Just before COVID-19��shut down skiing in March 2020, Marker launched the (from $600), a binding built for skiers who want all the downhill performance of a traditional top-shelf alpine binding��with enough tech binding functionality for efficient ski touring. Ski brands have been trying to develop a burly crossover like this��for decades. They’ve come up with all sorts of solutions over the years, but none were really perfect.��Why the obsession? In certain terrain, at certain times, for certain skiers,��charging hard matters more than touring ease. Think about all those days when you’re ripping laps inbounds with friends, and then—based on a strong working knowledge of the snowpack and current avalanche advisories—you decide to head out the gates. The Duke PT may bear a weight penalty, but it’s the first widely available��binding system that truly��lets you climb uphill and still perform downhill at the peak of your athletic abilities.��

What Came Before

For decades, most other touring bindings kind of sucked, either on the downhill or the uphill��or both. Lightweight, hyperefficient Dynafit-style “tech” bindings are ideal for extended ski tours where energy savings outweigh��downhill performance. But skiing them inbounds or in the backcountry at high speeds on rowdy terrain��is a mistake for most skiers. There’s no real elastic travel (shock absorption)��in the system, and the boots rock on those pins��at the heel, which robs you of power at the end of the turn. That translates to an overly rigid ride that’s prone to chatter and reduced��edge hold. In an alpine binding, large��coil springs act like shocks, allowing the boot to subtly move side to side but also return to center.��There are also legitimate safety concerns:��tech bindings release, but not as traditional alpine bindings, which means��in certain types of falls they might not release laterally, and in specific terrain features—a deep trough or moguls—they might prerelease at the heel.��They’re the ultimate in backcountry transportation, but you should back off the air and knock down your��speed��when you ride them.������

Since the late 1990s, manufacturers tried to pawn off old-school��frame bindings—the ones that elevate you off the ski and force you to lift an underfoot platform with each step—as the fix. But that added height reduces your snow feel and yields more lateral slop, which means they don’t ski well inbounds. Some brands attempted to correct that by reinforcing the platform, but the clunky touring motion and loss of sensitivity��remained (think: the or ).��

Recently, hybrid bindings like the ��($650) and ��($600) came close to the platonic ideal of an AT binding capable of sending. But the Kingpin still suffers from that too-rigid feeling at the toe. (Again, it doesn’t release laterally.)��And while the Shift may be the perfect solution for many skiers due to its blend of alpine-style safety and impressive uphill efficiency, it ultimately falls short of serious shredding��because��it lacks the big springs and metal reinforcement of a top-shelf alpine binding. Don’t get me wrong: I was an early adopter��and have spent the better part of the past four years as a dedicated fan of that system. It tours exceedingly well and is light enough for big climbing days if you’re fit. But��while the Shift’s toe piece compares to the best alpine offerings, its lightweight heel and limited elastic travel mean it doesn’t feel like one��on the way down. Specifically, it doesn’t produce as much downward pressure on the heel of your boot, so in a powered-up turn, the G-forces can overcome the binding and result in lateral slop. In my testing, I couldn’t feel that in powder, but I could feel it on hardpack, where��that loss of power translates to a less-secure feel and edges that don’t want to bite as hard.��

All of this brings us back to the needs of hard-charging skiers. Historically, that crowd had only one option: the��, an aftermarket solution that lets you remove an alpine-style toe piece in the field and replace it with a tech toe for the climb. Because it��only works with Look Pivot bindings, is complicated to install, and isn’t available through shops, it’s been called a “One��Percenter” binding—engineered for a few pro athletes. (This year, CAST has sold more than 2,000 units and counting and burned through multiple production runs.) That’s where the Duke comes in.

The Duke PT

In alpine mode, it’s tough to distinguish this new hybrid freeride model from Marker’s elite-level Jester family of��alpine bindings, which are the company’s benchmark for downhill performance. But press down on the tab at the front and the alpine toe miraculously rolls forward, revealing a hidden tech toe below. At this point,��you have two options. If you’re touring up��a short pitch, simply press the alpine toe flush with the ski and lock it into place. For longer tours, pull up on a lever and remove the alpine toe segment entirely��so you can stash it in your pack or pockets. (Carrying weight on your torso is easier than carrying weight at your extremities.)��Flip a lever to lift and lock the brake for full tour mode. A climbing aid incorporated into the brake pedal flips up to offer 10 degrees of lift, which is roughly equivalent to the lower riser on a regular touring binding. To ski down, simply reverse the process, reattaching the toe piece, rolling it back into place, and smacking the lift lever to release the brake. Then, step in like an alpine binding. The Duke PT comes in two versions:��The ($700) weighs 1,090 grams in total��or 850 grams without the toe pieces. The ($700), with its burlier spring and beefed-up heel, weighs 1,280 grams or 1,000 grams without the toe pieces. For comparison, the Shift weighs 860 grams, and a ($650)��weighs 605 grams. The binding is compatible with regular alpine boots, GripWalk boots��with tech fittings,��and touring-specific boots with toe lugs.��

The Test

I tested the system on the new over six days in the backcountry and another few days at��my local ski area, the Montana Snowbowl. To match the burly ski and binding setup, I rode in the ��($800), a hybrid AT boot��with tech fittings.��

