Expert Review: Look Pivot 14 GW Ski Bindings · 2023
LOOK Pivot 14 Forza on Prodigy 3.0s. All photos courtesy of Brenden Carnright
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the bindings, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2021.
My take
The Look Pivot 14 GW Ski Binding is the most reliable binding I have used. Geared towards the intermediate-expert rider, this binding will fit a skier’s needs whether that is groomers, off-piste, or even the park.
Using LOOK Pivot 14s at PCMR
About the gear
- Model: 2021 Look Pivot 14 GW Ski Binding
About me
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 170 lbs
- Preferred DIN range: 8-10
- Experience: 3 years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: February 2021
- Days tested: 65-70 days
- Boots: Full Tilt Ascendant SC
- Boot Size: 26.5
- Skis: Faction Prodigy 3.0
- Where I’ve used it: Whiteface Mountain, UT, and Park City Mountain Resort, NY
- Terrain: Groomers, park, trees, off-Piste
How they perform
What I was looking for
I was looking for a binding that I knew would fit my DIN range of 8-10, and would perform correctly across the entire mountain in different conditions.
Heel Piece
Why I chose this gear
I decided to try Look’s Pivot bindings because of the amount of people in the ski community I saw using this product. I knew it must be extremely safe and reliable if so many people were putting their trust into this gear.
I was also considering buying Marker Griffon 13 bindings but ultimately I chose the Pivot for the moving heel piece. The added safety of the heel mechanism swayed me heavily.
Toe piece
What I love about them
- Release Reliability: The release reliability of the Pivot 14 is second to none. I have never had an issue with premature releasing and have never had a ski fail to release when taking a fall worthy of ejection.
- Downhill Performance: It’s hard to use any other binding after using a Look Pivot and feeling the downhill performance. I feel as if the ski is connected to my boot rather than feeling like I am above or on top of my skis as I do with some of the competitors.
- Weight: Pivot 14s are still lightweight bindings when compared to the bindings made by their competitors. Even Look’s Pivot 15 and 18, with the metal toe piece, will have added weight.
- Power Transfer: There is excellent power transfer. The short mounting surface area allows for a more natural flex feeling throughout the ski. This bonus added to the numerous other reasons, like safety and reliability, that convinced me to purchase a Look binding.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Durability: The durability of the Pivot 14s is one issue that I have with this product. After a few years with the Pivots, the paint and plastic on the heel piece is pretty chipped/scratched and even has a decent sized crack in one of the heel pieces. Although it hasn’t affected performance it is something that could need to be replaced in the near future if it gets any worse. It’s a bit disappointing for something at this price point.
- Other: The brakes got bent on a fall I had and were difficult to put back into place because of the moving heel piece. This is an issue that is unique to the Look Pivot bindings and can be rather annoying.
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite moment with my Look Pivot 14’s is doing my first cliff drop under the lift at my local mountain in Upstate New York. Skiing on these bindings gave me the confidence and clear mind to focus on the skiing itself instead of worrying about my gear performing correctly.
Value for the money vs. other options
The Look Pivot 14’s are without a doubt worth the money. The price point may be more expensive than some of the competitors like Marker and Tyrolia, but with that added price comes additional safety features that aren’t offered with other bindings. The added contact points between boot and binding, along with the turntable heel piece makes the Look Pivot one of the safest bindings on the market.
Final verdict
Overall, the Look Pivot 14 is one of the best bindings on the market because it gives skiers the peace of mind they are looking for on the mountain. The safety features and the performance of the binding give intermediate to expert riders the confidence and control they need to ski to the best of their ability without questioning whether the gear will perform in crunch time.
