play caused by sloppiness at the ski/walk mode switch rivet, however, is common.)

Originally Posted by flying_raven

"Having skied the Duke and Fritschi I would never consider them for everyday bindings, where's the Salomon I definitely would because of it's similarity to the downhill feel of my 916's."

speak for yourself boy,everybody knows you work for salomon,that doesnt mean coming binding is as good as you are trying to tell
probably you have different "feelings" for things from salomon ./no wonder/ good job strange feelings..
i know many people using dukes,fritschi,and other for everyday binding
and are perfectly comfortable with it.
you have many years to work hard
good luck

You know lots of people killing it as hard as Cody? On fritschi?

Originally Posted by Chugachjed

You know lots of people killing it as hard as Cody? On fritschi?

come on, give the 29-post JONG the benefit of the doubt

Originally Posted by Chugachjed

You know lots of people killing it as hard as Cody? On fritschi?

Maybe not in the air department, but Coombs skied on fritschis and threw down for sure.

Originally Posted by njfreeskier

Maybe not in the air department, but Coombs skied on fritschis and threw down for sure.

He threw down on Silveretta too. Doesn't mean I want em for my everyday binding. Plus, while Coombs was one of the best ever, he was never known for charging super fast or hitting huge airs like many of todays skiers. He was just super solid, all the time, no matter what. He made it look easy!

Originally Posted by flying_raven

"Having skied the Duke and Fritschi I would never consider them for everyday bindings, where's the Salomon I definitely would because of it's similarity to the downhill feel of my 916's."

speak for yourself boy,everybody knows you work for salomon,that doesnt mean coming binding is as good as you are trying to tell
probably you have different "feelings" for things from salomon ./no wonder/ good job strange feelings..
i know many people using dukes,fritschi,and other for everyday binding
and are perfectly comfortable with it.
you have many years to work hard
good luck

Yeah I am sponsored by Salomon but do you think I would have a shred of credibility if I were to tell everyone "they're amazing" and everyone buys them and they're crap? I don't benefit from the sales of these bindings and it sure doesn't help my reputation as a "spokesperson" if I lie about products. I speak for myself here. I ski the Guardian because they're strong, durable, trustworthy and perform well for me. The Dukes and Fritschi's don't for me.

I don't know who you are or where your angst for me and for this binding is coming from, but you're reading into this discussion the wrong way. I hope many other people get to test this binding and speak their minds because my opinion is my opinion, not the opinion of others or of my sponsors.

And if you're ever around the states (I assume your foreign because of the language--apologies if not) I welcome you to try them out and tell the world anything you like about them.

I don't know you Alka, but I'd take you at your word for binding strength/durability based on several videos floating around...

and Coombs was silky smooth, he didn't even need bindings!

Alka's just in a pissy mood because he saw Dav got a cool ride in a Bentley and he didn't.

Cody, you in Squaw the next couple days?

I saw him at Alyeska Wednesday.Not on guardians though. I was hoping to see them in person.

For what it's worth:

I bought a belt that Alkasquawlik endorsed and it had quite of longitudinal stretch. It does however, make all my pants feel like sweat pants.

Originally Posted by Chugachjed

I saw him at Alyeska Wednesday.Not on guardians though. I was hoping to see them in person.

Skied on them yesterday. New Years Chute was amazing. They and I'll be around for the next month at least. I'd be stoked to show you them in person.

Don't know how I missed you. Unless you went in the heli when it blued out.

Originally Posted by Chugachjed

Don't know how I missed you. Unless you went in the heli when it blued out.

That we did.

Originally Posted by Spew

For what it's worth:

I bought a belt that Alkasquawlik endorsed and it had quite of longitudinal stretch. It does however, make all my pants feel like sweat pants.

And that's bad?

Originally Posted by Alkasquawlik

That we did.

Damn your dream lifestyle.
/jealousy

probably gona get stick for this cherry post, and I haven't laid hands on this rad binder, but I've read and watched everything out there over and again and I'm missing the hike bars ability to stop an unwanted hike-mode release. Was thinking maybe the rubber silencer had multiple positions with function, but not seein it, hoping I'm wrong. I know inverting through spiked evergreens is a risk, more or less, and you guys are gnarly beyond known for sure, but the possibility of getting jacked up at some point and having the pole find a decent sized square, however low the % may be, over time, seems somewhat viable with the relative ease that demo-folk are engaging tour mode. The high school kid eventually finds his way in while in the back of dads trans am without inverting the chick that no one knows your hanging out with, ya know. Is the angle/pressure point for release so specialized that it couldnt be simulated in a mistake, terrain unexpectancy, tight tree variations. Or would the multi-hook chassis just slot back in to downhill lock mode if the heel wasnt raised before the pole disengaged the release?
-popped

Originally Posted by jfost

...and Coombs was silky smooth, he didn't even need bindings!

You got that right!

BBR's are fun!

saw them on cody's feet yesterday... they looked shiny. Cody was to fast, I guess he didn't want to be called out by a fat kid.

So carving out two pieces of hard plastic to fit into the release tabs with a pole tip widths opening at the optimal spot for tour mode cuts down the %, i guess.

Originally Posted by CeepCold

So carving out two pieces of hard plastic to fit into the release tabs with a pole tip widths opening at the optimal spot for tour mode cuts down the %, i guess.

I got to ride them for a few days and this is my only minor gripe. When you stick your pole in the grey area to release it, it's not really deep enough to catch the pole. It just seems to want to slip off, takes some fuckus to get it. If it were a little deeper and pronounced and caught the tip of a pole better it would switch easier.... just spitballing.

I am hoping to use these in order to have a one ski quiver. The same ski for in bounds and out. Do you guys think these bindings will hold up on switch landings? I don't want to be stranded in the Baker BC with broken bindings. I think the teeth in the heel are burly and should hold.

Originally Posted by powder_prophet

He threw down on Silveretta too. Doesn't mean I want em for my everyday binding. Plus, while Coombs was one of the best ever, he was never known for charging super fast or hitting huge airs like many of todays skiers. He was just super solid, all the time, no matter what. He made it look easy!

Coombs won the extremes didn't he? I'd say he was a hard charger for his time. Equipment has come a long way since he won his first comp. If Coombs were alive and 25yrs old today he'd be ripping with the best of "today's hard chargers".

I have a pair of Plums, but will definitely consider the Guardians next binder purchase.

Can anyone confirm whether the brakes can be pulled off easily like most other salomons to be bent? My dumb ass just ordered some in the wrong brake size in a drunken buying frenzy and am hoping I can just bend as usual. Found speculation on it in this thread but no confirmation. Thanks dudes! (and dudettes)