deadbolt by 4frnt

Looking for reviews of the deadbolt bindings. I do the orders for my shop and we are looking to fill the high end binding void we have from dropping Look. I haven't been too impressed with this years looks and saw several px's heelpeices explode not to mention all the broken brakes so bye bye look. (we don't sell Lange or dynastar so it really doesn't matter.) Salomon will be our only binding next year but I want to try the deadbolts next winter for a '08 shop order.
Looking for pros and cons.
oh and the shop cannot sell tyrolia or marker( aww too bad!) so the deadbolt is our only option. Help me out please and thank-you:biggrin:

they're rebadged vist bindings. apparently they're kinda lame. perhaps you should check out the z-series bindings? if it's really a problem you can probably find a used pair of all-metal binders for less than proform if it comes to that.

vist = 4frnt = nordica

I know the vist connection,I'm just looking for first hand info on this binding. We would order the 14 and the 18 if I like how they ski. Was hoping some mags have spent the season on them.

is there some 18 that i don't know about? all i know are the 16s

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Originally Posted by marshalolson

you know those super shitty nordica bindings from a few years ago? those are now called vist/4frnt/etc. its amazing how a product can totally flop, suck, be garbage and almost make nordica go out of buisness, and now have different graphics tossed on there and since it a core jib company, the rats think that they are cool because they are so core. those bindings suck regardless of the color scheme on them.

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...from one of the other multiple threads about them...

Ya I did a search on this site and read what little was written. Marshal... do you know if 4frnt tweaked anything or is an exact vist/nordica binding? Looks the same to me.

it is the same

I had a pair on my ANTs all season and they held up fine. I'd prefer to be in 916s or P18s, but I have no real complaints about the 614s.

One plus is that they are light, but that means no metal.

PS...Marshal doesn't like any binding that doesn't weigh 25 pounds and have DIN lower than 45. ;)

4FRNT has been tweaking these bindings: beefier forward pressure springs, wider AFD, vertical lockout. I hate to disagree with you Marsh, but I think these are pretty solid.

FWIW the 16DIN race bindings are actually pretty sweet. the 14's are what i am talking about.

bossass - is 4frnt tweeking the vist design or the old nordica design? or are you refering to the differences between the 16DIN and the 14DIN?

nordica design flaws include an exposed main spring, no metal housing for the main spring, and a lack of elasticity in the toe. and the speedlock sucks ballsack

i have only played with the vist's and was under the impression that 4frnt was the EXACT same as vist. correct me if i am wrong...

Hey Chris,

Sean from Source for Sports was on them when they were still Nordica and I think they still are on his rock skis. I'll check, if you don't want to let out your plan to the syndicate, and get back to you. His are the 6-14.

Seans cool. I can't see any shops in town wanting to sell 4 frnt. I'm going to give him a call. Good idea, thanks.

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Originally Posted by marshalolson

FWIW the 16DIN race bindings are actually pretty sweet. the 14's are what i am talking about.

bossass - is 4frnt tweeking the vist design or the old nordica design? or are you refering to the differences between the 16DIN and the 14DIN?

nordica design flaws include an exposed main spring, no metal housing for the main spring, and a lack of elasticity in the toe. and the speedlock sucks ballsack

i have only played with the vist's and was under the impression that 4frnt was the EXACT same as vist. correct me if i am wrong...

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bossass is right about what they tweaked. The tweaks were made so the binding was freeride specific since Vist is known for it's racing designs. The design is not the same as Nordica. Vist started because the engineers at Nordica didn't like the direction Nordica was taking the bindings so they bought the designs, started their own company and took them in the direction they wanted. I've been on the 14s and 18s, had no problems with them. One nice thing for shops is that all bindings (14s, 16s, and 18s) are the same price so it's a matter of choosing what you need and not how much it costs.

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Originally Posted by skier0178

Vist started because the engineers at Nordica didn't like the direction Nordica was taking the bindings so they bought the designs, started their own company and took them in the direction they wanted.

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vist has been making race plates for a decade

so... i stand corrected: different afd, lock-able vert release & slightly heavier foreward pressure spring? does that make a shitty binding non-shitty?

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Originally Posted by marshalolson

does that make a shitty binding non-shitty?

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I sure hope so!
**edit**Wouldn't the proper term be un-shitty?

As for the specifics about what's diff. between the Vist and nordica binding, I don't know. i do know 4FRNT has been tweaking them for their specific needs. Any company would be lucky to have Sterbenz as quality control, cause that guy is anal about his product. Their relationship with Option is a good example. They weren't happy with the quality of product option was putting out for them, and option wasn't willing to deal with the issues, so they found a new factory.

