![]() ![]() Ramp angle of this binding is virtually zero! That’ll keep some of you happy, while some skiers may want the heel stacked a few millimeters to get the ramp feel they’re used to (me). “ZED” zero theme continues in the ZED’s ramp angle. And, it’s designed and assembled in North America. ![]() This is clearly one of the lightest tech binding yet to offer such a robust combination of features, e.g., fully adjustable release to RV 12 flex compensation wide range boot length adjustment 3 climbing lift positions including heel flat on ski optional brake G3 toe jaw retention features. Wildsnow did ski the ZED a few days ago, we’ll report on that in a separate blog post. It appears to be a wonderful contribution, and will no doubt rise to the top choices in the mob of classic tech bindings you’ll be able to choose from beginning fall of 2018. That’s impressive, in fact it’s nothing less than proof that concepts gleaned from the Lost Binding of Z are as timely now as they were when Mac Ztrif whittled that first prototype so long ago.Ĭonclusion: To say we are excited about this binding is to put it mildly. More, you can run ZED with longer demo plate, thus enjoying 62 mm of boot length adjustment for a few grams weight increase per binding. ZED reduces weight and enhances simplicity by combining adjustments into one, but everything comes at a price.Īnother thing some of you might care about, ION provides 22 mm boot length adjustment while ZED offers 30. My favorite thing about ION is unlike ZED’s admittedly clever one-screw release value adjustment, you have two independent adjustments and can thus tune release values - something I’ve found quite useful in convincing tech bindings to perform at “chart” release-retention values (and as one commenter mentioned, is useful if you find the brake might be influencing your lateral release resistance). In the end, if ZED proves out, that might simply be proof that ION could be lighter. Also, as I alluded to elsewhere, due to the virtually zero ramp of the ZED, the heel lifters are probably slightly lower than ION (though we do need to do some measuring on that). A more subtle difference is that ION ingeniously locks out its ski flex compensation while in touring mode, thus preventing possible wear inducing fore/aft movement of the heel unit while in touring mode. I’m not entirely convinced that’s a factor for most shoppers, though ION parts such as the toe unit chassis and heel top plate are obviously stronger. G3 says the ION might be more suitable for hard charging while ZED is clearly more on the ski touring side of the equation, and thus you get a smidge of durability for the weight price. Firstly, with ION LT (no brake) you’ll pay a weight penalty of about 114 grams (4 ounces) per foot, which is not insignificant. The astute consumer of ski touring bindings will no doubt ask “why not just ski an ION?” Several reasons you might go one way or the other on that. Be glad we have things like injection molding and mass production to bring the price down somewhere in the ecosphere as $449.00 with brakes (see below for brake sizes). ![]() If you were in Chile last summer you might have seen a G3 binding tester with a calculator and load cell riding these $3,000 one-off machined protos.
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