bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jul.30.03@telemark. slac.stanford.edu
wrote:

In article ,
Jonathan Shefftz wrote:
The 404 was a contemporary of the 400 - just a different length
adjustment mechanism I think.
The 500 updates the 400/404 with carbon fiber rails to save weight.
The 505 adds a true step-in (as opposed to latch-in) heel piece, but
loses compatibility with many climbing boots.
The 555 is similar to the 505, but compatible only with alpine touring
boots (as opposed to climbing boots).
Unless you really want to use climbing boots for skiing though, I
think Fritschi and Dynafit (and maybe even the new Naxo) offer far
better products.

404 also had a different heel.

_ Depends on your definition of "better". I've been using a pair
of 500's this spring and I'm pretty impressed with
them. Mounting them is definitely tricky, you need to be very
precise in aligning the heel piece to the rails. They're light,
they work with climbing boots and they are very easy to switch
modes. If they match your needs, I see no reason not to get
them. Especially as the price in the USA has dropped
dramactically. I admit I got mine mostly because of the
climbing boot issue, but after having used them for a while I
don't think they should dismissed out of hand as a general
purpose ski mountaineering binding.

Agreed, I like the 500 over the others as well but haven't tried the
Naxo yet. However, I am drooling over the new Silvretta with Dynafit
toe.