Page 1 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 213
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Nhampshire
    Posts
    7,761

    Alpine bindings - current best?

    Been out of things for a bit with kids etc. and now need some new clamps for the new skis as I get back into it. What's the current hotness in alpine binders for mediocre skiers? I don't need DIN 18 or anything crazy, just a din 14ish binding compatible with gripwalk.

    Looks like STH's and Pivots are still about, but what say the collective? Help someone in Jongland.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    at work
    Posts
    1,398
    Name:  spade.jpg
Views: 6684
Size:  70.0 KB
    "Not all who wander are lost"

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Your Mom's House
    Posts
    8,299
    Not really any bad bindings these days.

    Pivots still have the best heel elasticity on the market. The metal toe 15/18 is slightly less elastic than the plastic 12/14 toe, but more durable.

    STH2 have the highest toe elastic travel but less heel elastic travel. Good bindings.

    I haven't skied them but the Tyrolia AAAttack series has a lot of fans. Seems to be a good, simple, durable, lightweight binding that can be had inexpensively. Less elastic travel than the Solly or Look stuff.

    Marker's are fine but I don't see a compelling reason to buy them over the other options available now. I've known a few people that have broken them.

    I have Pivots on three pairs of skis and STH2 on one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    1,384
    Attack 13/14 GW - best value per dollar imo, work great, minimal issues, good price
    STH2 13 - great performance, good adjustability, little issues, very tried and true
    pivot 15/18 - best performance, most expensive, significantly more heel elasticity, small mount pattern, not much bsl adjustability, brake mechanism susceptible to braking if you're skiing switch a lot

    I'd just go with attacks unless you can find STHs at a better price

    Edit: if you like orange, these are a great price: https://www.the-house.com/sa1sw13100...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    6,643
    Reminder that the cheaper Look SPX have nearly as much heel elasticity as the pivots, and much more than the STHs. Better heel and toe than the Attack. I like them. In our house, however, we have Pivots, SPX, Attacks and Squires.

    Salomon STH:

    • Elasticity – Toe: 52 mm
    • Elasticity – Heel: 16 mm


    Pivot:

    • Elasticity – Toe: 45 mm
    • Elasticity – Heel: 28 mm


    Look SPX:

    • Elasticity – Toe: 45 mm
    • Elasticity – Heel: 27 mm


    Marker Jester:

    • Elasticity – Toe: 30 mm
    • Elasticity – Heel: 16 mm


    Tyrolia Attack:

    • Elasticity – Toe: 30 mm
    • Elasticity – Heel: 16 mm

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    voting in seattle
    Posts
    5,122
    I still use mostly hoarded Pivots these days, but if I was buying new I’d find whatever fit my release value requirements at the lowest available price. Don’t really have any significant issues with any of the standard Marker/Tyrolia/Amer/Look offerings right now.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Hell Track
    Posts
    13,843
    For me, pivots ski noticeably better (shorter mount lets the ski flex more naturally). Which is *just* enough to make me prefer them over STH2's, which have a more reassuring ka-chunk engagement and much better brakes.

    Pivots (15/18) also work with cast.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rossland BC
    Posts
    1,879
    All current bindings are fine, but if you care about and can appreciate a particular quality of “suspension”, IMO the STH2 is the clear winner.
    Differences in vertical elasticity in the heel have related minimal impact on suspension, and perhaps only matters when rebounding out of high impact landings in soft snow. Boot plastic/design and a vibration absorbing boot board matter more here.
    Elastomers under the toepiece AFD provide dampening. STH2s deliver here, though I’ve never seen a comprehensive comparison in this regard.
    Lateral toe elasticity is key, not just amount of elasticity until release, but also the quality of suspension , and precision of engagement. STH2s allow fine tuning of the engagement points, and (choosing the appropriate model for you DIN, too low a setting will ramp up too easily) provide an ideal (to me) smooth, firm ramp up.
    Also consider, stepping in in powder, and proven durability.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    174
    Completely anecdotal experience I had on Attacks this week:

    Skied a steeper rocky & icy entrance. Dropped in, hit a hard left turn, and right as my downhill ski finished exiting across the fall line it pre released. I (sloppily) one foot-skied to an island of safety.

    On recovering the released ski, I found my heel track had somehow blown itself open - such that my boot would no longer fit in to the binding. Took me and my partner jerrying the track open with a metal pen to slide the heel back in a place where I could ski out (otherwise I was looking at a long, long walk off the top of Blackcomb).

    Only my experience - but I’ve had pre-release issues off these bindings skiing at a 9, where as my pivots are very very reliable at the same setting.

    I’d probably stick to STH / Pivots in the future, but I still have attacks on a few skis. YMMV.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Dystopia
    Posts
    21,053
    Another anecdote. Attack. Well rated they say.

    Put thing two on a demo pair. He wasn’t sure on boot center. So I figured demo was better.

    Set his din per chart. First day in the lift line fucking around buttering etc his heel pops right out. Every time.
    Had to crank his din up 1.5 more.

    Not a fan anymore. Ymmv.

    Just mounted a new pair for me using old sth. Pita to adjust the toes. But that binding is bomber.

