I'm not getting the difference between the freeflex and the midstiff '02. I tele at areas and in the backcountry. I also don't know what the "R" and "S" stand for as options on these bindings. Help. k

The Midstiff is a fair bit stiffer than the Freeflex, and the Ridiculously Stiff is even stiffer. It really depends on your skill level. If you are just starting out teleing and don't have fancy boots or anything, go for Midstiffs. If the above is true and you weigh less than 120, go for Freeflex. I am 5'9", 145 lbs, I ski really hard (used to race) on pretty fat, 169 cm skis, and I have Scarpa T1s (very stiff boots) and the Rid Stiffs are awesome. The stiffer the binding, the harder you're going to have to ski them to get all the way down into your turn, but you'll be able to link turns much faster (hence racing). Less stiff bindings will be easier to drop into without being crazy aggressive, easier to hike in, but more strenuous for long days because they won't kick you back up as much. They'll also be easier to ski powder in because you won't have to balance your weight as carefully. The R and S refer to the length of the cartridges. I have a size 10 foot (don't know what boot length that is) and my ski shop accidentally put smalls on and I couldn't turn at all because the bindings got maxed out. Unless you have absurdly small feet, the R's will adjust small enough. Hope that helps. If you want more specific advice for your height/weight/setup, feel free to post another question and I can tell you exactly what to get.
View Details: Black Diamond O2 Telemark Binding >