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Thread: Fritschi Vipec review thread
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04-03-2017, 05:50 PM #501
New and tight. I'm really curious about stack height vs. ramp angle (after 1000-oaks' question) as I'd previously thought it was stack height which was the culprit. They're on a friend's skis, and I plan on checking.
... ThomGalibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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04-04-2017, 04:34 AM #502custom user title?
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04-08-2017, 10:39 AM #503Registered User
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Vipec love:
I mistakenly took them out on a re-frozen day at tremblant. I skied all day shitty mogul runs and crusty trees. It was so bad that the runs were actually closed. The vipec did surprisingly well on re-frozen moguls with the vectors. Very confidence inspiring, hard to tell I was not in alpine bindings. Next day when the moguls softened they were super fun and I just bombed with the vipecs.
They also did great on Gaspe wind hammered chutes.
Vipec hate:
I filed down the brake bracket pretty much flat and greased the area. The brakes still don't deploy most of the time.
Heel froze again... shitty timing. It kinda closed, so I just skied it down with a rubber band for security.
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04-10-2017, 11:05 AM #504
Thanks! They've shown all the right signs of being tough enough, but it's always good to get feedback.
... ThomLast edited by galibier_numero_un; 04-10-2017 at 11:33 AM.
Galibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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04-11-2017, 02:26 PM #505
Wonder if there could have been a mid-run change to the brake assembly on the blacks? I've only had my Vipecs out twice so far, but I don't see how the brakes could catch on the plastic when in ski mode. Looking where folks are filing, it's just a smooth face on my pair.
Maybe BD changed the design before I bought mine?
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04-11-2017, 06:32 PM #506
Interesting, I just looked at the two pairs I bought last Spring. Mine look like those in Lindahl's photo in post #453.
Referencing Lindahl's photo, the left circled section is a flat surface (angled slightly). The right circled section has a horizontal groove which is the key to locking the brake up in the touring position.
As I mentioned earlier, I originally approached the problem by spreading the brake a bit to clear the ski. In retrospect, I don't think this caused any marginally improved brake deployment. It was likely a function of actuation cycles, perhaps cleaning up some mold flashing.
Studying the heel pieces today, I can see how the hang-up is occurring in the left, circled area - the flat surface. One of my four heel pieces still has an occasional hang-up at that point, and I think I'll get a fine toothed file to it. I definitely won't mess with the right (grooved) section after studying how it engages in the touring lock position.
... ThomLast edited by galibier_numero_un; 04-12-2017 at 08:46 PM.
Galibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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04-15-2017, 11:27 PM #507
Anyone try mounting an Ion crampon behind the Vipec toe? They'd be positioned further back than Vipec 'pons, but Ion crampons weigh less than half of the Vipec's and are a lot cheaper. If you mount the Ion bracket backwards, you could mount it further forward. Might even be able to cut out a section of the bracket to fit the tail of the toe piece.
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04-16-2017, 04:35 AM #508Rod9301
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Not only the ion crampons weigh less, they also work really well, best I've had.
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04-16-2017, 12:03 PM #509
Before I picked up Guide Pro boots, I was going to make Vipec toe spacers with a slot for the Ion crampon bracket. Guys with rockered sole boots could easily do that, and get the bracket way forward under the toe tail.
Moving the crampon back might not be such a bad thing though. My experience with ski crampons is very limited, but I did notice that I had to make a conscious effort to lift my heels way up to allow the crampons to swing up and not cut through the hard snow (wasting energy), or lift the skis completely off the snow for the crampons to not catch and drag. If the crampon bracket was further back, the 'pons could swing up higher and clear the surface of the boilerplate earlier in the stride. Or are they supposed to be engaged 100% of the time?Last edited by 1000-oaks; 04-16-2017 at 12:14 PM.
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04-17-2017, 09:27 AM #510
I've had issues with my brakes not deploying when they should, but I've also had times when I bump them while touring and they deploy. The later is pretty annoying when you're using the risers, because you have to flip them down, stomp the brake down, then flip the riser back up.
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04-17-2017, 02:27 PM #511
I've skied my Vipecs about 20 days in the backcountry, and probably 15 days at the resort this year.
They were Lindahl's test pair of 2nd gen. white Vipecs, and therefore have had a number of days during the previous season.
PROS
As for tourability, the binding offers some great climbing positions and I love the way you can disengage the heel to rip skins off.
CONS
Notably, the bindings have begun to release from the heels lately. I skied some very firm resort conditions yesterday in Idaho, and went into insta-tele mode three times.
Now, I want to make it clear that I understand that pin bindings aren't necessarily made for aggressive frontside skiing, but I'm wondering if the binding is slopping over time.
Gonna check the mechanism today and report back.
Also of note is the toe release. One binding consistently will not release it's toe pins without significant effort. I usually have to release the heel and pull upwards while depressing the toe lever.
To me, this suggests that I should be searching for a new set of bindings. My plum guides have three seasons of use and do not show nearly as much wear.
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04-17-2017, 06:29 PM #512Banned
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I have been attempting to put my rad 2.0 through the paces in bounds in a fashion I would call hard for pintech and have been overly pleased. Chattery snow where I expect a possible early release and they have been great. Thick heavy snow, deep pow, bumps I surely shouldn't be skiing on them and again very pleased. I want to trust them so I'm pushing them from my perspective. 6'3", 195lbs, aggressive skier. I've even started getting used to the ramp angle. Skiing with second gen Cochise 120.
