Question about pivots

[fries]

Not using gear talk because I'm hoping to get a response.

I'm looking at new bindings for this season, just got some magnus 102s. Was looking to get pivots, but it seems that only the gripwalk version is available online nowadays. My boot soles are not alpine, nor are they gripwalk. Will these bindings still work for my salomon s/pros? Also, am I paying more for this useless feature?

Thanks in advance

 

[FaunaSkis]

Gripwalk bindings are compatible with both the new Gripwalk soles or any normal alpine ISO 5355 boot soles, but not Touring soles. Is it a WTR sole you have? Touring ISO 9523 and WTR soles aren't rated for going in gripwalk bindings. They might fit but wont release right

You're not really paying more for the gripwalk tech, just early/pre season full price for them. Given most boot companies are transitioning to gripwalk as the normal for their non-tour boots they will have slightly more re-sale value in the future.

**This post was edited on Oct 8th 2019 at 12:05:11pm

 

[Non_State_Actor]

What soles do you have? Walk soles? WTR?

 

[animator]

S/Pros do have alpine soles

 

[fries]

S/Pros do have alpine soles

oh. Thanks. I just switched from having ft drop kicks for 4 years now so I'm a little bit oblivious

 

[fries]

Gripwalk bindings are compatible with both the new Gripwalk soles or any normal alpine ISO 5355 boot soles, but not Touring soles. Is it a WTR sole you have? Touring ISO 9523 and WTR soles aren't rated for going in gripwalk bindings. They might fit but wont release right

You're not really paying more for the gripwalk tech, just early/pre season full price for them. Given most boot companies are transitioning to gripwalk as the normal for their non-tour boots they will have slightly more re-sale value in the future.

**This post was edited on Oct 8th 2019 at 12:05:11pm

This helps a lot! Thank you!

 

[SofaKingSick]

Gripwalk bindings are compatible with both the new Gripwalk soles or any normal alpine ISO 5355 boot soles, but not Touring soles. Is it a WTR sole you have? Touring ISO 9523 and WTR soles aren't rated for going in gripwalk bindings. They might fit but wont release right

You're not really paying more for the gripwalk tech, just early/pre season full price for them. Given most boot companies are transitioning to gripwalk as the normal for their non-tour boots they will have slightly more re-sale value in the future.

**This post was edited on Oct 8th 2019 at 12:05:11pm

this is the kind of informative post nothing can touch NS's value on (except TGR but they're gear nerds to a fault imo)

 

[seanahue.]

Gripwalk bindings are compatible with both the new Gripwalk soles or any normal alpine ISO 5355 boot soles, but not Touring soles. Is it a WTR sole you have? Touring ISO 9523 and WTR soles aren't rated for going in gripwalk bindings. They might fit but wont release right

You're not really paying more for the gripwalk tech, just early/pre season full price for them. Given most boot companies are transitioning to gripwalk as the normal for their non-tour boots they will have slightly more re-sale value in the future.

**This post was edited on Oct 8th 2019 at 12:05:11pm

nooooooo, just saw the 18 toe went gw too?? say it aint so...

something about gripwalk makes me want to distrust it from the og 18 toe. i have zero science to back that, just kinda liked the “fuck you this binding is perfect and we’ll never change it” streak that look had going

 

[FaunaSkis]

nooooooo, just saw the 18 toe went gw too?? say it aint so...

something about gripwalk makes me want to distrust it from the og 18 toe. i have zero science to back that, just kinda liked the “fuck you this binding is perfect and we’ll never change it” streak that look had going

Just to be clear, changing to GW has no effect on normal alpine boots. Look had made most of their bindings GW compatible last year but called it AW. If you’ve got WTR soles, you can get compatible replacement AFDs from a Rossi/Look dealer for pivot 18s.

**This post was edited on Oct 9th 2019 at 6:51:55am

 

[clorox]

nooooooo, just saw the 18 toe went gw too?? say it aint so...

something about gripwalk makes me want to distrust it from the og 18 toe. i have zero science to back that, just kinda liked the “fuck you this binding is perfect and we’ll never change it” streak that look had going

If it makes you feel better, no metal parts were changed, just the plastic plate with the AFD on it that goes under the toe piece.



Picked up a set of matte black gripwalk p18's. Waiting on a set of brakes because I guess Look only sells them with 70mm brakes. Also ordered a new set of GW AFD's for my FKS 18's.

Literally removed the gripwalk soles from my Lupo's for alpine soles because there weren't any GW pivot options until recently. Looking foreword to having more rubber under my boot.

