The Test

[Toby]

Yeah, I would like to try snowshoes, but carrying skis on the back would suck.

FWIW I did a bunch of touring in Feb with a snowboarder on snowshoes who was just as fast/faster than us with skins. Changeover times were quicker, which made a difference for laps. Trailbreaking sucked in deep snow equally. In firmer snow the skins probably had the advantage. Steepest stuff seemed easier for snowshoes (when it was too sketchy to skin and we should've been bootpacking). Downhill sections (e.g. along ridges) were way easier for snowshoes. We were mostly going uphill. I could see where skins would be way better for flatter approaches where glide would give the skins the advantage.

I also toured with others with Trekkers, and on one occasion with people with mostly Fritschis, one pair of Naxos and a novice snowshoer/snowboarder (touring party of 13 ). Trekkers weren't at the back of the pack, but that was probably more due to fitness and ability. Snowshoes were consistently last, but I don't think that girl had much experience on them.

[bossass]

Insta-tele fix. I didn't even look at it closely at first, probably because I never had this problem, so it wasn't a concern for me. The insta-tele fix, though, seems fairly well thought out.

Old heel:



Old heel clamp thingy (notice new one in background, and creepy talking head):



New heel: the red thingy is spring loaded and I think the idea is it is allowed to move with the flexing of the ski/binding, it is also slightly larger than the catch on the old heel:



New clamp: where there was nothing before keeping the heel catch from moving forward and out of the clamp, the catch now fits in the square grooves cut in the round parts of the clamp, so when it's closed the system won't allow the catch to move forward, but since the catch is spring loaded now it still allows flex in the binding.

[MnO]

Since almost noone is using FR:s on skis narrower than 90mm anymore

Your knowledge of Fritchi's market is simply breathtaking.

You sure mark every word. Most of the people who uses a FR binding on narrow skis would be happy with a Explore or at least the first version of the FR. For this market Diamir allready have a good product. What I miss is a well constructed pruduct for the skiers that they actually aim the FR at in marketing. I don´t know, but it seems like most FR bindings are sold to people who use them for ski touring mostly. Then ocourse there´s allways skiers who just click in and ski and don´t give a shit about how their gear perform so they can use them in resort skiing and be happy with them. I admire them and wish I could do the same.

Some people allways get offended if someone critize the gear they use. A piece of gear doesn´t get better just because you payed a lot of money for it and uses it yourself. My point is I think that Fritschi/Diamir could do better than now if they opened up their sort of tunnel viewed cunstructor mind.

IF some company launched a AT style binding with downhill safety and power transmisson performance like a Look FKS155 or a Salomon Driver Equipe 997, I surely would check it out.

[Treepinner]

To convince them, you'll have to give a good estimate based on market research of how many people will pay full retail. They aren't going to retool for a bunch of bros scammin' pro deals. Building it is the easy part, making a profit is a lot tougher.

[DownhillRider]

Endlessseason - you seriously carry skis easier that way? I used that way a fair bit for a while, and I found the tips facing down way a lot easier. I guess it all depends on the person.

[danhikeski]

i think that it is the size of most of you "haters", compared to the construction/durability of the binding. i have never had any problems with my two pair of freerides, but i'm 5'4' 130-160 (depending if i have a pack on or not) just my .02

[wilcox510]

Personally I think snowshoeing as your primary mode of BC travel sounds like a form of torture, but of course I'm somewhat obsessed with my Dynafits. I will however agree that Verts are pretty much amazing for booting up couloirs and that kind of thing in powdery conditions. I was breaking trail up a powdery couloir last winter with a snowboarder friend, and I was about ready to call it quits, couldnt get anywhere. He took over the lead with his Verts and just made a staircase up that sucker, although I was much faster on the moderate angle approach due to skinning. I have actually considered buying some for suff like that, even with my Dynafit setup. But in the end, whatever gets the job done and makes you happy (as long as you arent bootpacking in the skin track.....cue the angry responses from non-skinners )