    Pivots are awesome as well. Very elastic.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2022
    Posts
    153
    I was looking at the different Sollys and confused on why the STH2 13 are WTR but the 16 are GW. Are the STH2 13 compatible with Gripwalk soles?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Nhampshire
    Posts
    7,761
    These are great notes - thanks everyone. STH's are now MNC compatible and the older WTR's are compatible with GW.
    Traditionally been on pivots, so well used to that feel (though they always felt a little rubbery) and enjoy the ka-chunk. Glad we don't have a nu-marker or explosion prone option. Always enjoyed my S900's and 914's so I enjoy the kerchunks.

    Any thoughts on Griffons, Wardens or Strives?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    Bay Area
    Posts
    752
    Quote Originally Posted by PeachesNCream View Post

    Edit: if you like orange, these are a great price: https://www.the-house.com/sa1sw13100...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
    Activejunkey has 14% at the house right now which brings those down to ~$100. I think they were even cheaper a month ago.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Lapping the pow with the GSA in the PNW
    Posts
    5,163
    New Griffon heel is improved for ease of entry. Like Attacks, can typically be had fairly inexpensively. I've got Warden 13's on several pairs of skis (demos and retail version). Same Sollie heel with an MNC toe (less elastic travel but compatible with everything). No experience with the Strives. Don't see a reason to go to those when Wardens and STH2 13 closeouts can be had for so little money.
    In constant pursuit of the perfect slarve...

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2022
    Posts
    223
    I'm curious about strives if anyone has experience with them. They're available cheap to me, low stand height and light weight is appealing but I'm wary of a first year binding

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Moose, Iowa
    Posts
    7,926
    Quote Originally Posted by ApexSkua View Post
    I was looking at the different Sollys and confused on why the STH2 13 are WTR but the 16 are GW. Are the STH2 13 compatible with Gripwalk soles?
    Yes.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Bottom feeding
    Posts
    10,828
    I don’t have time to look them up right now, but they all have slightly different Delta and that is important to me. It may not be important to you.
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Nhampshire
    Posts
    7,761
    I found this chart which seems to be accurate - https://www.powder.com/stories/an-ex...compatibility/

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2022
    Posts
    153
    Quote Originally Posted by schuss View Post
    I found this chart which seems to be accurate - https://www.powder.com/stories/an-ex...compatibility/
    Ok, so GW soles are compatible with WTR bindings, but not the other way around. That clears things up.

    By the way, The House link is showing as sold out for me, but Level Nine has the STH2 13s for $160 right now.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Nhampshire
    Posts
    7,761
    Quote Originally Posted by ApexSkua View Post
    Ok, so GW soles are compatible with WTR bindings, but not the other way around. That clears things up.

    By the way, The House link is showing as sold out for me, but Level Nine has the STH2 13s for $160 right now.
    You can get the armada sth2's from there for 144 with 15% off.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    82
    I've been on Griffons, Attacks, and STH2s. Only real gripe I have is with the Griffs and their 'phantom step in' issue as I've seen it called elsewhere. Stepping back in to Griffons after a fall, everything felt fine, only for me to walk out of one binding soon as I tried to make a turn on it. Stepped back in only for the same thing to happen to the same binding over and over despite clearing all the snow off my soles. Didn't realize to check at the time, but I think I had a lot of wet, sticky snow (Whistler) packed in to the toe piece I couldn't see. Still, if I'm gonna prerelease the moment I put weight on it, the heel shouldn't snap up like normal when stepping in?

    Could be just in my head but I definitely feel the lower stand height and delta of my Attacks (the gliding afd on the Griffs probably didn't help either). But think I also heard shorter bsls (mine are 301-307) are more sensitive to delta?

    Anyways, this was the previous version of the Royal bindings before they redesigned the heel piece a few seasons ago, but I have no desire to go back when my attacks are serving me just fine. Looking to try Pivots next.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,881
    I'm working on the knee but I can't just step into a baron with my new ACL

    I have to get my heel as high as I can of the heelpiece so I can take a run at it
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Posts
    122
    I have used multiple pairs of each sth2, warden and attacks over the past 5-10 years. all seem to work well for me, I have never came out of the STH2s, I have had a heel release on warden and attacks while going pretty fast on a groomers, I'm guessing I had snow on my heel or something. That said my preference is the STH2 but would gladly ski any of them. I do feel the STH2 and warden have a higher build quality than the attacks.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    North Vancouver
    Posts
    1,244
    Quote Originally Posted by ezgzy View Post
    I'm curious about strives...low stand height and light weight is appealing but I'm wary of a first year binding
    I love marketing. Check this site out: https://steep.jp/en/gear/55139/

    Check out the graphic about 1/3 way down and the advice "From left to right: STRIVE, WARDEN, STH2. It can be seen that the low center of gravity of STRIVE is remarkable"

    So remarkable. The toe height of the Strive is 19mm and the heel is 24mm (t's probably actually 24.5mm because the heel looks just like an STH or Warden heel). Toe of Warden is 20.5mm and heel is 24.5mm. Toe of STH2 WTR is 18.5 and heel is 24.5; the MNC 16 is 20.5/24.5.

    It's actually not remarkable and is pretty much identical to the STH WTR in stand height. Maybe selling the low center of gravity of the actual toe piece (being so low profile) is not the insane stretch I see it as?

    They are light though.
    Quote Originally Posted by skideeppow View Post
    That grip walk shit is ridiculous.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    truckee
    Posts
    23,111
    I've had the phantom step in with Griffons--luckily the ski came off before I even cleared the loading ramp. And I've had trouble getting into them in powder, but it's been awhile--some here said it's improved;

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •