Marker Bindings: Your Thoughts

[summit]

OK I'm not a Marker fan except that their speedpoints are the easiest demosystem around for rental techs...

but since everyone has already pointed out all the numerous reasons markers suck (ie breakage and prereleasing) I thought I'd add in a few positives:

1. Markers don't give two shits about snow on the bottom of your boots (compared to other companies like say Salomon).

2. Marker prereleasing is exacerbated by incorrect forward pressure (which is in turn exacerbated by ski flex) so:
A The marker motion system (piston or glide rail) reduces prereleases by reducing forward pressure changes during ski flex
B Make sure the forward pressure is spot on to reduce marker prereleases.

3. The Marker two piece heel on most of their higher end bindings (M1000s and above) is the easiest cocking heel on the market... nice for clicking back in in soft snow after prereleasing

[FNG]

Dude... why are you on such a fricking crusade? Did Markers kill someone you know? Is it just to jump on the bandwagon with all the bashers here? Is it a feeble attempt at clawing your way to be the leader of Marker bashers?

Let people buy what they want.

I posted the well stated opinions of others as well as a comical anectdote of my own. Don't read too much into it.

your thoughts on Markers?

And I was under the impression that the entire point of this thread was to ask me for my opinion. Silly me.

[ajdemo76]

A pair of skis just came back to our shop the other day that I mounted in January. The entire toe looked like it just exploded. The customer said it happened when he landed in the park. The binding was a Salomon 912. Shit happens to all bindings but it doesn't mean all they make is shit.

[Cornelius]

4 seasons on marker ti 1200 and no issues. I do really like the way they make the ski feel - snappy yet with smooth rebound. I had a couple recent premature releases for no particular reason on steep bumps which quite obviously blows but my din is set low relative to the terrain. I do like the logic that drives Looks rotating heel.

[Gman64]

I've used Markers for 20+ years without any pre-release issues. I'm no extreme skier, but I get around enough to scare myself from time to time.
In fact, I'm going to put a pair of Comp 14.0s on my new BRO Models - Surely no one (read everyone) will hate on me for that kind of blasphemy, but I don't really give a rat's ass. Ski on what you wanna ski on where you wanna ski on it at. Now how's that for some grammar?

JONG

[El Chupacabra]

OK, since this has turned into a Marker thread...

I have Markers on 2 sets of skis (old M51 demo binders, new M1000s); they look like the forward pressure adjusts in the same way. What is the proper method to adjust forward pressure on Markers? (I searched, didn't find anything.)

Gracias.

-Karl

[yooper]

When the forward pressure is right, the head of the adjustment screw will be flush with the heel housing when you're clicked in. If anything, screw it in a click more, so the screw is slightly inside the housing.

[El Chupacabra]

When the forward pressure is right, the head of the adjustment screw will be flush with the heel housing when you're clicked in. If anything, screw it in a click more, so the screw is slightly inside the housing.

So it's the same method as for Look bindings?

Also, what happens if you have too little forward pressure? (Boot slop, binding doesn't hold...?) OTOH, if there's too much forward pressure? (Won't release...?)

Thanks-
Karl

[focus]

I was under the impression it was the groove on the screw (just below the head) and not the head of the screw that needed to be flush....

[dude_le_skibum]

i had numerous pre-releases on my yellow markers 1200 eps but what scared me the most is the time they didn't release. that toe up release doesn't work for me in crud to pow conditions. the 1800 don't have any of that.




i am also selling a bunch of them for groomed conditions here and they work fine

[Snow Dog]

I was under the impression it was the groove on the screw (just below the head) and not the head of the screw that needed to be flush....

My instruction manual for M51s says "To adjust the Forward Pressure on the heel turn the forward pressure screw (14) (with the boot in the system) until it is flush with the back of the heel housing."

[ajdemo76]

That groove on the screw is for people who's DIN is 4.5 or lower. If you're above that, you're supposed to set it flush with the housing.

[focus]

That groove on the screw is for people who's DIN is 4.5 or lower. If you're above that, you're supposed to set it flush with the housing.

oh. that's what i get for reading epicski.

[yooper]

I'm surprised you got an answer at Epicski other than, "leave binding adjustment to the professionals."

[surftb15]

i had some 1400 piston controls mounted on my Volant Machete Sins. the din setting was set at 11. yesterday, i was skiing at Blue Mtn in PA. I skipped school, and they had around 6inches of fresh. anyway, i was skiing down one of their steepest runs-which isnt that steep at all-and im skiing down pretty fast but under control. anyway, there was this little bump and i went off it, and when i landed my bindings prereleased. and i ended up doing the biggest face plant ever, and it sucked. so, markers in my opinion suck and need work.