All Mountain
Aptly named for the exposed adjustable pivot beneath the toe, the Axl is a free-pivot touring binding like its forebear, the legendary Hammerhead. Testers found that the underfoot pistons, sleek cable routing, and heel throw provided more downhill chops than any similar binding on the hill. And unlike bindings that make you swap springs or power tubes to accommodate different skiing styles, the Axl has three settings that are easy to adjust on the fly. The only drawback is that the switch from tour mode to ski mode isn’t as easy and
intuitive as some on the new step-ins like the NTN and Black Diamond O1. 3.9 lbs;
Tourability: 4.5
Power: 4.5