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Maybe i'm stupid , but anyone have any idea of the mechanics?

It's hard to see exactly how it works from the video and photos?

I guess it somehow "latches" onto your climbing wire/heel thingy?

This will be good as I had been vaguely thinking of some telemark lessons

Can all splitters who get this make sure there is no video/photo evidence of them "planking" (please don't use the "S" word)?

Whilst I, slightly begrudgingly, respect all forms of downhill snowcraft (especially when they cut a track on a flat runout for me!) We certainly don't need any 2 plankers lauding it all over us knuckledraggers about "coming full circle" etc etc

The heel lockdown is amazing! Its utility really comes to life when you want to do a long traverse where you can step up and slide forward, skate out the flats, or do a compression test on a slope. Splitboard mountaineering! Yaay!

Yup, kudos to Karakoram for offering this. It also looks simple, and like it does not add any significant weight. Just the ability to easily side step during split skiing is worth it, this should make many exits from the mountains much more enjoyable.

While spectra cord, and certainly any climbing accessory cord, is strong - I'd like to clarify that no way in HELL would any sensible climber without a death wish actually take a fall on it.

It is strong - yes - but it is not climbing rope.

My only worry with that cord would be getting chaffed by incidental rubs by opposing skis. But the new bindings look very promising. lots of forward progress this year from everyone!

It's just for the highback. It's not like your binding is gonna come off IF it breaks. The worst possible thing that could happen is you lose your forward lean for a run. And in the highly unlikely scenario that it did break how easy is it to have an extra piece of cord in your pack? Makes sense to me. Getting rid of the heelcup should also reduce the chances of it hitting the snow on steep heel side traverses which is what a recent buddy told me is the reason why he switched to hardboots (I think he's ).

Yes I realize its purpose - but earlier in the thread someone commented that "climbers take falls on that all day" which is completely false.

I wasn't referring to the rope being spectra, I was referring to the fact that spectra is used in slings and the building of anchors which are used to protect falls in rock climbing. Spectra is static, climbing rope is dynamic. Point is, the shit is strong and definitely a useable material for holding a highback.

I like where this is going. Maybe I won't have to learn to ski after all! The only downside(s) I can really see with the spectra is 1) shelf life, as if I'm not mistaken it is quite prone to UV degradation, and 2) long term durability. It may be stronger pound for pound than a steel cable, in terms of load bearing, but it won't withstand the abrasion a steel cable would. At any rate, still a cool application for the spectra, and if it were to fail in the field, it's something that could easily be changed out, as carrying a few extra lengths would not take any space or be of any weight penalty.

Has there been a way thought of yet that allows for a locked down heel with a hardboot setup?

Spectra is extremely susceptible to abrasion, and that is why in many applications it has a nylon sheath around it (like in that pic- spectra/kevlar is light grey as raw strand cord). I would not have any misgivings about its use in this application.

BUT BEING ABLE TO LOCK DOWN YOUR HEAL AT A MOMENTS NOTICE = AWESOME RIGHT GUYS?

Spectra cord is a non issue, it might wear over time, or maybe in one long slog you wear it out. Bring some extra cord with you. It's also great for:

Shoelaces
hanging clothes
guy lines
nooses
fishing (ok, not so much)
lassoing cattle
dog leash
repairing your pack
tourniquet
climbing anchors
practicing knots
and many other things.

I can't wrap my fragile little mind around how to lock down the heels on my 2013 Split30s? I must be missing something...

FWIW Jones Hovercraft Split 2012. Measured centre of toe piece to the centre of heel risers and it is 7" distance. Heel riser loop is behind the pin. Can someone give me a measurement of the distance on their Jones board, and another non-Jones board? I'd like to get this sorted before I trim my skins if I need to send it back.

Camera battery is dead. Ill post a few photos when I get home tomorrow evening.

Read another thread and finally wrapped my mind around what was going on. I guess I shouldn't try installing systems on my way out the door

I don't see why the won't work for you. Check out what Russian helped me set this up..