Though it looks like it would be cumbersome, the Duke PT is actually quite slick. After a few practice runs, I was able to go from ski to tour mode with both toe pieces��stashed in my hipbelt pockets in under 15 seconds. Leaving the toe pieces connected saves even more time. A little ice accumulation slowed this process; as with the Shift, it’s a good idea to carry a cycling alongside��your and��.��Going back to ski mode is nearly as quick, but it takes some practice to get a feel for reattaching the toe pieces. Still, I did it in under 20 seconds for both skis, even when flubbing it. Marker has also tweaked the location of the heel pivot in many of its high-performance bindings, including the Duke PT, which means stepping back in is easy.��

Moving uphill, the Duke PT 16 bindings I tested��were, of course, noticeably heavier than my Dynafit Superlites��and somewhat heavier than my Shifts, though it can be tough to feel the extra 115 grams per pair��when you’re in heavy boots anyway. I would not want to be the only one on them chasing people on tech bindings. But overall, they functioned flawlessly, and I never accidentally kicked down the brake, which happens once a day on my Shifts.��

As for the downhill performance, the Duke PT 16��skis exactly like the Jester Pros that I’ve hammered for years. Objectively, the PT offers two to three times more elastic travel at the heel than any other freeride hybrid out there, and the downward pressure on the heel feels significantly��more stout. At the toe, the Duke features the same contact points and return to center as the Jester. All of which is to say that it skis like the burliest alpine bindings on the market. I had no qualms about pushing to my limits inbounds.

The Verdict

I try not to get too prescriptive with gear. Plenty of elite skiers charge downhill on tech bindings. And for big tours with fit people or extra-long approaches, I will always reach for lightweight gear first. Meanwhile, the Salomon Shift is great for bringing alpine binding safety and remarkable skiability to the backcountry. So, where does the Duke PT fit in? If the Shift is a freeride hybrid that sacrifices some small amount of downhill performance for climbing efficiency, then the Duke PT is one that sacrifices touring efficiencies for expert-level charging. Think of it as the winter equivalent of a full-suspension bike with 150 millimeters of travel. In that analogy, the Shift would be a do-it-all 130-millimeter trail bike, and a lightweight tech binding would be a cross-country race bike.��Since the Duke PT is heavy, it doesn’t climb quite as well as a Shift or a tech binding, but when you get up to speed on the descent, you’ll forget all about that.��

Ultimately, it lives up to my 20-year vision of a binding that can confidently shred inbounds but still hang if I head out the gates midday. It’s perfect for the kind of high-consequence��skin-access terrain you’d find in Alaska, patrollers who want uphill functionality and downhill performance, or dedicated resort skiers who want to do some guided ski touring out the gates in places like Jackson Hole.

The post Marker’s New Touring Binding Does (Almost) Everything appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Pro skiers and ��teamed up with����and����to break down��gear basics for��backcountry ski touring. In this video, they cover bindings, boots, skis, poles, skins, backpacks, and safety necessities��to help you make informed decisions when purchasing equipment to get started.

The post Gear Options for Backcountry Skiing appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Pro skiers����and����teamed up with����and����for a ten-part series to help introduce newcomers to the backcountry. In this episode, they break down how to use climbing skins, various touring bindings,��boots with uphill options, and more, to ensure��you have a successful and enjoyable first trip.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Backcountry Ski Gear appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

The solitude of a quiet skin with your buddies and the enjoyment of a powder stash is tempered by only one fact: if you hurt yourself, or if your gear fails, you don’t have ski patrol to bail you out. While avalanche training, first aid, and backcountry navigation skills��should be a minimum for anyone who backcountry skis, knowing how to repair your gear and having the tools to do so are also extremely important.

I spoke with adventure skier Brody Leven, who’s been a professional backcountry athlete for ten��years, about what he puts in his repair kit. While each kit will be different based on the individual skier, we mixed practical tips with examples of what Leven uses to help you build the right repair bundle for yourself.

Keep It Simple

In his decade of professional skiing in the backcountry, Leven has yet to experience��any of the catastrophic gear malfunctions that many people build a kit around. “Can they happen to me? Sure, but I am willing to deal with the consequences when they do,” he says. “Those consequences where I ski every day around Salt Lake City��are just going to be less. When I go to a different mountain range or��on a big trip, I change accordingly.”

Assess Potential Problems

“I think about what could break,” Leven says. “You have to consider your own level of ingenuity. How creative can you get? How well can you MacGyver something? Maybe you are someone who looks at a broken ski pole, a stick, and three ski straps and can’t figure out what to do.”

Start with Good Base Gear

Leven spends more energy making sure he has the right gear than thinking about ways to fix it in the field. “I focus more on reliable gear and keeping close tabs on it throughout the season,” he says.

Keep an Eye on Deterioration

“We use reliable gear day in and day out, which means we put a lot of stress on it, and we watch as our boots deteriorate, as our skins start to fail,” says Leven. You’ll save yourself a lot of grief by noticing problems that could occur in the backcountry before they happen and addressing them.

Kits

Leven uses one kit for day tours around his home in Utah and another for trips farther afield. Both are outlined below.

Close-to-Home Kit

Ski Straps��

Like many skiers, Leven believes that rubberized ski straps (often called Voile straps) are one of the best multi-use pieces of gear around. One of their key utilities is for repair. “Three or four ski straps can get you through pretty much anything,” says Leven.��

Myriad hard-good failures can be solved by those hardy, inexpensive��rubber and metal-clasp straps.��“Boots are the first thing to break. Ski straps can fix almost anything that could possibly happen to a boot,” says Leven. The same goes for a pole. “Broken ski poles can be fixed with a couple of ski straps and a stick,” Leven says. They are also strong enough to help affix failing skins to your skis, he says.

