Comments on: Someone Did It — touring plate for your alpine bindings http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Sat, 25 May 2013 09:31:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: jon http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/#comment-49291 jon Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:17:13 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=4412#comment-49291 I'm a full time ski patroller and dog handler at Bridger in Bozeman. I just picked up a pair of these for an in area patrol ski, my rossi super 7.I have a bunch of solid binders laying around that I trust and really like.. For me this is a solution that allows me to do short skins on control routes and to be ready for an immediate sidecountry rescue. I don't see ever actually touring far on these as they're unbelievably heavy combined with a Rossi axial2 but they're super functional, ski better than a duke and so far seem to solve some real world problems for me. I've got a dozen days on em so far and they seem super solid and ski exactly as expected. solid.. I would never expect this setup to replace or compete with my dynafit setup; totally different tools.... happy holidays! I’m a full time ski patroller and dog handler at Bridger in Bozeman. I just picked up a pair of these for an in area patrol ski, my rossi super 7.I have a bunch of solid binders laying around that I trust and really like.. For me this is a solution that allows me to do short skins on control routes and to be ready for an immediate sidecountry rescue. I don’t see ever actually touring far on these as they’re unbelievably heavy combined with a Rossi axial2 but they’re super functional, ski better than a duke and so far seem to solve some real world problems for me. I’ve got a dozen days on em so far and they seem super solid and ski exactly as expected. solid.. I would never expect this setup to replace or compete with my dynafit setup; totally different tools….

happy holidays!

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/#comment-47046 Lou Dawson Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:37:56 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=4412#comment-47046 Eric, if liking lighter weight gear that's brought myself and my family some of the best experiences we've had in life makes me an elitist, so be it. Meanwhile, sure, MFD is perfect if you want to run alpine bindings and don't plan on touring big distances. Yes, you can use a heavy AT binding and just about match the weight, but the ergonomics of the MFD are not ideal, as it engenders what's in the trade known as the "frankenstride" due to the pivot being to far out ahead of your boot toe. Other plate/frame bindings do that as well, but not quite so much. Again, fine for shorter tours but not the best for longer unless you're incredibly strong and fit -- and tour with other folks on similar gear so you don't get a disparity in group goals. Thing is, some of the best skiers in the world do all sorts of heavy duty stuff on AT ski touring bindings. That's the thing to remember. For most of us, the slight differences between a touring binding and an alpine binding do nothing to take fun away from the day when you're out on the touring binding. Not saying that "most of us" is all of us, but most, is, most. Lou Eric, if liking lighter weight gear that’s brought myself and my family some of the best experiences we’ve had in life makes me an elitist, so be it.

Meanwhile, sure, MFD is perfect if you want to run alpine bindings and don’t plan on touring big distances. Yes, you can use a heavy AT binding and just about match the weight, but the ergonomics of the MFD are not ideal, as it engenders what’s in the trade known as the “frankenstride” due to the pivot being to far out ahead of your boot toe. Other plate/frame bindings do that as well, but not quite so much.

Again, fine for shorter tours but not the best for longer unless you’re incredibly strong and fit — and tour with other folks on similar gear so you don’t get a disparity in group goals.

Thing is, some of the best skiers in the world do all sorts of heavy duty stuff on AT ski touring bindings. That’s the thing to remember. For most of us, the slight differences between a touring binding and an alpine binding do nothing to take fun away from the day when you’re out on the touring binding. Not saying that “most of us” is all of us, but most, is, most.

Lou

]]> By: Eric http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/#comment-47041 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:35:52 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=4412#comment-47041 The perceived sense of entitlement among all of the "AT experts" on this comment board is nauseating - I fell in love with Jed's righteous comment before I could even finish it. As a researching consumer in search of his first AT setup, it is very interesting to read all of the initial feedback on the MFD plate during early-mid 2011. What does everyone think of the plate now? Is its success overblown? The two most obvious knocks are the weight and the price. However, you can find these near $200 on some sites now and this new Guardian that arrived is merely 400 grams lighter than an MFD paired with either a Pivot 14 or STH 14. Although the ideal market for the MFD may not be trolling around this site, it's interesting to hear what a lot of the lightweight tech elitists think about it. The perceived sense of entitlement among all of the “AT experts” on this comment board is nauseating – I fell in love with Jed’s righteous comment before I could even finish it. As a researching consumer in search of his first AT setup, it is very interesting to read all of the initial feedback on the MFD plate during early-mid 2011. What does everyone think of the plate now? Is its success overblown? The two most obvious knocks are the weight and the price. However, you can find these near $200 on some sites now and this new Guardian that arrived is merely 400 grams lighter than an MFD paired with either a Pivot 14 or STH 14. Although the ideal market for the MFD may not be trolling around this site, it’s interesting to hear what a lot of the lightweight tech elitists think about it.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/#comment-38447 Lou Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:42:09 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=4412#comment-38447 Laren, I think you'd be very happy with the Barons. I don't think the bit of extra height is a concern. Heck, the gurus used to say that was better, now they don't want it, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle where most bindings end up (grin). Lou Laren, I think you’d be very happy with the Barons. I don’t think the bit of extra height is a concern. Heck, the gurus used to say that was better, now they don’t want it, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle where most bindings end up (grin). Lou

]]> By: Lauren http://www.wildsnow.com/4412/backcountry-skiing-alpine-bindings/#comment-38446 Lauren Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:06:54 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=4412#comment-38446 I'm trying to decide between getting the MFD plates or the Marker Barons. The feedback here has been helpful, but I'm having a hard time applying some of the information to me. I'm a fairly aggressive skier, but at 5'6" and around 115, my definition of aggressive is probably a bit more tame than most of the people posting here. I do have a concern about safety/durability of the heel lock on the MFDs, but I really like how much lower they sit compared to the Baron's. I'm not going to be touring a whole lot; I just want that option for when I do. The MFDs seem like an ideal choice for me, but them being so new with potential problems is definitely a concern. For someone who doesn't require bindings that are super burly and will be skiing probably 80% resort/backcountry and 20% touring, what would be better? I’m trying to decide between getting the MFD plates or the Marker Barons. The feedback here has been helpful, but I’m having a hard time applying some of the information to me. I’m a fairly aggressive skier, but at 5’6″ and around 115, my definition of aggressive is probably a bit more tame than most of the people posting here. I do have a concern about safety/durability of the heel lock on the MFDs, but I really like how much lower they sit compared to the Baron’s. I’m not going to be touring a whole lot; I just want that option for when I do. The MFDs seem like an ideal choice for me, but them being so new with potential problems is definitely a concern. For someone who doesn’t require bindings that are super burly and will be skiing probably 80% resort/backcountry and 20% touring, what would be better?

]]>