Tech bindings, the microwaved burrito of release values. "Yes, I would like a 12 DIN please!" "Best I can do is 4 and 20 at the same time depending on what you don't want."
@@CodyTownsend Solid and spectacular examples of knees gone wild or bad as it made my day! My belief after 3 knee surgeries, 1 hip surgery and of course 2 shoulder surgeries is simple. My tech binding need to be lightweight and functional for the up and the down. As for release values I don't expect those bindings(yes that includes the ancient Silverettas of the 80s and 90s) to ever release and over the last 4 decades of BC skiing not one has released, ever! So DIN numbers just aren't that important for now. Now could it be that I ski differently in the BC than I do in lift served skiing where a cool guy DIN to 15 matters? I'd say that is the case, knowing full well that getting down in one piece means I'll get the opportunity to suffer on the up again and again! Solid as always Cody!
I am one of the casualties of skiing tech pin bindings in the resort and suffered a spiral tib/fib as a result! (2016 at Squaw) Thank you for including this warning in your video!
Hi Josh I hope that you recovered well and can continue on your adventures into the wild white yonder. Can you tell a little the risk and the reason for skiing techs in the resort has a higher injury stat? It remains a little mysterious to me. I hope to know what are the scenarios? Why can't they release? Is it a flaw in design?
Trab TR-2 is precise model. On the skimo.com website under TR-2 comments, there's a cool story about a bc skier in Vermont who was driving with tele boots on and met Rick Howell at a Stowe VT gas station!
@@gregoryescaro7855 like Cody says in the video, they aren't held to the same release standards as alpine bindings. In my specific case, I read that the model of Kingpins I was using don't typically release with impact at the very front of the ski. Impact on the front of the ski was the exact cause of my injury. I did a lot of reading about this after my injury and there are some release tests done on tech bindings (though not official). In short, they simply don't release in all the same scenarios a standard alpine binding will.
@@brucerorty4014 That's awesome! I just went and checked out the story. I chose Vipec Evo's which also have release values similar to the TR-2. Not sure the TR-2 was available a couple years ago when I bought them. I also ski Knee Bindings on my alpine skis! I've been very happy with them. No issues releasing when needed and my legs are very happy :)
From somebody who more or less works professionally in the outdoor industry and does a lot of tutorials on TH-cam: your content is excellent! I don’t care too much about the aesthetic side (although it is surely well done) but the depth of knowledge you provide and your differentiated approach to this stuff makes it a pleasure to watch your tutorials. Please consider doing more of them.
I have two cents to ante up, but first, let me say that I love all the Fifty videos, and this was a very clear, concise discussion of bindings. I'm 65, have been using tech bindings for about 17 or 18 years now, with no injuries, no problems. Dynafits until their patent ran out, Salomon Mountain since then. I am by no means an expert skier, but I AM an expert on what I am and am not physically capable of, and I'm selective in my ski experiences. I ski only backcountry, soft snow almost exclusively (pow preferably, some corn), don't jump. When conditions are too challenging, I have a good kick turn and can traverse. 😁 So my point is that you need not be scared off from tech bindings if you are not an "expert" skier (whatever that means!). But I also want to acknowledge that even one injury of the sort many of those commenting mention is one too many! Anyone who does some "pure" backcountry and pure resort skiing, and loves skiing enough to be watching these videos, should be able to save up enough nickels to have a dedicated resort setup with alpine bindings, or perhaps hybrid bindings if in a place with backcountry access gates, and a dedicated backcountry setup. I just used my nickels to get a second BC ski (also with Salomon Mountain), 112mm under foot, to add to my all-around 98mm skis!
After watching your last Gear Talk a month ago, I bought the Soloman Swich bindings for my big mountain skis. This episode just reinforced the choice. Can't wait for some snow!!!
Thanks Cody! Your “The Fifty” videos are great fun, motivating and informative. Really enjoy. Thanks for the education. Going to upgrade to hybrid from frame bindings.
Perfect Timing! My wife and I were just discussing the benefits of Flex versus Tech bindings. We're moving up from frame bindings. And... I recognize that shop! Great people and great selection. Thanks so much Cody for all you are doing.
Hi Cody, I am a 62 year old man who has been skiing pretty much all of my life. I plan on getting into backcountry skiing, mostly in New England. I am still a very strong skier and I guess you would call me an expert but not compared to someone like yourself or other professionals. After watching your video is seems as if the hybrid binding is the way to go. It seems to be light enough but also seems much safer than say the touring binding. I grew up skiing with binding that did not release and broke my leg. I rarely fall but I am thinking the hybrid is the way to go. Does that ask about right. I do understand the touring is lighter but I am trying it weigh out performance, lightness and safety. Thanks for such a great video.
