Z12 v P12

[summit]

Z12 v P12

The Z12 is lighter than a P12

Will the Z12 hold in as well? Elasticity? Durability?

[Bandit Man]

Ask Tyrone about Z12's...I hear he is a big fan!

<Insert sarcasm here>

[Phill]

They both suck the p12 may suck less, but it still sucks. Sloppy.

[Dr.Evil]

I have the older P12s on 2 different pairs of skis and have had no problems with them at all. I would consider myself and aggressive skier however I'm not launching off 40 foot cliffs or landing switch off 60 foot tables.

[summit]

They both suck the p12 may suck less, but it still sucks. Sloppy.

I don't find the P12 to be sucky or sloppy. I love P12s but was considering the Z12 because it is TWO POUNDS lighter.

[Phill]

I don't find the P12 to be sucky or sloppy. I love P12s but was considering the Z12 because it is TWO POUNDS lighter.

yes but it is significantly more explodable

[keksie]

i like my p12s more than the "consumer level" salomons (although i havent been on z12s).. i ski aggressively but im only 145lbs and dont huck big cliffs.

[Bandit Man]

Summit - Tyrone and some others had a Z12 bashing thread from last year (hence my reference), that provided a lot of insight into their durability or rather the lack thereof. I think that lots of Mags were using the same logic that you were and were lured into using the Z12's, only to have them fail, explode, etc.

Contrary to young ripper Phill's opinion, P12's are fine, but can develop slop over time. As with any non metal housing binding...you huck, you press your luck...they can and do explode, although I have survived several 15' and less drops on mine.

[marshalolson]

STH 12 >> z12

[summit]

STH 12 >> z12

I've never even heard of the STH12

[stuckathuntermtn]

It's a z12 that's reinforced and has a worm drive for forward pressure.
I doubt it has NEARLY as much elastic travel as a p12. If you don't mind the slop (or, like me, don't notice) consider LD12's. Mine seem to be standing up to minimal abuse, but it's a lot of plastic (= light)

[spindrift]

I don't think that old thread was quite as much Z12 bashing as it was pointing out some real issues. The main one being the fact that heavier or harder skiing folks could explode the heel components. One of my kids being one of the cases in point, along with Tyrone, in that thread.

The STH 12 has a heavily reinforced heel, but remains a bunch lighter than the Salomon 14 & 16 DIN bindings. I believe it has the same, or virtually the same, toe as the Z12. Personally, for a solid vanilla binding this season I think the STH 12 looks like a mighty good call for a whole bunch of folks.

[Bandit Man]

Gotta say that the $289 asking price for the STH 12 is ridiculous, though...

[ulty_guy]

i've used p12's to good effect and been happy. another idea would be to find some fks120's which is the old turntable design, but in a din 12, check out race stores for 'em.

[AKBckntry]

The main one being the fact that heavier or harder skiing folks could explode the heel components.

The STH 12 has a heavily reinforced heel, but remains a bunch lighter than the Salomon 14 & 16 DIN bindings. I believe it has the same, or virtually the same, toe as the Z12. Personally, for a solid vanilla binding this season I think the STH 12 looks like a mighty good call for a whole bunch of folks.

Most of the problems I've seen with the Z10/12 (beyond the toe pieces sounding like they are full of BBs) are the heel track covers cracking around the rear screws, the levers breaking (around the little dimple for a pole tip), and the brakes breaking, specifically at the metal tabs that lock the brake in place. I have seen the toe pieces break in between the wings.

The STH 12 has the race heel track housing with a metal bracket around the screw. This not only alleviates the cracking problem, but also insures proper screw grip on the heel track without having to clamp it together at the time of install (like with the Z and S9). They use different brakes.

The toes are essentially identical.