They don't actually have speedlock. I think Vist may make some for 4frnt for demo bindings, but otherwise they're just a screw in binding like anybody else. And the thing about them all being the same price regardless of din is true, which I think is cool.

I'm not saying these are as good as a 916/p18, but I have no reason to believe they are worse than a look pivot or tyrolia or s914.

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Originally Posted by jetski

Looking for reviews of the deadbolt bindings. I do the orders for my shop and we are looking to fill the high end binding void we have from dropping Look. I haven't been too impressed with this years looks and saw several px's heelpeices explode not to mention all the broken brakes so bye bye look. (we don't sell Lange or dynastar so it really doesn't matter.) Salomon will be our only binding next year but I want to try the deadbolts next winter for a '08 shop order.
Looking for pros and cons.
oh and the shop cannot sell tyrolia or marker( aww too bad!) so the deadbolt is our only option. Help me out please and thank-you:biggrin:

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that's a shame

un-shitty is 2004

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Originally Posted by marshalolson

un-shitty is 2004

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how about... De-shitified? or was that lst year!

non-shit-tastic?

shitless.

How about: "New and Improved! Now 97.3% Fecal Matter Free!"

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Originally Posted by irul&ublo

How about: "New and Improved! Now 97.3% Fecal Matter Free!"

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Those numbers are about right for ground beef from the grocery store.

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Originally Posted by marshalolson

different afd, lock-able vert release & slightly heavier foreward pressure spring?

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but this is just the 16er.... the 14er is still the same binding as last year afaik...

freak~[http://freeskiers.x-skier.com/forum/...fault/fish.gif&http://freeskiers.x-skier.com/forum/...ault/ghost.gif]

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Originally Posted by bossass

Those numbers are about right for ground beef from the grocery store.

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I like those odds.

Lots of mixed reviews on this one--Basically I just ended up with some ANTS and am looking to drill them. I was dead set on the 816s until first my local shop guy, then this thread had some beefs with it.

I've been prereleasing out of my maxed-out salomon 12s all last season, but was riding a noodly ski. Now that I finally got a stiff ski I want a burly binding--but I don't want my knees to explode like a jewish kid getting a Negroplasty.

Thanks for the help.

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Originally Posted by RagDoll

Lots of mixed reviews on this one--Basically I just ended up with some ANTS and am looking to drill them. I was dead set on the 816s until first my local shop guy, then this thread had some beefs with it.

I've been prereleasing out of my maxed-out salomon 12s all last season, but was riding a noodly ski. Now that I finally got a stiff ski I want a burly binding--but I don't want my knees to explode like a jewish kid getting a Negroplasty.

Thanks for the help.

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s920 too much for you? ive got some i want to ditch

s920? why are you getting rid of them? sound like a heavy binding that might be too much for me. i'm 5'10 165, strong skier but i think that might be overkill for my purposes. saw something on another forum about converting them to 916s--how easy is that and will i be able to do it with limited tekkie abilites?

Hey Ragdoll,
What have you heard. I have been pretty set on ordering a pair too. Between 816s and P18s but was willing to try something new and P18s are pricey.
Rob

oh funny sidenote I forgot to mention--the shop guy corrected me when I used to word "mount" to describe what we do with our bindings. (I might have to work in this god forsaken hellhole, so I listened politely). He said--

Read: Condescending AS HELL--
"MOUNT is what we do to horses and women, son. We INSTALL bindings here."

Haha, ok, ya freak. Anyway just wanted to hear all the maggoty thoughts on this one.

i know a mag who skiied ANTs with deadbolts as his everyday ski last season. loved them.

OK, everybody. My indecisive ass just pulled the trigger on some 07 4frnt 816s. I'll be sure to let you all know the skinny on how these perform on my ANTs. Hopefully they will shred the gnar, or whatever it is these kids are saying nowadays.

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Originally Posted by RagDoll

oh funny sidenote I forgot to mention--the shop guy corrected me when I used to word "mount" to describe what we do with our bindings. (I might have to work in this god forsaken hellhole, so I listened politely). He said--

Read: Condescending AS HELL--
"MOUNT is what we do to horses and women, son. We INSTALL bindings here."

Haha, ok, ya freak. Anyway just wanted to hear all the maggoty thoughts on this one.

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If the dude actually said that, I wouldn't take any advice from him and then I'd kick him in the nuts, and then in the teeth.

Rule of thumb: Less than 50% of shop guys have a clue what they are talking about. Granted, the percentage fluctuates depending on the shop and where in the world you are, but generally speaking, that's the ticket.

Not going to lie, for the techs at my shop that number is about dead on(and I work there).

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Originally Posted by Tmorry326

Not going to lie, for the techs at my shop that number is about dead on(and I work there).

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That does not surprise me.