Great video. Big fan of you going deeper into the gear you use and why. Would love a video on skis. Specifically camber, reverse camber, and everything in-between. I couldn't help notice that the skis you were holding were reverse camber. I learned in the old school and don't understand why/when you would want a reverse camber ski in the backcountry. I could see them being great for powder but how do they ski in variable conditions (powder, ice, and everything in-between)? Your thoughts on the topic would be super helpful.
Woah, great video. I'm already set on a Shift, but really good to hear that pin/tech are for advanced skiers in certain conditions. Could you elaborate more on them in another video about Ski Touring? Aka Why would you choose an MTN over the Shift on particular tours? How does one ski with a Pin binding? What snow conditions are a no-go for pin bindings? I imagine that if Freeriding after a climb the Shift makes more sense, vs descending more cautiously or in softer snow with the pin binding. I have seen other skiers (and perhaps yourself) charging pretty hard in pin bindings, but it would be interesting to know what cost/benefit analysis you make before doing so?
in my experience you just have to be diligent to not pack the area under the heel with snow before switching to touring mode. All the times ive had issues with the brakes coming unlocked has been due to snow in that little space, annoying but not sure what a fix for that is.
@@danielazbell6416 have had them for 3 years and haven't had any of those issues. Seems a lot of the issues with these bindings come from improper use. They are more finicky than a straight touring binding or an alpine binding but thats to be expected with how complicated they are. Id love to see some upgrades and improvements dont get me wrong but they arent lemons.
@@dcollay17 my friend had that exact issue today, the space under the brake was full of snow and her brake kept popping back down. Dug through my bag for my small screwdriver and scraped the snow out, back to working properly. As for all the other alleged problems, I haven't seen them other than the toe height adjustment being a bit weird but once it's properly adjusted it works as it's supposed to. A different friend of mine had his shifts mounted at his local shop before coming to visit me for a ski trip and he complained about how it was pre-releasing, all it took was a couple turns on the toe adjustment screw. The problem is that many techs don't get enough time to properly understand the product before they have to install it. It took me about and hour and a half to fully figure out and get everything perfect the first time
@@Spleck9000 yeah I carry a little brush/scraper thing for bindings now due to that issues. I have never had the toe adjustment issues since I have had the same boots since I bought them. Luckily the tech that installed them have me a very thorough how to rundown and pointed out the toe adjustment being very picky to me. That was great cause at there time there were very few videos/info on how they worked. Bottom line id buy another pair in a second if I needed them.
Cody, thank you for this great introduction to the various types of alpine bindings and their pros and cons. I am really interested to learn more about Salomon‘s shift binding. It is still a little heavier as the tech bindings but the features are really convincing.👍😉😎
Cody, what do you think of the BD Frischi Tecton 12 with the pinned toe that has a lateral toe release? Seems closer to the tech side but I can say first hand that the lateral release actually works really well (ski caught sideways in a shark and the toe released saving my tibia/acl)
Excellent info and thanks Cody and team for posting it! Recently rigged up QST 106's with the Warden MNC and they are a great combination. I went with the MNC thinking I may go back towards a touring sole in the future and/or better resale value with more soles on more buyers. Also - hoping your next video could be on the pros and cons of boot categories from stiff carving performance S/MAX to perhaps more comfortable S/PRO ?? Are the SHIFT AT boots every bit as good for resort days? I miss the rockered and grippy sole of my old AT boots for the long parking lot treks at the resort ;-)
Can you make a video on Smith Shift Mag? Did not see anything online for them and will mostly be using for skinning so figure you would have great insite. Would just get wild cats but they are sold out.
No secrets or nuance here to even the 10 day ski tour enthusiast. Good basic intro to bindings if you are coming from snowboarding or never having skied. I'd be curious to hear his actual decision making on when to use shift vs tech.
Could you elaborate on the release failures of ski-mode tech bindings? I've skied Marker Alpinist 12 bindings (big fan) in resort settings so that I could learn the feel of the bindings and skis in a controlled setting. I didn't want to first experience steep downhill in touring bindings on a mountain peak. You described the impact of their lack of elasticity, and mentioned that they don't meet Alpine ISO DIN release metrics, but which ones? I've come out of them in multiple ways (Heels up. Heels sideways. Toes up. Toes sideways.). They always have seemed to release when I expected them to, not early or, gulp, late. I've only ever skied downhill in them in 'ski mode'. So what kind of release is missing from the touring binding? Or is the problem that people ski downhill in 'walk' mode to prevent accidental release?
