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Travelling to Chicago and thinking of buying bindings

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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
Hi NS, I'm travelling to Chicago first week of May and I'm planning on buying some on sale bindings. I need a bit of help regarding which binding I should buy and which site/store I should purchase from.

I live in Switzerland and ski the Swiss/French Alps, I'm currently in the process of deciding on a powder ski for next season and I'm leaning towards the Praxis GPO in 187, however this is not finalized. I am 5'11" I believe (181-182) and I weigh 71-72 kilos, so kind of light for my height. I believe I want a binding that can go up to 16 DIN as I don't know what the future will bring, ie. workout so I weigh in the 80s-90s or save up enough money to go balls to the wall heli skiing.

Since I'm in Chicago I've found a few nearby dealers and I've found the 2014 Marker Jesters at 215$ which is definitely a good price in regards to what one has to pay for bindings here in Switzerland. I don't do any touring so I think this binding will be good for me. However it only comes in a brake width of 130, is this ok to put on a 115/116 wide ski? Thanks for your help, I know there is a thread which relates to this matter, but its a few years old now.

Thanks again
Apr 16 2014 10:12AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
Those jesters will be a good deal. You will need to swap the brakes but that is easy to do. The other binding I would look for is the sth2 13.

One thing to consider though is warranty. If you buy abroad it will be much harder is you need to warranty the bindings in the future. Not impossible just harder. But I know Switzerland is crazy pricey so I can understand your thinking. Maybe look to buy in Europe instead though.
Apr 16 2014 10:16AM
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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
tomPietrowskiThose jesters will be a good deal. You will need to swap the brakes but that is easy to do. The other binding I would look for is the sth2 13.

One thing to consider though is warranty. If you buy abroad it will be much harder is you need to warranty the bindings in the future. Not impossible just harder. But I know Switzerland is crazy pricey so I can understand your thinking. Maybe look to buy in Europe instead though.


Yes this is my main concern. The prices are so desirable, but if anything goes wrong you can find yourself in a pickle. The prices here are not healthy for the wallet. 215$ just seems like a solid deal. I am open to other options, its just this dealer is not far from Chicago and they don't have much else on offer.

Any insight you could give me on similar model brands, such as 4FRNT Attack 16, Tyrolia Attack 16 (I know 4FRNT bindings are made by Tyrolia, but are there any differences to them?) , and your suggested Salmon STH2 13/16 ? Every freeskier here in Switzerland swears by their Markers, however on NS they seem to praise the other brands over Marker.
Apr 16 2014 10:25AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
The attacks are great bindings I think. The attack 13 is a great price for what you are getting. As for the rebranded versions they are all the same just look differnt. Its like FKS/Pivot or sth/ffg.

I would ski any of a sth2, attack or jester. And as for going for the 16 versions do you really need too. 12-13 as a Din is high very few people actually ride 14 or above to make the 16 din version worth while. In the past it used to be the highest din version was built tougher but generally this is not the case any more so if you can ride a 12-13 binding they will be great. FKS 180 and Jester pros are the exception these days but both those bindings are very high end anyway.

I would look for any of the griffon/jester, STH2 or Attack.
Apr 16 2014 10:37AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,092
I guarantee whatever shop sells marker bindings will have extra brakes. Just ask them if you can swap the 130's out for the 110's (or maybe the next size down is 115, I forget but even the 110 will fit just fine), most shops will comply if you're buying bindings from them as the brakes are brand new regardless so switching is easy.
Apr 16 2014 11:59AM
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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
.nylesI guarantee whatever shop sells marker bindings will have extra brakes. Just ask them if you can swap the 130's out for the 110's (or maybe the next size down is 115, I forget but even the 110 will fit just fine), most shops will comply if you're buying bindings from them as the brakes are brand new regardless so switching is easy.


Ye the bindings brake is not a problem as you said, you can easily buy them separately and what not. With that said, does this look like a good deal: http://store.d-structure.com/en/item.php?catid=52&pos=2&id=144385&options[color]=BLACK%2FWHITE#.U07CpcsaySN Tyrolia Attack 16 (2013/2014 model I think) without brakes for 136$. For my my understanding the Marker Jesters / Salomon STH2 WTR 16 / Tyrolia Attack 16s are all good bindings which I can not go wrong with. Or are there a few differences which put one on top of the other. Rossignol FKs are more expensive.
Apr 16 2014 1:53PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,092
NippletronYe the bindings brake is not a problem as you said, you can easily buy them separately and what not. With that said, does this look like a good deal: http://store.d-structure.com/en/item.php?catid=52&pos=2&id=144385&options[color]=BLACK%2FWHITE#.U07CpcsaySN Tyrolia Attack 16 (2013/2014 model I think) without brakes for 136$. For my my understanding the Marker Jesters / Salomon STH2 WTR 16 / Tyrolia Attack 16s are all good bindings which I can not go wrong with. Or are there a few differences which put one on top of the other. Rossignol FKs are more expensive.