A Safety Pin

A safety pin can keep a hole in a pack closed, help you tinker with the tiniest problems in your kit, and is a simple fix for a broken zipper pull. You can usually find them for free (or nearly), and the weight penalty is next to nothing.

Tape

Leven suggests not overthinking the tape you bring to repair your gear. “I just use whatever shiny two-inch tape I have around my house,” he says. He also warns against wrapping your tape around your ski pole, a common practice in the backcountry-ski community. “That is noticeably heavier on the ski pole, and your swing weight is compromised. You’ll realize that having duct tape on your pole actually sucks—especially if it’s just on one pole. I did that for eight years and never used any of it. It’s just not worth it.” Now��he wraps duct tape around a pencil or a straw and puts it in his first aid kit.

Zip Ties

Like a safety pin, zip ties can cure all kinds of problems with torn gear. And their weight and price penalty is negligible.

A Cinch-Top Bag

Leven keeps his pared-down repair kit in a simple bag that also houses his first aid kit and lives in his backcountry ski pack.

Travel Kit

A Multitool

Leven uses the ��($80). “It was the lightest multitool when I got it ten��years ago, but it is still super heavy,” he says. “It’s got a knife, pliers, driver, and I bring all of the right bits with it.” He suggests taking a close look at the compatibility of your multitool with the parts of your gear before using it in the backcountry. “Look at all the screws on the bindings and your boots, and get a multitool that fits most of them. The really lightweight bindings are built to have only one size screw in them, so you only need one bit.”��

An Extra Needle and Thread

Leven buys a simple sewing kit, like the kind you get from a hotel.“I have sewn up a pair of gloves where the fingers blew out because I was using them at camp and handling the stove,” he says.��

Multiple Safety Pins

Leven packs��multiple safety pins for the same reason he brings one in his smaller kit.��He packs more of them, and the extras live at base camp.

Paracord

On top of potentially acting as a giant suture for the busted body of a backpack, paracord also has tons of uses in camp, like a dry line. “I will always carry a couple feet of really thin p-cord,” says Leven.

Zip Ties

Leven keeps��six zip ties in his travel kit: two short, two medium, and two long.��

Patches

“I carry seam sealer and Tear-Aid or Gear Aid patches to fix holes in jackets,” says Leven. He combines the seam seal with the patches��and puts both inside and outside a tent or jacket to repair tears.��

Extras

When traveling, Leven often brings extra pieces of gear that might break, like a pole, toe and heel pieces for his bindings, and a powder basket.

The post Everything You Need for a Backcountry-Skiing Repair Kit appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

As ���ϳԹ���’s Gear Guy, a lot of people ask me for gear advice, and guidance on��purchasing ski-touring bindings is one of the most common requests I get.��

First, an important caveat: be realistic. I’ve fallen victim to unrealistic expectations of my own skiing ability and athleticism, and have ended up with skis, bindings, and boots��that were either way too light or way too heavy for my nonprofessional skill set. I suggest buying your first setup with the goal of having the most fun you can within your current ability level. If you grow out of them,��you can upgrade. In that growth process, you’ll maximize your touring enjoyment. Here are a few details worth considering when looking for your next pair.��

Telemark Versus��Alpine-Touring Bindings

How much weed do you smoke? If the answer is anything less than��“Hella weed,” then stick with alpine-touring��bindings.

Frame Versus Tech Bindings

Frame bindings closely resemble resort bindings and can be used with regular alpine ski boots as long as the boots have a walk mode. From first glance, they can look nearly identical to resort bindings, except for a frame that spans toe to��heel, keeping��it attached to your boot when you unlock the heel to climb.��

Tech bindings have two separate pieces—one at the toe and one at the heel—and, for the most part, two toe pins that grab your boot on either side. You need boots specifically made for tech bindings, or boots with tech inserts, to use these.��

While it may be tempting to get frame bindings so you can keep your current boots, I suggest getting tech bindings if you have the money. Frame bindings are heavy and make long tours miserable, which is compounded if you’re using resort boots. If you’re an extremely aggressive skier, there are some seriously burly tech bindings and boots out there for you.��

Weight Versus Performance

Every decision you make in your backcountry ski kit will have some level of push and pull between weight (uphill) and performance (downhill). There are some amazing products that are closer to delivering the best of both worlds, but at the end of the day, you always take a weight penalty for downhill ability. Again, this is a great opportunity to be honest with yourself and your skiing skills. If you aren’t skimo racing or making massive approaches to objectives, you probably don’t need the lightest binding��on the market. Unless you are hucking cliffs or skiing in no-fall zones, you probably don’t need the beefiest. But unnecessarily heavy bindings will make climbs less fun. Buy for the skiing that is the most fun for you now. If you’re��more excited about the fitness aspect of the climb, go lighter. The same applies if you are more interested in pushing your skiing. Just don’t go to extremes in your purchase.��

DIN Setting

A lot of folks are hyper focused on having bindings with a really high DIN setting��(the higher the number, the more force it takes to release in a fall), even when they don’t need it. I always remind my friends that you want your bindings to release. There are, of course, skiers who are hucking cliffs or regularly skiing exposed lines in which unwanted separation from their skis would be catastrophic. If you’re not one of those skiers, you don’t need a binding with a 15 DIN setting. You can save yourself a lot of money and weight by being reasonable about how high your DIN setting should actually be.��

Boot Compatibility

If you’re��buying a pair of bindings��online, quadruple-check that the ones��you’re buying are compatible with the boots you have or are purchasing. Some brands, or models within brands, aren’t compatible with bindings from other brands. This is an extremely frustrating��and potentially expensive��oversight to discover after you’ve had skis mounted with bindings.

