How to keep cable/rod bindings from loosening during a ski tour

Originally Posted: January 2022
Updated: December 2023

Some cable or rod bindings, such as the Voile Switchback, allow length adjustment of the heel yoke by simply rotating the compression-spring cartridges without needing to unhook the cable/rod. This makes adjustments very quick and easy, but it also means that the cartridges have a tendency to rotate slightly during a ski tour due to the up-and-down motion of a ski boot. Over time, the heel yoke can become loose and eventually slip off the boot. Perhaps this would be viewed as a minor issue for many skiers, but I found it pretty annoying.

My simple fix for this problem was to tape a short wooden dowel rod onto each spring cartridge, as pictured below. The dowel rod acts as a cam that prevents inadvertent cartridge rotation but still allows normal length adjustments of the binding.

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Wooden Dowel Taped To Spring Cartridge – Side View

Wooden Dowel Taped To Spring Cartridge – Rear View

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How to keep cable/rod bindings from loosening during a ski tour

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