Clay, I think it is several things that make classic pin bindings less safe: -number one is that fact that there is a tiny connection between boot and binding. Therefor any microscopic variation (wear in boot sockets etc) can have a huge effect on the release. This is made worse by the fact that there is no norm for tech binding boot inserts. Number two is that tech bindings* do not release laterally at the toe, thus significantly increasing the chances of breaking the lower leg if you hit sideways near the toe of the boot. Number three, is that they are more prone to unwanted release. Number four, (due to number three): many people ski them downhill with the toes locked. Number five is that many tech bindings do not have adjustable vertical and lateral release. And probably most important: most people don’t get their tech bindings tested for release, even though tests reveal huge variations in actual release torque. *excet Vipec/Tecton/Trab Tr2
@@tjb8841 Very interesting. Thanks. I think I've experienced lateral toe release in the Marker Alpinist. Pretty sure. But I've only ever skied them downhill in 'ski' mode'. Super helpful comment. Thank you.
@@claykarmel4730 well it depends exactly how you define ‘lateral relase’. In the standard definition, it means pushing the boot toe toe purely sideways, with the boot heel staying in place. This is how an alpine binding is tested. This is impossible with a tech binding, becasue the toe ‘arm’ is in the way. So, in that definition, there is no lateral release at the toe (try it in on a work bench). Now, if you introduce a sideways ‘tipping’ motion, or a rotation around a point in the middle between the toe pins , the boot can come out of the toe pins, by the pins being pushed out of the sockets. This, however, is completely uncontrolled. There is no way to know (let alone adjust) at what force this happens*. The same goes for vertical release at the toe. Yes, if unlocked, you can force the boot out of the toe piece of the binding. But, that still doesn’t mean there is ‘vertical release’ in the sense that we normally mean when talking about binding release. Both tech and Alpine bindings release vertically at the heel (more useful there anyway). *link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-52755-0_6
@@tjb8841 Huge thank you and shout-out for the link you provided and your explanations. Recommended reading. Key take-aways for me are these: 1) boot socket dimensions are a key determinant of release force in toe pieces, 2) injuries from pre-release (ski-mode early release) are slightly lower than non-release (Walk Mode) ("inadvertent releases cause slightly less injuries than those caused by bindings not-releasing, 0.89 vs. 1.15% of all injuries"), 3) variations in release force depend on both boot and binding and approach 2:1 differences (and this is just in the toe), so 'your mileage may vary'. My conclusion from reviewing the article is: If skiing at a resort, stay in Ski mode and ski so that inadvertent release isn't a serious outcome, else just "don't".
Is there any difference between Atomic’s version of the Shift given they come out of the same factory. Just wondering. Love the hybrid ability of the Shift.
If there is a small touring welt on the boot that means it's not a certified touring sole. So no, it wouldn't work with that boot. It works with all certified boot soles.
I have had a few incidents with the shift binding rendering me embarrassed and without my dignity, anything you have changed to your shifts to handle firm snow, hard landings ect.? My dins are a varying value usually changing between 10-12.
They just have to be adjusted correctly. Adjust the forward pressure with the AFD down. Then adjust the AFD until the plate is just putting pressure on your boot sole but not restricting the movement of the sliding AFD.
That would require a whole video and he is not a Tele skier. Three pin, three pin with cable, 75 mm cable, 75mm cable with tour mode, NTN, NTN tech. Lots of choices.
I know tech bindings are not ment for use in a resort, but I do use them in resorts for the last 6 years now without any problems. TIP: if you want to use tech bindings in a resort choose a binding with stoppers :-P
Some good info, but too much of an obvious shameless commercial for Solomon. I don't understand why advanced pin bindings with elasticity and certified DIN release, e.g. improved safety and performance are not important. I suppose those bindings are made by Dynafit, not Solomon.
Frame bindings are superior to hybrid bindings and 90% of tech bindings in avalanche terrain. Elasticity, releaseability, lightweight, are secondary to the #1 concern in ski touring: avalanches. Cody, please consider re-issuing this informative video and include binding concerns while skinning in avalanche terrain. Thanks.
