Silvretta 500 In the Museum — And Still Available

10 Responses to “Silvretta 500 In the Museum — And Still Available”

1. g July 8th, 2008 9:22 am

   Truly classic and no frills binding. For us knee droppers, it is also nice, as it is also compatible with a scarpa terminator boot, i.e. you can use your telemark boot and lock your heel down. [not really set up for touring, as your square toe box will protrude, causing a problem were you to fall all of the way forward while in tour mode], however, if you are simply booting in the spring and summer, and want to be able to lock your heel on a scarier descent, it works great.

   I keep an AT set up, my multiple telemark set ups, and a 500 set up, [as it is also a great set up to have on hand for guests that are visiting, since it is so easily compatible with so many forms of boots, and is easily adjustable.]

2. EZE July 8th, 2008 10:23 am

   Lou-

   EZE over in Lawson (Central), CO. You may remember me as the guy who was pro-Silvretta back when you did some Pure reviews. I’ve got an old pair of K2 AK Launchers with the 500s. They are a bit beat up, but have seen many, many days on area, backcountry, hut trips, 14er trips, and snowmo assist. For the money, and considering their lighter weight, one can easily overlook the non-step in factor. I would buy another pair for sure.

   We also run the 555s on a pair of Fischer Big-Stix 86, and a couple pairs of the Pures on Atomic Tele skis. All-in-all we’ve been Silvretta fans for many years, although we did go with the Naxos on the Big Stix 106-my wife loves that rig!

   So, we do take some bashing from time to time for not going with the Fritschi models-especially from those folks in “east” Lawson (most people call that Downieville). :)

   Thanks for all the hard work keeping us up to date year round!

   Later, EZE

3. CDillon July 8th, 2008 11:51 am

   Hi Lou,

   A bit off topic here but I was wondering if you have heard of anything still skiable around Buena Vista? Do you think any of the 14ers over there are still in?
   Thanks!

4. Simon Isbister July 8th, 2008 12:50 pm

   While most of my skiing is done on Dynafits, I still have an old yellow pair of Hagens, mounted with 404s, never mind the 500s! I use them mostly for ice-climbing approaches, wearing either Scarpa Vega plastics, or my leather La Sportiva Makalus. Not the most responsive set-up, that’s for sure! But they have held up very well, and it means I don’t need to change boots when we get to the ice!

   Thanks,

   -simon-

5. Lou July 8th, 2008 8:21 pm

   Simon, yeah, for climbing approach bindings the toe wire Silvrettas can’t be beat.

6. Piotr July 10th, 2008 1:17 am

   Lou,

   As for Silvrettas being the only binding one can use with auto crampon compatible boots – there is also a relatively new binding made by Nic Impex called ‘Evolution Light’. Not the most popular by any means, but it’s there. The funny thing is it seems to use blocking mechanism similiar to the one found in the Duke (or maybe the other way round?), i.e. sliding the frame back and forth.

7. michael October 22nd, 2008 12:37 pm

   Couple questions on the 500 and on getting skis.

   I am an ice climber and looking for a rig for long approaches and moderate decents. This seems like the best option. I read somewhere that they only go upto a size 12+ boot. I am a sasquatch with size 13 La Sportiva K4’s. Will these boots fit the bindings?

   In terms of a ski, i dont want to lay out much money so will buy used. What’s the shortest i should go (i’m 6′3″ 180lbs) so its not so bulky on my back but doesn’t noodle on the decent. I switched to snowboarding before the shaped ski revolution so i don’t know sizes.

   thanks

   Michael

8. Lou October 22nd, 2008 12:51 pm

   Don’t know how big the binding will go, perhaps someone will chime in. As for skis, if you go with something in the 177cm range you should be fine.

9. Sam Reese November 4th, 2008 1:06 am

   > I read somewhere that they only go upto a size 12+ boot. I am a sasquatch with
   >size 13 La Sportiva K4’s. Will these boots fit the bindings?

   I set a friend up with a set of 404’s. He’s got sasquach feet. I’ve got a set of old skis and 404’s that I use for “snow hiking” and approaches. I’ve used them a whole bunch with my La Sportiva Makalu size 46.5 (around 11.5). My friend has Scarpa black leathers, size 13 and change american, I think it’s 49 or something monstrous. Normal 404’s fit this at the last ring, and the release didn’t seem compromised, but I did have to fiddle some with the rotational release spring (but they were used bindings).

10. elan January 20th, 2010 5:57 pm

    I just bought a used pair of skis with Silvretta 500 Easy Go bindings and have a question regarding adjusting these to my boots (Scarpa Tambo size 9 (approx Mondo 28, given Scarpa’s running 1-1.5 sizes bigger than labled). At the smallest setting, I am not getting the metal tab to “pop” into the black adjustment lever–seems like my boots are too small (I measure them at 313 mm front to back, 300mm from toe to heel above (above the front and rear lips that fit into the bindings).

    The front lip on these boots is pretty narrow, and it looks like the toe bar on the bindings rotates forward and down to fit, so that even on the minimum setting I am not getting the metal tab to pop into the plastic adjuster. To experiment, I stuffed about 1/8inch of paper under the toe, so that the toe bar sits higher and farther back, and the metal tab then pops in to the plastic adjustment lever.

    I’m guessing that I bought Large bindings, but need medium for these boots? Is there another adjustment that I am missing, such as something that would raise the height of the toe piece enough to make this work? I assume that I should not add a 1/8 filler piece under my toe to make this setup work as is–I don’t want to break a knee if the bindings don’t release!

    Any advice appreciated! thanks…

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