Ski Compatibility

Make sure your bindings are powerful enough to drive whatever ski you’re pairing them with. If you have big, heavy skis that are more than 100 millimeters underfoot, don’t try and make up a few ounces by getting really lightweight bindings.

Brakes

While brakes add weight and are yet another thing to break on a binding, I swear by them. If I fall, I really want my skis to release and also travel away from my body as I tumble. Leashes keep the skis attached to your boots,��which terrifies me, but��no protection means your skis can become waxed torpedoes that may disappear into the woods or impale anyone in their trajectory. There are definitely cases, like in serious ski-mountaineering objectives, in which brakes wouldn’t do you any good and would just add weight. If you are a more casual enthusiast, brakes will serve you very well.

Let a��Pro Mount Them

Anyone with the right tools and the correct template can mount a touring binding, but enough can go wrong that I suggest you leave it to the pros—at least for your first set. I also recommend getting them mounted at a shop that will test to see if they are releasing correctly. Placing this important part of the process in the hands of professionals will keep you safer and give you peace of mind.

Tinker, Tinker, Tinker

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I had my first Dynafit bindings��mounted was to mess around with them in my living room before I took them out skiing;��finding out how to get in and out of them, transitioning from climb to ski mode, and messing with the risers in the comfort of your home is significantly better than trying to figure all that��out on a cold skin track with a group of your buddies waiting on you. I cannot stress enough how much easier this will make your first touring experiences, and even if you can’t ski regularly, you can get to know your gear well if you tinker with it in your house.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Ski-Touring Bindings appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

If you own a set of 2017/18 Kingpin 10 or 13 bindings, Marker to send them back for repair. The ski brand issued a voluntary recall for those two specific models after quality-control testing��revealed that the front pins could break, causing the bindings to release under lower-than-desirable forces and posing an increased risk of falls. The release did not specify how, exactly, the bindings could break and whether that would render them useless immediately.��

The Kingpin binding is one of the most widely used touring bindings on the market (we’ve rated it as one of the best backcountry ski bindings in our Winter Buyer’s Guide two years in a row) thanks to its combination of light weight and downhill security. Those qualities have made it a popular choice for skiers who want to go fast and light while still charging hard on the way back down—exactly the circumstances under which a skier is cranking on her skis, and relying on her bindings to withstand those forces.

In a press release sent out this week, Kingpin explained that the company found the defective pins in a limited number of Kingpin 10 and 13 bindings��from 2017/18. “We are aware of our responsibility as a manufacturer when it comes to safety, especially with regard to ski touring in the backcountry,” the release stated. “This is why after extensive and serious testing and evaluation we decided to recall the whole population of the 2017/18 model, even if the problem only affects very few bindings.”

Customers who have bindings from that year are encouraged to send them back to Marker to have the pins replaced at no charge. (The new bindings are easily identifiable, because Marker recently changed its logo. Kingpins with the new logo are the only ones subject to the recall.)

���ϳԹ��� reached out to Kingpin for more information on how the issue with the new bindings happened, why it was only discovered after the bindings had already gone on sale,��and what is being done to correct it in future versions of the Kingpin, but didn’t hear back before publication. We’ll update this story if more information arises. In the meantime, Kingpin owners: get those bindings checked.

The post Marker Recalls Kingpin 10 and 13 Bindings appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

The race is on to create the��perfect beyond-the-ropes setup.

Voil�Supercharger

Gear of the Year

This season our team of more than four dozen tested 210 skis, 53 boots, and��13 bindings—and crunched the num­bers on 1,400 review forms—to come��up with this: the best backcountry gear��of the year. The 19��products featured��continue the trend toward lightweight performance. The skis all have at least some carbon (although you wouldn’t know it from��how they rip), the boots come in well under eight pounds, and only one of the bindings has a frame. So yeah, a lot of brands are making great stuff, but there was one clear winner: the crazily adept Supercharger. Salt Lake City–based Voilé makes boards for perfectionists, running each design through a bunch of iterations in its U.S. factory before taking it to market. We were aware of this DNA from first chair. With dimensions based on the old V8, with just a bit more tip rocker and a profile like the original Charger, this plank is a “near perfect mélange of float, dampness, versatility, and tourability,” said one tester. It’s surprisingly light given its girth (106 millimeters underfoot), but a new aspen core with carbon stringers adds confidence on steeps. We found that we could float through powder, then flat-out charge over hardpack back to the lift. Mount it with a binding from the All Mountain page and you have your quiver—for about $100 less than most of its competitors. 140/106/124; 7.3 lbs

Price $695

Touring

Völkl��VTA 88��Lite��

Best For: Going up and down really fast.��

The Test: The folks at Völkl have a genius for building skis that are both playful and stable. The catch? They’re usually heavy, which makes them better for the resort than the backcountry. Enter the VTA 88 Lite—the lightest ski here. By wrapping a wood core in carbon, Völkl was able to ditch all the metal, shedding half a pound per ski in the process. And the unique three-dimensional topsheet shrugs off snow��
on the way up, cutting even more weight.��

