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Thread: Just how strong are tech bindings?

  1. #1
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    Just how strong are tech bindings?

    Sorry for the super noob question, but I'm beginning to convert from the newschooler scene to backcountry and am finally giving up the tall tee's, for some real gear....

    Anyway I'm looking to get my first binding, and was wondering just how strong tech bindings are. I'm an east coast skier who skis pretty hard, I won't be hitting huge cliffs, but wouldn't mind skiing fast and hard on the downhill. Looking at the specs, shaving 5 lbs from my setup with tech bindings seems like a pretty good deal for only a little more $$. But will the hold up when going realitivaly hard in places like tucks, and huntington, as well as other shoots around NH?

    I'm currently looking at the Speed Radicals, just because they are > $100 less than the ST's. Any help is awesome! Thanks

  2. #2
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    Beast 16 is the burliest tech binder.

    The very nature of BC, for most of us, is to dial it back and enjoy more. This is not to say you can not push the limit on tech gear but there is a lot to learn not only how to use it but also when and where.

    Many folks get by fine on Radicals.
    watch out for snakes

  3. #3
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    They vary a lot these days.

    The Beast 16 is probably burly enough for a strong and heavy skier to charge on every day in any conditions all year long. The Speed Radical is a fast and light pure touring binding. There are plenty of as-yet-unproven 12-14 Release Value tech bindings coming this season.

    Some critical questions to ask are how heavy your are, how hard you charge (not just hucking), what alpine binding(s) work for you at what DIN, and if you intend to use this setup for lift skiing as well (especially if it's your only setup).

    Don't forget that dropping weight from your setup typically affects stability at speed and power in variable snow negatively.

  4. #4
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    I'm from the east, and I and many others here ski Tucks regularly on tech binders. The pros shred no-fall lines on tech binders. That said, almost everyone has to build up their confidence once they buy, but I can't imagine using anything else, they're so awesome for what they do. Just make sure you read up on how to use them safely and the tips/tricks that enable safe use (clearing ice in toe fittings, etc)

    Unless you're a) hucking, b) charging like a motherfucker, or c) a really big guy (in which case buy the beasts) and/or need DIN higher than 12, buy yourself some tech bindings and forget about it. Personally I love my plum guides, but speed radicals are a good choice too. (My 2 cents: don't get brakes, your legs will thank you on a long tour).

    IMHO, don't fuck around with anything else, just go tech. If your'e serious about the backcountry you'll end up there eventually.

  5. #5
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    Awesome! Looks like TGR is much more mature & intelligent than NS... I think since I will probably get tech bindings eventually, why not just start with them and save some money? It may be a bit longer learning curve, but it is probably worth it. Obviously the downside to the beasts is the price so I'm going to try to avoid those, and if that means dialing it back a little, that's fine. Thanks for the help guys

  6. #6
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    I would agree you might as well go tech to start OTOH if you haven't got the $ or aren't real sure if you will be a tourer there is no harm in picking up a used non-tech setup to cut your teeth on

    But at least make sure you get the state of the art light tech compatible AT boot to begin with so you don't have to buy the boots twice which I did and many people do cuz its hard to commit the $$$ if you are not sure how much touring you will do
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nacho_Macho_man View Post
    Awesome! Looks like TGR is much more mature & intelligent than NS...
    That's debatable.

    That said, your questions were straightforward and phrased nicely to get the right responses. A lot of dudes come on here with attitudes, and get attitude back.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ernest_Hemingway View Post
    I realize there is not much hope for a bullfighting forum. I understand that most of you would prefer to discuss the ingredients of jacket fabrics than the ingredients of a brave man. I know nothing of the former. But the latter is made of courage, and skill, and grace in the presence of the possibility of death. If someone could make a jacket of those three things it would no doubt be the most popular and prized item in all of your closets.

  8. #8
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    One other benefit of tech is you can access the wonderful world of tech-only boots, like the TLT5/6 series from Dynafit. Might be more of an investment than you're willing to make right now... but worth thinking about.

  9. #9
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    Just how strong are tech bindings?