As long as you get them mounted at a shop that carries the brakes for that (if they have the attack they will definitely have extra brakes since there is that option to buy without brakes) then you'll be good! Even buying extra brakes for those is still cheap all together
Apr 16 2014 2:34PM
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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
I'm pretty set on the DIN settings and the models. The Looks/FKs I'm finding are far more expensive. So it looks like I'm definitely leaning towards the Jester, Attack 13/16 and Salomon/Atomic STH2 13/16.

With these models, can someone clarify the differences in toe pieces/heel pieces? As well as the metal toe piece base and their height. Don't know what pros and cons come with the different designs. If it helps my boots are Full Tilt First Chairs with an 8# flex. Can any of these bindings be adjusted forwards or backwards just a bit? like +/- 1.5 . Or would I have to go for models like the Schizo to accomplish this?
Apr 16 2014 7:10PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2826 - Karma: 5,367
All the Bindings you mentioned have a little wiggle room to adjust in case you get a bigger boot. They are not bindings like schizo that move back and forth by 3+/-.
Personally I thought the schizo was a demo binding for while, cause the you adjust it so much.
Apr 16 2014 8:24PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
All 3 bindings use a sliding heel track so you could adjust the bindings do a change in boot. You can't move the mount point but honestly you will barly ever do it even if you had Schizos. Of the heel the jester is least durable and the sth the most I would say but they are all very good.

Toe piece wise again the marker is the least good. It has the highest stack height an only has a ramped AFD. The attack is much lower but again only has a ramped AFD again. The salomon has by far the best toe featuring true height adjustment and wing width adjustment.

Overall the salomon is the best but I would say you get a great binding at a great price with the attack. Marker are great too just not quite as good as the other 2.
Apr 17 2014 4:16AM
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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
tomPietrowskiAll 3 bindings use a sliding heel track so you could adjust the bindings do a change in boot. You can't move the mount point but honestly you will barly ever do it even if you had Schizos. Of the heel the jester is least durable and the sth the most I would say but they are all very good.

Toe piece wise again the marker is the least good. It has the highest stack height an only has a ramped AFD. The attack is much lower but again only has a ramped AFD again. The salomon has by far the best toe featuring true height adjustment and wing width adjustment.

Overall the salomon is the best but I would say you get a great binding at a great price with the attack. Marker are great too just not quite as good as the other 2.


Thanks for taking your time to help me. Good to know that I can't go wrong with either binding but as well that some have their advantages over the other. http://store.d-structure.com/fr/item.php?catid=52&pos=2&id=144385&options[color]=BLACK%2FWHITE#.U0-n-8saySM I might just go for the attack 16 as its at a great price. However it seems a bit dubious, being this cheap without a break , could be a faulty binding of some sort. It's also from a Canadian website so ill see if ill engage in the hassle to get it or not. I would order from EVO as I ordered an on sale jacket from them sin problema but their prices are still quite high for bindings compared to elsewhere.

Actually, now when I look at it, the prices aren't too steep when compared to Switzerland. I'll definitely purchase either the Salomon/Atomic STH2 or Attacks from these sites.
Apr 17 2014 6:25AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
Do not worry about the attacks they are a very solid binding. You were always able to get peaks at great prices too, tyrolea must have there production absolutly sorted so they can offer cheap prices. We sold more attack 13's then any other binding this season and I have seen no issues with them. Go for them or an sth if you have more cash to spend
Apr 17 2014 6:46AM
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Nippletron
Posts: 148 - Karma: 670
tomPietrowskiDo not worry about the attacks they are a very solid binding. You were always able to get peaks at great prices too, tyrolea must have there production absolutly sorted so they can offer cheap prices. We sold more attack 13's then any other binding this season and I have seen no issues with them. Go for them or an sth if you have more cash to spend


Hey me again, I have come to find a sweet deal on some Tyrolia Peak 15s. How do these bindings compare to the Attacks? Its a different toe piece but what other information can I gather for them. They're both aimed at freeride but is one better than the other?
Apr 19 2014 8:15PM
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