Binding Question

[Kano]

I'm looking at skis, and this time of year, the demo skis are available. I don't have a problem with buying a pair of used skis that are in good condition, but I've been thinking about the bindings. My True Luvs have only ever been mine, and the bindings are attached to the skis as two pieces. The demo skis I've been on, they've got that other kind of mounting system for the bindings, where they can be adjusted all over the place, for any boots, y'know? The Rossi's I skied on the first couple of years were rentals, so they've got those kind of bindings.

So, I've got this question -- is there a preference? If I buy demo skis, would I be happier if I had the bindings remounted the other way? Can that be done? Am I just better off buying the skis that aren't demos? Or is it okay to leave them "as is" ???? Then I read about people who buy the ski "flat" and pick bindings -- I don't have the knowledge to "overrule" what the companies pick for the systems, wouldn't have a clue, so at this point, that doesn't interest me. I think "systems" are a good way for me to go.

I can't say I really know any better, and may never notice a difference other than the way they load up on the roof rack, but I want to give myself every performance advantage I can in trying to keep up with DH, y'know?


(speed is not my primary interest -- stability and confidence on any slope I choose to try is a MUCH bigger deal for me!)

Kano

 

[CMCM]

I thought about buying some demo skis last week....but I had a problem with the bindings....I'd rather have had the original ones, not the ones they tend to put on demos and rentals. Also, I was told the demos won't have the warranty that new ones would. So I decided to plunk out another $150 or so over the cost of the demos so I could get new ones instead. The skis have a one year warranty, but the bindings have a 5 year warranty, which I'd say is important because both my husband and I had bindings that broke after the year mark, and it was nice to have the warranty. In my husband's case, Salomon completely replaced his older bindings with new ones from this year, and in my case Nordica (or I guess the binding was Marker) replaced the broken part. So having a warranty was nice....

 

[Jilly]

Alot of skis have a "system' or "rail" binding now and are adjustable. But usually demo binding are heavier. Also if warranty is an issue, the demo are not likely to have one. Most ski manufacturers warranty skis for 1 year. If you use the recommended binding with them they add another year. ie- salomon ski with a salomon binding.

 

[mtnbikegirl]

Good point on the binding warranty. I was just thinking about buying a demo pair vs new and the cost difference is about $100.

 

[altagirl]

Demo bindings can easily be replaced.

And integrated system type bindings are absolutely not required! There's no magic knowledge you need to pick a binding for your ski unless it came with an integrated binding - then you have to have the one that matches.

Otherwise, if it has a regular demo binding on it - you would take it to a shop where they would remove the demo binding and replace it with whatever binding you want. If you know what your DIN setting is, just choose one that your DIN is somewhere in the middle of the DIN range on the binding you buy. For example if your DIN is 6, you'd probably want to look at bindings that have a 2-10 DIN range. You could go with one in the 4-12 range too, but they're most likely more expensive and you don't need it.

I would not really recommend skiing on Demo bindings for long-term use. They're heavy, and the forward pressure can get changed on some of them pretty easily compared to a regular binding.

 

[Kano]

Thank you! Altagirl, that was some wicked good information! It's also interesting to know about warranty on the bindings -- new vs demo. Pretty much makes my choice. I think it wouldn't have mattered on my first skis, since I've been a much more cautious skier than I'm finding myself becoming this year, but now, it might matter!

Kano

 

[Jilly]

For the $100 buck difference, I'd go new. The skis haven't been touched by a bad tuning machine. You know that they haven't been repaired somewhere along the way. And a warranty. Your decision.