New dynafit style tech binding = Plum bindings

[LeeLau]

http://skitheory.blogspot.com/2010/1...-bindings.html

Very detailed writeup. Am waiting for my version with the brakes.

[Prodigy]

... Race bindings don't come with brakes. Your binding won't look like that.

[LeeLau]

... Race bindings don't come with brakes. Your binding won't look like that.

I'm aware of that; the bindings with brakes are pictured on the Plum site.

[Eluder]

I'm aware of that; the bindings with brakes are pictured on the Plum site.

Nice deflection.

They sure are proud of them binders, aren't they.

[squirrelmurphy]

One million companies making race style tech bindings, one company very slowly trying to come up with a burlier, high din freeride tech binding.

[Jonathan S.]

Am waiting for my version with the brakes.

I'm aware of that; the bindings with brakes are pictured on the Plum site.

You still have lots of waiting to do for the brakes on the Guide model.

One million companies making race style tech bindings[...]

Only a mere 11 companies:
http://www.wildsnow.com/2275/dynafit...ndings-review/

[JoeStrummer]

This. . .

"The real beautiful thing about these models are that the toes (77g no screws) have adjustable pin widths, in order to accomodate boots where the boot inserts are off center, wider, narrower, allowing the binding to be specifically dialed in to any boot toe width, custom or stock. You can see in the photo's where the pins screw in, as I have yet to install them."

. . . is beyond my ability to understand and therefore give a shit about. Can one of you enlighten me about what is so beautiful about this feature? I am on my 4th pair of tech-fitting boots and it has never ocurred to me to worry about any of those toepiece situations.

[Jonathan S.]

Can one of you enlighten me about what is so beautiful about this feature? I am on my 4th pair of tech-fitting boots and it has never ocurred to me to worry about any of those toepiece situations.

Some possible benefits:
-- Since the model in question is a race binding, the popular PG race boots apparently have a toe interface that can benefit from such tweaking. (See 6th paragraph here for details: http://skitheory.blogspot.com/2010/1...ux-xp444s.html)
-- Dynafit has tweaked its own pincer span a bit over the years, so such modifications could affect release/retention characteristics.
-- A slightly crooked mount could be compensated for by setting up assymetrical pincers. (Although of course far better to mount properly in the first place.)
-- I've seen reports here of various Tech-compatible boots that seemed to be having problems with the toe wings closing properly. The best solution might be grinding down the sole rubber in certain spots, but maybe adjusting the pincer span would work instead?

[LeeLau]

You still have lots of waiting to do for the brakes on the Guide model.

Yah - I think it'll be next season for the brakes for the Plums. Really, I'm content with Dynafits. Getting Plums just scratches the shiny new things itch.

[philth]

One million companies making race style tech bindings, one company very slowly trying to come up with a burlier, high din freeride tech binding.

Yup, agreed. Although which one are you referring to? D-fit or G3?

[gregL]

which one are you referring to?

I would say Trab.

[Jonathan S.]

Quantitative: actual weight per pair w/ screws = 1 lb 8.6 oz (pretty much tied with Dynafit Speed)
Qualitative: both burly looking and beautiful (elegant even?) at the same time

[gregL]

both burly looking and beautiful

Pictures, please! How long are the heel pins?

[Jonathan S.]

Fun outing today on the Plum bindings!
The race ones.
Unfortunately (from a gear testing perspective), flying out to Denver tomorrow morning (mainly biz, but some skiing too of course), and the Movement Logic-X skis are already packed. Will be awhile until I get the Guide bindings on the Manaslu and post a review to WildSnow...

[marshalolson]

guide and race show up to me on friday.

stoked.

[harpo-the-skier]

I would say Trab.

I heard a rumor of a rumor that Trab will be marketing the dyna-like binding that will need a propriety boot heel to interface with the heel piece of the binding, and that Scarpa will be making such a compatible boot. Don't quote me though.

[gregL]

The current test version is this:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG_gpHQgbV0"]YouTube - SkiTrab TR 2 Skitourenbindung[/nomedia]

It requires a boot with a steel rod imbedded in the heel horizontally, which may be closer to reality now that Scarpa has taken over distribution of Trab for certain markets. They were also testing a version that didn't require the special heel hardwear where the binding just sat on top of the heel (which would seem to make more sense if they actually want to sell many of the bindings).

