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System bindings: yay or nay?
- Thread starter ski diva
- Start date
In principle, I'm against it because it limits our choice of binding to the one the ski manufacturers chooses. Not to mention other pesky issue such as stack height.
On the other hand, I like the fact I can take the binding off in a few seconds for packing to travel. And there're theorectical benefits of better "integrated" performance, at least on paper. Not that I can tell the difference in practice though.
So, I'm a bit undecided about the pros and cons of it.
On the other hand, I like the fact I can take the binding off in a few seconds for packing to travel. And there're theorectical benefits of better "integrated" performance, at least on paper. Not that I can tell the difference in practice though.
So, I'm a bit undecided about the pros and cons of it.
I like it - but only because I don't know anything about bindings and wouldn't be able to make an informed choice on my own. It's all I can do to pick out the skis!
(I'm afflicted with a need to research, which quickly turns everything into an overwhelming project, and then I get paralyzed that I'll make the wrong choice.)
(I'm afflicted with a need to research, which quickly turns everything into an overwhelming project, and then I get paralyzed that I'll make the wrong choice.)
Personally - I'm picky about bindings, so there is no way I would ever buy a ski with an integrated/system binding.
It's cool that you can adjust fore/aft position easier on them, but personally I'm just very against the trend to make parts proprietary and integrated so you have to buy all the same brand. If your bindings are so great - convince me why they're better, don't try to tie my hands and make me use them.
And I buy more fat/powder skis than anything and those are better with a very flat mount (no risers, no plates, etc.) System bindings usually mean they're higher to allow for rails, etc. and that's not what I want.
But what it really comes down to is that I know what I like with bindings and I'm not willing to change. I'll try new skis from any company, but I'd have to be REALLY sold to change my bindings. Bottom line - if I don't have the option to use what I like, I won't buy the skis.
It's cool that you can adjust fore/aft position easier on them, but personally I'm just very against the trend to make parts proprietary and integrated so you have to buy all the same brand. If your bindings are so great - convince me why they're better, don't try to tie my hands and make me use them.
And I buy more fat/powder skis than anything and those are better with a very flat mount (no risers, no plates, etc.) System bindings usually mean they're higher to allow for rails, etc. and that's not what I want.
But what it really comes down to is that I know what I like with bindings and I'm not willing to change. I'll try new skis from any company, but I'd have to be REALLY sold to change my bindings. Bottom line - if I don't have the option to use what I like, I won't buy the skis.
Swamp Dog
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm with Jenny on this one. While I wish I knew more about bindings, I'm a ways away from being able to make an informed decision.
PowDiva85
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
the ski industry... according to ski magazine.. is moving away from system bindings for all the reason you just mentioned. Now that fat skis are the norm people are becoming more picky about what bindings they want, also with the growth of the park/pipe sector having an option to upgrade to a binding that has appropriate features for your particular activities is becoming a selling point. Also there are complaints that the stance hight on powder skis is affecting their performance. At our shop and many top privately owned stores you will find almost all flat skis because we also find that system bindings tend to have a high heel which makes many women uncomfortable causing numb balls of the feet and problems keeping their heels down.
They're heavy. Have you seen me trying to carry my skis?
I actually like the flexibility of forward/aft adjustments, and I'm also lazy when it comes to shopping for bindings. It's one less thing for a sales person to improperly assess on me and sell a product that's wrong for me. I feel like in an area where skiing isn't the most common pasttime, people are more likely to be lead astray by ski sales people. Or, there are just uninformed sales people.
I actually like the flexibility of forward/aft adjustments, and I'm also lazy when it comes to shopping for bindings. It's one less thing for a sales person to improperly assess on me and sell a product that's wrong for me. I feel like in an area where skiing isn't the most common pasttime, people are more likely to be lead astray by ski sales people. Or, there are just uninformed sales people.
Kiragirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm glad someone else said this first, I find them to be very heavy also, but I have them because they came with the ski package deal.
Adjustable quality is good, too, I can ski in my friends shorties in the spring, and his foot is close enough to my size that he can test out my new skis and offer his expert opinion on how I'm handling them.
marta
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Nay! System bindings are too limited. I like to choose my own binding, to custom adjust lift, canting, mount position, and also they're lighter weight. My K2 BL's were many lbs lighter with a la carte bindings. When looking for skis I generally narrow my ski choices down to which ones are sold flat.
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Typically, the rails are molded into the ski and are not removable. Some skis, like the BL are offered in both the "system" model and "flat". If you got the system ski, you're pretty much stuck with the binding that came with it (or another model with the same rail mount).
marta
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I like them. No trouble after 2 years of hard use. I got the "axe" ones b/c they had a bigger riser. They seem a little "firm" to step into especially on really loose snow when compared to Looks I have on my old skis, but it's probably me, not the binding 
. Otherwise no complaint!
. Otherwise no complaint!
Oh yeah - no argument there. Luckily the hills I ski are small and the parking lots are close. And my husband will carry them if I dawdle!
cinnabon
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I have these are well, and wasn't aware they were available flat. I never saw them sold like that in VT. But yes, my biggest complaint about them is the weight. I'm thinking of selling them this season, as it's not much of a Western ski anyway. In some cases I don't mind the integrated bindings, as I like Marker bindings, which seem to be used a lot, but I didn't make the connection that is why they were so heavy. Before the BL's I had Volkl 5 Stars, also integrated, which were so heavy I felt like my boots was being pulled off my feet on the lift. Those wound up on ebay pretty soon after I got them!
