wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner) (10/29/85)
Is anybody out there?
I posted a request about a week ago asking for advice on equipment, and
to date I have received only two replies (including one saying
don't buy until you demo), and three other requests for me to post
the results. But there aren't any results to post!!
OK, let me try a less general question: it concerns bindings.
I weigh about 205 pounds, and the shop it looks like I will be buying
from is recommending only top-of-the-line bindings, saying that
anything less will not hold me. They want me to buy LOOK 99, Tyrolia 390,
Salomon 747, Marker 46, or equivalent. But manufacturer's literature says that
the next model down should do the job (LOOK rates the 89 to 250lbs for
strenuous skiing, for example). The salesmen insist that I can't ski on them.
Are they trying to do me a favor or trying to con me?
In fact, I have read that it's a bad idea to buy a binding for which
the setting you ski on is in the lower half of the binding's range.
So, for example, the LOOK 99, with a range of 4-13, shouldn't be skied
at any setting under 8-9. If this is really true, then I probably
shouldn't buy them as a first set of bindings.
Any comments?
Dave Wagner
University of Washington Comp Sci Department
wagner@washington.arpa
{ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!uw-beaver!uw-wally!wagnertj@utcs.uucp (tj) (11/03/85)
You want an opinion... I ski on Tyrolia, so does my wife. She has 360, I have 360R. (comparable to 380/380r and 390/390r few years older not as good functionally) I love Tyrolia but I wouldn't hesitate trying Marker M40 (older) or M46 (current). I have never liked salomon too much, there were manual adjustments on the toes that almost everyone I knew that owned them DIDN'T adjust properly. There were no markings for heel position adjustment (Tyrolia has a little arrow that must be between 2 marks when the heel forward pressure is correct, Marker has marks and as well the older (not sure about M46) markers simply would not lock down when incorrect heel pressure adjustments were done) Now I am sure that Salomon makes a good binding, there are a lot of people using and loving them. I expect a blast from all these people for having slighted their favorite harness... As for adjustment for weight etc, I think that you would be wise to get a binding that adjusts somewhere in the middle of the range. My wifes are set to the bare minimum to release properly and I think they are still a little high. ( I am almost ready to get "lesser" bindings). Now I weighed 195 last winter (whole new ball game this winter, dropped 25 lbs this summer) and the 360R worked just fine. I ski very agressively and do a LOT of cycling and have real strong legs and so I have them set around 10 on the DIN scale. Even at this setting I can walk out of the heels without pulling (or even straining) leg mussles and I can stand and twist out of the toes without problems too. I think that I would recommend the top of the line bindings for a person of your weight. Then make sure they are adjusted so that you can release properly from them. If they are adjusted properly in the middle of the range it gives you the most leeway. If the springs get weaker as they age you can crank them up, and if you get injured you can lower them for safety. It is better to start off with them set too low than too high. They can be adjusted higher as you find out how they react to the type of falls YOU take. There are a few folks out there that will tell you how it is dangerous to have them adjusted too low. Now I realize that you may take a few falls getting them adjusted when they "pre-maturely" release. I think this is better than hoping they are set right and finding out when you come too in the ambulance that they were too high and your ski season ended with a broken leg. This is long... enough... t.jones