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June, 2025

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Another shift thread

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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
anyone tried using the shifts like king pins?
after one day on shifts i find the transition annoying...

an idea came to mind, anyone mount the binding so they can lock the heel while using the tech inserts on the toe?

i know you would lose the elasticity and basically any advantage of the shift, but transition would just be a matter of flipping the brake lever over. dont need to get out of the binding and you can pull the skins out from underneath you. I already got the bindings, and im probably not going to replace them any time soon.

is this a bad idea apart from the obvious?
3 years ago
1 2
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XC
Posts: 185 - Karma: 1,293
Are you saying to ski with the toe engaged as a pin binding? If so, I really don't think it's worth it. I think you'll get unexpected and frequent ejections. My biggest complaint with the binding is that even just on the up, the pin binding isn't as secure as I'd like. I've popped out on technical terrain. I think it'd perform horribly while skiing.

Just spend the extra minute transitioning the toe piece. The time saved isn't worth the lost performance. Not to mention easily ejecting from a pin binding while skiing sucks real real bad.
3 years ago
3 0
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
XCAre you saying to ski with the toe engaged as a pin binding? If so, I really don't think it's worth it. I think you'll get unexpected and frequent ejections. My biggest complaint with the binding is that even just on the up, the pin binding isn't as secure as I'd like. I've popped out on technical terrain. I think it'd perform horribly while skiing.

Just spend the extra minute transitioning the toe piece. The time saved isn't worth the lost performance. Not to mention easily ejecting from a pin binding while skiing sucks real real bad.


Do you have the updated DIN windows?
3 years ago
0 0
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XC
Posts: 185 - Karma: 1,293
ajbskiDo you have the updated DIN windows?


I don't think so cause I'm not sure what that is. Do you have a link? I'm not finding anything for it when searching. If it is what it sounds like then that sounds sweet!
3 years ago
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
XCI don't think so cause I'm not sure what that is. Do you have a link? I'm not finding anything for it when searching. If it is what it sounds like then that sounds sweet!





The referenced post has been removed.

Might be but why? Once again, apart from the obvious like weight, loss of elasticity and so on.
3 years ago
0 2
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stinky_cheese
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 5,176
definitely a bad idea, arguably comparable to skiing down with the tech toe of cast instead of switching to a normal toepiece.
some stuff just isn't meant to be skied on
3 years ago
1 0
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
stinky_cheesedefinitely a bad idea, arguably comparable to skiing down with the tech toe of cast instead of switching to a normal toepiece.
some stuff just isn't meant to be skied on


You think the bindings will blow up?
3 years ago
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
Well I’m going to try it anyways.

risks:
- break my knees or legs (which I doubt because everyone bitches about pre releasing on walk mode)
- break the bindings
am I missing anything?

I’ll let you guys know how it goes.
3 years ago
1 1
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Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 501
You won't be able to click the heel down when you're using the pins on the front. When the binding transitions it pulls the foot forward to not interfere with the heel.

If the transitioning is this big of a deal to you... you bought the wrong bindings...
3 years ago
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dawshess
Posts: 11 - Karma: 20
if your trying to use a shift as a king pin, you shouldve bought a king pin
3 years ago
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,424
Just as a follow up.

shituation:
- I bought a pair of skis that already had the shifts on them (i wouldnt have of picked shifts... ever)
- Instead of buying new bindings, i moved the heel piece forward so that it can be engaged while using the tech toes.
- while skiing, i have the toes locked on the first detent (before the bumps on the window).
- while walking, i have them engaged on the second click (after the bumps on the window).

feedback:
- transitions are good. dont need to take off the skis to go down.
- there is some snow builup on the front of the heel piece when walking with out the risers. comes off easily with the tip of your pole.
- no reliability issues so far. I skied hard on them in bounds (moguls, steeps, cliffs and even some L jumps) for at least 20 days without anything cracking blowing up or coming apart.
- havent had any pre release while skiing
- there is still some fore and aft elasticity in this configuration. not much in terms of twisting. it feels good to have improved side to side percision and some suspension when it comes to bumpy terrain.
- sometimes the toe will unlock when the skis are really getting hammered (the tab will go down, but not eject my boot) maybe once or twice a day. i frequently check the locking tab. each time i stop.
- im always concerned with the release characteristics with this configuration. i strongly do not recommend do this for the sake of your knees and legs. I did check that the boots come out, but it seems unpredictable compared to a regular dynafit or alpine binding.

Summary:
Yes you can use shifts like king pins at the sacrifice of stable release characteristics.
3 years ago
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