    Think about what conditions in the backcountry you would like to actually charge in - how would you like to ski? Then, take your same setup inbounds and slowly work your way up to skiing that way inbounds, where help is readily available. You'll find the limits of tech bindings in a relatively safe manner that way. When you find the limits, dial it back just a bit so you have a margin of error. If you've never felt comfortable crashing hard and dialing in your alpine DIN this way, then this approach may not be the best for you.

    I wouldn't ski them inbounds a lot as my only setup - I'd be concerned about parts fatigue. That said, I would ski them everyday if I was only accessing sidecountry and not charging around inbounds on them all day.

    Through experimentation, I found I could ski pretty hard in speed radicals - hardpack cliffs with good runouts up to 15', powder cliffs up to 20', about 80% of my top speed in variable conditions, 100% top speed in powder.

    For reference, I'm about 5'9 and 165lbs in street clothes, 300 BSL and ski my STHs at 12 in powder and STH toes at 14 when charging in hardpack condiions. I'd consider myself to be a pretty technically competent skier and ski pretty smooth, but with a lot of energy and force.

  10. #10
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    Tech bindings are strong enough for the average adult if you recognize them for what they are and ski appropriately.

    Most of them are not very elastic, you're either in or you're out, but you can lock the toes (at the risk of knee injury) when a pre-release has more dire consequences.

    Most have a ramp angle in them which will put you more forward over your skis than you might like, it requires a dynamic adjustment in skiing style. Most people can deal with this, but it takes getting used to.

    Whether a tech binding works for you personally depends on your height and weight and how well you maintain your dynamic balance. If you can stay centered over your skis in any condition including landing big drops, then you'll have fewer problems.

    Tall heavy guys who like to charge through everything and drop big cliffs may find Speed Radicals a little lacking and might do better with one of the newer Beast 16/14 models; caveat emptor applies though, these bindings are relatively new and may still have bugs and annoyances yet to be discovered.

    Speed Radicals are a good choice because they are not overly complicated, light and low to the ski and have no brake parts other than a leash. There's not much difference among the first generation Radical series except for the brakes.

    Most of us who tour on small light tech dial it back a little when out of bounds for general safeness, enjoy the scenery, make some nice powder turns and chill a bit. If that's not your thing, there's always heavy frame bindings like the Duke et al.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nacho_Macho_man View Post
    Awesome! Looks like TGR is much more mature & intelligent than NS...
    Huh, I was going to write something about posting nekkid pics of your girlfriend, but nevermind.

    Look at Dynafit TLT Radicals, either ST of FT depending on the DIN you want. I don't get dark_star's caveats about brakes - I like 'em because they can keep your skis from taking off like a scorched cat at the top and when you're putting them on, and they don't weigh much.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper View Post
    Huh, I was going to write something about posting nekkid pics of your girlfriend, but nevermind.

    Look at Dynafit TLT Radicals, either ST of FT depending on the DIN you want. I don't get dark_star's caveats about brakes - I like 'em because they can keep your skis from taking off like a scorched cat at the top and when you're putting them on, and they don't weigh much.
    Yeah, brakes are very convenient, but they do add weight- a small amount, but weight is weight. That's my only gripe, and it's a personal decision. It's definitely a pain in the ass learning to use skis without them at first, but you get used to it. Plus I came from tele, so for me it didn't matter.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by dark_star View Post
    Yeah, brakes are very convenient, but they do add weight- a small amount, but weight is weight. That's my only gripe, and it's a personal decision. It's definitely a pain in the ass learning to use skis without them at first, but you get used to it. Plus I came from tele, so for me it didn't matter.
    Exactly. I've done a fair amount of tele skiing, so I don't think it will take too much getting used to. I'm always a fan of investing in better products at the start to avoid upgrading, so I'll definitely look into higher end tech compatible boots. Thanks for all the help

  14. #14
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    You still have to answer the questions of how much you weigh and whether you're going to use these in the ski area or they're for a touring-specific setup.

    If the Beast 16 is what you're looking for, it's pretty easy to find it for sale at less than the $850 retail price (currently $680 according to Google Shopping).

