They give the impression of being distinctive. At all times in flashy colours. They’ve held our boots to our skis for many years. And all of the hooligans across the mountain appear to be driving them. So what’s so particular about these Look Pivot bindings, anyway? For those who’re searching for the breakdown on all of the techy bits, look no additional. Or, should you’re extra of a “bottom-line” form of particular person and wish to know the way these bindings really feel when you’re clicked into them, we describe all that, too.
There are three foremost causes Look Pivot bindings are wanted; the way it rides on snow, sturdiness, and “security”. We’ll dive into all of those and even do some myth-busting. We’ll additionally discuss concerning the new, Look Pivot 2.0, launched this fall for the 24/25 season.
The Tech Behind Look Pivot Bindings
The Look Pivot makes use of a novel turntable type heel piece. It stands out when purchasing for bindings on the ski store wall. The pivoting design began all the best way again within the Sixties and whereas the binding developed through the years, the mechanics are typically unchanged. For those who’re interested in a deep dive into Look Pivot’s historical past (and all of the rad retro colour choices), take a look at this cool overview with Phil from Ski Speak.
We’ll break down the few foremost issues that this binding design affords in comparison with different downhill bindings.
Elastic Journey
Elastic journey is the side-to-side and up-and-down motion the binding permits your boot to take whereas snowboarding. It sounds a bit spooky when first describing it (wait, my boot strikes round whereas snowboarding?), however it’s a vital characteristic to assist your experience really feel easy. If the binding have been to be completely static and inflexible, any icy patch or vibration would really feel harsh and tough on the physique. That doesn’t make for snug lengthy days on the mountain. The upper the elastic journey, sometimes the extra plush the binding will really feel. Identical to extra suspension or journey on a mountain bike.
Elastic journey additionally helps stop pre-release. By permitting the boot to maneuver only a few millimeters throughout tough situations or a bizarre flip, the binding can carry you again in if the pressure doesn’t exceed a specific amount.
Let’s get into the elastic journey numbers for a Pivot. (Observe, that each one the specs between the 12, 14, 15, and 18 DIN choices for the Pivot are the identical, apart from weight.) The toe piece specs discuss with horizontal journey, because the toe of your boot strikes facet to facet, whereas the heel piece specs discuss with vertical journey as your heel strikes up and down.
A Look Pivot binding affords 45mm of elastic journey within the toe and a whopping 28mm within the heel. Right here, the turntable-style heel of the Pivot permits for extra journey within the toe, whereas sustaining contact with the boot. This implies you’ve got the suspension, with all the identical energy you’d should you have been impartial. All that heel journey provides plenty of suspension for people within the air quite a bit and taking huge landings.
For comparability, the binding with the only highest elastic journey within the toe is the Salomon STH2 binding at 52mm. Nonetheless, the heel is restricted to 16mm. Notably, the brand new Salomon Attempt binding affords 47mm of journey within the toe and 15mm within the heel, at a considerably lighter weight (about 300 grams).
For those who’re curious, the opposite main bindings we like to advocate just like the Marker Royal Household sequence, the Salomon Wardens, and Tyrolia Assaults all ring in with very comparable numbers with 30mm within the toe, and round 15mm within the heel. That is the usual, so these bindings nonetheless present loads of suspension. Simply not as huge of numbers because the bindings talked about above.
Stack Peak
Stack top refers to how excessive the binding sits off the ski. The heel sits larger than the toe, which creates a state of affairs the place your foot is positioned at an angle, also known as the “ramp angle”. The Pivot is exclusive with a virtually impartial ramp angle. The toe sits at 18mm above the ski, and the heel sits at 19mm above the ski. That’s only a one-millimeter distinction between the 2, which is nearly as impartial as you will get.
Most different bindings ring in fairly much like the Pivot’s toe top (proper round 18-21mm), however their heel normally options extra like 4-6mm delta from the toe. Once more, we’re simply speaking millimeters right here, so the distinction could also be fairly refined, if noticeable in any respect. Nonetheless, it’s vital to notice that as a smaller boot would make the toe and heel piece sit nearer collectively, that angle turns into steeper (and maybe extra noticeable). Some girl shredders with small toes may desire extra impartial bindings for that cause.
One binding does provide even decrease stack top numbers: the Tyrolia Assault. Relying on the toe top adjustment, you sit between 12-15mm above the ski on the toe and simply 17mm within the heel. Whereas it’s not fairly as impartial because the Pivot, the Assault does present a decrease experience to the ski. We’ll discuss extra about how stack top impacts the experience under.
Sufficient of that techy enterprise. How does that translate to snow?
How the Look Pivot Bindings Trip on Snow
The cocktail of tech that we broke down above creates a really distinctive experience. Excessive elastic journey gives suspension and a easy experience. Freeriders and skiers who take care of difficult snow situations discover quite a lot of perks with a binding that makes a speciality of that. With the binding doing the majority of the work dampening inconsistencies within the snow and at larger speeds, you get much less unhealthy vibrations handed as much as you from harsh snowboarding and harsh snow situations. Some say they really feel much less fatigue of their legs with a Pivot, with fewer jolts sporting down the muscle mass and joints all through the day.
