The FEEEL between rod/cartridge and compression springs.

[dnt_upton]

I personally think switching between bindings of different activity levels is the hardest adjustment (awkward for 1/2 day), followed by switching between boots of different stiffness/height (awkward for 2 runs), followed by switching between skis of different dimensions (which I don't find hard at all).

If I were you, I'd figure out which binding you prefer, sell the others, and put Binding Freedom inserts in the skis so you can switch quickly. If you tour, consider the Switchback X2 since it sounds like you prefer a little activity.

Every now and then, jump on some 3 pins and practice keep your stance tight, knees together.

Patience and time on snow, and you'll be all good.

[lowangle al]

Boots were the big adjustment for me followed by fat skis. Bindings were never a problem, except HH set less than 3.

I tour with SBs and SBX2s, mostly K&G with wax and I find the X2s to limit my ROM. I almost never tour in free pivot unless I am skinning.

[Woodserson]

I just gonna keep plugging away. I jumped yesterday between two different pairs of skis/bindings (BD 02/SB) and only had problems on my SB's. Today all day on the Chili's and no problems.

I'm routinely skiing just pins with/without cables in my Antarctics, inbounds, at the same place I did all the above skiing, no problems either (well, except you know, I'm on leathers barrelling around on Outtabounds and eating shit on a regular basis, but no big problems). My stance is tight, knee is tucked in behind other knee, forward ski is not pushed forward, all that. Feels good.

I took the Vectors/SB in the pow the other day and I just gave up and paralleled.

I work more at it. I really thinks it's the bindings and my technique. There's obviously nothing wrong with the bindings, just me and how I'm approaching them.

DO OR DO NOT

[connyro]

Some folks just prefer a certain type of binding. I absolutely hate the O2s. I really like the HH/Axls. I like the SB/SB2/3pin HW.

IMO, the Vectors are best skied in an aggressive manner and with authority when telemark turning. ANY backseat action should be strictly avoided.

[mainer]

I took the Vectors/SB in the pow the other day and I just gave up and paralleled.

I work more at it. I really thinks it's the bindings and my technique. There's obviously nothing wrong with the bindings, just me and how I'm approaching them.

For what it is worth, I think the normal red switchbacks are just about the softest cartridge type tele binding out there. Even softer than the soft Targas used to be. I had them on a 188cm pair of Coombacks and we'll just say it wasn't the best combo.

I'm sure in time, though, you'll get used to them. Just keep at it.

DO OR DO NOT

^^ This is big, too.

[Woodserson]

My buddy has the SBX2 he's going to let me take his cartridges off and we're going to swap them out and see. It'll be a couple of weeks.

[lowangle al]

I took the Vectors/SB in the pow the other day and I just gave up and paralleled.

Hmmmmm

I had them on a 188cm pair of Coombacks and we'll just say it wasn't the best combo.

Have you ever skied the SBs on another ski?

IMO, the Vectors are best skied in an aggressive manner and with authority when telemark turning. ANY backseat action should be strictly avoided.

You got that right, there isn't much back seat there, they cured me of having a slight back ski bias. But we can't confuse back seat with back ski in Woodys case.

[mainer]

I had them on a 188cm pair of Coombacks and we'll just say it wasn't the best combo.

Have you ever skied the SBs on another ski?

Yep. I had them on some G3 Tickets for a while before I traded them for a pair of SBx2s. I enjoyed them a lot, oddly, skiing groomers and bumps at resorts. Nice neutral-ish feel and I could ride them really low. And they didn't break. The SBx2s are a little more in my wheelhouse, in terms of activity level, for the bigger skis I use in the backcountry currently.

I wouldn't hesitate to have another pair on something like a Vector BC or V6 BC, though the SBx2 might still win out for me personally.

[lowangle al]

If I were mostly skinning and riding lifts I would prefer the X2s. But for K&G they have a limited ROM compared to the regular SB. The pivot point is farther back keeping more of your boot on the ski. I have the X2s on my biggest ski.

So the SBs worked on one ski but not another for you. Are the coombacks bigger than the Gs? If so I still think it's possible the 180s are too big for Woods.

[dnt_upton]

My buddy has the SBX2 he's going to let me take his cartridges off and we're going to swap them out and see. It'll be a couple of weeks.

I doubt you'll notice much of a difference. The biggest difference between the SB and the SBX2 is what lowangle al noted -- the pivot is farther back by a little over an inch. The black springs are 25% stiffer.

I would try the Vectors with a different binding. If you can ski 3 pins just fine and switch easily between those and the 02s and Cobras, something is weird here.