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Grizzly.ski GR Olympic II Binding Review

By

Gavin Hess

A svelte binding to match a svelte ski

A svelte binding to match a svelte ski.

  Grizzly.Ski Bindings Overview Grizzly.Ski opened their doors and launched their new concept of pin binding design in 2017. Thinking back, 2017 was a different era in tech bindings in the US. Dynafit still had a stranglehold on the market in the US, ATK was still a mysterious euro brand that one had to order…

Responses

  1. Sam Child

    Thanks for the insightful words! Looking for a binding in this weight class. Any thoughts on the superlight 150? Seems in this weight class and slightly burlier…

  2. Slim

    These certainly seem like a vary interesting option, and great to see a completely different design than others. Am I seeing it right that the heel pins are two separate pieces, not a single U spring? So it’s the tower itself that flexes?

    Lack of flat mode is a pretty big deal breaker for a ‘tour’ binding though.

    1. Gavin Hess

      Hey Slim, an interesting option indeed! You are correct that they are two separate pins, the “U” is effectively the aluminum tower.

      On this same topic of tower flex as well as flat mode, I chatted with Aaron Clark from Grizzly yesterday and he showed me a new technique for turning the heel into flat mode. Essentially, by pushing/pulling/leveraging one pin in the direction of rotation, it is easier to spin the heel into flat mode. I still found it a bit challenging, call it a gloves on + ski off maneuver – it does allow for enough clearance to walk in flat mode though!

  3. Jackson Long

    It makes me so happy to see the “race-ey weight gear in the backcountry” nerdy content. I feel seen.

  4. Sam Child

    Seems like the superlight 150 has emerged as the king of this category. Is there any reason for the lack of mention of this binding? How do you think it stacks up against the grizzly and the plum?

    1. Jason Albert

      Hey Sam, I’m sure Gavin will jump in here at some point— I think he is skiing today. Correct, the Dynafit Superlight 150 has evolved into a go to for folks looking for a lean/functional binding. It’s pretty similar to a PLUM R-170 (which I often use in the spring), yet the PLUM offers fixed vertical/lateral release whereas the SL 150 offers a 4-13 lateral release adjustment and options for vertical release (U-springs) sold separately. I suppose with these fine tuned bindings, it comes down to small details. The Superlight 150 heel requires one to rotate it with a hand, whereas it’s possible to rotate the R-170 with a precisely placed pole tip and some minor elbow grease.

    2. Gavin Hess

      Hey Sam, I haven’t actually skied the Superlight 150 – but I might argue that they are a different category than the Grizzly. The SL150, with its adjustable release, is sort of a lightweight take on a “race +” binding, where I would put the Grizzly more in the category of race bindings slightly adapted to better suit everyday touring, the classic example of this is the many race bindings available with steel, rather than Ti heel springs. E.g. ATK Trofeo, Plum R150, Ski Trab Gara w/steel spring.

      It seems like if you want a fixed mount but value adjustable lateral release, the SL150 is a robust option – I think what has kept me away from the SL150 has much to do with the mount pattern, non standard toe pattern is a minor annoyance, but the heel offset makes the adjustment plates unwieldy at best. Perhaps a better comparison, feature wise, is with the ATK Kuluar/haute route, and Kreutzspitze (spell check me on that one) GT

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