I completely disagree. The Shift has the same releasability features as a Guardian, ie both are certified alpine norm, and in fact, the Shift has a semi-lock in touring mode that allows for some sort of releasability when touring...something no frame binding has. Releasability is critical to avalanche terrain, so saying it takes second is not correct. Plus, I’m avy terrain, my bindings are like tenth on my list of concerns. So thanks for the input but will not be re-releasing anything.
@@alexmacbean7764 same. I hope Salomon ski, Smith, Yeti, etc compensate him well. I have spent serious $$$ on those brands to further my new obsession of volcano climbing and skiing.
Same, but I'm blue collar and live in Iowa so it's led to a bit of an existential crisis for me. Everytime I go skiing in the Black Hills of SD or the Northern Great Lakes ranges of MN, MI, I come back to my local and find myself bored out of my mind. Literally everything that isn't groomed is roped off, patrolled, and strictly enforced as I have found out the hard way. No places to go touring really, so I can't justify getting a new setup for a 90ft hill that I got to drive half an hour to get to.
Cody - add the CAST freetour to your list of hybrid bindings on the market, total of 3 for now. And the durability and ski feel of tour bindings on the market spans such a wide gamut that it's likely the tour category will be thought of as a few subcategories in the near future.
@@Wutaskier I'm not gonna hate on a guy for making money doing what he loves. This is his job and it is his responsibility as an employee to represent the companies he is sponsored by as well as he can. I think he does that well while also balancing his personal opinions and providing informative content in a balanced manner. At the end of the day he is being paid by some of these companies to represent them but I'm just curious what his thoughts are on a binding that has elasticity and front release, which isn't represented here. Still doesn't tick his boxes of simplicity and reliablity due to the many moving parts but for me it is a great 90/10 binding 90% back country 10% resort.
It's one of the few bindings I have yet to test that I really want to test. It still falls under touring norm certification, so is different than alpine norm.
@@CodyTownsend You should try the Skitrab Titan Vario, the design of the toepiece allows for both elasticity and the avoidance of pre-release. Only tech toe that releases gradually instead of holding on until it suddenly opens completely.
Should be very similar to Marker KingPin 10 and 13, but from what I've read it's more prone to ice up, and it isn't any better or worse usage-wise either. I'd go Marker KingPin, but that's me. If you really wanna charge, Shift or Duke PT for sure. Still riding Shifts on my Katanas and Alpinists on my BMT90s tho.
@@CodyTownsend I've been using it for 2 years now and on the downhill i've been feeling really confident in it. From groomers to moguls to steeps. Because of the wanted elasticity of the toe piece, i find that on the uphill there's some unwanted movement pivoting from the toes. Not super efficient yet still reliable. Hope you can follow up on your review of the binding! Cheers!
Agreed. Cody has said many times and will probably say again that its way overkill unless your name is Sam Anthamatten or Jeremie Heitz and that you should just get the shift, but in my opinion there's definitely a place for it. Imo its the only touring binding that I can trust to kick the living shit out of in the resort and not worry about it breaking. I know that the shift will perform very well if adjusted correctly but clearly from the complaints a lot of people have problems getting it adjusted correctly, while the pivot is pretty foolproof to adjust with the static AFD and fairly forgiving forward pressure. It's also cheaper than the shift if you already have a pivot, and has the option for the second ski kit. I also like how minimal the tech toe is, though it can get iced up in transition. I'm pretty sure its actually lighter than the duke pt so it at least deserves a mention alongside it. Some people also just really like the pivot feeling. Imo the best touring binding for very aggressive skiers who will ski 70% in the resort (or less if you really push it in the bc), want to not worry about beating up their bindings or adjusting them, and don't get a free pair of bindings every year.
@@alexbarth1904 totally agree! I usually grab my Free tour setup over my shifts even on days with no lift access. The elasticity in much better imo particularly in the heel. less moving parts than the shift and pivot 15/18 is the best on the way down. The only downside to the free tour imo is just the possibility of forgetting your toes. But i think it’s a worthy competitor of the shift and it’s really the first binding in that category. Business aside i think they deserve more credit than they have received for such a badass system.
The FIFTY! My favourite series. Much love, Cody. I'm always on the lookout for the safest binding possible after my 3 ACL repairs. blech...lol. Thanks for dropping science, elasticity...who knew.
Hey dude, while it’s obvious that you’re advertising the Salomon/Atomic products, I have to admit that I got myself the Salomon MNC in blue recently. It’s a good average if you want to ski with hard charging as well as tour. However, nothing beats my Look Pivot bindings in terms of downhill performance :-)
Might be worth mentioning in the future that are types of bindings that bridge gaps, for instance the Marker Kingpin is half way between a Hybrid and a Tech, it has a tech toe but a unique heal released like alpine bindings do. It's a great option for someone who wants to ski both resort and BC, also less expensive than something like the Shift.