The Verdict: A backcountry board that wants to play at the resort but still flies uphill. 127/88/106; 4.6 lbs

Price $1,065

Hagan ZR��

Best For: Winning ski-mountaineering races.��

The Test: The only thing you really need to know about the ZR? It weighs just over four ounces per foot. To illustrate how ridiculous that is, note that the next-lightest models in our test (the Fritschi and the G3) are about five times heavier. That weight advantage amounts to mechanical doping on the ups, but the binding performed surprisingly well on descents, too, with a relatively high release value. Get it with brakes for $100 extra. Our main gripe: just one climbing position limits versatility.��

The Verdict: If you must have the very lightest setup, you’ve met your match. 8.2 oz

Price $650

Hagan Y-Ride��

Best For: Lightweight, downhill confidence.��

The Test: Born in Austria as a pro ski mountaineer’s brand, Hagan is expanding its line for the rest of us, with a new series of extra-light skis that absolutely fly. The Y-Ride is “amazing at high speeds on hardpack,” said one tester. “Superstrong and stable, considering it comes in at just over five pounds,” raved another. Some of the credit goes to the carbon tip that tames vibrations before they travel up the length of��the ski. Slight rocker up front lets these boards float well in boot-top-deep fluff, too.��

The Verdict: While it’s no big-mountain bully, it’s shockingly powerful considering its minuscule weight. 128/88/108; 5.3 lbs

Price $800

G3 Ion 12��

Best For: Low weight and high speeds.��

The Test: It’s been two seasons since G3 sent its Ion into the tech-binding ring, and its British Columbia–based engineers continue to evolve the model. The current Ion 12 is the best to date—and arguably the best in its class. It clings to a boot like Ted Ligety on a giant-slalom course, giving our testers confidence to lay down fast, aggressive turns on hardpack. G3 built in that security by setting the toe arms far apart, beefing up the springs, and simplifying the forward-pressure��setting.��

The Verdict: A svelte tech binding can be a terrifying proposition. This one’s not. 2.6 lbs��

Price $549

All Mountain

DPS��Tour1��Wailer��112RP2��

Best For: Earning deep powder laps.��

The Test: Over the past five years, the banana-shaped Wailer 112—with heavy rocker and a tapered fore and aft—has become the��ski of choice for backcountry devotees when snow totals measure in the feet. The new Tour1 takes that icon and makes it 15 percent lighter, pairing a balsa-wood core with carbon fiber. That build involves some sacrifices in the power department (we prefer the old model for throwing down on firm snow), but the weight-to-powder-pleasure ratio is unmatched.��

The Verdict: DPS’s lightest core perfectly completes this classic. 141/112/128; 6.7 lbs

Price $1,050

The M Equipment��Meidjo��

Best For: Telemark skiers who tour.��

The Test: While the NTN platform offers a whole slew of performance features—including easy step-in, confidence-ensuring releasability, and solid brakes—it’s got some shortcomings. Namely, it’s heavy and has a limited range of motion. The French-made Meidjo solves those problems with Dynafit-style tech pins at the toe for unrestricted touring mobility and fewer ounces. Downhill performance was on point, with testers describing the binding as “active and springy, progressive and smooth.” We just wish there were more compatible tele boots.��

The Verdict: The best thing to befall free-the-heelers in the past decade. 2 lbs��

Price $679

Scott��Superguide��105��

Best For: Do-it-all backcountry pursuits��in Utah or Colorado.��

The Test: It’s all in the name. Scott partnered with pro powder hunters to develop the Superguide, the widest backcountry-specific ski in its line. This is a proficient off-piste animal, with a paulownia core to keep the ride playful and a woven Kevlar and carbon layer to boost stability and stiffness. It’s got a decent amount of backbone without the portliness of a resort ripper, making it the ideal stick for skiing soft stuff beyond the ropes. “A reliable, confidence-inspiring ski best ridden in fresh or corn,” said one tester. For crud we found ourselves wanting just a bit more heft.��

The Verdict: The ski to reach for when seeking out hidden stashes. 133/104/122; 6.8 lbs��

Price $700

Fritschi��Diamir��Vipec��12��

Best For: Quick transitions.��

The Test: The story here is all about safety. The Vipec 12 is DIN certified—the international standard for reliable release. Fritschi engineered the toe to be adjustable, giving testers the option to customize release settings. This year’s model is also wider up front, which makes entry easier than in past generations. That said, the binding can be a bit finicky.��

The Verdict: Security in a lightweight, innovative, well-priced package. 2.6 lbs

Price $600

Big Mountain

Black Crows Anima��Freebird��

Best For: Surfy, playful powder turns.��

The Test: Chamonix-based Black Crows gutted last season’s popular big-mountain-ripping Anima, replacing its core with a lighter paulownia-poplar blend. The profile’s exactly the same; the ski just weighs 2.6 pounds��less per pair. The result is a backcountry-first plank that testers described as both slidey and slarvey and that relished blasting through mank at speed. Up to a point: some of our crew noted that the Anima Freebird’s tip and tail chattered loosely when taken off soft snow.��

The Verdict: A nimble, poppy option for soft, untracked runs. 143/115/128; 7.9 lbs

Price $850

Dynafit��Beast 14

Best For: Bringing alpine security to the backcountry.��

The Test: Yeah, it’s aptly named. The Beast 14 ranked in the upper echelon when it came to power and stability, with one tester observing that “it skis better than any frame-style binding I’ve tried, at half the weight.” The burly heelpiece and that high DIN of 14 add confidence on the descents. Unlock the toe and you get five millimeters of pivot to reduce the risk of early release and to create a much smoother ride. Unless your name’s Candide, you’ll never want anything more.��

