The F-12's that I have are 4 years old and white. I have a pair of Baron's as well. Up until this point I have had minimal problems with either pair. Moist snow builds up on the bottom plate and rails under the heal and then compacts to ice forcing you to whip out your tool before you lock your binding down. That's a hassle. They are prone to squeeking as well which can be annoying after 25000 steps. And I think I agree with you Blizz they are kind of flexy. But overall I have been happy. They have been hassle free and they are relatively light.
But, maybe I am too big for the F12. I have the DIN at 11.5. I am 215 lbs with all my gear on and generally charging pretty hard in- bounds. Soft snow days only though. I prefer the slack country to long approach day trips so an AT binding has been a simple solution for me. Its less gear and that's a good thing.
The strange thing is the conditions which killed them. I am wondering if I walked into trip ending conditions for any binding. 1" freezing rain crust on a 3" wet soft slab on 14" of dry soft storm snow.
Anyways I'm not sure what to do. Send them to Marker as a sort of Organ Donation thing so they can R&D a little more? Tell them my story and get a replacement pair? Bury them with honor? Buy another pair? Go tech?
"Honey, this is the last pair of boots and bindings I need to buy now! After this I will be set." I can see and hear the reaction to that one. Again!
No picture is lame too. Just for fun I am going to get a camera and link a pic. Its quite a site.
