The ess var binding thread

[Blurred]

So what's the deal on these? I've seen them on skis my whole life, and I've skied almost every other binding on the market. I ended up with a pair that came on a pair of skis I wanted...I started tooling around with them, and I found a couple of cool things about them....

*They adjust like demo bindings to any boot without all the extra weight.

*They can slide back and forth VERY easily to change your centerline mount....and when I say easily, I mean in like 5 seconds...

So, I'm wondering why there is a dislike for them. Other than looking fugly, how are they as clamps? Are the toes Markerish?

I'm going to give them a shot tomorrow, I'll comment on them then....as far as righht now, they're VERY easy to tech on once you figure them out.

[Dside11-11]

Dude - not to blow up your spot, but these bindings are far worse than Markers. I saw a dude's season get ruined by repeated pre's in these things back in the day. Throw 'em in the garbage. Ski tomorrow?

[Blurred]

Yup. Ski tomorrow. Loveland. Hope you're coming up.

I love your honesty, I just wanted some legit answers. I'm gonna do a couple runs on them tomorrow, just to "test" them out.

[SkiEvil]

The Atomic Xentric line was modeled after the Ess Var line I think. Yes they are adjustable, and yes they slide, and yes they pre-release. I have a pair that I cannot get to hold me in cranked to the highest din. That said I think there was a thread a while back on a problem with the forward pressure on the Atomic version.

[trainnvain]

I use to work for Atomic during the ess var era. They had a cool system ahead of its time where yu could buy one binding and multiple plates for 50 bucks extra. They look really chince (sp?) but never failed me, even on sg runs.

[72Twenty]

I have ESS VAR's on my 210 TNC's. They were actually kick ass bindings. I didn't notice a huge advantage to moving the mount point on 210 straight skis, but on modern skis I bet the system would work really well.

[nick > jesus]

i have heard the oppistite from some people, they kinda dont come off

[kipfer]

I've still got several Ess VAR mounted skis in my Garage. Only one set of the plastic cover plates though. They're about due for an act of arson. They were a great binding though.

[kipfer]

I usually take out my old Solomon 2s 203's for the first few days of the season as n act of massocism. Need to test for rocks . Never had "pre releases" in all the years that I used them.

[Flexon Phil]

I use to work for Atomic during the ess var era. They had a cool system ahead of its time where yu could buy one binding and multiple plates for 50 bucks extra. They look really chince (sp?) but never failed me, even on sg runs.

That was part of the beauty.


IIRC, the toe was an old Look variation. I could be wrong. I do remember the binding had no upward or downward compensation let alone release. It was a pretty basic design.

[Vicious]

Well, B was fucking ripping on them this morning.

Fuck those skis are fast homie!

[leroy jenkins]

Dude - not to blow up your spot, but these bindings are far worse than Markers. I saw a dude's season get ruined by repeated pre's in these things back in the day. Throw 'em in the garbage. Ski tomorrow?

Yup.

I remember a bunch of the kids I raced with had them, just cus they had atomic skis, and well, if you're a 12 year old racer, well you just HAVE to match.

Anyways, I saw tons of 12 year olds destroy thier 14 din models, so I'd say since you are a full grown charger, run like hell away from them.

They aren't too light either are they?

[Hutch]

mine were pink. they matched my goggles. here's a pic. 1993 I'd guess. that's Mrs Pope with the rear entry boots.

[Vicious]

Blurred are pink too...hawtness!

[Blurred]

Well, B was fucking ripping on them this morning.

Fuck those skis are fast homie!

Long skis truck, short skis suck....but I know you dug them just cuz they look steezy...

I had no problems with these things at all today...in fact they kept up with Seth without blowing off.

I did have some racer kid say "nice skis" as he stood there on his 140cm stick chaser ski blades.

[Shredgar]

Funny thread. Used to have Ess Vars mounted on a pair of the old black 50's model 210 Head Deep Powders. The bindings were OK & it was fun to be able to move the boot around on the ski for powder days.

[72Twenty]

Here they are in an old quiver photo of mine that I found...

[nexus]

those that skied 'em loved 'em
those that didn't said "fuck that... they're ugly

[phatfreeheeler]

I have a pair of fluorescent green 614's on old Solomon Super Force 9.1's in my basement. In the mid 90's those were the shit. They released fine in only SOME falls. If you don't want to ever loose a ski, these were a great binding. Also, they were tanks, right up there for heaviest binding ever. The ability to slide the binding forward and back was cool (fun to play with but Salomon hit the mounting point right) and there was no slop in the binding, even today.

Great binding to transition to non-releasable tele bindings from. They really changed my view on the need for release until my MCL started giving out

[INDY GS]

I have a pair that I cannot get to hold me in cranked to the highest din.

I think the above comment is false. Too many people feel that simply cranking the DIN is going to hold you in. As long as one is skiing properly and has the appropriately set DIN & forward pressure, you should have no problem releasing inadvertanly. Now if you are hard charging in extremely variable conditions yes a higher DIN will help, because it will be more difficult to arc the ski correctly, and often you are not skiing, but hucking and landing which taxes the bindings more.

I used to race on a pair of the ESS VAR bindings, never had any problem with them releasing when they shouldn't have. I liked the adjustability and clean lines of their design. But yes the colors were pretty fugly. There were occassions if the Toe piece cover was not flipped down correctly, they could come loose, but that was user error.

[SkiEvil]

I think the above comment is false. Too many people feel that simply cranking the DIN is going to hold you in. As long as one is skiing properly and has the appropriately set DIN & forward pressure, you should have no problem releasing inadvertanly. Now if you are hard charging in extremely variable conditions yes a higher DIN will help, because it will be more difficult to arc the ski correctly, and often you are not skiing, but hucking and landing which taxes the bindings more.

I used to race on a pair of the ESS VAR bindings, never had any problem with them releasing when they shouldn't have. I liked the adjustability and clean lines of their design. But yes the colors were pretty fugly. There were occassions if the Toe piece cover was not flipped down correctly, they could come loose, but that was user error.

That may be true, however there was an issue with a batch of this particular binding pre-releasing. I will search for the thread and get back to you.

From this thread:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...hlight=xentric

"I had issues with a Atomic Xentrix 412 binding that pre-released some 3 years ago. Tech checked it and the effective DIN at the visual 9 setting was actually about 5 or so on the rear heelpiece. It was replaced under warranty with a 614.

Per the rep that I know, there was a small batch of binders with known issues."

Trust me I hope that they are only adjusted incorrectly. I have a set of skis that I would love to mount them on. I will take them to the shop on Saturday and get them checked out.

[INDY GS]

In that instance then I concur with your asessment and comments. If they indeed have a faulty din they should be replaced under warranty, if not have them tested to tell you the +/- from actual din to set them at. Any shop worth their salt will be able to do this for you.