The Verdict: A tamed-down version of��the Beast 16 that still packs plenty of punch for the majority of us. 3.6 lbs

Price $750

Salomon QST 106

Best For: In-bounds confidence, out-of-bounds charging.��

The Test: This powerful, aggressive ski wouldn’t be out of place arcing super-G��turns beneath a bomber resort binding. But��it does well in the backcountry, too, thanks to a lightweight poplar core layered with carbon. Full-length sidewalls and moderate tip and tail rocker complete the versatile package. “This board truly handles all types of conditions with ease,” said one tester.��

The Verdict: Signature Salomon power��in a skin-track-friendly package.��140/106/126; 8.2 lbs

Price $850

Marker Kingpin 13

Best For: Skiers who don’t trust traditional backcountry bindings.��

The Test: The Achilles heel of most tech bindings? They’re either powerful and heavy or light and unreliable. The Kingpin goes a long way toward abolishing that dichotomy by marrying a lightweight toe for climbing efficiency with an alpine-like heel for security. It was the first tech model to meet the DIN standard for consistent release. The price of all those advantages: a bit more heft.��

The Verdict: As close to an alpine binding as a tech model is likely to get. 3.3 lbs

Price $649

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Nowadays, there are more binding choices than ever, thanks in part to the rising popularity of backcountry skiing. That’s great, but it can be overwhelming, especially for beginners just getting into the sport. So if you, dear reader, fall into that category, check out our simplified guide below. We break down the four major binding types and make a few recommendations for each.

Alpine

Recommendations: and

How They Work: This is your traditional downhill binding. It’s meant to keep your boot locked down at all times and can’t be used for skiing uphill or backcountry touring.

Pros: The vast majority of alpine bindings are strong, reliable, durable, and safe, so you can ski them hard going downhill. They’re also typically less expensive than alpine touring bindings (see below).

Cons: You can’t go uphill or into the backcountry with these bindings—unless you boot-pack with the skis on your back.

Best For: If you’re skiing only inbounds, lift-accessed runs, this is what you want.

Frame Alpine Touring (AT)

Recommendations: and

How They Work: These are alpine bindings that you can use to go uphill and into the backcountry. A plate under��your foot holds the toe and heel piece together but releases from the ski at the heel and pivots at the toe so you can walk with skins on your skis. When you’re ready to descend, lock the plate down��and the bindings will function almost exactly like a standard alpine binding.

Pros: Frame AT bindings are often less expensive than tech AT bindings (see below), plus they’re more durable, more powerful, and safer. They also work with any alpine boot that has a walk mode.

Cons: They’re significantly heavier than tech AT bindings (we're talking double or triple the weight),��and they cost more than alpine bindings.

Best For: Downhill skiers who stick mostly to the resort��but want to ski uphill before work and don’t mind a weight penalty.

Tech Alpine Touring (AT)

Recommendations: , , and

How They Work: There are several different types of tech bindings,��but��all share two design features. The first is a toe piece with two metal pins that slot into holes on the sides of tech-specific boots. These pins allow you to pivot your toe when you’re walking uphill. The second feature is a heel piece that releases from your boot but stays on the ski (unlike frame AT bindings, above) when you’re walking uphill or skinning through the backcountry.

Pros: Tech AT bindings are the lightest options on the market—key for long days in the backcountry.

Cons: They’re expensive—usually $200 more than frame AT bindings. They also only work with tech-specific boots (which are lighter and more walkable than alpine ones), and they’re more finicky than any other binding on this list. Expect a learning curve.

Best For: Experienced backcountry skiers interested in long tours, or skiers who want to move fast and light while skiing uphill at the resort. A sturdy tech binding like the Dynafit Radical 2.0 will serve you fine for limited inbounds skiing, but it isn’t intended for long lift-accessed days.

Telemark

​

Recommendations: , , and

How They Work: These are the original backcountry bindings. Your heel is never locked down in a telemark binding,��meaning you can always pivot your toe. Most wrap a cable around your heel that provides tension and control when you drop a knee to make a turn. The newer forgo the cable, keeping your heel tensioned with springs under��the boot. Note: There are both��touring and nontouring��telemark bindings. The touring bindings allow your toe to pivot more for better uphill mobility.

Pros: We love the tele turn, there’s a lot of affordable used telemark gear on the market, and the bindings have fewer working parts to fail in the backcountry.

Cons: This is basically a whole new sport. It’s harder to make a turn with a telemark binding, which means you get more fatigued in-bounds and in the backcountry.

Best For: Traditional skiers who want a new challenge.