Thank you for the input but that assessment is actually quite incorrect. The Kingpin is certified as a Touring Binding and does not meet the standards of a certified Alpine binding, so therefore isn't a bridge binding. So just like all tech bindings, it too should not be skied at the resort at all. The toe piece is a tech toe and therefore it has all the trappings of any tech binding. The toe is far far far more important to releasability factors according to the binding engineers I work with.
@@CodyTownsend what about the Fritschi Tecton? It has toe elasticity and DIN certification. And in my (not as good as yours) ski experience, it has released whenever I wanted and never when I didn't (with my din set as I progressed in skill and intensity). I can speak firsthand to agree with your sentiment that durability is a concern, as I've had multiple non-critical but annoying failures with plastic components, but overall them being lighten than kingpins and with better release characteristics, I'm pretty happy having them on a ski I ride for most of my resort and backcountry days.
Great video! Have you ever seen or tried the Fritschi Vipec evo 12 or the new Fritschi Xenic? Keen to hear what you think about them since they're marketed as tech binding with higher safety standards. It also comes with a heavier heel piece, which you said you're not really looking for.. Where I'm from they're really common (I have them too) and even though lots of people used to be sceptical, I've rarely heard bad things about them.
I bought the dynafit rotation with the knowledge that they had a consistent release. Literally the only reason I went with them. I'm still careful but maybe I need to look into it more.
I agree with everything you said here, 95%. The only part I might quibble with is the part about "elasticity and heavier heel pieces in tech bindings being useless". This might be the case for someone doing ski mountaineering. However, for the weekend warrior who does a lot of short touring with the occasional mountaineering trip I think there is a case for bindings like the Tecton as long as the elasticity and heel does add value. (I think it does) That being said having used both some of these "mid tech" bindings and the shift I would prefer the shift unless I had a dedicated touring ski.
Tecton has been great for me, using it extensively in resort and in the backcountry, even in some "mild skimo" Only problem I've had is durability, got 2 non critical but very annoying plastics failures
Just having my first season on pin bindings and I popped a ligament in my knee when it failed to release in the backcountry. Ended up laying in the snow with my foot stuck 180 the opposite direction. Friend had to release my boot for me. Not good! Perhaps I was unlucky but I assumed their release would be in line with my alpine bindings. Be careful.
That brings up a point Cody didn’t really call out: alpine bindings are really good at protecting the lower leg from fractures. Protecting the knees? Not so much. Would an alpine binding have protected you better in this case? Maybe. But maybe a different tech binding would have done better also. Or a different adjustment or the binding you were using.
Thanks for the video. I am a long time expert level downhill skier and snowshoer. I have been wanting to combine the 2 and am overwhelmed by the equipment choices.
It would be great if you could explain the main types of skis and how to choose them in depth, such as why a particular 105 ski for powder vs another one
Never thought about tech bindings having no elasticity and poorer release function, but it makes sense looking at the bindings, especially those super light models.
Thanks for the video, very well done. Recently i toured with some friends who were using Shift bindings and they had issue in Tour mode staying in the toe pins, on some off camber uphill sections of track the pins would release their boots obviously this was unwanted. We stopped and tried cleaning out the boot inserts and the Shift toe, but still had issues. Any comment on this issue or plans to resolve?
yes I broke my ankle in the backcountry because my foot went the direction of the ski and did not release. I think this is a great video and yeah I learned the hard way. Sheila Vancouver BC Canada
I've been rocking frames for almost a decade. Yeah they're heavy compared to pins, but they are bomb proof. The weight...it's just strength training. Lol
Hey Cody, any thoughts on the newer tech bindings from ATK? They have "freeride" branded models that have tunable horizontal and vertical release values, around 350g for the pair, even with a bit of damping in the heel (~4mm?). I've had a great experience with them; even Aramada / Black diamond seem to be white labeling them into the US.
Why only 2, when there are Shifts, Duke PT, Cast system with Looks, and BAM pindung (last one really small) P.S. I know that you know about cast cause you're subscribed to them on insta))
The information in this video is incomplete. There are tech bindings with elasticity, such as Tecton, vipec and dinafyt rotation. Toe release is safer than heel release, it is not like that, it depends on how the fall is.
