What's your favored alternative to FKS/Pivot clamps?

[Lord Thomas]

I know you have a diamond cutter for Pivot clamps but I'm thinking of going to something else that has more adjustment in the heal (for trading with buddies) and readily replaced brakes. What would you be riding if there was no FKS/Pivot???

LT

[LC]

I gave up on turntables after I broke my 10th heel baseplate. Salomons from now on (997s and 916s currently, STH 16 previously, and I wouldn't hesitate to go for STH 14s as a lighter option). I may give Jester Pros a shot next time I need something new, since I learned their toe will accommodate a slightly rockered touring sole (Tecnica) and they weigh in lighter than an STH 14. Always liked the look & feel of Tyrolia 15 & 18 too - I've sold a lot of them but never skied them personally.

[marshalolson]

salomon 916
look px15/18
marker jester
tyrolia 18/20

[rabbit]

more adjustment in the heal (for trading with buddies)

with salomon, bigger adjustments can be made with the versions with a tab vs the shorter adjusting wormscrew.

[XavierD]

Salomon 916, Salomon STH, look PX15/18, in that order. Essentially anything with a single pivot toe piece.

[Beder]

sth for me. Love the "clunk" when I step in.

[gwat]

The only thing I'd ski other than turntables is dynafits.

[Lord Thomas]

No love for Mojo's? How often do you have to adjust the wings on the Sally's? Haven't skied them since my 747's. Are they all essentially the same with respect to knee safety?

[Flexon Phil]

No love for Mojo's? How often do you have to adjust the wings on the Sally's? Haven't skied them since my 747's. Are they all essentially the same with respect to knee safety?

Then you missed the good ones. The 747 had the short wings and not much elasticity, when the 957 replaced it, a much better toe. No binding really protects the knee, if you don't want to risk hurting your knees while skiing...don't ski...especially at a III+ DIN.

[davieboot]

I put 916s on most of my non-touring skis. Although I have a pair of Tyrolia 18s that I like quite a bit.

[ARpowhound]

Jesters is my choice, other than FKS

[whyturn]

FKS or I don't ski em. Too many times FKS have released in wacky situations and I'm just sold Had jesters, griffon, STH14 and 16 as well as duke/baron. Just not the same for me, not even same category

[stuckathuntermtn]

Salomon Driver or Tyrolia LD toe and up.
Jesters if you don't care about your knees.
Salomons with the spheric toe have some slop, but it works fine for me.

[Lord Thomas]

FWIW,

I'm 5'11', 215lb of solid gold, with a 315 bsl. Too old to huck with 20 years of high school and college sports behind me, but do tend to ski fast and hard in shitty conditions. Typically ski at 9-10 DIN (Phil, never said anything about III+ DIN). Mostly use 14 or 15 DIN clamps. Reading between the lines on this thread and others it sounds like there isn't too much difference between all the clamps other than Pivots other than single pivot toe and metal.

My personal experience is as follows: None with any of the modern Sally's, but I don't like the idea of something that comes out of adjustment with use (e.g. wings)
Tyrolias have worked great as long as I got the forward pressure at max
Griffon/Jester are kinda pissy about any snow on the bottom of the boot.
PX14/15, Heavy as shit, and with the 15's my DIN setting is too close to the bottom for comfort.

Anyone else have something specific to add from actual experience? Only 10 losers on here with an opinion?

LT

[marshalolson]

PX14/15, Heavy as shit, and with the 15's my DIN setting is too close to the bottom for comfort.

the px15 is heavy as shit relative to a p18 or jester, but is about the same weight as a 916, give or take

[stuckathuntermtn]

Wtf is with Tyrolia's new LX toe? wtf is that thing? Now their 12 DIN's look like crap. Their website also show 2 new AAA bindings coming soon.

[Flexon Phil]

FWIW,

I'm 5'11', 215lb of solid gold, with a 315 bsl. ... Typically ski at 9-10 DIN (Phil, never said anything about III+ DIN).

LT

That IS a III+ DIN.

[Dee Hubbs]

That IS a III+ DIN.

5'11" 215lbs 315bsl Type I- = DIN of 5
5'11" 215lbs 315bsl Type I = DIN of 6
5'11" 215lbs 315bsl Type II = DIN of 7
5'11" 215lbs 315bsl Type III = DIN of 8.5
5'11" 215lbs 315bsl Type III+ = DIN of 10

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

Marker Jesters, or any good Sally's. I LOVED my old 977 equippes and 997s, and the Jesters are my first Markers in decades (all the others I have skied toed out with minimal forward pressure while skiing bumps). I haven't had any issues with 3 years on the Jesters. Perform as advertised and I ski them with my DIN at 9. I am 6'3" and 240#s and haven't toed out of the Jester's yet, but have heel released about once a season (appropriately). Never tried any of the turntables, don't see any reason to for me. I don't really love my Salomons with the Spheric crap though. Knee saver my ass.

[nickwm21]

I am a solly guy. I have some 997s, ffg 14s (914), and sth16s.

I have one pair of skis with dukes. Hate them. Tons of slop and I have to run my heels at 12 to not prerelease.

I have another pair of skis with fks. I wanted to see what the hype was about. Not really impressed. They are hard to get in and out of and took me a long time to get mounted and set up. That said, they have never prereleased on me.

sent from the future using my mind powers

[Like a Boss]

I was an STH guy until I bought a pair of old race skis with the black and gold FKS. Instantly sold. It's not scientific, but it feels like they are much more responsive. They've never prereleased on me and always released when they should've. The fiddle factor is annoying though. All that said, I would go back to an STH if I needed to.

[Lord Thomas]

So it looks like Sally's are the somewhat universal answer for an alternative to Pivots. Interesting responses. I'm surprised no more Tyrolia guys didn't chime in. Is that because there are not nearly as many out there? How do Tyrolia and Sally's compare for elastic travel?

[sqikunst]

solly. All the way on every pair of lift served skis. Not sure what is ment my the slop in the Spherics I love those things cause in europe at least you can find them cheap sitting in boxes in workshops in non freeride resorts after all the carving ski plate binding systems came out. 60 bucks and you are set becasue no one wants them here. Plus same hole pattern for how long now? cant say that about marker. Never really skied pivots but the half a turn on the wings with a screw driver after 30 days is not a real thing to hark on.

[JayPowHound]

Yup. Solly for sure... 997s are bomber, sexy as hell, and cheeep!

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

I like Jesters because they are bomber, have adjustable toe height, generous for/aft range, easily swappable brakes, and ski great.
Also, they are the #1 alpine binding for cramming AT boot soles into...