thanks so much for the great and detailed answer! And yes, weight importance is understood – I did read a lot of your blogs, and the Manaslu felt incredibly light, and I skied/ skinned on Nordica TR9’s with silvretta bindings 15 years ago… (never again!!).. and on a burton splitboard as well
;)
So I take it that I’d be fine with the regular FT – or should I go to the FT12 due to the FT rentals having been set at 10 (didn’t release yesterday)?
Thanks again!

I wouldn’t know about the 187 Manaslu. You’d better go try it. But with your weight and style I’ll bet it would work great. This year’s Green Machine has plastic on top of the tongue instead of carbon, thus eliminating some of the difference between it and other models. Not a big deal, but if you’ve got a high instep the original carbon tongue does hold it’s shape better when crushed down by the buckle. The Zzero 4 U is easily just as stiff as it’s made from PU plastic, probably stiffer (depending on definitions). I’d think if you were running a longer ski at higher speeds you’d want a bit more boot than the Green Machine. I love them, but I don’t push on the downhill and want the boot that does the most both UP and down.

As for the FT12 being more torsionally stiff than the ST, no, it’s not. Both bindings are incredibly stiff, just beautifully so. In fact, a little known thing about Dynafit is that once you get on the binding you don’t need quite as much boot. The difference in “wobble” between Dynafit and many other bindings is remarkable. This is simply the result of the binding toe pinning the boot, steel on steel. The only thing the Dynafit lacks is much vertical elasticity in the heel release mechanism. I’ve found that all this requires is that I take more care with exactly what DIN setting I’m using, but it’s something to remember for you dyna-newbies, especially if you’re on bigger boots and skis that transmit bigger shock loads to the binder.

As for Baker and Manaslu, I’ve found I like the Baker a bit better on hardpack, but that could be because of tune or mounting position. And in the spring I like a really short ski that carries easily on my backpack, and the Baker doesn’t have the extra tip/tail length of the Manaslu so it’s shorter for about the same running length. Both skis are great backcountry planks in my opinion. (Remember that I consider weight to be a big part of the performance equation when I rate skis for backcountry use.)