For those who’re spending quite a lot of time within the air and taking huge landings, the Pivot’s in depth elastic journey (particularly within the heel) might help stop pre-release on these mega stomps. Particularly if the touchdown wasn’t fairly good. This one cause why you may see quite a lot of freeride or freestyle park skiers in Pivots.
The impartial ramp angle and low stack top add to the very pure and intuitive really feel of the binding. Low stack heights are nice for simpler flip initiations and releases. You might have a extra instant reference to the snow underneath you. Once more, this impartial angle additionally helps freestylers who could be driving swap or are spinning steadily.
You’ll discover carving and race skis come fitted with race plates or different elevating lifts, to extend leverage and energy when rolling that ski over on edge. In powder, bumps and timber, and off-piste snowboarding, that turns into a bit overkill and too sluggish.
Sturdiness
In a rock, paper, scissors type match between steel and plastic, steel normally wins. The hefty steel building of the Pivot 15 and 18 provides to their colourful character and makes them extremely fascinating. Plastics save weight however might be liable to cracks and different injury in the event that they take a tough impression. Plastics additionally don’t final as lengthy over time after seasons of use. Metallic provides heft and larger sturdiness for the use and abuse we put our gear by. Some discover peace of thoughts figuring out their bindings are additional robust.
The Pivot 12 and 14 use plastic of their toe building (and a barely completely different toe wing design), however nonetheless provide the steel heel tower and turntable base. These bindings shave quite a lot of weight for skiers who aren’t placing as a lot use and abuse on their bindings, or prioritize a lighter weight when carrying their skis. With the 14 and 15 being so shut within the DIN vary, the most important distinction there might be if you would like an all-metal building or not. The non-metal builds nonetheless provide the identical nice on-snow-feel advantages.
Security
Mythbust time. You’ll usually hear on the ski boards that Pivots are a “safer” binding various. Whereas the turntable design does work to forestall pre-release, the turntable design nonetheless doesn’t permit for full horizontal heel launch. The one bindings that do which might be the brand new Tyrolia Protector binding (with 30 levels of rotation both approach to launch the boot), and the venerable Knee Binding. So in the case of defending your ACLs and different ligaments, the Pivot isn’t essentially an answer.
In fact, some accidents might be brought on by pre-release, which the Pivot design helps stop. However, some accidents are additionally brought on by staying in when it’s essential to come out. Whereas we do all we will to reduce threat, snowboarding isn’t with none hazard. Flying down snowy slopes with wood sticks in your toes isn’t a secure approach to spend a day. However what’s life and not using a little hazard? We’re fortunate to be in a time the place the gear is remarkably dialed and has the most recent expertise to maintain us as secure as we might be on this dangerous sport.
What’s the Look Pivot 2.0 binding all about?
For the 24/25 season, Look launched a particular version Pivot 2.0 with some updates that Pivot followers might be enthusiastic about. It’s not essentially well worth the splurge should you’re simply breaking into Pivots, however there are some further options to notice. The most important elements of the Pivot stay the identical. So all of the nerdiness about elastic journey and impartial stack heights will carry over to this one.
The wizards at Look managed to get an extended adjustment vary out of the heel. In comparison with different alpine downhill bindings that usually can regulate to a boot dimension bigger and smaller, the Pivot hosted simply 10mm of adjustment (about 5mm ahead and 5mm again, relying on how the mount was accomplished). So should you modified boot sizes, or offered your sticks, you usually wanted a remount to accommodate a brand new boot. This model is 20mm, or 10mm ahead and again. That ought to cowl you for a boot dimension change.
Look additionally modified the heel tower’s adjustment mechanism. Fairly than a flathead, the heel tower now accepts a hex or pozi drive. That’s multitudes simpler to regulate at excessive DIN settings versus the flathead.
They’ve additionally included new plastic bumpers on the heel tower, to protect the beautiful paint job. For those who’re always utilizing your skis or boot to step out of the heel, somewhat than a pole, you’ll be able to scuff the paint. The bumpers are there to allow you to slam your self out of skis with out worry of chipping the Blue Metal paint job.
Finally, the Look Pivot 2.0 is an improve, however most loved by aggressive skiers. The heel tower adjustment is a large enchancment for skiers who run excessive DIN settings, and lots of the different upgrades might be appreciated by individuals who regulate bindings usually. For those who’re a “set it and neglect it” form of particular person, the Pivot 2.0 isn’t vital.
Backside Line
We’ve gone fairly far into the weeds breaking down why the Look Pivot bindings are so distinctive. However, as with many issues in life, it comes at a worth. The Pivots clock a sizeable larger price than conventional bindings. And whether or not or not you discover these options on snow is up for debate. It relies on the particular person.
For lots of us right here on the store who spend plenty of time in numerous bindings (typically again to again) we will begin to decide up on refined variations. However, they’re all the time refined. We don’t click on right into a Pivot and say “holy moly! What a totally completely different snowboarding expertise!” For most individuals, a regular binding might be fully appropriate. All of those bindings are held to the identical security requirements and go the identical assessments to get the DIN and ISO certifications.
Many people right here on the store experience with Pivots, little doubt. However many people experience with different bindings, too. You’ll see tons of the brand new Salomon Attempt, Markers, and Assaults throughout our quivers. When it comes right down to it, if there’s a colour and magnificence that sends your ski setup over the moon cool, that’s the one for you. It simply occurs Look Pivots are likely to look the most rad.
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