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From skinning up in the morning to shredding down icy chutes,��our��two favorite��alpine-touring setups��can handle it all.��

G3 Synapse 101 W skis��

A ski this light and uphill oriented tends to get skittish on the downs. Not so the , which let testers rip in everything from day-old mank to eight inches of fresh. The superb mix of stiffness and playfulness comes from the carbon-wrapped poplar and paulownia core and the early-rise tip and tail. 130/101/118; 5.8 lbs

Price $900

Fritschi Diamir Vipec 12 bindings��

Last year the made our list of finalists because of its alpine-binding-like toe release and pole-adjustable heel riser. The new version is even better, a result of subtle improvements like boot-toe guides for easy entry. 2.4 lbs

Price $600

Atomic Century 109 skis��

Mount alpine bindings on the and you’ll be happy charging the resort all season. But the lightweight, carbon-reinforced wood core also makes this a fantastic big-mountain touring ski. With an early-rise tip and slight tail rocker, it’s ideal for deep days. 132/109/122; 7.5 lbs

Price $725

Tyrolia Carbon Ambition 12 bindings

The is one of the lightest frame bindings on the market, with a stiff carbon tube running between toe and heel. Compatible with downhill and AT boots, it’s only a little less capable on fast descents than a true alpine model. Best for those who spend equal time on both sides of the rope. 3.6 lbs

Price $1,150

Tecnica Cochise Pro Light W boots��

Meet the that thinks it’s an alpine rig. An updated metal-on-metal walk system gives you more flex and a locked-in ride on the descent. The burly power strap adds even more forward and lateral stiffness. The only downside: it’s heavy. 8.5 lbs

Price $660

Scott Sports Celeste II boots��

The had no problem taming wide planks, with a relatively tall cuff, four burly buckles, and a stiff shell. But it was the walk mode, with 60 degrees of flex, that impressed us most. “It would tear up the dance floor as effectively as the slopes,” one tester said. 5.3 lbs

Price $800

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Backcountry gear is getting really damn good. So good, in fact, that it’s time to ditch your dedicated alpine setup if you make any turns on the other side of the ropes. Take boots: even models from traditional alpine companies are getting lighter, and they perform almost as well as their resort-bound siblings. Skis are shedding ounces, too, with clever carbon constructions and skinnier waists. But they still shred. In tech bindings, the concept that Dynafit pioneered 31 years ago has become a ubiquitous platform for others to build upon, and the results are safer and more user-friendly. To help you pick the perfect kit, we tested 207 products and then narrowed the field to the 13 most exciting.

Black Crows Corvus Freebird

Gear of the Year

Black Crows, based in Chamonix, France, has a reputation for building powerful freeride skis. But its boards weren’t light enough for touring—until now. The ��has the heart of a big-mountain charger and the backcountry chops of a lighter ski, with a carbon-fiberglass layer under a wood core. The subtle “beak and a half” profile pairs rocker up front with a more traditional (albeit still turned-up) tail for edge hold. “Precise and multifunctional,” said one tester. At 8.5 pounds, it’s heavy for big tours, but that’s a small price to pay for superb downhill performance. 139/109/122; 8.5 lbs

Price $840 Tourability 3 Power 5

DPS Wailer 99 Tour1 skis

Touring

Best For: Turning the mountain into a snowy playground.��
The Test: It’s a full 15 percent lighter than its predecessor, but the still shines on the descents. Credit the new Tour1 engineering, which combines ounce-saving cap construction (the company’s other skis have sidewalls) with aerospace-grade carbon around a featherweight balsa core. It remained stable and damp even in tricky spring conditions, while rocker in the tip and tail kept it quick and playful. With a wider 99-millimeter waist, it floated a bit better in the deep stuff than the La Sportiva. “Probably the most fun I’ve had on a DPS,” said one tester.��
The Verdict: Now even lighter, the supremely capable Wailer 99 will have you whooping with joy. 125/99/111; 6.2 lbs

Price $1,050 Tourability 4.5 Power 3.5

Dynafit Radical FT 2.0 bindings��

Touring

Best For: Skiers who want a smoother ride.��
The Test: The ’s turntable toe takes the edge off hard, unpredictable snow. Testers found it more elastic and forgiving than its competitors. “Feels natural when skiing fast in tough conditions,” one tester said. The 2.0 also has a true forward-pressure setting that reduces the chance of prerelease (a weakness of the original). Simply put, it instills plenty of confidence when you’re pointing down the fall line.��
The Verdict: A tad heavier but much more reliable than its predecessor. Sets a new standard for tech bindings. 2.8 lbs

Price $650 Tourability 4.5 Power 4

La Sportiva Vapor Svelte skis��

Touring

Best For: Ski mountaineering.��
The Test: Last year, La Sportiva changed how we think about ultralight, high-performance skis with the Vapor Nano, which layered woven Kevlar over carbon nanotubes for an unbeatable weight-to-surface-area ratio. The features the same technology—on a diet. At 96 millimeters underfoot, it’s a good deal narrower than the Nano, and it has slightly less tip rocker. The result: the best option for going fast uphill, then powering back down. “Superlight, but with guts and a backbone,” one tester said. “It’s more confident in crud than many skis with wider waists.”��
The Verdict: Astonishingly impressive on the downhill given its weight. 126/96/113; 4.6 lbs

Price $1,200 Tourability 5 Power 3

G3 Ion bindings��

Touring

Best For: Newbie tech-binding buyers.��
The Test: The user-friendly returns for the second year in a row technically unchanged, with easy step-in and intuitive heel risers. But skiers now have three options to choose from: the lightweight Ion 10; the even more lithe Ion LT (a brakeless option for the weight-conscious crowd); and the burly Ion 12 (shown here), which features brakes, a release value to 12 for all-mountain versatility, and a forged-aluminum body for impressive strength. “Looks elegant, skis elegant,” as one of our testers put it.
The Verdict: A sturdy binding that comes in three flavors. 1.3 lb.

