Help Needed: Binding article coming.

[volklgirl]

After all the threads regarding bindings lately, I've decided to write the latest in my "What you need to know" articles - this time on bindings. If anybody has any particular questions or concerns they feel I need to adress in it, please post here or PM me. Same for if you have information about types or specific brands that need to be included.

Here's (y)our chance to get (y)our impressive knowledge published!!!!

 

[LilaBear]

What a great offer - thank you.

I just got marker bindings with piston control - what does it do, what's the good and the bad, wil the bindings last as long?

Also, when I took my new skis in to have the bindings mounted, what other services should I have requested? Do I need to have edges, waxing, a tuneup done on brand new skis?

 

[tradygirl]

Discuss the +/- of mounting forward or backward from center.

Maybe include a brief overview of the types of touring bindings since the options are growing every year. I think a lot of people who are new or thinking about getting into backcountry are misinformed about what kind of binding would suit their needs best.

Discuss the +/- of remounting/redrilling. How does it affect the integrity of the ski? How many times can you drill?

 

[altagirl]

Yeah - that's a good point. I hate forward mounting but some people love it. I really recommend that you experiment to figure out what works for you and not take advice like "women should use a forward mount point" because I don't think it works as a blanket statement.

I'm assuming you're already referencing the info in the recent threads we had?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I'm not sure why DIN has a seemingly arbitrary age number of 50 for backing down the setting!!

Do the powers-that-be just "assume" that individuals are in poor (or lesser) shape after that magic number? Kind of t's me off, because both DH and I have blown out of these new settings (in bumps, mostly) and cranked back to our original "pre-50" numbers.

All shops abide by this as well - at least the ones I know of. Do you know any reason for this? Just way curious, as we've had at least a dozen pairs of skis since turning this "magical" (ha) age...

 

[ski diva]

I agree, MSL. I've never understood this better, and find it mildly insulting.

Thanks, volklgirl. Looking forward to another great article!

 

[PowDiva85]

please talk about how the difference between toe and heel hight can play a big role in over all comfort and control. A big difference = numb balls of feet and heels that dont stay down and most women are in a binding that forces them into this position. A "flatter" binding improves comfort for about 80 to 90% of all women skiers. I would not have believed it made a difference until i tried it and then saw the difference in my clients. Its a point I cannot stress enough to women who are buying new bindings or are wondering why their feet hurt so much.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm interested in the better housings of some bindings over others, and the difference in the wider mount points on some.

 

[Auski]

I'm interested in binding adjustment. Is it ever OK to adjust for a new boot yourself, or must it be done by a "certified binding specialist"?

My daughter's bindings were adjusted in shop last week and it was like it was done for two different sized boots. One is hardly close enough to actually clip in her boot. The front part of the binding is also a bit low for the toe part of the boot to fit under, it is a very tight squeeze causing a little splaying of the binding.

These are rental type bindings, easily adjustable but I'm paranoid about doing it myself and causing injury by unexpected release or no release. Heading back to the store today.

 

[PowDiva85]

if your bindings are not adjusted evenly take them back to the store. techs are trained to recognize when a binding is properly adjusted to the boot and have a chart that gives them your DIN setting. You are free to increase/decrease your DIN to your liking realizing that this then releases the shop and binding manufacturer from any liability in the case of an accident. Forward pressure indicators which is the other part to a proper binding adjustment differ on each binding even within brands which is why its better to have a certified tech set your bindings.