It's kind of nice. I checked it out at SIA. I will give Bryce and the Karakorum guys credit. It's pretty ingenious in it's simplicity with how their system works.
That said, the Spark Edison, which should come out around the beginning of next year, really looks to up the game. Lighter, easy set up, in other words simple. Out of everything I played with at SIA, this is what stood out of everything I saw. Of course I have no on snow experience with either system, but if the Edison delivers half of it's promise. I'll go with that. Don't be surprised if Will at Spark, comes up with a lock down for us by the end of the season. Even their regular split bindings that work with the Voile System are super nice. They have been in the game for quite a few years longer than Karakorum, and it's starting to show. They have a very well polished line up these days.
from the K website: " The purpose of the heel lock down is to allow splitboarders to skate more efficiently on flat terrain, and traverse and side step without skins on in tour mode."
IMHO this is completely retarded. you will never do any of this.
we have long flat slogs in out here and i have never wished my heel was locked for it. tour mode without skins on?? it will never happen.
K's are great im sure - they havent been on snow as long as Sparks so there has been a few instances of design flaws over the last year, but they will continue to tweak them
you can't go wrong with either, but sparks is without a doubt more proven and a simpler system.
The heel lock down will be nicer for those who know how to down hill ski. I can only think of one maybe two spots where I would even consider this feature as being something I might want.
shit if you wanna ski the only way to do it with any style at all is to be an accomplished tele skier.
IMHO its a solution to a problem that simply does not exist and the Ks are wasting time that they could use to make their system less prone to icing and the bending of the mounting plates - both of which are real, documented, and in some cases serious problems.
the more i write the more i convince myself that you (OP) should just go get some sparks - especially if you're new to splitting, especially if this is your only splitboard.
Killz - edison by this fall you think? i heard it wouldnt be ready for the start of next season - presumably because sparks actually torture test their shit with real dirtbag splitters for at least a year before the public gets to get to it...
Come on, tele isn't the only way to ski with style
I would like a simple heel lock-down mechanism that can be engaged and disengaged without much contortions. I've been in a few situations where it could be useful. Not a showstopper, though.
Current binders from Spark are great, can't go wrong with them. Next year the Edison should be even better, but for now I plan to continue using what I have. We'll see next year.
Bottom line: current Sparks work great, Edison would be available next year and will cost much more. If you want to ride now or early next season, and you want to limit spend - get the current ones. They are more than fine - they are pretty great
ok thx for the info, there are some on tactics so i will see if they go on sale. if they don't maybe i will see what the new ones cost. got all summer to save up lol.
the bindings themselves are identical, the "LT" is the lightweight touring bracket. you want it for sure. it is a far more solid, durable, and stronger connection to the board when in touring mode. it does make a difference.
Lately I've been using the Arcteryx Alpha SV glove, mostly just the outer gtx shell without the liner (the liner is nice, but skinning up I run hot and going down I don't need as much hand warmth in the PNW. The glove is versatile enough to do rope work. This glove is not warm enough for really cold weather.
Previously I used a modular system by OR - gtx mitt shell without any padding / insulation, and then fleece mitt liner and / or wool glove liners of different thickness, as needed. Worked great for our wettish weather but mitts are not as good for knots and such.
I tried Black Diamond Pursuit gloves - great dexterity and breathable shell but got soaked in our spring conditions, so I'm not a fan and wouldn't recommend for splitting.
Kyle Miller splits with 2 pairs, the Petzl belay glove for skinning up, and another set of gloves but I don't remember what.
if you don't have a replacement pin in your backpack when you're in the BC then you're a fool - that goes for steel the same as aluminum. i am 100% sure that sparks will replace that broken one.
but yes, without a doubt - even with that failure the LT system is way more solid than the voile brackets. the voile brackets have so much wiggle and play to them that they end up cutting a notch into the pins, and i'm sure the failure rate is just as high or higher with steel compared to aluminum.
if you were scared about your fat ass breaking a pin i guess you could always use steel pins with the LT bracket, although they say not to. regardless, carry a spare pin is pretty much as basic as carry water.
just to add, if that broke on the downhill - in ride mode - it's probably your fault for not having it seated/tucked in properly. it wouldn't just snap in half like that unless something was trying to bend it.
thx for the info. i was def going to buy some extra components with the bindings, looks like there is a spare kit, i will have to make sure there are pins in there.
just wondering what you guys do for boot size with split boarding. i wear a very small boot for my feet when i ride, salomon 12.5 wide (either dialogue or synapse)but if im not riding then my toes will hit the front of the boot and sometimes get cold/numb (i wear a 14 shoe, a 13.5 makes my toes bleed when i play basketball).
Do you wear something true to size or will i be fine in my current boot?
You do have a big foot. I am not sure what to tell you. I will say that you are on your feet skinning for hours versus minutes for riding. So you will be on your feet hiking for the most part.
For myself, I value comfort of my boots more than I value a tight assed fit. So I run pretty true to size. Fortunately, for most boots my size (11) works great for me. On occasion I have gone down a half size due to something like heel lift.
Just keep in mind you spend the majority of your time skinning, not riding. Nature of the beast. The time you do ride will be the best turns you've ever had. Time after time after time...
Spark runs L sizes. Keep in mind that current Spark's do not replace the Voile system. They just work with it, lightening your load a ton and making for much superior binding performance. Of course foot size could play a role if the bindings don't fit. Overall though a split specific binder is way better than using the plate your own binding combo. It's an amazing difference. As far as upgrade goes, it seems to run from smallest to biggest upgrade in downhill performance, Voile Lightrail, Spark, Karakorum. I am omitting the Spark Newton, as it looks like it will offer the same if not better performance than Karakorum, but it's not out yet. I haven't used it, so it remains to be seen. I will say that from what I saw, it looked like a pretty solid design. I am excited to try it.
So you may be right, that adapter plates and his own binding are the way to go. I would make dang sure that none of the split specific bindings are going to work first. It is that big of a change.
thanks for the info guys, i think i found a shop near me that sells some spark stuff, now its just a matter if they have it in stock and if they have boots in the right sizes to try with it.
The spark bindings will just slide directly onto the voile pucks on the split where their binding plate normally would right? I dont need anything extra?
Thats right. They completely eliminate the steel plate in the voile kit
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