Black Diamond still has some work to do

I originally purchased the MidStiff bindings and had them mounted on new Black Diamond 183 Havocs. We received 2 2 foot plus storms in Utah this year and both times I got massive tip dive. I went to Black Diamond and they swapped out the springs for the FreeFlex springs. No tip dive now but instead the skis are too floppy. The springs also unwind and have to be re-cranked several times on a tour. Black Diamond says they haven't seen this yet, however; it’s happened every day on both sets of springs. I have a pair of Cobra R8s on another pair of Black Diamond 183 Havocs. Downhill performance wise, the Cobras blow doors off the Black Diamond bindings. The Black Diamond bindings also have a few more degrees of lateral flex compared to the Cobras which are relatively rock solid. Obviously the tour mode is outstanding. I weigh 170 lbs and make very strong deep tele turns. I ski 70 backcountry days a year.

Best binding that I have ever owned other than mabey the hammerhead

These bindings are super active, and you can feel it, pefect to drive big skis. The touring option is great and is very nice you can feel the difference of not having you boot stuck down into the binding. It is weird at first and takes some getting used to, but once you get used to it. There is a big difference when breaking trail, the tips don't try to sink but rather they float above the snow making breaking trail much easier.

BD 01's

These bindings seem custom-made for me! I'd previously toured with Hammerhead bindings in the #1 position, but found that switching from #4 to #1 to be time-consuming and difficult. The O1's switch to touring mode in about 2 seconds, then back to ski mode in another 2 seconds. They tour like a dream, and remind me of my Scarpa F1's and Dynafit Comfort's in effortless-ness. They're equally impressive in ski mode, feeling about as active as my HH's in #4. Bottom line: they're truly excellent in tour and ski mode, especially if you're looking for an active binding. PS-I've tried the Ridiculously Stiff cartridges, and they're aptly named. Unless you drive huge skis extremely aggressively with super-stiff 4-buckly boots, I'd stick with the MidStiff, or even FreeFlex cartridges. The MidStiff's are plenty stiff, and I'm a huge fan of heavy pre-loaded, stiff springs. For powder-dedicated boards, the FreeFlexes would make sense, too. One other interesting note: I wear a 25.5 mondo T-race, and they work fine with either the small or regular sized bindings. So, if you're near 25.5 mondo Scarpa's, you could get away with either size binding (whichever is available/cheaper).

I can never backcountry ski without this binding

I had no idea how much friction my old G3 binding caused while hiking up hill. I have put about 35 days on the Black Diamond 01 binding and it is rock solid in the resort and even sweeter in the backcountry.

o1

between the o1 and the assent I have to go with the 01 it has all the problems worked out and won't cause you any trouble. They seem to have a bombproof design unlike the assents.