Switchback X2, BD 01 & BMD Spike comparison
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:25 pm
I checked these ones on the same ski (same hole pattern with inserts). K2 Wayback.
The 3 of em ski pretty nicely. The X2 feels «softer» than the other ones; it engages more slowly but surely. BD 01 & Spike engage quicker; they feel more active (hard to do a scientific comparison, since it also depends on spring pre-load... I tried to have similar adjustments). (I must add that the X2, at the end of the radius mouvement feel very solid). Spike can be very very active or more neutral; there is 7 different pivot positions to choose from. With 01, no pivot position to choose from [but you can change pre-load or cartridge (which tend to loosen up BTW... easy to fix)...]. The sweetest skiing? The Spike. The forefoot feels like screwed in the binding— I have the long cage ones. As far as walk mode, the 01 is very, very good... but after a while, the axis becomes loose a bit; it adds a little wiggle to the binding. The X2 feels very similar; the axis is just a tiny bit further in front of the boot than 01. I never heard of anybody having that kind of problem (wiggle) with X2. The Spike gives the least natural stride in walk mode; it can be annoying but you can get use to it (the axis is really further in front... reminds me of some AT plate binding). The Spike in 75 mm leaves a slot drilled in your soles. No problem, except if you want to sell back the boots. Icing? It happens once with 01, once with X2, and a couple of times with Spike (it seems to be a collateral damage; the cause seems to be a little cotter pin in one of my particular binding...). All of them are great for different reason. I admire the X2 simplicity & solidity. In deep snow, I'd prefer them since you don't want too much activity ... Voilà.
The 3 of em ski pretty nicely. The X2 feels «softer» than the other ones; it engages more slowly but surely. BD 01 & Spike engage quicker; they feel more active (hard to do a scientific comparison, since it also depends on spring pre-load... I tried to have similar adjustments). (I must add that the X2, at the end of the radius mouvement feel very solid). Spike can be very very active or more neutral; there is 7 different pivot positions to choose from. With 01, no pivot position to choose from [but you can change pre-load or cartridge (which tend to loosen up BTW... easy to fix)...]. The sweetest skiing? The Spike. The forefoot feels like screwed in the binding— I have the long cage ones. As far as walk mode, the 01 is very, very good... but after a while, the axis becomes loose a bit; it adds a little wiggle to the binding. The X2 feels very similar; the axis is just a tiny bit further in front of the boot than 01. I never heard of anybody having that kind of problem (wiggle) with X2. The Spike gives the least natural stride in walk mode; it can be annoying but you can get use to it (the axis is really further in front... reminds me of some AT plate binding). The Spike in 75 mm leaves a slot drilled in your soles. No problem, except if you want to sell back the boots. Icing? It happens once with 01, once with X2, and a couple of times with Spike (it seems to be a collateral damage; the cause seems to be a little cotter pin in one of my particular binding...). All of them are great for different reason. I admire the X2 simplicity & solidity. In deep snow, I'd prefer them since you don't want too much activity ... Voilà.