Pivot Heel, Full Drive Toe and Maxplate Lifters have put Look back into the thick of the binding game. The toe allows upward release. The heel, lightest in the industry, is satisfying to step into and provides great clearance from the snow. And Look's tight roll-coupling makes skis quicker edge-to-edge. Elastic shock absorption, considered Look's most important feature, allows better retention at lower DIN settings. The toe grasps the boot at four contact points, the heel at three. The result, in the simplest terms, is that the boot moves less.
Nova 10 with Maxplate
$190
This all-new budget binding includes Look's Full Drive Toe, while the Maxplate gives it Look's standard lift. Strong experts might understandably be suspicious of this light, intro-level binding with its long, easy-to-use release arm, but advanced skiers and even lightweight experts can save money here. The two-piece heel bears no resemblance to the more sophisticated Pivot (turntable-style) heels and doesn't instill as much confidence at high speeds. But anyone below the Racer, AME or Freerider categories should consider the Nova 10 an excellent value.
Pivot 12 with Maxflex
$450
Maxflex is a pricier, one-piece 14-mm plate made of lightweight composite material with a dampening layer on the bottom. It's fixed to the ski with a slotted screw-hole system that allows the ski to flex unimpeded. It is notably different from the Maxplate, not so much in leverage, but in filtration. Distracting vibrations just go away. So the choice becomes one of personal taste. Do you want a lot of feedback from the ski (Maxplate), or do you prefer it tamed (MaxFlex)? There is no reason, by the way, to go with MaxFlex on any Autodrive ski from Dynastar (Look's sister company): The Autodrive's integrated binding platform accomplishes the same thing, rendering the MaxFlex redundant.
Pivot 12 with Maxplate
$310
Maxplate is a two-piece, 11-mm lifter designed to filter vibrations without interfering with flex. The Pivot 12 is a typical expert binding with a DIN range to 12. (The Pivot 10, with a DIN range to 10, is actually Look's biggest seller.) Two or three years ago, such a tight roll coupling-like a direct steering mechanism on a sports car or a stiff metal shaft on a 6 iron-might have seemed overly sensitive. Now, tighter boot-to-ski connections, combined with shock absorption, are the norm. Looser bindings now feel sloppy. Look has set a standard in this regard.
Recommended Models
Race Pivot 10 Maxplate, Pivot 14 Maxplate
All-Mountain Expert Pivot 10 Maxplate, Pivot 12 Maxplate
Freerider Pivot 10 Maxplate, Pivot 14 Maxplate
All-Mountain Cruiser TX 11 Maxplate, Pivot 12 Maxplate
Player Nova 10 Maxplate, TX 11 Maxplate
Aspiring Carver Nova 10 Maxplate, TX 11 Maxplate
Women Nova 9, Pivot 10 Maxplate