 

[seanahue.]

Just to be clear, changing to GW has no effect on normal alpine boots. Look had made most of their bindings GW compatible last year but called it AW. If you’ve got WTR soles, you can get compatible replacement AFDs from a Rossi/Look dealer for pivot 18s.

**This post was edited on Oct 9th 2019 at 6:51:55am

nah alpine soles for me, i just don’t really understand what skiing performance benefit gripwalk offers... its just so you can roll your toe more comfortably walking in the parking lot, right? i gotta think that rubber wears faster than hard plastic too... planned obsolescence?

If it makes you feel better, no metal parts were changed, just the plastic plate with the AFD on it that goes under the toe piece.

View attachment 940929

Picked up a set of matte black gripwalk p18's. Waiting on a set of brakes because I guess Look only sells them with 70mm brakes. Also ordered a new set of GW AFD's for my FKS 18's.

Literally removed the gripwalk soles from my Lupo's for alpine soles because there weren't any GW pivot options until recently. Looking foreword to having more rubber under my boot.

that does make me feel slightly better, but like i said above^ i dont really understand why gripwalk is even a thing. having used it, do you get any skiing related benefits that you dont with alpine? or is it all about the walk to/from the hill?

more than anything, i’m probably just old and don’t like change ??

 

[Non_State_Actor]

nah alpine soles for me, i just don’t really understand what skiing performance benefit gripwalk offers... its just so you can roll your toe more comfortably walking in the parking lot, right? i gotta think that rubber wears faster than hard plastic too... planned obsolescence?

that does make me feel slightly better, but like i said above^ i dont really understand why gripwalk is even a thing. having used it, do you get any skiing related benefits that you dont with alpine? or is it all about the walk to/from the hill?

more than anything, i’m probably just old and don’t like change ??

They're nice for bootpacks and scrambling for sure.

Are you running like 6kg race plug boots or what?

 

[clorox]

nah alpine soles for me, i just don’t really understand what skiing performance benefit gripwalk offers... its just so you can roll your toe more comfortably walking in the parking lot, right? i gotta think that rubber wears faster than hard plastic too... planned obsolescence?

that does make me feel slightly better, but like i said above^ i dont really understand why gripwalk is even a thing. having used it, do you get any skiing related benefits that you dont with alpine? or is it all about the walk to/from the hill?

more than anything, i’m probably just old and don’t like change ??

It's more that they have a more rounded profile and rubber hitting the ground, so that you don't shred your shells down faster. Another reason is that since GW friendly bindings can fit both GW and alpine soles, so that buyers will have more freedom in boot options regardless of binding in the future.

They definitely feel better for walking on pavement or hiking on rocks, but not much of a difference walking on snow or ice.

I'd also like to note that GW soles are way harder to boot ski with than alpine soles, if that's a concern to you.

 

[seanahue.]

They're nice for bootpacks and scrambling for sure.

Are you running like 6kg race plug boots or what?

roxa element; for an iso sole they actually have a good bit of rubber on there, so i guess thats also part of the reason why i'm curious if gw makes any big difference in some way i'm unaware of

I'd also like to note that GW soles are way harder to boot ski with than alpine soles, if that's a concern to you.

 

[onenerdykid]

roxa element; for an iso sole they actually have a good bit of rubber on there, so i guess thats also part of the reason why i'm curious if gw makes any big difference in some way i'm unaware of

GripWalk isn't just about easier walking (in fact, most of us here don't give a shit about that since we know how to walk in ski boots). The main benefit to NSers will be added traction and not having to swap soles (or boots) or constantly adjust toe heights.

The tread pattern that GripWalk allows for is WAY more robust & deep than what is allowed thru the Alpine Norm 5355. If you ever spend time scrambling or walking across terrain that is slippery, it is far better than normal alpine soles. It does not, however, offer the same level of grip as full-rubber Touring Norm sole... but it also skis better than a full-rubber touring sole. Touring Norm soles move/compress more in a binding while skiing, so the power transfer of your boot to binding suffers. If you really want your 130 boot to flex and ski like a 130, a full-rubber sole prevents that from fully happening.

As long as you have GripWalk compatible bindings, a GripWalk sole will allow you to use one pair of boots and not have to swap soles or adjust bindings when you move from carving skis to park skis to pow skis. That is not possible to do with a Touring Norm sole.

If you don't have a carving/race ski, and you only have freestyle/freeride skis, then adjustment thing probably won't matter to you. But GripWalk will still offer you way more traction compared to Alpine Norm and more skiing performance compared to Touring Norm.