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In article ,
Clyde wrote:
bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jul.30.03@telemark .slac.stanford.edu
wrote:

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.

_ Interesting, but I don't understand the advantage of it other
than perhaps a better toe release. One other thing I've heard
of that I would definitely consider after using the 500 is a
using the 500 rails and rail lock as a combination
riser/climbing lift for a telemark binding. There was a review
of this setup on www.telemarktips.com. The easy of AT climbing
with the fun of a telemark turn.

_ Booker C. Bense

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