Bindings for Next Season

Maybe I should go back and try to understand the Marker Duke vs Fritschi thread. But... I didn't.

I've already got my money down on some Worth Skis for next season (98mm).  Still trying to decide on bindings and to some extent, where I am going in the future.

I have this feeling that if I go to an AT binding, it adds MORE to what I can do.  I know that for resort skiing they might be less durable, but for my 30-35 days a season - if all of those were on an AT binding - wouldn't they last 3 years?  They've got to be a s durable as a tele binding ... or no?  

Honestly at 53+ I care more about my own durability than my gear.  I want to maximize my fun and stay in the game.

One thing that I think about often, are days like Plattekill 10/30/11.  When the snow is inconsistently grabby, it's hard as hell (for me) to keep from going over the handlebars. (See tBatt's pics from the forum post from that Plattekill day - doh!).  That and fatter, tip rockered skis - I think -  might help keep me on my feet.

AT binding on my new skis? Which one?

I dream of the Chic Chocs - what would be the setup for a trip like that?

Obviously I have to make some decisions for myself soon. But would like to hear what others think.

For me (who is not you), it all comes down to this when selecting gear: what is the best product for what I am going to be doing MOST of the time? For all the other times (and possible times) you make a compromise or buy/rent specific equipment for that occasion.

If you are MOSTLY skiing lift-served terrain and occasionally skinning up a short pitch, the Duke/Barons, Salomon or Fritschi make sense. Get whatever is the best deal and live with it. DIN setting may be a factor as well. Other way, look at Dynafits but then you need dedicated AT boots ($$$).

I think ML's post in the linked thread pretty much sums it up.

I didn't know you were serious about fixing the heel. I think I remember hearing you mulling it over as an option.

How much do you tour? Any interest in still doing touring on tele?

I have Fritschi Freerides and Dynafit Vertical 12s. I wouldn't bring either to a resort. I have skied with my Freerides on piste and they just aren't the same performance wise as a dedicated alpine binding. Maybe newer Fritschi's are better, I don't know. I trust them less and ski more conservative on them than alpine bindings. I also weigh 220 without gear and really torque my gear when turning, so your mileage may vary.

As SBR notes, Dynafits would also require AT boots with tech inserts. You'll need downhill boots either way but AT boots are more expensive than alpines, especially with tech inserts, and their performance is generally less than standard alpine boots.

Would an AT binding last three years doing 30-35 resort days a season? Sure. Would it be the best tool for the job? In the case of Fritschi or Dynafit, no. The beef AT bindings are the better tool for that job but they come with a weight penalty. I tour less than ten days a season but still have a dedicated touring setup. Of course, that gets expensive.

I reread ml's post and sbr you're right - it would make a good blog post on the topic.

I'm seriously thinking about adding fixed heels to my options. I get a new pair of skis about every 3rd year.  Right now I've got 2 years on the Pilgrims (90mm). It's a good groomer setup and bumped out trees, and even 10 or 12 inches of snow if it's not too dense.

It's days like last October at Plattekill when I need an advantage. I personally work very hard on those skis when there is thick or inconsistent new snow.  I'm thinking, fixed heel, fatter and some rocker is a great alternative, BUT not if I can't tour.  This way I could always choose between the two setups.

Are Fritschi and Marker ... is it really a choice between those two brands?  Any other players?

ml - the deadspot you referred to in your original post - that's something you don't feel on a standard alpine setup?

Disclaimer: I accept that there is a chance that like so many before me, I'll become an alpine skier. I feel like I've got to give it a shot now, while I'd have two different, working setups.

I've got a cool option for you, which I may be doing since I'm having some leg issues still.  There are these things out there called Quiver Killers.  They are like the inserts K2 used to put on their tele skis.  I have been using them for 2 years now.  I have more skis than tele bindings, so I put inserts in all the skis and just swap the bindings around.  I helped a buddy mount quiver killers inserts on his skis last year.  We set them up so he can swap his Alpine and Tele bindings.  So, just buy some bindings and boots and put quiver killers on all your skis and you can use the skis for both tele and alpine.  

Then no deliberation on what to do with those new Worth skis.

You may not be able to find anyone to mount the quiver killers though.  I did speak to Jeff Palka about them last year and he sounded interested, but don't know if he looked into them any farther.  If this is a problem, let me know.  I almost have a ski shop in my basement.

If you aren't going to do a lot of touring, the Marker Duke is more alpine than touring.  My friends in Colorado use the Dukes on their daily skis.  Atomic and Solomon are coming out with a very similar AT binding this year.  I picked up a pair of Dukes, because of the price, but haven't fully committed yet to getting boots too.

Harvey44 wrote

Are Fritschi and Marker ... is it really a choice between those two brands?  Any other players?

The reference to Salomon in my earlier post was not accidental. The binding king is introducing a Duke-like product called the Guardian (or Atomic Tracker, same thing with a different paint job). Check an early review on Blister Gear Review.

If I were in your boots, and couldn't lay down the $$$ for NTN, I would get the Salomon Guardian and a pair of boots like the Salomon Quest, Atomic Tracker 100 or Technica Cochise. Just my $0.02.

Another boot choice is the Nordica "Hell & Back".  The Atomic/Solomon binding looks pretty slick.

Why bother with a fixed heel, Harv? It's kind of a pain at Gore. Think about hiking up to highline, stepping around a tree, or poling across a traverse - Tele is way better for the mountain (plus more fun IMO). I really only like the alpine setup on firm days or early season days (or when I'm charging on mountains bigger than Gore). But it doesn't sound like you got a carving ski.

You'd probably mostly be using the fixed heel Worths on deep snow BC days (and a couple of resort days if you don't find those things I mentioned above to be dealbreakers).  I guess, that being the case, I'd go Tech binding.

I love my Black Diamond Factor 130 AT Boots.  Got a great deal on a year old boot last fall.  I bought the tech soles too, but never used them last year.  I am a lifelong alpine skier who would like to tour more.  I needed new boots and I don't think I'm sacrificing anything on the down with these boots.  Of course, I know they're bricks compared to some other tech AT boots out there, but for my purposes, I think they were the best boot I could get.

mattchuck2 wrote

Why bother with a fixed heel, Harv? It's kind of a pain at Gore. Think about hiking up to highline, stepping around a tree, or poling across a traverse - Tele is way better for the mountain (plus more fun IMO). I really only like the alpine setup on firm days or early season days (or when I'm charging on mountains bigger than Gore).

This is what I am struggling with - very well said.

mattchuck2 wrote

But it doesn't sound like you got a carving ski.

LOL the Worth guys have a whole different way to measure it.

Maybe the extra width would help me in deeper THICK snow, even if mounted tele.  In fact I'm sure the would.  I'm just a bit gunshy I guess after my injury.  The snow was really manky, and it felt like I could make my skis go the way I wanted.  Somehow I felt that if I was floating more it would have been easier to turn.

Then there is the whole over the handlebars thing. Alpine skiers - do fixed heels actually help keep you from going forward? It seems that logically it would, but I have no experience.

While I hate to wait, maybe I should demo something alpine. I'd need boots for that, but Gear Source could probably handle.  The problem with that is that I'm either waiting for some real snow to fall, or I'm demoing on firm early season groomers.