Look Pivot 12 vs 14- anyone skiing hard on 12’s ?

[t-the-east]

I searched and couldn’t find any comparison between pivot 12 and 14, but we all know the search function here is a bit lacking..

Some info online seems to contradict itself. Some places say “for junior freeriders under 160lbs”, while other sites say “for skiers up to 250lbs”. As far as I can tell they are the same exact binding with a slightly lighter spring?

I’ve always had Pivot 14’s on most of my skis, I just got a new pair of Devastators and my local shop has a great deal on some pivot 12’s in the steezy Rasta forza.

I’m 5’9” , 46 years young and fluctuate between around 165 and 170 Lbs. I ski pretty hard, but I’ve backed off a little since I shattered my tibial plateau a few years back, although I’m probably not as cautious as I should be. My din is usually set to around 7 or 8. Do I really need the 14? Is it an ego thing or a safety thing?

So, anyone skiing pivot 12’s fairly hard?

[ASmileyFace]

Same binding with the only difference being in the spring. If you skiing 14s fine the 12 should work.

[Just Looking]

I've got an inch or two on you, a couple years and 50 lbs, I've run 12 and 14's, (15's and 18's too) pretty interchangeably on different skis for years with no issues. I say you'll live.

[jakezee]

Same binding with the only difference being in the spring. If you skiing 14s fine the 12 should work.

...and since you DIN is 7, you're fine.
As far as I know, the general rule is to not max out the spring.

[TAFKALVS]

Pivot 12s are great bindings and the exact same housing as the 14. The only bindings that I’d say are in the Look line up that are primarily intended for lighter skiers are probably the NX10 bindings - they just feel really plastic and flimsy.

[AlpiNord]

I wouldn't think twice about saving a few bucks and getting another P12 set vs P14s. Both have been fine and I cannot tell the difference with either at a DIN just under 8 (5'-10"/185lbs). They have both held up well. I certainly do not need P15s or 18s.

(As an aside, in another thread linking to a Ski Talk video, the PX12/14 & P12/14 (IIRC) have the same toes.)

[EWG]

I know a 160lb guy doing 40-50 ft cliffs on 12s. Absolute charger, skis faster than almost anyone I know. I've seen him straightline Ballroom fully bumped out, throwing air the whole time. I've seen him absolutely explode on missed landings skidways, upside down, whatever, or just stomp stuff with enough pressure to make it vicariously hurt me just watching. I think he has them set on about 11. He puts his bindings under more stress than most of us ever will.

The rest of his skis are 14/15s, but that pair with 12s works fine for him.

FWIW

Generally, you've all heard this from me before, but I think people are overly focused on DIN number higher than what they need.

[bamboocoreONLY]

...and since you DIN is 7, you're fine.
As far as I know, the general rule is to not max out the spring.

here we go with this myth again. DIN is DIN, min or max. It wouldn't be on the binding if you couldn't use it. Should you loosen it for summer storage if you're maxing out though? yes.

[utagonian]

I’ve skied hard on 12,14,15 &18s. As mentioned, 12 & 14 are identical other than the springs and colors offered. The lighter springs make the 12 a few grams lighter fwiw.

Same goes for 15 & 18s.

[oetk2]

I ski 12s, 14s, and 15s all at 9 with no issue or difference I can tell between them.

[rightcoast]

I ski 12s, 14s, and 15s all at 9 with no issue or difference I can tell between them.

5'9,185 here. Same experience

[waxloaf]

I ski 12s, 14s, and 15s all at 9 with no issue or difference I can tell between them.

Ditto as far as releases and ski feel. Obviously 15 superior in certain use cases (metal durability, CAST, etc.)

[Qilimanjaro]

I've prereleased from Shifts 13 at 11, from Attack 13 at 10. I ski my Pivots 14 at 7.5. Released just once, and when needed to.

Obviously plastic gets scraped a bit, more than metal, but otherwise it's fantastic.

[kid-kapow]

The "stay in the middle of the adjustment range" malarkey the binding companies spew to sell the higher number bindings with a premium is pure nonsense. The springs are 100% linear, so as long as they are within spec a din 9 is the same across all pivots (even if the mechanics of a 12/14 and 15/18 toe is not the same).

So yeah, 12s are great

[CHAIR_97]

Plastic toes suck. They break.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[phatty]

Plastic toes suck. They break.

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QFT

[t-the-east]

Thanks fellas. I appreciate all the responses. Sounds like I’ll be just fine saving some cash and grabbing those 12’s

[AlpiNord]

http://www.slidewright.com/Misc/Humor/compensating_DIN.jpg[/IMG]