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JESTER PRO or FKS 180?

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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,752
I loove how light jesters are! I had a couple pairs but after getting sick of constant rip-outs, pre-releases and a wobbly toe piece I switched to lookPX18 & 15's. I figured, I can't break those bindings they're all metal.

I rode a bunch of demos with griffons this spring and LOVED not having 20lbs of binding attached to me.
I'm getting new pow sticks for next season and I'm torn between FKS180 & Jester pro and maybe FFG16. My question is, Will the Jester Pro hold up now with the new tweaks? or Should I just go with the heavier bombproof FKS180? I know the FKS will hold up, but are 5.6lbs vs the 4.5lbs of the jester pro.

I'm mostly rambling now, but I really made this thread to here people's experience w/ Jester Pros.
people like to know this stuff in binding threads.

ME: 6'3' 200lbs, type IV skier, I like to get air, go upside-down, and spin around sometimes too... In all types of snow.

HELP IS APPRECIATED!
Jul 6 2012 2:17PM
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AlexFromTarget
Posts: 533 - Karma: 59
id go with the ffg16 because the rossignol fks is a great binding but it can be a hassle in pow with getting snow clogged on it. ive never used the jester but markers bindings in general i didnt like and i dont hear many raving about the jester. where as in pow its simple to put on ffg and its a bombproof binding many people like.
Jul 6 2012 2:32PM
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jordy19
Posts: 2550 - Karma: 427
FKS..

/thread
Jul 6 2012 3:20PM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
The STH 16 will hold up better than the jester pro, but be lighter than the fks 180. If you want heavy and ultra burly, go fks 180 or s916 (the steel version of the sth 16). If you want light and still burly, but less so, go jester pro. For halfway in between, go non-steel sth 16.
Jul 6 2012 3:42PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
I would pick FFG16(driver toe), mainly because with markers I have had a lot of problems with the heel piece sliding back in the heel piece rail, this has happened with both my Jester and Barons. In fairness I have never used Jester Pros, but since I have found it with two models, I personally wouldn't buy Markers again. With regards to the FKS, I wouldn't mount an all metal binding on a ski without a metal sheet in it, also from what I heard they can be difficult to get on in deeper snow.
Jul 6 2012 4:04PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
FFG 16 / STH 16 for the win. Bomb proof bindings that will last you forever. I love them oh so much
Jul 6 2012 5:31PM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
Thats the dumbest statement i have ever heard.

How would a metal plate help the binding? Nothing about being all metal would screw anything up, the smallish mounting pattern however is more of a problem, but get a quality mount and you are set.

The myth that fks are hard to get into in deep snow is not true. Its just like any other binding out there, if there is a lot of snow in the heel piece it wont click down.

FKS for life.
Jul 7 2012 3:10AM
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hokkanee
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 435
This. The only time that I have trouble clicking in is after walking from the parking lot. And 20 seconds of scraping your boots clears that off just fine
Jul 7 2012 12:17PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
I dont know if you are talking about the STH steels, but if you are talking about the standard ones then ive cracked the heelplate twice and im about OP's size and would not reccomend them UNLESS they are this years model (which has a flexible spine on the heel plate to prevent the cracking problem) which is what I replaced my old ones with and I love. Maybe that advice kind of went in circles, but the bottom line is dont get any older than this year non-steel STHs
Jul 7 2012 12:28PM
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Jo_n
Posts: 77 - Karma: 50
I agree with everything you just said. The fks never once gave me more trouble than other bindings in deep snow.
Jul 7 2012 12:48PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Exactly, if anything I think it's easier, because you can easily lift up the heel to get snow out of it
Jul 7 2012 1:45PM
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AlexFromTarget
Posts: 533 - Karma: 59
When ur riding sth's u have snow onur boot u click in fine and go with fks u have to put in the effort to scrape off the snow its just kind of sn inconveniece
Jul 7 2012 2:32PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
wait, how can you clip in with snow on your boot with sth's? what gives them this ability
Jul 7 2012 2:34PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Really? I had the pair for the first season they came out (5 or so seasons ago). They've lasted through 5 other pairs of skis (all destroyed or dead ) I'm hard on my gear, these things are destroyed cosmetic wise, but they still do their job
Jul 7 2012 3:38PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,499
it is true, i have never had to scrape my boots, the boot engages solidly ever time. The Sth is one of the most used bindings out there so there must be something to them.
Jul 7 2012 4:43PM
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NoSkillsCrew
Posts: 1203 - Karma: 2,108
This. Been buried up to my chest in pow and still was able to engage the binding feet submerged. Cant tell you why they just work.
Jul 7 2012 5:38PM
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white6speedz28
Posts: 1331 - Karma: 234
If you decide to go with FKS 180s or STH/FFG16s, I have both. 180s are brand new (just mounted a set of ninja 185s on my 191 billygoats - looking forward to ridin them) and the FFG16s have been used about 15 days - some cosmetic wear.
Jul 7 2012 6:17PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Well im about 230-240 pounds and 6'5. I broke the plate twice on the same pair of skis (obsetheds from 09'). They had 2 previous mounts and were pretty flexy. With my weight Im assuming I just overflexed the ski which broke the plate, but there is a slight chance it coulda been something else. Bottom line for me though is that I broke them and that is reason enough for me to stay away from that year. If it means anything, I also owned a pair of heavily used no-times that had cracked sth heelpieces, but I cant really speak for those because Im not the original owner.
Jul 7 2012 6:29PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Size could have contributed. I'm 6'2, 170lbs, besides brakes, never had a problem. The only binding I've broken is a Look PX18 Racing. Super twisted at the heal. As much as I'd love to put an STH Steel on my skis, it isn't needed for a park ski, and my Billy Goats get Guardians. For OP, STH/FFG 16, FKS 180, and Tyrolia(Head/4FRNT) 18s (15 too?) are all options, all on the same level of performance and durability. Arguments between these bindings have been going on forever, and get nowhere. Pick your poison
Jul 7 2012 6:40PM
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Shlobby
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 303
Ive never had a problem wiith getting my skis on in pow with the FKS. I would go fks they're amazing bindings
Jul 14 2012 11:17PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14489 - Karma: 10,640
You are 200 pounds, a half pound on each foot shouldn't be noticeable at all....

But if you are looking for light weight, go sth / ffg 16 over the jester pro for sure. I would even go sth 16 over fks any day but that's just my own opinion. I absolutely hate my jesters and griffons. My px 15's are dope as well.
Jul 15 2012 4:16PM
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N.A.R
Posts: 181 - Karma: 357
I like My griffons. Haven't had any problems with them. I seem like a straggler though haha.
Jul 15 2012 9:52PM
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RyandaGod
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 43
FKS all day between those 2. Fuck Marker
Jul 15 2012 10:01PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868
The Jester Pro has nothing changed to address the problem of bigger riders turning the toe-piece into a bobble-head after a couple of big hits. It's still the same primarily plastic binding with a couple of metal bits added on and a stiffer spring.
Jul 16 2012 8:26PM
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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,752
I like the price tag on the ffg16 too. i have px15s on my park skis, they're great.
Jul 18 2012 7:03PM
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Wadsworth
Posts: 962 - Karma: 1,131
FKS for sure man! But Jester Pros are still sick as fuck. And I think the Jesters are lighter too. They are both great bindings
Jul 19 2012 1:31AM
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