Binding compatibility...

I got my first pair of skis back in 1992. They were old-fashooned straight
skis. I sort of outgrew them and have been renting since. But now I'd like
to get some skis and boots. Will my old Solomon bindings (circa 1995) work
alright with the newer shaped skis and newer boot models? I am assuming the
answer is yes, but I just want some validation before I start buying stuff.

Thanks,
Josh

J.J. wrote:

I got my first pair of skis back in 1992. They were old-fashooned straight
skis. I sort of outgrew them and have been renting since. But now I'd like
to get some skis and boots. Will my old Solomon bindings (circa 1995) work
alright with the newer shaped skis and newer boot models? I am assuming the
answer is yes, but I just want some validation before I start buying stuff.

Thanks,
Josh




Google seach through this group on :

binding indemnification

and you will have a good part of your answer -- whihc has less to do
with compatibility and more to do with "other" issues like indemnification.

Add the word "list" to the search and you can prolly find out things for
your specific bindings in question.

Dave M.

J.J. wrote:
I got my first pair of skis back in 1992. They were old-fashooned straight
skis. I sort of outgrew them and have been renting since. But now I'd like
to get some skis and boots. Will my old Solomon bindings (circa 1995) work
alright with the newer shaped skis and newer boot models? I am assuming the
answer is yes, but I just want some validation before I start buying stuff.

Keep your 1992 skis for the rocks.
Don't put $10 bindings on a $300 ski.
Check your ski shop for last year's demos.
They may be used, but the bindings will
be up to date and properly installed.

-- Mike Treseler

J.J. wrote:

I got my first pair of skis back in 1992. They were old-fashooned straight
skis. I sort of outgrew them and have been renting since. But now I'd like
to get some skis and boots. Will my old Solomon bindings (circa 1995) work
alright with the newer shaped skis and newer boot models?

The direct answer to your question is Yes. The bindings will work with
any downhill ski boot you are likely to find- the boot-binding interface
has been a standard for decades (codified in the German industrial
standards known colloquially as "DIN." Some early shaped skis were
narrow underfoot and in high angle turns the boot would hit the snow
causing "boot-out," so bindings were put on "plates" to lift the boot
high off the ski and prevent boot-out (this is different from plates and
binding lifts for performance purposes.) Almost all newer skis are wider
underfoot so boot-out is not going to be a problem for the bindings.

I am assuming the
answer is yes, but I just want some validation before I start buying stuff.

The problems you might have with order bindings are two-fold. One is
wear and tear making them unsafe; the other almost unrelated problem is
the Indemnification List - wherein binding manufacturing companies list
the older bindings for which they will provide insurance coverage to
shops that install/adjust the company's bindings. Being on or off the
list is a business decision with some weak correlation to safety of the
binding and a stronger correlation to sales of new bindings. Although
it's not illegal or anything to work on non-indemnified bindings, most
shops won't touch them for fear of US style lawsuit madness (the
"Indemnification List" is a US phenomena I believe.) Easiest thing to do
is call you local shop, tell them the binding make and type, and ask them.

As well as whether the bindings are still indemnified today, you might
consider how long you intend to ski your new skis and whether shops will
still test your bindings over the lifetime of your skis.

But you are on the right track - there's no reason but marketing to buy
bindings when you buy skis, particularly if you go through equipment
quickly. The marketing branch of companies will sell you color
coordinated bindings and skis these days if that's your bent. Otherwise
swap them around at will...(if they're still good.)