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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Is it worth removing my frame bindings and mounting traditional alpine bindings?

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freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
Gear talk my bum.

I ski 191 kartel 108s with frame bindings. I want to get a dedicated touring setup now, maybe backland 107 w kingpins or similar.

With that being said, because I am not planning on using the kartels for touring any more, is it worth removing the frame bindings and mounting guardians or pivots or something? A traditional alpine binding? Will I notice any performance difference being lower to the ski and without the frame? Or is that a made up idea?
2 years ago
3 0
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,421
i noticed that by baron epfs made the ski a little stiffer underfoot, like a race plate would. I can imagine a guardian would be the same.

yes 100% take that shit off.
2 years ago
2 1
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freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
ajbskii noticed that by baron epfs made the ski a little stiffer underfoot, like a race plate would. I can imagine a guardian would be the same.

yes 100% take that shit off.


I am a dumbass I meant wardens... I already have barons on my ski, so no need to swap frame for frame. I am looking into wardens or pivots...
2 years ago
0 0
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N41v131355
Posts: 228 - Karma: 385
yes, definitely do it. Like mentioned in previous post, ski becomes more lively underfoot, plus you are lowering stack height and also lowering weight. I immidiately noticed difference when swapped frames for alpine bindings
2 years ago
1 0
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,421
freewillieI am a dumbass I meant wardens... I already have barons on my ski, so no need to swap frame for frame. I am looking into wardens or pivots...


i personally dont like pivots. the cons just outweigh the pros for me. but lots and lots and lots of people like them. if you havent skied them before, i would 100% try them.

wardens are nice, sths are nice, pivtos are nice, sth are nice, attacks are nice, jesters are nice, griffons are nice.

most bindings these days are pretty good. people give the squire a lot of shit, but its really hard to beat the performance/price curve on them.
2 years ago
1 4
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FaunaSkis
Posts: 630 - Karma: 6,846
Welcome to the big leagues. Definitely take that frame binding off if you're not going to tour on it. Its creating a dead spot in the flex and your stack height is high on those frame bindings. So it rides kind of like walking in high heels, a bit teeter tottery, which is nice if you're laying trenches on a race course but can make things unpredictable standing across fall line in a steep, tight spot.
An option if you don't want to have to buy 2 pairs of bindings, as well as a new pair of skis, and possibly a new set of skins to match the new skis, is to get both your pairs of skis quiver killer'd/binding freedom'd and get something like a shift or a duke PT then you can ride alpine style on either ski or tour on either ski with just one binding depending on the conditions/trip.
2 years ago
2 0
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freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
ajbskii personally dont like pivots. the cons just outweigh the pros for me. but lots and lots and lots of people like them. if you havent skied them before, i would 100% try them.

wardens are nice, sths are nice, pivtos are nice, sth are nice, attacks are nice, jesters are nice, griffons are nice.

most bindings these days are pretty good. people give the squire a lot of shit, but its really hard to beat the performance/price curve on them.


I agree on the squires. I’m a big boy so not an option for me, but for smaller folks they can be a steal
2 years ago
0 0
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