Binding Experts Wanted: PX 14/14ti/15/18, Sth 14, Jester, etc.

Just to start this off I'd like to stress how important the screw pattern is going to be since you are going to be using them on a wide ski. For this post I will assume that EP's and Bents are very very similar because I have Bents and I'm going to try and translate my experience to you. I am taller than you but probably 25 pounds lighter. I don't know how you like your DIN to be set and that is not for me to set for you, but any of those bindings should be able to accommodate you, even the STH 16. Going all metal or as burly as possible is a good option if you really need it and aren't worried about weight.

You'd be happy with the PX15, Jester, or STH 16, I'd just go off of whatever brand loyalty or price considerations you have.  If upward release is really important to you the 14 DIN bindings you listed would all work fine, but I would personally try looking around for a pair of Geze-toe FKS 155's...although that will be a tough undertaking.  I would have a hard time picking just one out of the aforementioned, but they do each have their own merits.  It sounds like you're not much into charging so you probably do want an upward release on the toe, and in that case the Jesters may be your binding. 

There is a large difference between the bents and the EP pros in this regard.
The wood in the Line core is maple, where as the core in the Hellbent is fir. All  K2s are prone to ripping out when you use small pattern bindings. This is not just the Hellbent, it is all the skis.
What keeps a binding from ripping out (other then whats in the ski) is not the width of the mounting platform but more importantly the length of the mounting platform and how far it extends beyond the heel of the boot. Since the PX heel extends further back then the Pivot heel it is less likely to rip out.  However EP pros are not prone to binding rip outs so don't worry to much about this issue.

What wider mounting platforms actually do is they just distribute presure to the edges better then a narrow mount binding. Helpful on fat skis but comes affter other binding performance in my opinion. (I use p18s on all my fat skis)

You are looking at the right range of bindings as you are a bigger guy.
Things to note:
PX18 is 10-18 not 8-18.
while the P15 says 6-15 it is really 8-15. same spring as the PX 15 just different labeling.

I am partial to look bindings, just because I feel that the toe on them offers the smoothest and most consistent release, do to the fact that the toe piece (or at least what touches the boot) actually moves with the toe rather then having the toe slide across part of it.  the PX heel is not bad. I do not recomend it for competition park or especially pipe skiing but for powder you will be fine.  If you do decide to go with the Look PX bindings go with one of the racing versions. or whatever rossi calls theirs I think they attach the 'pro' to the name.  The heel on these bindings is much better and stronger then the one on the standard PX heels.  the obvious difference is the shorter heel length. this allows the ski to flex more naturally and reduces the dead spot on the ski.  The Racing version also comes with a little strong construction in the heel, as well as a worm screw style forward pressure adjustment. this provides more precise adjustments of forward pressure as well as being much stronger overall.

Jesters are another great option, a lot of people seem to love them a lot, and I know the nimbus crew used them all last year.  I just think the height off the ski is too much for me, and I am a look guy.

STH series are strong, go with the 16 or the 14 driver, as they have the strongest construction, as apposed to the standard STH 14.  Lots of people love these bindings possibly the best binding salomon ever made.

Another binding to consider is the Mojo 15. (not sure if you put it in there or not) as well as the P 14 (check my threads!)

All the bindings you listed are good if not great bindings and chances are you would be happy with any of them.  However I have always been a fan of look bindings, and will continue to be, they are quite simply the best. That is why I would recomend either finding a pair of P15s or P14s(if you want vertical release) or go with the PX15 or PX 14 race (if you want vertical release)

even fks would not be a problem?

i would go jesters or sth's because of the mounting pattern. the only thing that would make me lean jesters slightly more is that i know they have the upward release toe, im not sure about STHs. if they do than just pick whichever is cheaper/you like better.

Whatever you can get cheap. They'll all work.

I'm 5'9 150 lbs and use Jesters on my Bacons all of last season and never had any problems.  I think my din was around 9.

I've personally always been a huge fan of Look/Rossi bindings. The old Pivots/Axials were fantastic, and I have snagged quite a few pairs for future mountings. The heels can get a little sloppy if you don't take care of them, so definitely try to maintain them.

The PX/Axial2's are not bad either though. The heels have tons of travel, and are probably the most elastic bindings out there.

If you are going with Salomon I can only really recommend the STH16's, or any other driver toe binding. The only other Solly toes I've used besides these are the Z-toe, which has been garbage to me, and are not even in question here.

As for Jesters.. they are indeed not bad. Not the most elastic things ever, but they do release correctly and all. They are pretty much all composite, with some magnesium though, so they are not the toughest things out there.


Some bindings that I might also recommend to you would be the Tyrolia/Head/Fischer bindings. Mojo 15's are some of the best bindings I've tried out, and are amazingly safe, have 180 degree release points, and from my experiences with them, are pretty damn durable. I'm not 100% positive on what the hole pattern is like with them, but from first glance, they seem to be legitimately wide enough for a big ski. Friend of mine threw them on his cholesterones. Should be a sick setup.

no they would not be a problem. EP pros hold their bindings.

I only mount p-series or fks on my park skis. For fatter skis like the ep/hellbent, the jesters make sense. This binding was designed with fat skis in mind. a fks was designed for a 60mm race ski not a 130mm pow ski. Jesters make the ski you are on feel much narrower b/c the width the binding allows you to roll on to your edges faster.

that was one of the best beginnings to a binding thread i've seen.

one small consideration is brakes.  if you don't want to bend your breaks, and have the binding come new with a 130mm brake, then you will most likely have a slight problem with the jesters.  you may have luck in finding a shop with the 130mm's installed, probably not, and you will end up buying a 130mm brake separately from Al's Ski Barn (untracked.com) if they still have some and install that.  Backcountry.com and most online retailers appear to have Sth14s and Sth16s stocked in every brake width imaginable.  Can't speak for the Looks, i'll let Billy run with that.

wtf when i typed backcountry dot com it automatically linked itself.  well they have 130mm jester brakes now, but individually, not with the binding.  it's an extra $60 that you will have to swallow to gain that feature.

thats not the point. which will ultimately be the best investment? thats the question here

Once mounted, can an fks 155 be adjusted from 27.5(317) to a 28.5?

bump for question above

what other binding performance comes before?

It depends on how your forward pressure is set up when you have them mounted for 27.5. If it is too far out then no 28.5 wont fit. I think its best to use fks with one boot. You wont have much room for adjustment with another size boot due to the design of the heel, you dont have as much freedom.

you can adjust FKS bindings, but only minamally.  As for binding suggestions, i would go with FKS always they are the most burly solid binding you will find without having to put a ton of weight on your skis.  i use FKS on all my skis except a pair of px18's on my EP's which i like but it did make the skis a good bit heavier.  ive used salomon, and jesters, and both i think are good bindings, but ive had, and seen both of those break. so i guess it just depends how hard you really ski, and how much, cause i think alot of it has to do with abuse you put into bindings, some can take it (fks), and some just arent built to take as much abuse.   hope that was some help

just about dead on what im looking for. thanks man!

Rebumpity,
I am getting some Rory 183's and need to put some bindings on them, i have FKS 155 in the box but want to save them for a park ski. I like the Jesters from what i have ridden but they are just too expensive for me right now. I'm currently looking at the PX 14 racing XXL's, should i go with that for these skis or will the hole pattern really effect them?
By the way these are 113 underfoot.

I have FKS andwant to put them on my bent chetlers good or bad idea?