ADK Skier wrote:
I tried my new Salomon Pilot 2 Classic boots today with my old Salomon
Profil Classic bindings. Immediately I knew something wasn't right.

wrote:
Sounds like a good reason to avoid the new boots and bindings until I
really need them, unless you tell us later in the season that the
Classic Pilot is the Holy Grail.


I spent some time looking at the new Pilot Classic binding. The
glaring change is the fact there is no flexor; there is a "hook" which
attaches to the 2nd bar on the boot. The hook is attached to a Kevlar
strap which pulls out of (and retracts back into) a mechanism inside
the center ridge of the binding plate. This ridge is flared towards
the toe of the boot and the back of it has an adjuster screw to vary
the tension of the strap. There is a small indicator to tell you where
the screw is positioned.

The flared center ridge DOES NOT mate with any of the older classic
boots - the recess in an older boot does not fit over it unless you are
planning to carve the sole up a bit. That doesn't really matter though
because there is no flexor to return the ski anyway. The bottom line
is that if you want the new Pilot Classic binding, you'll need to buy
new boots too.

I've heard folks describe the new classic binding as "80% gimmick".
I've got some concerns about whether they will ice up and stop working.


- Bob