Since getting back into skiing after a 30 year break (blame snowboarding), I've gravitated to Look Pivots as my binding choice mainly because as a kid occasionally skiing Ajax and Highlands, I remember seeing the Look heel piece thinking it was cool and different with how the rear clamp tucked up behind the boot, not even appearing to be part of the ski itself. But after a few years of skiing Pivots, a few of its minor annoyances have motivated me to explore other brands; this season I've been spending time on Marker Griffons and Tyrolia Attacks. My hope is that the following list of objective criticisms will be picked up by Rossignol R&D and marketing and that they refine their product back into greatness.
1) Poor Packaging
The first experience a user has is opening the package and Look's binding boxes are poorly designed. Consider how Apple packages its products. Within the industry, Marker is doing a good job. The problem is beyond simple aesthetics; many times when I receive a Look binding, I can hear the front mounting screws rolling around inside and about 15% of the time a screw has found its way to one of the box's many holes and escaped.
2) Marring the Heel Pieces with Poles when Stepping Out
www.skitalk.com
3) Poor Brake Arm Retraction
Many voice complaints about too few or odd brake width accommodations. I think the larger problem is the brakes don't retract well into the center of the ski. I'm impressed by how Griffon brakes come up and then get sucked in -- other things may be overhanging the edge, but it's not the brakes. With Pivots, it's always the brake arms that are overhanging the most.
4) Poor BSL Adjustment, Forward Pressure Indication
Pivots work great when they are mounted for a specific boot. But this means I can't let my buddies try my skis and bindings (wait, maybe this is a feature...). Also, it seems kludgy that fore and aft adjustment causes bending in the adjustment arms. And setting forward pressure is more of an art as the white plastic indicators don't provide much indication. I would like to see Pivots replace the heel adjustment screws with fixed length arms and instead move to a conventional track system with a worm gear adjustment screw and forward pressure indicator -- not a pry-up-the-tab-with-a-screwdriver-and-bang-the-binding-forward-or-backward system.
5) Troubles Stepping In with Snow
Stepping in with snow stuck to the bottom of the boots is problematic because sometimes you get a false engagement: the heel goes in, but the clamp doesn't come all the way up. This is perhaps a side-effect of Pivot's large heel elasticity. What makes this troublesome is there is no good user feedback in either sound or feeling that distinguishes a solid engagement from a partial one; it really takes a visual inspection, which a lot of skiers don't take the time to perform.
6) Weight
I realize metal toes and burlyness is a selling point, but some users want lighter weight options. (Mass is good, but I'd prefer it in my skis, not my bindings.) It would be nice to have lighter weight, near equivalent models. I think Marker has done a good job with this with their Griffons and Jesters. Look already has lighter weight toes, they just need a lighter weight heel option.
1) Poor Packaging
The first experience a user has is opening the package and Look's binding boxes are poorly designed. Consider how Apple packages its products. Within the industry, Marker is doing a good job. The problem is beyond simple aesthetics; many times when I receive a Look binding, I can hear the front mounting screws rolling around inside and about 15% of the time a screw has found its way to one of the box's many holes and escaped.
2) Marring the Heel Pieces with Poles when Stepping Out
Comparison Review - 2021 Look Bindings
Does anybody have reliable information regarding the vertical release capability of the toe pieces of the NX 12, SPX 12, Pivot 12/14 and all metal Pivot 15 and 18? I have been led to believe that all NX, SPX and Pivot up to and including 14 support vertical release but the 15 and 18 don't due to...
www.skitalk.com
3) Poor Brake Arm Retraction
Many voice complaints about too few or odd brake width accommodations. I think the larger problem is the brakes don't retract well into the center of the ski. I'm impressed by how Griffon brakes come up and then get sucked in -- other things may be overhanging the edge, but it's not the brakes. With Pivots, it's always the brake arms that are overhanging the most.
4) Poor BSL Adjustment, Forward Pressure Indication
Pivots work great when they are mounted for a specific boot. But this means I can't let my buddies try my skis and bindings (wait, maybe this is a feature...). Also, it seems kludgy that fore and aft adjustment causes bending in the adjustment arms. And setting forward pressure is more of an art as the white plastic indicators don't provide much indication. I would like to see Pivots replace the heel adjustment screws with fixed length arms and instead move to a conventional track system with a worm gear adjustment screw and forward pressure indicator -- not a pry-up-the-tab-with-a-screwdriver-and-bang-the-binding-forward-or-backward system.
5) Troubles Stepping In with Snow
Stepping in with snow stuck to the bottom of the boots is problematic because sometimes you get a false engagement: the heel goes in, but the clamp doesn't come all the way up. This is perhaps a side-effect of Pivot's large heel elasticity. What makes this troublesome is there is no good user feedback in either sound or feeling that distinguishes a solid engagement from a partial one; it really takes a visual inspection, which a lot of skiers don't take the time to perform.
6) Weight
I realize metal toes and burlyness is a selling point, but some users want lighter weight options. (Mass is good, but I'd prefer it in my skis, not my bindings.) It would be nice to have lighter weight, near equivalent models. I think Marker has done a good job with this with their Griffons and Jesters. Look already has lighter weight toes, they just need a lighter weight heel option.
