I guess what I’m saying is more power to you, but everyone, don’t get the idea you can run out and buy a set of Silvretta Pures and be certain they’ll work correctly with any old climbing boot.

As for resort skiing in Silvrettas, I really don’t see why the Pure would be any better than any other model, other than that it has step-in feature.

I should add that in terms of the Silvetta binding heel or any other brand adjusting automatically to different heel heights, a small amount of that is built into most AT bindings, but most of what you’re calling “adjusting” is actually the safety elasticity that’s there to keep make the safety release work correctly. If you’re using that to compensate for a non-standard boot heel height, you may be compromising the safety performance of the binding.

I respectfully disagree. A climbing boot will not fit in most AT bindings, to my knowledge. Of course, when skinning with climbing boots, the real goal is to ski in for access to the climbs, and not really to do any high performance skiing at that time (as the climbing boots leave lots to be desired in terms of support to drive the skiis). I could use the older Silvreatta 500s, which would be fine for access to the climbs, but I would think they would not do well in resort skiing.

In using the Pure bindings, I have one ski/binding setup that lets me access the climbing areas easily with climbing boots, as well as performing well in the backcountry or resorts with my Endorphins.
I have not found another binding that will do both of these. please let me know, if you know of others that will, as I am looking to buy bindings for my wife – so far the Pure is my only choice, as I see it.

Re: lateral release, I can kick the side of my climbing boot, and watch it release laterally, as the toe slides on the plastic slider, and the heel kicks out. Am I missing something?

I do want to add that I use my Pure Freerides with climbing boots all the time – no problems. I have a pair of leather Salomon Super Mountain 9 Guide boots as well as Scarpa Alpha Plastic boots and the bindings work with both.
All I had to do was adjust the heel piecs screw a bit. These 2 boots have different height rear rands, but the binding is able to adjust automatically to fit either. The red plastic part juts doesn’t slide quite as far on the higher rand. Locks down secure on either pair.

Take care,
Darrell

I’ve used them exclusively on an extremely light pair of Dynastar Altirides for both backcountry and on-piste skiing.

I was skiing some glades on Jay Peak in Vermont this weekend, when I popped out of the binding. I looked down to see that the toe piece had split in two on one of my skis.

This was mentioned as a common problem with the later model skis, however I have been using a newer (grey toepiece) version of the Pure Performance.

I should admit that over the last few years I’ve skied icy moguls, hucked some short ledges, and hit my share of submerged rocks without incident. Generally, I’ve found these to be very lightweight, have a reliable release and comfortable touring pivot, and hold tight when I’m chattering across steep crust.

I’ve got a request into Silvretta for information on replacement parts, and so I have yet to form an opinion on their service. I suppose the results will determine if I remain a customer.

I just wanted to say that I thought the recommendations on use of the Silvretta, and its potential weaknesses on your review and in this discussion thread are spot on.