Price $600 Tourability 4.5 Power 3.5

K2 Pinnacle 95 skis

All Mountain

Best For: Going fast no matter the conditions.��
The Test: K2 built its new line of to rip downhill. A metal laminate parallels the edges of the composite core, making for superb stability and energy transfer at high speeds—albeit with a small weight penalty. Combine that construction with long, gradual tip rocker and light tail rocker, and you get a narrow board that blasts through crud, carves down ice, and surfs surprisingly well in deep powder. Testers called it nimble, speedy, and “a highly tuned thoroughbred” of a board. Unless you ski powder every day (and you don’t), this could be the only ski you need.��
The Verdict: Performs brilliantly on both sides of the ropes. 132/95/115; 7.8 lbs

Price $850 Tourability 4.5 Power 4.5

Marker Kingpin 13 bindings��

All Mountain

Best For: Replacing your alpine setup.��
The Test: One of the few DIN- and ISO-certified tech options on the market, the releases just like an alpine binding in back, thanks to the wide heelpiece. It’s also easier to get into and out of than its true tech competitors. Six springs in the toe (instead of the usual four) gave testers more confidence skiing and hucking at speed. And while it’s heavier than your standard tech binding, it’s also much burlier. One tester called its performance “on par with alpine bindings. Just bomber.”��
The Verdict: Unmatched power and safety—at a price. 3.2 lbs

Price $840 Tourability 3 Power 5

Dynastar Cham 2.0 97 skis��

All Mountain

Best For: Smearing buttery turns.��
The Test: This year, Dynastar traded the metal in its for a paulownia-wood core, which offers a lighter, more forgiving ride. It also reduced the amount of tip rocker, to give the ski more control at speed, and added rocker to the tail, to make executing lively turns even easier. Quick and springy underfoot, it’s ideal for the skier seeking soft snow and spring corn. Take note: at 7.5 pounds, it’s best suited to short tours close to the resort, not all-day backcountry adventures.��
The Verdict: This playful yet stable ski is back and better than ever. 133/97/113; 7.5 lbs

Price $700 Tourability 4 Power 4

22 Designs Outlaw NTN bindings��

All Mountain

Best For: Telemarkers seeking ultimate power.��
The Test: This is the latest addition to 22 -Designs’ gang of stainless-steel (read: nearly indestructible) telemark bindings. It’s also the company’s first NTN offering, which means it’s step-in and compatible with NTN-specific boots from Crispi, Scarpa, and Scott. Maintaining the brand’s hard-charging pedigree, the has a six-hole mounting pattern for better grip on your ski, custom spring-tension settings, and 50 degrees of free pivot in walk mode. “Old-school tele feel with the stiffness of NTN,” one tester said.��
The Verdict: All the power and edge hold of NTN from a performance leader. 3.5 lbs

Price $400 Tourability 3.5 Power 4.5

Blizzard Zero G 108 skis��

Big Mountain

Best For: Doing it all.��
The Test: The widest ski in Blizzard’s new Zero G line, the is neither the lightest nor the hardest-charging ski we tested. But it might be the perfect compromise. The paulownia core and carbon-fiber frame matched with a fairly wide waist and early rise had testers raving about the floaty ride in powder. On icy steeps, it held its edge and carved quick turns, with traditional camber underfoot and sidewall construction. It sailed through variable conditions, too, with embedded carbon from tip to tail dampening vibrations through chunder.��
The Verdict: The best performance-to-weight ratio here. 136/108/122; 7.3 lbs

Price $960 Tourability 4.5 Power 4

Salomon Guardian MNC 13 bindings��

Big Mountain

Best For: Resort skiers who dabble in touring.��
The Test: Widely regarded as the best frame binding on the market, the (identical to the Atomic Tracker, just with different paint) returns unchanged this season. With a maximum DIN of 13, it’s built for big, bold descents, but take note: it will inflict suffering on the way back up, given its weight—about double the next heaviest binding on this page. But when it comes to easy operation (a flick of the pole puts it in walk mode) and compatibility (it works with most boot soles—AT, alpine, or Walk to Ride), the Guardian can’t be beat.��
The Verdict: Does everything an alpine binding does, with the added option of touring. 6.4 lbs

Price $450 Tourability 2.5 Power 5

Armada KUFO 103 skis��

Big Mountain

Best For: Going from powder to crud.��
The Test: The new is the same width as last year’s, but it’s 16 percent lighter, with nary a drop in downhill performance. The board’s caruba-wood core makes for a buoyant ride, while carbon and Kevlar throughout give it crud-busting stability. Armada kept almost everything else the same, including the early rise and camber underfoot, which contributes to its playfulness, and a flat tail for driving turns. “Kudos to Armada for making a ski that both surfs and rails,” one tester said.��
The Verdict: A powerhouse all-mountain option, now lighter and with more float. 119/102/123; 7 lbs

Price $775 Tourability 4 Power 4

Dynafit Beast 14 bindings��

Big Mountain

Best For: The hardest chargers.��
The Test: The uses the same turntable-toe technology as Dynafit’s Radical 2.0 (page 102) and the same heelpiece as the Beast 16. The result: a binding that smooths out harsh bumps, locks your boot in place, and releases safely in a crash. Oh yeah, it’s also about a third of a pound lighter than the 16 without sacrificing down-hill performance. We do have two complaints: AT boots must be modified with a metal heel fitting (included) to be compatible, and there’s no zero-degree option in tour mode for the flats.��
The Verdict: Best-in-class downhill performance with some touring limitations. 3.5 lbs

Price $750 Tourability 3.5 Power 4.5

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