Gear Review
Black Diamond O1 Telemark Ski Binding
Bad binding, evil company
By Jack Wizo
Ranked #1 - Telemark Bindings
December 28, 2009
So despite the fact that these bindings are sloppy, heavy and ridiculously expensive, they are controlling the market of free pivot bindings. Switchbacks, Ascents, and maybe soon, Axls, will be manufactured under the license of Black Diamond. BD has the patent and they're flexin' nuts to get ahold of 22 Designs' share in the uphill function market.Get your Axl's while you can! They're the same price and way better, plus you're supporting a great company that's essentially two guys from a small South Eastern Idaho town called Driggs. They are great guys, who make a great binding.So buy quality bindings from quality homies, and stick it to a mega-company who makes crap bindings. Go for Hammerheads!I understand if this seems biased, but if you try Hammerheads, you will experience a whole new level in your skiing abilities. The performance of the Hammerhead and Axl surpasses the 01 by leaps and bounds.Your boots will have less lateral movement, and a more active flex, (meaning it is harder to pull your heel up) if you get Hammerheads.So if you ignore my words of wisdom, and get 01's, just make sure you get a backcountry repair kit, too. 01's will fail, and most likely, it will happen at the most inopportune moment.Even if I didn't hate BD for dicking over 22 Designs, I still would not recommend their bindings.Hammerheads, all the way!
View Details: Black Diamond O1 Telemark Ski Binding
Helpful Votes: 9 Yes
Change me.
14 Comments Last Reply: December 23, 2011 By: Noah Howell
Made the switch from the O1 and it's a nice change! Much more control and I like being able to change the pivot point for different conditions.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Just ordered another pair of Hammerheads, this time to replace the stoopid sloppy heavy 01s on my Sick Birds Sick of cartidges comming undone and ski falling off boot sick of vague transitions
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Noah: I was just saying that I rely on equipment more than mere skill. It was a compliment, man. Sorry for the miscommunication.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
How is it I'm not reliant on equipment Jack? Seems pretty important to me, actually I haven't ever gone skiing without it.
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
I love my Bluehouse Maestro/Bomber setup! Too bad you got rid of yours. The only thing I could imagine malfunctioning on the Hammerheads is difficulty moving the pins back and forth. I never bother with that anymore. Next years touring setup is gonna be either another pair of Maestros, or a pair of Live Life's with Axls. Free pivot bindings like the 01, Switchback, and Ascent are great, but I'd rather work harder going up, than sacrifice performance on the way down. It's cool that Noah and Nick can shred on 01's, but I guess I am just reliant on equipment. I've never met a girl who had problems with 01's, but I've never met a girl who had problems with equipment much, anyway. Girls aren't as hard on their gear, I guess. Anyway, your wife's success is only anecdotal.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Hmm. interesting. My wife was skiing today just out of bounds in steamboat with some friends on her 01 bindings. She didnt have any problems with her bindings, But one of our buds kept having issues and malfunctioning Hammerheads. I Just recently sold my Bishops, and Bluehouse set up, and was looking into getting a new set up. Im stuck between The AXLs or the 01 bindings. I guess ill dive deeper.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Just another testament to poor quality of BD bindings. Still not convinced? Well, the only way to change your mind would be to get on some Hammerheads or Axls. Screw BD, and screw the US patent office. I'm convinced that the US patent office is going to destroy our country, and the world. Check out 'The Future of Food,' a documentary about how the USPO is destroying the food we eat, and our food economy. Off topic, I know, but I see how the USPO relates to both bindings, and food, and other issues at hand such as health care.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Destroyed these bindings in less than 12 days on a pair of new Verdict skis. Cartridges are now shot after relentless tightening of the cables. I honestly dont have time to play around with loose cables on a pair of bindings that was hoped to be bombproof. I skiied to work last week when it was -40F and was having trouble keeping my temperature when the skis kept falling off. I was skiing 40F and rain and the ski's would just fall off at any time. Please take my advice, BD makes great skis but stay away from the O1 bindings. There is higher quality equipment out there for less cheddar.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Pre-load on the springs would not add enough torque to rip the bindings out compared to a hard turn or choppy landing. Pre-load is yet another shortcoming of the BD 0' line of bindings. Pre-load is not an issue with Hammerheads. The six hole mounting pattern of the HH also decreases the likely-hood of a pullout.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
The 01's have to 5-10mm of the inner spring showing when the boot is in the binding. If you have anything else the consistent flex of binding (no soft spot as you bend higher) acts like a big lever and can tear out the binding. If you have it set right this shouldn't be a problem. I'm not a BD lover or anything either, I like my Targa's, but just wanted to explain this for others. If it is set right it shouldn't be a problem.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Damn. Where they all wood core skis- no metal? I ripped my Hammerheads out of some JJ's at Snowbird last April. I'm pretty sure it was because there was no metal in the construction. I've heard of this happening with other JJ's and ANT's before, too. I ended up installing 6mm inserts in the JJ's and JB welding the screws in. Now they will NEVER come of without a hacksaw. It was a $200 repair at Christies, but I ended up getting the hardware myself. DIY cost: $40 + personal labor + PBR for borrowing a router. It's a good alternative to buying 2nd ski/adapter plates.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Two different pairs of O1s ripped out of two different skis and left such big holes that I would have had to move my binding position about 2cm +/-, which was unacceptable.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Word, man. Have you secured some Axl's yet? How did your skis get ruined?
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I TOTALLY Agree with you Jack. After two broken bindings and two ruined pairs of skis, countless adjustments and fixes, I ditched my O1s for hammerheads and have never been happier.
Helpful Votes: 11 Yes