Tech bindings should at least have the certification for ISO 13992 (touring binding). Even though it is different than the ISO 9462 (alpine binding), it is still WAY BETTER than having no TUV certification at all. I am not a big fan of the Salomon MTN binding because of the U-spring heel piece, and the lack of ISO 13992 certification, but I get that Cody needs to promote Salomon!
Yeah that's where I disagree because Touring certification is so different than Alpine certification, you're still left with a discrepancy in release characteristics that in my opinion, doesn't vastly improve upon predictable releasability. While I won't point out brands or any bindings specifically, I do know of Touring Norm certified bindings that do not independently test better in terms of release value and release predictability than non TUV certified bindings. This is a big underground topic among engineers and experienced shop techs. It's a hard subject to talk about and this is generally my opinion, but it is shared by many others.
Tech bindings, the microwaved burrito of release values. "Yes, I would like a 12 DIN please!" "Best I can do is 4 and 20 at the same time depending on what you don't want."
Yeah, that analogy pretty much explains it.
@@CodyTownsend Solid and spectacular examples of knees gone wild or bad as it made my day! My belief after 3 knee surgeries, 1 hip surgery and of course 2 shoulder surgeries is simple. My tech binding need to be lightweight and functional for the up and the down. As for release values I don't expect those bindings(yes that includes the ancient Silverettas of the 80s and 90s) to ever release and over the last 4 decades of BC skiing not one has released, ever! So DIN numbers just aren't that important for now. Now could it be that I ski differently in the BC than I do in lift served skiing where a cool guy DIN to 15 matters? I'd say that is the case, knowing full well that getting down in one piece means I'll get the opportunity to suffer on the up again and again! Solid as always Cody!
I am one of the casualties of skiing tech pin bindings in the resort and suffered a spiral tib/fib as a result! (2016 at Squaw) Thank you for including this warning in your video!
Hi Josh I hope that you recovered well and can continue on your adventures into the wild white yonder. Can you tell a little the risk and the reason for skiing techs in the resort has a higher injury stat? It remains a little mysterious to me. I hope to know what are the scenarios? Why can't they release? Is it a flaw in design?
Trab TR-2 is precise model. On the skimo.com website under TR-2 comments, there's a cool story about a bc skier in Vermont who was driving with tele boots on and met Rick Howell at a Stowe VT gas station!
@@gregoryescaro7855 like Cody says in the video, they aren't held to the same release standards as alpine bindings. In my specific case, I read that the model of Kingpins I was using don't typically release with impact at the very front of the ski. Impact on the front of the ski was the exact cause of my injury.
I did a lot of reading about this after my injury and there are some release tests done on tech bindings (though not official). In short, they simply don't release in all the same scenarios a standard alpine binding will.
@@brucerorty4014 That's awesome! I just went and checked out the story. I chose Vipec Evo's which also have release values similar to the TR-2. Not sure the TR-2 was available a couple years ago when I bought them.
I also ski Knee Bindings on my alpine skis! I've been very happy with them. No issues releasing when needed and my legs are very happy :)
Same here. My fibula and tibia snapped in half while skiing the resort on pin bindings few years back. They sure are only for ski touring.
From somebody who more or less works professionally in the outdoor industry and does a lot of tutorials on TH-cam: your content is excellent! I don’t care too much about the aesthetic side (although it is surely well done) but the depth of knowledge you provide and your differentiated approach to this stuff makes it a pleasure to watch your tutorials. Please consider doing more of them.
I have two cents to ante up, but first, let me say that I love all the Fifty videos, and this was a very clear, concise discussion of bindings.
I'm 65, have been using tech bindings for about 17 or 18 years now, with no injuries, no problems. Dynafits until their patent ran out, Salomon Mountain since then. I am by no means an expert skier, but I AM an expert on what I am and am not physically capable of, and I'm selective in my ski experiences. I ski only backcountry, soft snow almost exclusively (pow preferably, some corn), don't jump. When conditions are too challenging, I have a good kick turn and can traverse. 😁
So my point is that you need not be scared off from tech bindings if you are not an "expert" skier (whatever that means!). But I also want to acknowledge that even one injury of the sort many of those commenting mention is one too many! Anyone who does some "pure" backcountry and pure resort skiing, and loves skiing enough to be watching these videos, should be able to save up enough nickels to have a dedicated resort setup with alpine bindings, or perhaps hybrid bindings if in a place with backcountry access gates, and a dedicated backcountry setup.
