are my bindings and boots compatible?

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 01:44 PM

first off - I am an impatient idiot trying to convert from snowboarding to AT skiing this winter. I love hiking, I love rock climbing, I love being in the mountains so i figured it was a good time to make the transition while i am away from most mountains and working most this winter anyways.

second, I bought my skiis and bindings (came together) off ebay for about 360$ - seemed like a good deal. (atomic nomads, 2008 i think). the bindings are diamir fritschi freerides but i've included a photo since i am not 100% sure what the exact name or model is... i may not be able to post the photo until i have more posts though - it is uploaded though.

I ended up buying la sportiva spitfires since i got a really amazing deal. and to my surprise, they actually fit pretty perfect as far as I can tell. Thankfully they are similar sizing to their mountaineering boots.

so i got this great deal on these boots, and the skis and bindings were a good deal i figure as well to introduce myself... but now i'm wondering... was I too impatient to make moves? Will I need tech bindings if I want to keep these boots? I was thinking of investing more into boots since they would theoretically last longer than my first pair of skis or bindings.

Like i said I am converting from snowboarding... so i figured the bindings i got would be good to handle resort skiing, but i am wondering if the spitfire rocker is too pronounced for what i got?

I haven't tried actually putting the boot in yet. So far i'm just wearing them around the house, and now that i am confident they fit good i figured i'd ask to see if these even fit in these bindings before potentially just scuffing em up.

anyone got any advice? Feel free to laugh also! total noob here.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-10-2015, 01:46 PM

Go to a ski shop

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 01:51 PM

i would but i wanted to ask here first since the nearest one is about 30-45 minutes away one way minimum and i don't believe they even carry spitfire boots, some didn't even know who la sportiva was when i called to see if anyone had these to try on before i ordered em online.

I'm also in Massachusetts for this winter and from what ive read the only legit boot fitting place around is in stowe VT so i am slightly reluctant to take advice from local ski shops to be honest unless i am heading far north (which won't be for another few weeks)

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-10-2015, 01:59 PM

The answer is probably yes assuming medium bindings and average sized boots, but you're going to want to have a ski shop adjust the bindings.
You don't need an expert boot fitter in Stowe if the boots more or less fit your feet. You need a shop or person with even minimal experience with AT bindings to fit the boot to your ski and get a good release setting. Pretty sure there are plenty of those in Mass.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 02:05 PM

i do recall making sure that the binding size would be ok with my foot size, and i'm in the clear for that. I just see a lot of discussion saying at how the pronounced rocker on the spitfires can be troublesome w/ crampons so i figured it could lead to issues w/ non tech bindings.

what really caught my eye and made me question my buy was what i read in the instruction manual of the boots which states "These models (stratos, stratos evo, stratos cube, spitfire, sideral and starlet): are TECH binding compatible. the TECH binding system is also commonly referred to as the dynafit binding system or alternatively the TLT system. Because of the extremely rockered soles and smaller boot toe and heel shell lengths, theses models are not in compliance with the ISO 9523:2008 ski touring boot standard"

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-10-2015, 02:15 PM

Omfg, go to a ski shop. At worst, they'll be less fucking clueless than you.
Or, since you won't listen, go play in traffic.
Fuck.

**skimaxpower** · 01-10-2015, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Omfg, go to a ski shop. At worst, they'll be less fucking clueless than you.
Or, since you won't listen, go play in traffic.
Fuck.

+1
Your bindings will need to be adjusted and tested for safety.
Fritschi Freerides are perfect for OP. Way less fiddly than tech bindings. But even if you have the right size (you probably do) you'll still need to GO TO A SKI SHOP to have them adjusted and tested.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 02:29 PM

lol thanks guys. i'll head to a ski shop asap.

**nyskirat** · 01-10-2015, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by total-noob

lol thanks guys. i'll head to a ski shop asap.

Ski stop in Westwood MA is a good place with bootfitters if you need work done.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by nyskirat

Ski stop in Westwood MA is a good place with bootfitters if you need work done.

I saw that when i did a search on this forum. I did also read some pretty divided reviews of that place and some recommendations that for fitting a boot you'd be best off just getting it done near stowe or sugarbush if you are on the north east. There were at least three reviews i read that had people pretty upset with their service - but it is hard to know if they were just clueless noobs or if this place is really just the best in ma (which doesn't say much i'd imagine).

i think i will get my ski bindings fitted locally, and my boots heat fitted when I head to stowe. The fit is already pretty damn spot on - and feels damn near exact after wearing them around the house for the past two days here and there.... but i do think since my left foot is slightly larger a good boot job will make these perfect.

**XXX-er** · 01-10-2015, 04:42 PM

The freeride is a good way to get into the game hopefuly you got the right length binding for your boot and the FR toe should accommodate your AT boot toe, did you get skins as well ?

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 06:28 PM

i am buying skins after i get this all figured out. I found someone to sell me his backup pair of BD nylon skins for $75.. but i got those on hold until i can manage to get all this right.

the guy (only one guy that knew anything about AT setups) at the store told me i either need new boots or tech bindings. Does anyone have any info about if la sportiva spitfires NEED to be in tech bindings? They have the nubs on the toe and heel - but maybe these were intended only for crampons? I find that hard to believe.... I am going to start calling random stores tommorrow most likely, or maybe see if i can talk to any west coast stores before they close now... This really sucks b/c the boots fit well, i like them.... and i can't really afford to change my binding setup.... this is my first setup after all, i really didn't want to break the bank and i already have a little more than expected. Also, i read the bindings i have will be more forgiving while i am learning inbounds how to get my groove back on skis after all these years of snowboarding.

