🚀 go-pugleaf

Is anybody out there?

I posted a request about a week ago asking for advice on equipment, and
to date I have received only two replies (including one saying
don't buy until you demo), and three other requests for me to post 
the results.  But there aren't any results to post!!

OK, let me try a less general question:  it concerns bindings.
I weigh about 205 pounds, and the shop it looks like I will be buying
from is recommending only top-of-the-line bindings, saying that
anything less will not hold me.  They want me to buy LOOK 99, Tyrolia 390,
Salomon 747, Marker 46, or equivalent.  But manufacturer's literature says that
the next model down should do the job (LOOK rates the 89 to 250lbs for
strenuous skiing, for example).  The salesmen insist that I can't ski on them.
Are they trying to do me a favor or trying to con me?

In fact, I have read that it's a bad idea to buy a binding for which
the setting you ski on is in the lower half of the binding's range.
So, for example, the LOOK 99, with a range of 4-13, shouldn't be skied
at any setting under 8-9.  If this is really true, then I probably
shouldn't buy them as a first set of bindings.

Any comments?


			Dave Wagner
			University of Washington Comp Sci Department
			wagner@washington.arpa
			{ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!uw-beaver!uw-wally!wagner