Glad to see the more solid AFD mechanism on the Shift2. I honestly didn't have trouble with the OG Shift once I figured out how to adjust the AFD mechanism for maximum engagement (i.e. to put it right on the "end" of one step just before moving up to the next), but moving to a fully-micrometric aluminum sliding wedge like that should make life easier on techs and help with overall reputation and market acceptance. I am amused that Salonom is promoting "lowest [binding] stack height" as an advantage. Every racer since the 1990s begs to differ, of course. Joe needs to sound less nervous / more confident while doing his marketing spiel 🙂
Low stack is an advantage off piste for more stability in variable snow, high edge angle is the benefit to high stack on race skis for edge grip on icy race prepped snow. Hopefully it still has a neutral ramp angle and not just a lower stack heel.
@@AndrewSteavpack That was more of a joke on my part than a serious comment, but... There is plenty of objective evidence for the benefit of high stack heights when edging ~65-mm-wide racing skis on ice. In that case the binding stack makes a non-trivial difference to edge leverage and racers are demonstrably (but very, very slightly) faster with taller bindings stacks. When you start talking about stability of typical wider all-mountain skis in off-piste conditions then it all becomes _very_ subjective and preference-based (which is part of why I poked fun at it). The lever arm[s] that determine stability (as opposed to edging "leverage") are longer, such that a few mm or a cm of stack height is much less significant. I know plenty of people (and I am one of them) who _subjectively_ prefer feeling close to the snow off-piste, but I also know and know of many elite freeriders who are perfectly stable and competitive with higher-stack bindings, up to and including demo-style bindings. It's not like racing where there is clear evidence of advantage one way or the other. It's just a simple "flavor preference". If what you say were true then shorter-legged skiers would have a stability advantage as well, and there's just no evidence for that whatsoever if you look at the builds of elite freeriders.
Great that the high-end boots are coming in a true 22 shell! Can we start getting a touring helmet in a 63cm+ size? I have a long head and can't find a lighter weight helmet that fits.
