Alpine bindings - current best?

[schuss]

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.

[mn_teleswede]

[adrenalated]

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.

[PeachesNCream]

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

[EWG]

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

[XavierD]

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.

[toast2266]

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.

[kootenayskier]

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.

[Bamski]

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.

[Core Shot]

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.

[ApexSkua]

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?

[schuss]

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?

[fleaches]

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

[Bandit Man]

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.

[ezgzy]

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