YMMV.
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04-17-2017, 08:45 PM #513
Fritschi Vipec review thread
Last edited by Lindahl; 04-18-2017 at 06:59 AM.
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04-25-2017, 01:24 PM #514Registered User
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I finally figured out my issue with Spectres:
The indentation in the front of the boot, right at the toe.
It doesn't depress the little metal lever that causes the pincers to pinch- so to speak.
I filled that gap with duct tape, and they work much better.
I did just encounter a surprising problem:
I insta-teled in a surprising spot, and figured user error. Should have investigated more, but I have found that when I blame myself, I am often correct.
The next day, I insta-teled again, on consequential terrain- I got back in, looked down, and say excessive heel gap. Managed to remove the ski, .and adjust it with a leatherman. (nice that I didn't have to go into my pack for a Posi drive.)
The adjustment held for another day or 2 touring. No idea why it back up.
Anybody experience this?
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04-25-2017, 02:05 PM #515
I had a number of instances of heel release early on. Rechecked and adjusted everything, and mostly pleased after that. A couple of more partial instances over a bunch of days, but with diligence I noticed the heel lever partially depressed before actually releasing. Still not sure why, and not ideal, but manageable.
As for sticky toe pins, I often have to wiggle my boot a bit to let myself out of the bindings.
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04-25-2017, 06:32 PM #516
Fritschi Vipec review thread
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06-06-2017, 12:37 AM #517
The topic of brake width and deployment resurfaced as I moved a pair of Vipecs to some GPOs yesterday. The brake arms weren't quite wide enough and I ground off some of the plastic on the inner sides of the arms. When this wasn't quite wide enough, I spread the brake arms, and the brakes once more became sticky.
It ends up that Lindahl and I (see his post #453 in this thread) were correctly identifying the sticking point but from opposite sides of the problem. I filed away a bit of plastic as he noted, but the sticking remained. I hesitated to file away more.
The problem can be remedied with either of our approaches - depending on how severe it is. Those of you who have bent your brakes to accommodate wider skis may find the attached photo useful. The text should be self explanatory.
The other takeaway is that if you need to bend your brakes (or have already done so), you need to maintain the spacing at the dimension line. Take the actual spacing in the photo as only an example. I have no idea if the bending/re-bending softened the spring characteristics (doubtful), or if product batches vary, so use the actual brake deployment as your guide.
... ThomGalibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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06-06-2017, 10:07 PM #518
I've got three pair of brakes, could measure them with a caliper if anyone wants to know the original gap width.
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06-07-2017, 02:51 PM #519
You inspired me to measure mine. I measured the o.d. at the point in the photo where the dimension line points to the i.d. The spacing for one I prefer is 1.680". The looser one is 1.600".
It seems as if there's a slight bit of metal fatigue because after bending the "loose" one outward to 1.680 and re-installing it, it still felt a bit loose. Upon removal and re-measuring, I noted that it "relaxed" back to 1.620". I just bent it to 1.740", re-installed, and it didn't change much.
It then dawned on me that this is the binding from which I removed a bit of material from the insert (per Lindahl's post). I just swapped the left/right binding inserts and the stiffness/looseness stayed with the brake arms.
I'm definitely at the point of splitting hairs but the exercise was worthwhile, and I'm now 100% comfortable with the brakes. The slight difference between the two is inconsequential in my estimation.
I think it was in the Tecton thread where I mentioned that any stickiness folks are experiencing shouldn't matter in real-life application. What I mean by this is (if you have a sticky brake) stand the ski with the tail on the floor while the brake is at it's halfway/sticking point. Give the ski a light wack with the palm of your hand. This amount of vibration should easily free the brake, and it's a lot less vibration than a ski would exhibit if you released from it.
... ThomLast edited by galibier_numero_un; 06-07-2017 at 09:15 PM.
Galibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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06-07-2017, 10:15 PM #520
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06-07-2017, 10:28 PM #521
Of course, you're right ... lots of variables, including icing. They sure are a big step up from Dynafit brake performance (at least TLT/Vertical gens), but not yet perfect.
Honestly, I hadn't given consideration to stepping in, 'coz I remove my skis, flip into downhill mode & inspect them, 'coz I'm a bit of a klutz as far as ripping skins without removing skis is concerned ;-)
... ThomLast edited by galibier_numero_un; 06-08-2017 at 07:15 PM.
Galibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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07-18-2017, 05:52 AM #522King potato
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So after reading every thread on all the big tech bindings, I have ended up with the opinion that it is either the Vipec or the kingpin which is the go to for more aggressive riding and drops.
Does anyone have experience on both?
I have heard quite a few reports of the kingpin breaking, but the vipec not so much.
Lindahl do you still enjoy your pair? Anyone else want to chime in?
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07-18-2017, 11:43 AM #523
And of course, there's also the opportunity for you to be a paying beta tester for next year's Tecton ;-)
... ThomGalibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
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07-18-2017, 11:59 AM #524
Fritschi Vipec review thread
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07-18-2017, 12:07 PM #525
That's funny - I came to the opposite conclusion. Vipec for firm snow, due to its toe dampening. Kingpin for soft snow because toe vibration doesn't matter as much in pow-pow. But I'm guessing L's reasoning has to do with the release functionality.
Having used my KPs about 40 days, and my Vipecs about 10, I think the KPs are WAY more user friendly and less fiddly. The KP is pretty stupid-proof. I'll prob sell my Vipec (blacks) and replace with a superlight option for big days.
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