I just used my nickels to get a second BC ski (also with Salomon Mountain), 112mm under foot, to add to my all-around 98mm skis!
After watching your last Gear Talk a month ago, I bought the Soloman Swich bindings for my big mountain skis. This episode just reinforced the choice. Can't wait for some snow!!!
Thanks Cody! Your “The Fifty” videos are great fun, motivating and informative. Really enjoy. Thanks for the education. Going to upgrade to hybrid from frame bindings.
The Shift has the potential to be a game changer. But it has mixed reviews at best. It clearly has retention issues in up-hill mode.
Very interesting and super informative video. Very much appreciated. Stay safe!❤
Perfect Timing! My wife and I were just discussing the benefits of Flex versus Tech bindings. We're moving up from frame bindings. And... I recognize that shop! Great people and great selection. Thanks so much Cody for all you are doing.
Thanks for this! Getting a clear explanation of how you personally view hybrid and pin bindings is invaluable.
Excellent detailed gear education on bindings! Helps me make my choice for touring. Thanks Cody!
Always so good to see a video from Cody 🤙🏻
Hi Cody, I am a 62 year old man who has been skiing pretty much all of my life. I plan on getting into backcountry skiing, mostly in New England. I am still a very strong skier and I guess you would call me an expert but not compared to someone like yourself or other professionals. After watching your video is seems as if the hybrid binding is the way to go. It seems to be light enough but also seems much safer than say the touring binding. I grew up skiing with binding that did not release and broke my leg. I rarely fall but I am thinking the hybrid is the way to go. Does that ask about right. I do understand the touring is lighter but I am trying it weigh out performance, lightness and safety. Thanks for such a great video.
I have the shift on my Head Kore 105 and love them. Great review Cody!
Right on!
Great video. Big fan of you going deeper into the gear you use and why. Would love a video on skis. Specifically camber, reverse camber, and everything in-between. I couldn't help notice that the skis you were holding were reverse camber. I learned in the old school and don't understand why/when you would want a reverse camber ski in the backcountry. I could see them being great for powder but how do they ski in variable conditions (powder, ice, and everything in-between)? Your thoughts on the topic would be super helpful.
Woah, great video. I'm already set on a Shift, but really good to hear that pin/tech are for advanced skiers in certain conditions. Could you elaborate more on them in another video about Ski Touring? Aka Why would you choose an MTN over the Shift on particular tours? How does one ski with a Pin binding? What snow conditions are a no-go for pin bindings? I imagine that if Freeriding after a climb the Shift makes more sense, vs descending more cautiously or in softer snow with the pin binding. I have seen other skiers (and perhaps yourself) charging pretty hard in pin bindings, but it would be interesting to know what cost/benefit analysis you make before doing so?
“Any questions i DIN answer” 😂
Everyone I know with Shifts is struggling with the brakes. Hopefully Salomon fixes that.
in my experience you just have to be diligent to not pack the area under the heel with snow before switching to touring mode. All the times ive had issues with the brakes coming unlocked has been due to snow in that little space, annoying but not sure what a fix for that is.
Or the toe height adjustment. Or the to retaining lug exploding. Or the pins straight up falling out
@@danielazbell6416 have had them for 3 years and haven't had any of those issues. Seems a lot of the issues with these bindings come from improper use. They are more finicky than a straight touring binding or an alpine binding but thats to be expected with how complicated they are. Id love to see some upgrades and improvements dont get me wrong but they arent lemons.
@@dcollay17 my friend had that exact issue today, the space under the brake was full of snow and her brake kept popping back down. Dug through my bag for my small screwdriver and scraped the snow out, back to working properly. As for all the other alleged problems, I haven't seen them other than the toe height adjustment being a bit weird but once it's properly adjusted it works as it's supposed to. A different friend of mine had his shifts mounted at his local shop before coming to visit me for a ski trip and he complained about how it was pre-releasing, all it took was a couple turns on the toe adjustment screw. The problem is that many techs don't get enough time to properly understand the product before they have to install it. It took me about and hour and a half to fully figure out and get everything perfect the first time
@@Spleck9000 yeah I carry a little brush/scraper thing for bindings now due to that issues. I have never had the toe adjustment issues since I have had the same boots since I bought them. Luckily the tech that installed them have me a very thorough how to rundown and pointed out the toe adjustment being very picky to me. That was great cause at there time there were very few videos/info on how they worked. Bottom line id buy another pair in a second if I needed them.
