Howell Bindings

**snoboy** · 07-22-2024, 11:15 PM

I think we will be fine, the bindings come with "2 sets of ski-brakes: 70-80mm; 80-90mm", and the titanium ones have a "CAUTION: FOR EXTREME SKIERS & RACERS ONLY", even though they start at DIN 8.

**JRainey** · 07-23-2024, 05:09 AM

I think Tyrolia just took over the concept though with the "protector". My dad just bought a pair, but he's... slow.

I did meet Rick Howell once in SLC at that baja-mex place by Salty Peaks/Milo zone. He saw my 914Labs on my roof rack and started the conversation (cuz he invented those maybe).

He confirmed that if you have a good technique, but rally, that you can run the toes lower than the heels. Which is advice that has served me well.

Did he do the Line binding? I got those as an impressionable teen, but they broke in no time. I've been anti "twisting heel" ever since. But I've been contemplating Protectors for my wife or daughters when they get older.

**Core Shot** · 07-23-2024, 06:31 AM

He seems like he’s on Dean Cummings trajectory

**iriponsnow** · 07-23-2024, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by cat in january

Well we are no longer fb friends. The humanity.

Irip, I don’t think there is an actual binding yet as images on site appear to be just computer art.

^ this was back when he was with the 'other company' ; he's all hot air. He has all sorts of wild claims like 'no one ever ruptured an ACL on my designs.......'. Unfortunately, its kinda what I deal w/ irl & I dared to call BS on him when I found someone who blew an ACL on his 'other brand'.

**arild** · 07-23-2024, 07:04 AM

Ah, the lovely TGR summer. I'm not a lawyer, but this must be protected by one amendment or another in your constitution?

Though insanium prices, the vaporware actually looks good. I have a shitload of unfulfilled ski designs he can buy from me. I'll stick to p18s and old sallies, thank you very much.

Sent fra min LE2123 via Tapatalk

**turnfarmer** · 07-23-2024, 07:41 AM

I have had some very positive interactions with Rick, email, phone and text.
I’m pretty sure some of his negative social interactions are due to a Tbi.
I think he really knows his biomechanics.
But after losing control of kneebinding, it’s probably a real struggle to finance his current development.

**turnfarmer** · 07-23-2024, 07:45 AM

I find it interesting that both the protector and Knee Binding/Howell are both embroiled in IP legal battles.
Head/Tyrolia is being sued for IP theft by Carl Ettinger’s estate.

**half-fast** · 07-23-2024, 09:18 AM

Pictures of an actual produced binding would be nice

**Jonathan S.** · 07-23-2024, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by cat in january

That’s amazing given the scores only go to 5. No doubt he is a whole lot smarter than me regarding binding design; I only scored a 3, but it did get me out of physics in college. More of a stoner than a student in high school.

I recall receiving a 4 in AP Physics in 11th grade.
(Although I can't match this claim on his website: "Also during high school, Rick scored 100’s in AP-Biology and AP-Physics.")
But what I mainly recall is that it was the last science course I ever took in my entire life!
(My college had no core curriculum or distribution requirements, wuhoo!)

More to the point, I will *DOUBLE* the $37 legal fund pledges thus far, via in-kind services of expert witness analysis of the monetary damages in his pending legal action against you before the CPSC.
Granted, $74 buys you only a small fraction of an hour of my time.
However, I have already concluded that the monetary damages are zero.
(You're welcome!)

His, ah, eccentricities aside, his website does have lots of interesting information (when he's not boasting about himself), and he posted some helpful insights here back in the day.
(IIRC, some posts had to be deleted as part of a court order, but that might have been at the defunct Gapic Ski forum?)
He also performed a big study for Skimo Co:
https://skimo.co/tech-binding-release-testing

**Jonathan S.** · 07-23-2024, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by turnfarmer

I find it interesting that both the protector and Knee Binding/Howell are both embroiled in IP legal battles.
Head/Tyrolia is being sued for IP theft by Carl Ettinger’s estate.

In a way that's an endorsement of the Protector binding -- based upon sound principles, and not just gimmicks:
https://www.snowindustrynews.com/art...ector-binding/
(By contrast, Howell kept disparaging the Knee Binding, claiming that various modifications -- not by him -- had hurt its efficacy.)

**cat in january** · 07-23-2024, 09:52 AM

Yes I had genuinely wanted to support his work, but was blown away by his immediate response to this thread. Other than my original post being poorly phrased, I didn’t see much issue with it. Oh well

**jerlane** · 07-23-2024, 09:52 AM

Ha! I was going to jokingly comment on the fact that these look an awful lot like the old Geze bindings. Then I read his bio and sure enough, he's an old Geze guy.

**skaredshtles** · 07-23-2024, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by cat in january

Yes I had genuinely wanted to support his work, but was blown away by his immediate response to this thread. Other than my original post being poorly phrased, I didn’t see much issue with it. Oh well

**halliday** · 07-23-2024, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by iriponsnow

He threatened to come after me after calling him out for being unprofessional in refusing to allow demos / testing, despite claims that he had cracked the code to the perfect binding. I invited him to participate in actual 3rd party reviews - he threatened legal, but never produced the goods.

Bruhs hawt air. His binding is no more real than those comic book drawings.

Participating in third party reviews and real world testing is part of the game. Getting your creation in peoples hands is what it's all about. If you're not willing to do that you got nothing.