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MFD Plates

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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
Has anybody here used MFD plates for touring? I'm looking at doing some touring this year, so, looking at my options as far as bindings are concerned. I'll be using the skis for inbounds as well, which is why I want them to be as "normal" as possible as far as bindings are concerned. They're 12/13 on3p Jeffreys, and I'll probably be putting sth 14 drivers on with the MFD plate.

My question, who has used them, and do they make inbounds skiing any different?

Thanks!
Jul 19 2012 12:51AM
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Pretzel___Slaya
Posts: 1432 - Karma: 190
I to am interested, and OP I want ur skis!!
Jul 19 2012 1:01AM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
I want my skis too...can't wait for them to ship!
Jul 19 2012 1:59AM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
ive heard good things about them. the only real negative (isnt even that bad) is that the piviot point is in front of the toe piece, as opposed to directly in front of the toe of the boot, which can feel wierd. other than that, there have been a lot of solid reviews, and you get to use your own bindings which is a major plus. i dont remember exactly, but i think Dylan Natale and Kyler Cooley use them in the Backcountry Boys webisodes, and those guys kill it, so they would hold up fine for you
Jul 19 2012 2:19AM
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pghjibber
Posts: 1298 - Karma: 329
if you're looking to buy some MFD Salomon Plates, send me a pm - I'll make you a deal
Jul 19 2012 2:39AM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
I'm sure they'll hold up just fine haha. My concern is weight/stack height and changing the flex of the ski. Weight/stack...will the ski feel any different in bounds if I want to be able to jib around on everything in the resort on a pow day, as opposed to me using just plain bindings? And, the flex, bolting a huge chunk of metal to the middle of the ski should change the flex pattern...right?
Jul 20 2012 3:34PM
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NoSkillsCrew
Posts: 1204 - Karma: 2,113
As a tech I am not particularly crazy about these things. I have seen a range of bizarre damage caused to skis and also have seen a few of these things snap at the toe hinge like a Tele binding. Those things can be said of anything I guess but secondly. Heavy as heck. Also at this point you might as well just get touring bindings because they weigh less. Way less. This is a giant metal plate after all.

Also pretty much every style of binding other than FKS can be found in a touring setup. If you are looking to getting into real touring get dynafits. Best touring binding out there I.M.O.
Jul 20 2012 7:49PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 17,592
this pretty much sums up what I have seen of them too
Jul 20 2012 7:51PM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
What type of damage if you don't mind me asking? I'd rather not rape my new Jeffreys...
Jul 23 2012 9:51PM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
What type of damage if you don't mind me asking? I'd rather not rape my new Jeffreys...
Jul 23 2012 9:55PM
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NoSkillsCrew
Posts: 1204 - Karma: 2,113
Mostly crushed sidewalls. Some major top sheet cracking in front of the mount and some weird warping of the base from where the screws torque. I have heard other horror stories but I will not relay them cause I haven't personally seen the damage.
Jul 23 2012 10:09PM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
If you're thinking about an alpine-style touring binding (as opposed to tech/randonee), why not just get the salomon guardian? It has a lower stack height than the duke, and if you'd be buying your sth 14s/mfd new, a new guardian would cost less. Of course, since the guardian is being released for next season you'd have to buy it new, as opposed to being able to find used deals on the mfd/alpine binding setup. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here, but in terms of price, used mfd setup<guardian<new mfd setup. Of course you could just accept the stack height and get a duke. Or if you're only doing super duper short hikes you could just get a set of trekkers, although those things are known to break down at the worst of times. Although if you're seriously looking into touring and willing to spend the money, you could get a set of dynafit vertical ft12s or plum guides, although then you have to get a compatible boot. Basically, you just need to make a decision about the level of resort and the level of touring you want this ski for.
Lots and lots of touring, a small bit of resort=dynafit/plum/g3 onyx/la sportiva, etc.
50/50 touring and resort=guardians/dukes/mfd setup
Lots and lots of resort, a small bit of touring=trekkers (god forbid)
Good luck, I'm sure you'll have a shitload of fun either way.
BTW, jefferies look fucking sick. With any luck, I'll be on a pair of 191 caylors this year so I'll get a chance to experience the quality everyone's raving about.
Cheers,
Isak
Jul 23 2012 11:45PM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 237
They are overpriced IMO. With the cost of an alpine bindings + the plates, you might as well get a duke or guardian ect.


Jul 23 2012 11:46PM
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Ghini
Posts: 2262 - Karma: 3,004
What ever you do, dont buy a duke.. you have to step out the binding to switch to touring mode or back + you cant change the climbing aids with your pole..oh and yeah you stand idiot high..

