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March, 2024

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Need binding help from knowledgeable NSers

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bibs_skibum
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 449
So im wondering if FKS 155s would be too burly on me.  Im 6'1 and weigh 150 lbs and definitely ski super hard.  My BSL is 303 and i usually ride with my dins on 9 so my questions are:

Is this din setting good for my height/weight/bsl?
is this din setting too low to rock a 5-15 din binding or should i get 120s?

I can find killer deals on 155s but i cant seem to find any 120s anywheres.  Thanks NS!
Jul 3 2009 1:30PM
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Mex_LineJib^a
Posts: 3928 - Karma: 65

get the 155... at 9din you'll be close to maxing out your din setting which is not ideal (for a 12din binding).

Jul 3 2009 1:47PM
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BC.
Posts: 1551 - Karma: 86
i dont know why people think maxing your din is gonna matter....i work in a ski shop and you can crank a 12 din all the way up to 12 and be fine, however i would recommend getting the FKS 155 true turntable bindings nice and safe.
Jul 3 2009 3:05PM
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bibs_skibum
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 449
the 120s are a true turntable too, not just a pivot heel.  It has a plastic toe piece and upwards toe release.  Thats pretty much the only difference besides the din range
Jul 3 2009 3:17PM
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*kiwiNZ*
Posts: 249 - Karma: 13
Yeah but you said you couldn't find any 120s thats why he recommended them
Jul 3 2009 8:09PM
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backwardsrider
Posts: 543 - Karma: 70
definitely go for the 155's, they will hold you in and the toe piece wont break on you.
Jul 3 2009 8:13PM
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a--1
Posts: 484 - Karma: 23
well said
Jul 3 2009 8:31PM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
yeah, I agree about maxing, it shouldn't be so feared in bindings made in the past 10 years..
  just wondering, how does the tunrtable make it safer?  I sold some 155s because I didn't like the weight and felt like the toes kept me in super well, but also might not release when I need them to(I do ski a higher din though).  I have Tyrolias now and like that heel a bit more than FKS(also Peak 15s are lighter than FKS155, and has a toe that has upward release, for people that care).  I am guessing in a twisting fall the turntable heel comes in handy for comming out?  thanks
Jul 3 2009 10:00PM
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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6382 - Karma: 946

It is true that maxing out the range on bindings isn't as good as getting a binding with a higher range.  If you have a din of 12 and crank it to that, it will not bust on you, but it is causing unusually high stress on the spring and wears the binding down more quickly. 

To answer the question: snag some 155s.  The only reason I could see to look hard for some 120s is if they were in a color you wanted and the 155s wer enot.  As is though, the 155 is a better overall binding for a hard-charger, and you won't use the bottom of the din range, but could possibly use the high part, so why not?

Jul 3 2009 10:43PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
u must not ride that hard if you ride at 9 and ur 150 lbs....
Jul 3 2009 11:00PM
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a--1
Posts: 484 - Karma: 23
i was just thinking the same thing
Jul 3 2009 11:32PM
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*kiwiNZ*
Posts: 249 - Karma: 13
How would it be causing unusually high stress on the spring? It would be high stress on the spring but not unusually high, as it is designed to take that stress otherwise they wouldn't label it as such. The reason you should go to a higher din binding if you are close to maxing out a lower one is because the higher din binding will generally have more advanced features, be stronger and therefore more durable, it has NOTHING to do with the spring!
Have a look on Epic Ski or TGR there is a thread on one of them on that exact topic.
Jul 4 2009 8:34AM
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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6382 - Karma: 946
I didn't say the binding would explode did I?  I said it would wear out faster, which it will.  Why do you think most techs recommend that you turn down the din in the off-season?  And it DOES have to do with the spring... sheesh.
Jul 4 2009 11:53AM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10

While a binding is designed to operate at all the DIN ranges on its scale, it's not advisable to max out the DIN. Reason is because the spring is nearly compressed fully and there is no more room for compression. Always safer to release the tension in your springs in the off season. Springs do wear out and release settings do change if you leave them compressed.

You are correct in saying a higher end binding will be stronger. They have to be to handle the forces associated with higher DIN settings!

From a safety standpoint, I prefer to ride at a DIN that will actually release. I crashed about 3 years ago and blew my knee out on a forward twisting fall. Was riding on Rossi Axial2 140s on Bandit B2s at a DIN of 9. Problem was I was dead tired and while the binding did release, my muscles couldn't hold up and pop went my knee.

Jul 4 2009 1:15PM
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*kiwiNZ*
Posts: 249 - Karma: 13
I didn't say anything about the binding exploding either...sheesh!

What I mean is that if you are close to maxing out a binding that binding is not going to be strong enough to handle your skiing anyway e.g. if you ride at a din of 12 your either huge with tiny feet or you ride very aggressively either way a 12 din binding is not going to be durable enough i.e. the binding will break before the spring has time to wear out.
Jul 4 2009 6:17PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
The 155s sound great if you are an agressive skier. Big advantages in the toepiece over the 120, and i'm assuming that you would prefer retention over release which is where these toepieces excel.

As for running a DIN at either extreme end of the range, yesh, not advisable but they are designed to operate effectively at all levels of the range with a certain level of confidence/error.

If you were talking about 20 year old bindings then I would say don't use them if they will be at the top of the DIN range, but with current production bindings I wouldn't be concerned. They are still governed by DIN/ISO etc, irrespective of the DIN used, so they would have been tested at all levels in simulated circumstances.

Go 155's.
Jul 4 2009 6:28PM
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