"Mike Clark" wrote in message
.uk...

The other thing I have seen break on Diamir
bindings is the toe piece so we usually carry a spare on long tours.

I recall a previous post here a while back saying the screws holding the
front binding can shear off?

One reason I have now bought myself separate skis and boots for general
downhill is that I don't think the Fritcshi Diamir bindings are up to
taking a lot of heavy punishment if skiing aggressively, particularly in
icy bump fields. The Fritcshi Freeride bindings look more solid however,
but are heavier if you want to tour with them.

There is little difference in weight if you fit brakes to the Fritschi
binding and there doesn't seem a significant difference in strength between
them, IMO. But then a touring ski and binding has got to be weaker than a
downhill freeride ski and binding ie my Atomic Betaride 11.22 weighs nearly
7 kg (pair) whereas my Atomic R9 + Diamir Freeride weighs about 5 kg. Some
touring skis are really light but I wouldn't want to use them agressively on
hard snow. One problem I experienced is snow building up in the Freeride
binding preventing the brake from openning when the boot is released, which
is obviously dangerous both on and off piste. Also I've heard the brakes can
snap off. But the touring from the Albona to Kaltenberg then Langen am
Arlberg was fantastic...
Mike