If you buy a whole new set, yes you could also go guardian.. If you have bindings deff go MFD..or if you want to be shure to get a bombproog setup go MFD.. I have never seen or heard the above problems. Just get them mounted right and straight..
Jul 24 2012 4:31AM
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Ghini
Posts: 2262 - Karma: 3,004
Oh and with MFD you stand is the lowest you can get, the changing from tour to ski mode and different heights is so fast and easy I love that! I went for an über burly setup, Moment Bibby + MFD + FKS, love it! Only for real long tours I would go tech bindings..
Jul 24 2012 4:35AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
personally, i'd stick with the piece of mind knowing that there is no possible way that my binding is going to unlock when im in a tight spot...
Jul 24 2012 9:33AM
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
I really don't mind stepping out of mine to switch to tour mode. Plus this upcoming season what were our options? Fritchi's? Dukes were a game changer , and now they are finally improvements in the form of the guardian and the adrenalin( haven't heard much on them ). Next 3 years we should see more improvements
Jul 24 2012 10:05AM
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Ghini
Posts: 2262 - Karma: 3,004
adrenaline is a piece of plastic garbage
Jul 24 2012 10:11AM
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
I really don't mind stepping out of mine to switch to tour mode. Plus before this upcoming season what were our options? Fritchi's? Dukes were a game changer , and now there are finally improvements in the form of the guardian and the adrenalin( haven't heard much on them ). In the Next 3 years we should see more improvements on those designs. I have even heard claims that you can hit some booters on the guardian without them asssplodang!

sorry for the double post but my first was barely engrish
Jul 24 2012 10:12AM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
This is probably the best review of the MFD's that I have read.

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/mfd-alltime-alpine-touring-binding

He goes into a lot of detail about the mechanics of it if you are willing to sit down a read through five pages
Jul 25 2012 1:10AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Just buy Dukes. The technology is proven. Breakages are mostly caused by user error and improper setup.

Guardians? New unproven technology, lower than a duke but heavier, and I'm not convinced the heal latches will stay ice-free.
Jul 25 2012 6:35AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 17,592
^ the guardians have actually been in use for a couple of seasons now, its just that they are only now being released to the general skiing community. Salomon actually learnt something from releasing the Quest boots to early.
Jul 25 2012 10:16PM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
Thanks for all the input guys. Still can't decide what to get honestly. MFD is low, bomber, but heavy. Duke is high, light, and meh? Guardian is idk.

I just don't want to ruin my in bounds skiing experience because I'll be mostly in bounds this season, I just want to mess around with touring with some friends to build some booters. So, who has a touring set up they ski mostly in bounds with, and doesn't impact how fun a ski can be?

Jul 25 2012 10:41PM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 237
Honestly, none of the options you listed are not going to hold up that well on things like booters. Moving parts are not going to be that solid for that type of impact. If you are just planning on touring to find a place to build a booter, you should just buy trekkers.

Maybe even try trekkers for this season, and although they suck, if you realise you don't tour as much as you thought, you will still an alpine binding at the end of it. After that, you can then go and look at buying something more suitable for touring if you decide its something you want to do more.

Thats my opinion anyway.
Jul 26 2012 12:23AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
THIS!

I've seen a lot of broken bindings in my time. But I can count on one hand how many Dukes were broken actually skiing. 9 time out of 10, people break them when they try force the binding back into skiing mode instead of lining it up properly.

I've got Dukes on my Obsetheds and I don't even notice the height difference.

Bottom line, take care of your gear and it will last
Jul 26 2012 9:34AM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9300 - Karma: 7,700
I'm pretty surprised people here are recommending the duke. I had them for two years and so did a good number of my friends. They suck, and they fall apart-- not because of user error. There were a number of times parts would break due to skiing alone. The silver piece on the toe piece broke on me three times and it happened to a few of my friends. I personally hated being the rise they had off the ski. I decided to get trekkers and haven't looked back. People that call them day-wrekkers either suck at touring/side hilling, didn't set them up properly, or use them with look bindings (don't do this the toe piece will slip out everytime).


that said, I have a pair of small dukes for sale if anyone's interested, ha
Jul 26 2012 9:50AM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9300 - Karma: 7,700
forgot to respond to the thread...

I'll be honest i've never skied on the MFD's but i've seen them and held them and I was surprised by the amount they rise off the ski (very similiar to that of a duke, naxo, etc) and they were really heavy. It's a great idea, but they need to find a way to make the plate smaller and lighter.

Get some dynafits if you're not going to be dropping anything huge, and even if you are they hold up really really well.
Jul 26 2012 9:53AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
You're setting the AFD too tight if that happens. I broke one of mine like that, then after replacing them and setting them up properly they were fine.

For what it's worth, I ski Plums now. I've had a few issues with them but they're still good.
Jul 26 2012 11:01AM
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