    If you weigh more than 180-190 and you're planning on charging hard with friends on alpine gear the Speed Radical probably isn't the tech binding you're looking for. If you've been killing it on T3's and 65mm skis for years, it may be fine.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Oder View Post
    There's not much difference among the first generation Radical series except for the brakes.
    I would avoid the first production year with the spring-loaded anti-rotation pin that's no longer part of the design.

  16. #16
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    I mean I'm 170ish lbs now, but I'm still a teenager, so I've got a fair amount of growing to do... The beast would definitely fit what I'm doing the best, but I have to figure out if I can justify $500 or so for a binding.... Thanks for the help everyone

  17. #17
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    I would recommend you find an older set of dynafits and mess around with them for a bit and make sure they work for you. They hold their value like gold, and you can always upgrade to something newer later.

  18. #18
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by zeroforhire View Post
    I would recommend you find an older set of dynafits and mess around with them for a bit and make sure they work for you. They hold their value like gold, and you can always upgrade to something newer later.
    they do hold their value but you can't "charge" on the old ones - without breaking them - if you weigh more than a teenage girl.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hugh Conway View Post
    they do hold their value but you can't "charge" on the old ones - without breaking them - if you weigh more than a teenage girl.
    luckily I weigh just under the average weight of a teenage girl

  20. #20
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by zeroforhire View Post
    luckily I weigh just under the average weight of a teenage girl
    doesn't everyone on TGR? Where all the real men are 6'2" and 150lbs, they all drive Audi RS6s with diesels and 6speeds, their wive/mistress/gfs are hot, and they crush it day in day out

  21. #21
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    I think for carefully skiing chutes on Mt Washington, and not bombing it in Tuck's, the speed radicals will be fine based on what you guys have said. If I put them on some 95's rather than my obsetheds, I should be OK.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nacho_Macho_man View Post
    I mean I'm 170ish lbs now, but I'm still a teenager, so I've got a fair amount of growing to do... The beast would definitely fit what I'm doing the best, but I have to figure out if I can justify $500 or so for a binding.... Thanks for the help everyone


    I skied the ST10's/lotus 120 everywhere last season but the piste is pretty soft / uncrowded up here and I am just a small 158 lb azn man

    I would try the Dynafit FT 12's or the G3 ION's if I was you, they should have enough DIN (or wtf) for your weight, lots of folks up here will use a 1 ski quiver on/off piste with the ST for smaller people or women, the FT for bigger dudes
    Last edited by XXX-er; 09-01-2014 at 11:26 AM.
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  23. #23
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    I would go with dukes if I were on the east coast. I feel like having uber light bindings isn't all that important unless you plan on going a long ways. I'm pretty happy with my barons, both in bounds and skinning. When I get a tech binding it will be a happy day, but I'm certainly not going to jump off anything with them, just skinning for days/hut trips/mountaineering trips/lets just make low angle turns. But I don't think I'd ever use them in the resort. Probably wouldn't recommend starting with them, especially if you come from a park background.

    Then again I suck at skiing.
    Its not that I suck at spelling, its that I just don't care

  24. #24
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    It's not about "charging", more about how smooth you ski in various conditions. I know 80kg guys who "charge" but always ski smoothly so their gear lasts well, and lighter guys who don't "charge" but are complete hacks who constantly break boots and bindings.

    My opinon: forget Beasts. You've said you're going this route because of the weight. Keep it light and ski appropriately.

  25. #25
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    I have a pair of older Comforts that I use for my everyday binding....resort and backcountry. I also have a pair of Vert FT's on some Lotus's. I decided I was getting rid of all my alpine setups last year to simplify things and give me more options while skiing. I had one prerelease last year, bouncing down an icy traverse at low speed. Petty sure I had ice under the toe that I failed to clear after booting. I'm not a charger by any means but I enjoy speed and dot baby things. I have also had them release when needed. Don't be scared if everyone telling you not to use them inbounds. Figure out how to use them properly and make sure they are aligned properly when mounted. They are the only way to go if you want to tour.

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