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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Have 2 pow skis, only one pair of bindings. Which skis?

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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
I Have a pair of Surface New Life 194 and a pair of K2 Obsethed 189. Both are Last years models.

Only One pair of salomon sth 14 drivers. Which ski should i mount them to?

I live in Beaver Creek, I will be skiing @ Vail, The Beav, Breck, A Basin, and in Lake tahoe for Xmas. At least 100 days this year in Colorado.

These skis are totally different. I have no idea which one i would get better use out of?

The only thing i can concur is if there is less snow use the obsetheds, if more snow use the new lifes?
13 years ago
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DancingToast
Posts: 537 - Karma: 28
SETHS ALL THE WAY
13 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
K2s. You cant go wrong on something seth morrison approves. That and I'm a surface hater.
13 years ago
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Zerofallen
Posts: 16 - Karma: 10
Why don't you just run inserts in both sets of skis and swap and change depending on what you need?
13 years ago
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Andi_G
Posts: 3100 - Karma: 15,256
this

Quiver Killers brah
13 years ago
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KillaSteeze
Posts: 3329 - Karma: 351
k2's for sure
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,697
Just get both drilled up for the STH's and then you can easily swap the bindings between the two skis.

You could use quiver killers but you dont need to. So long as you dont want to ride both skis in the same day, and you have even a little tech skill, you can easily swap the bindings between the 2 skis without any negitive effects on the ski
13 years ago
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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
Why are you a surface hater lol. I am just wondering? I mean for the price, they seem great. And i heard they really put effort into making their skis more durable starting last year.

But at 299 for a 122 waist 194 length pow ski, That is one heck of a deal even if they break in 2 years, which they wont
13 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,617
http://bindingfreedom.com/
13 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
I've demod last two seasons when they come to Aspen and didn't like them at all. Felt damp and unresponsive. Maybe they are trying new stuff this year.

But when you have a company of that size selling ski that low they are cutting cost some where. Maybe where they produce, maybe the materials, maybe the workers. I'm no math major but doesn't seem too add up.

OP you could just sell both of those skis and get one killer ski instead of two similar skis. Just and Idea.
I got some 186 Billygoats In route to my house. (so STOKED!!!). That ski is gonna be for everything except park and non pow days. 
13 years ago
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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
Ya, I am super sketched out about puttin anything "into" my skis. And i really dont want to have my binding get loose when im in the backcountry, because the epoxy gave out. I dont know if i trust these quiver killers. Seem more like Ski and Knee lifespan killers too me. Anyone Use these and not have any ski durability problems?

I dont think ill ever ride both on the same day, but taking them on and off back and forth will definately have some effect aswell. Constantly re threading = not good

Looks like my Surfaces are gunna be sitting in the closet sayin " SKI ME!" all winter.

Im going to invent a pair of boots that has a solar powered magnet on the sole that you can switch on and off. and inside of each and every ski there a small powerful hyper-magnet that attracts the boot. No more bindings.
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,697
As long as your carfull you will be fine, my first year living here I had thalls, 2012's and rocker 2's and only 1 set of STH 16's. It was fine swapping them, but I have worked as a boot fitter for over 10 years so I know what Im doing mounting skis. Im still using the Thalls and Rocker 2's to this day and have had no negative effects.

Inserts are a good option if your not totally confident in your tech skills though.
13 years ago
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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
Ya i see what your saying. I dont think they are making too much money, I think they over produced and with such a low demand they had no choice to sell for that cheap. Other websites are selling them for 350-450 because they know its worth it.

But I absolutely love the Billy Goats and Caylors, but im not quite ready for them. I dont need the Ferrari until i learn how to drive the Corvette first (Analogy or whatever)

I will definately look into On3p next year when i get a better feel for what i need. This is my first year out west and first year for backcountry sooo i wanted to try 2 different skis. And it will work out great. If i like the Surface New life , ill buy the Caylor. If i end up skiing the K2 more, ill pick up a billy goat.

Its just i found the 189 Obsethed for $399 at Christy Sports here in colorado. I had to jump on that. They'll be great skis
13 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
Your real problem is that you're attempting to mount STH 14s in the first place. My recommendation would be to find a decent precipice, have a friend toss them underhand toward you, and then slug them into the abyss with a metal baseball bat.

After you've done the above proper disposal, purchase two pairs of better bindings and your problem will be solved.
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,697
^lol

what would your recommendation for bindings be? The STH 14 is certainly one of the best bindings you can buy (so long as its not the old oversize toe versions)


13 years ago
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
916 steel^ to the OP quiver killers/binding freedom inserts do work very well. You should also think about selling both pairs of skis and getting something newer/better made than either of them.
13 years ago
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Skurfer
Posts: 44 - Karma: 7
you heard wrong about the durability. I have a pair of new lifes and they are de-laming bad. I only skied them like 50 days last season. They are a pretty fun ski, but its still a pain in the ass to re epoxy them.
13 years ago
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Ghini
Posts: 2267 - Karma: 3,057
Inserts/quiver killers

or

Just get a set of MFD's with some extra base plates..that way you can use your STH's on both skis AND tour/skin with them..
13 years ago
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Save up $100 over the next 3 months and buy a used pair of bindings.
13 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
I'm still on the fence about getting STH14 Drivers. Whats so bad about them compared to other bindings?
13 years ago
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OGoriginal-gaper
Posts: 354 - Karma: 86
just mount the sth 14 on one and look around for some old look tt's, zr's or fks geze toes or something like that
13 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
Well, at least the Driver has the screw-type forward pressure adjustment. The old tabbed system was heinous. And I think it was one of those old Oversize pairs that gave me a bad experience.

Had a pair of the tabbed version for a while, mounted on Hellbents, and the second time skiing them, I landed a little sideways on hard snow. The heelpiece completely exploded, as in pieces of spring, housing, and other stuff all over the snow. The heel track completely bent to allow the housing to fly out.

So I'm not much of a fan. Plus, unless it's a DIN range issue, the STH 16 (not the Steel, which is a great binding, but heavy and overkill for most folks) has more metal in general, making it a better investment in my mind.
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,697
^ just for your information, the STH 16 only differs from the 12 and 14 by having a metal toe stack, that is the only differnece. The heel piece is identical between the STH 12 OS, STH 12, STH 14 and STH 16.

I see it all the time here that people think you need to go for the STH 16 for added durability but its simply not the case.

Now the STH 16 steel obviously is full metal, but it also weighs an absolute ton, so is certainly overkill for almost all skiers
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,697
Just to add, the tabed version you speak of is infact a Z heel, not an STH. I will agree with you there those heels are not appropriate for freesking.
13 years ago
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
sths and sell the other ones
13 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
Guess I got lost between the old ones and the new. Thanks for clarifying.
13 years ago
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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
Oh yah bad ass. Its called snow shoes and a ski pack. its not that "badass" anymore. unless u live in the east
13 years ago
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B-Hans
Posts: 172 - Karma: 197
SETH!!! enough said.
13 years ago
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