The guy at the store seemed fairly clueless over all. Unfortunately, this is exactly what i expected being in MA.. An hour of driving and nearly 45 minutes of hanging out at the store and i've made pretty much no progress except some little dents on the toe box which make me worry i won't even be able to return these if i need to. They also had no AT boots there and gave me the overall impression that i 100% expected.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 06:32 PM

also i forgot to mention - the guy at the shop's specific problem with fitting it was that there was room from the toe to go up and down which he couldn't seem to figure out....

**Mantana1** · 01-10-2015, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by total-noob

Does anyone have any info about if la sportiva spitfires NEED to be in tech bindings?

Yes. A quick google search yields numerous sites that clearly state Spitfires are compatible with tech bindings ONLY.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 06:47 PM

thanks for that info. I googled and came up with nothing, but i am most likely searching the wrong terms. edit: i see it now, lol fuck.

now i guess i gotta decide if i want to sell these boots (which i likely won't be able to buy at the same price), or get new bindings.... lol fuck, what would you guys do? I hope at least someone gets a good laugh out of this thread too... total noob here living up to the name.

part of me wants to keep the boots because i got them for a good deal, they FIT (that other shop that was recommended earlier said they would charge me $50 just to try on boots and see what fits... i've never even heard of anyone tell me i'd be charged for trying on things) and they feel good... the other part of me wants to just accept it's my first setup and get some crappier gear....

**skimaxpower** · 01-10-2015, 07:20 PM

Your Fritschi Freeride bindings have a manually adjustable toe height to accommodate most boots. Your boots have a lot of rocker, so they require a lot of toe height. They would not be compatible with a "normal" downhill binding, but I suspect they can work just fine with OP's bindings.

You still don't need a bootfitter. What you need is a competent ski tech.

**skimaxpower** · 01-10-2015, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mantana1

Yes. A quick google search yields numerous sites that clearly state Spitfires are compatible with tech bindings ONLY.

Not true.

"Tech and DIN-style AT binding compatible"

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 07:27 PM

skimax - you searched into the spectre's which aparently are AT and Tech compatible but the spitfires aparently are not even though they look like they should be, bummer:

http://www.backcountry.com/la-sporti...P003X-YEL-S255

**skimaxpower** · 01-10-2015, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by total-noob

skimax - you searched into the spectre's which aparently are AT and Tech compatible but the spitfires aparently are not even though they look like they should be, bummer:

http://www.backcountry.com/la-sporti...P003X-YEL-S255

My mistake. Mantana is correct. You'll either need to get different boots or different bindings.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 07:54 PM

so while i got you all here... what do you guys think i should do? the ski/binding setup i got was only $360.... so theoretically i still have ''room'' in my budget to get new bindings even though i told myself i wouldn't and i really shouldn't.... but then i'd have these used bindings that are most likely tough to sell i'd assume, unless i sell em for dirt cheap i am guessing.

I think boots are possibly more important than the skis/binindings, since they are always on your feet and the skis are not. I've had days snowboarding in awful boots, i feel like that memory stays vibrant enough not to forget the misery of poorly fit boots. So when i think of how lucky i got to order boots that fit, i feel like i am really taking a shot in the dark if i need to drive hours to go try on different boots (or wait weeks w/ shipping delays to try them on) to suite my current bindings.

my skis are 128/86/114 so they are really for a blend of AT and resort skiing (as far as i know). Would it be stupid to put tech bindings on these skis? Would I have more of a learning curve? I really am kinda stumped.... I guess i'm remembering now why i've haven't bothered to convert over from snowboarding these last few years but now i'm too in the thick of it to turn around now!

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-10-2015, 07:56 PM

Hahaha, what a shit show

**Mantana1** · 01-10-2015, 08:32 PM

IMO, the fritschi freerides are an outdated binding that provide neither great uphill nor downhill capabilities. If you will mostly be using these skis for touring, sell the fritschi and find some used, reasonably affordable tech bindings.

**total-noob** · 01-10-2015, 09:13 PM

oddly enough mantana, that makes me feel a tiny bit better. somehow i got the idea that the freerides were a little burlier and more solid downhill than the tech bindings due to the extra weight and materials - but maybe i was reading outdated comments and forum posts through out the internet?

my original plan when buying these boots was to have something AT/Tech compatible since i knew eventually i'd like to move onto tech bindings due to less weight.... but now... well... i almost feel like i should just skip ahead in my plans and move right onto the tech bindings...

These pins are tiny though - if i were to get used bindings, could worn out pins be an issue? I'd imagine the tech bindings must have a shorter life span than non-tech ones? or maybe i'm wrong?

also, if anyone has specific bindings they feel i should look into i'd be interested to hear... w/ all the various models and one year changing from another - it can be pretty confusing knowing what to look for. I sure as hell can't get another pair of wrong bindings, lol.

after thinking about how much time it could be just to get the boots situation figured out though... kinda leaning toward the idea of tech bindings now.... fuck it, i'm this deep anyways.