[Patches]

I have a pair of Plum Race 185s arriving soon. I'm planning on mounting them with inserts from bindingfreedom. I'll put 8 inserts in for the rear, so I can mount the bindings as 145s (non adjustable) for use with my TLT5s, but with the ability to swap in the adjustable baseplate to mount them as 185s if I need to use different boots or lend them to friends. Weight penalty for this is ~9 grams per ski over standard ski screws.

The Plum bindings seems really well thought out - particularly the availability of offset heel posts so you can change BSL by a few mm without remounting. The customer service is also really good- the rep (owner?) responds to emails very quickly.

As a point of discussion I like the idea of non-adjustable bindings - lower parts count to me means less to go wrong. Even for the same weight I would prefer non-adjustable. It would be nice if they had a whole series of springs so you could fine-tune release at home though.

[gregL]

I used a set of non-adjustable Dynafit heels on my daily touring rig a few years ago - super light and pretty much foolproof. The only thing I missed was a high climbing position, though I saw a bolt-on remedy once on Jared Inouye's site.

[Jonathan S.]

The customer service is also really good- the rep (owner?) responds to emails very quickly.

Yes, and their English is impeccable too! Very helpful for the mounting process.

Meanwhile, took the Plum Guide for a tour today -- works well so far, and review should be up soon.

[MultiVerse]

For those who have experience with race bindings, what are they like on steep skin tracks without the high position riser?

For context: I always tour with the middle Dynafit climbing position, even on approaches, so a race binding would be ideal since I'd never want to rotate the heel except when the track gets steep here in the Wasatch. Then, I think the highest position is very helpful (almost a necessity?) with traction on steep climbs. Are the weight savings worth giving up the highrise?

[Patches]

Depends on the boots, I think. With my Viruses I absolutely needed the higher position, because those boots were very upright. With my TLT5s, which have a ton more forward flex range in walk mode, I don't need them based on the 20 or so days I've been out this year; I studiously avoided using the high heel riser to see if I would miss it. The one place I had to use it was on what has the reputation of being the steepest skin track in Tahoe. All the others, no need. When I set tracks I usually do at a more mellow grade if I will be using them more than once or twice. So maybe try some days without using the high heel rise position and see what your answer is? My guess is that it all depends on your boots.

One more thought, I do use 100% mohair skins and find I start losing traction around the time I want the higher heel setting. Maybe if I used nylon skins I would want it more.

[MultiVerse]

One more thought, I do use 100% mohair skins and find I start losing traction around the time I want the higher heel setting. Maybe if I used nylon skins I would want it more.

I'm on TLT5s. I'm also using BD mohair mix skins this season and I do notice the traction loss but the trade off is worth it. Plus, I've compensated by shortening my poles sooner than I normally would and then pushing off of them when things get tricky, which mostly solves the problem.

For very steep climbs it might come down to a choice between mohair and a conventional heel or a race binding and ascension skins... so, yeah, a good test would be to try a steep climb without the hight post but with ascensions before making any big investments.

[gregL]

Depends on the boots, I think.

I agree. When I was using a one-position race heel on a regular basis, it was with Scarpa F1's. The bellows allowed your footbed (at least the part from the ball of your foot to your heel) to adjust to almost any angle. With a rigid soled boot, it might have been different.

Might also have something to do with how loose your hamstrings and calves are - just like bending down to rip your skins without taking skis off or twisting your heelpiece, some people just do it and some can't even come close.

Edit to add: With the TLT 5, the rearward mobility of the cuff is so outstanding I find myself staying in the high climbing position for long periods of time without even noticing, even when the terrain levels out. Someone skinning behind me mentioned this yesterday, "Hey, you sure use your high climbing posts a lot" . . . Not to mention driving my manual transmission car from trailhead to ski area in my boots . . .

[Jonathan S.]

They sure are proud of them binders, aren't they.

And rightly so -- very nice:
http://www.wildsnow.com/3987/plum-guide-review-binding/

Edit to add: With the TLT 5, the rearward mobility of the cuff is so outstanding I find myself staying in the high climbing position for long periods of time without even noticing, even when the terrain levels out. Someone skinning behind me mentioned this yesterday, "Hey, you sure use your high climbing posts a lot" . . .

Hmm, I've been wondering about that -- supposedly the Euro racers often keep their bindings in the elevator position, since that way they never have to rotate the heel, and instead only have to flip the cover. With my DyNA boots and Plum race bindings, I feel like I can get away with that much more than with other combos, although it runs against my prior practice of minimizing heel elevator use.