Cody, thank you for this great introduction to the various types of alpine bindings and their pros and cons. I am really interested to learn more about Salomon‘s shift binding. It is still a little heavier as the tech bindings but the features are really convincing.👍😉😎
Incredible explainer!
Cody, what do you think of the BD Frischi Tecton 12 with the pinned toe that has a lateral toe release? Seems closer to the tech side but I can say first hand that the lateral release actually works really well (ski caught sideways in a shark and the toe released saving my tibia/acl)
Excellent info and thanks Cody and team for posting it! Recently rigged up QST 106's with the Warden MNC and they are a great combination. I went with the MNC thinking I may go back towards a touring sole in the future and/or better resale value with more soles on more buyers. Also - hoping your next video could be on the pros and cons of boot categories from stiff carving performance S/MAX to perhaps more comfortable S/PRO ?? Are the SHIFT AT boots every bit as good for resort days? I miss the rockered and grippy sole of my old AT boots for the long parking lot treks at the resort ;-)
Can you make a video on Smith Shift Mag? Did not see anything online for them and will mostly be using for skinning so figure you would have great insite. Would just get wild cats but they are sold out.
Cody, what is the jacket model at 1:00? Looks awesome!
No lines this year?
No secrets or nuance here to even the 10 day ski tour enthusiast. Good basic intro to bindings if you are coming from snowboarding or never having skied. I'd be curious to hear his actual decision making on when to use shift vs tech.
Any opinions on the daymakers??
Could you elaborate on the release failures of ski-mode tech bindings? I've skied Marker Alpinist 12 bindings (big fan) in resort settings so that I could learn the feel of the bindings and skis in a controlled setting. I didn't want to first experience steep downhill in touring bindings on a mountain peak. You described the impact of their lack of elasticity, and mentioned that they don't meet Alpine ISO DIN release metrics, but which ones? I've come out of them in multiple ways (Heels up. Heels sideways. Toes up. Toes sideways.). They always have seemed to release when I expected them to, not early or, gulp, late. I've only ever skied downhill in them in 'ski mode'. So what kind of release is missing from the touring binding? Or is the problem that people ski downhill in 'walk' mode to prevent accidental release?
Clay, I think it is several things that make classic pin bindings less safe:
-number one is that fact that there is a tiny connection between boot and binding. Therefor any microscopic variation (wear in boot sockets etc) can have a huge effect on the release. This is made worse by the fact that there is no norm for tech binding boot inserts.
Number two is that tech bindings* do not release laterally at the toe, thus significantly increasing the chances of breaking the lower leg if you hit sideways near the toe of the boot.
Number three, is that they are more prone to unwanted release.
Number four, (due to number three): many people ski them downhill with the toes locked.
Number five is that many tech bindings do not have adjustable vertical and lateral release.
And probably most important: most people don’t get their tech bindings tested for release, even though tests reveal huge variations in actual release torque.
*excet Vipec/Tecton/Trab Tr2
@@tjb8841 Very interesting. Thanks. I think I've experienced lateral toe release in the Marker Alpinist. Pretty sure. But I've only ever skied them downhill in 'ski' mode'. Super helpful comment. Thank you.
@@claykarmel4730 well it depends exactly how you define ‘lateral relase’. In the standard definition, it means pushing the boot toe toe purely sideways, with the boot heel staying in place. This is how an alpine binding is tested. This is impossible with a tech binding, becasue the toe ‘arm’ is in the way. So, in that definition, there is no lateral release at the toe (try it in on a work bench).
Now, if you introduce a sideways ‘tipping’ motion, or a rotation around a point in the middle between the toe pins , the boot can come out of the toe pins, by the pins being pushed out of the sockets. This, however, is completely uncontrolled. There is no way to know (let alone adjust) at what force this happens*.
The same goes for vertical release at the toe. Yes, if unlocked, you can force the boot out of the toe piece of the binding. But, that still doesn’t mean there is ‘vertical release’ in the sense that we normally mean when talking about binding release. Both tech and Alpine bindings release vertically at the heel (more useful there anyway).
*link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-52755-0_6
@@tjb8841 Huge thank you and shout-out for the link you provided and your explanations. Recommended reading. Key take-aways for me are these: 1) boot socket dimensions are a key determinant of release force in toe pieces, 2) injuries from pre-release (ski-mode early release) are slightly lower than non-release (Walk Mode) ("inadvertent releases cause slightly less injuries than those caused by bindings not-releasing, 0.89 vs. 1.15% of all injuries"), 3) variations in release force depend on both boot and binding and approach 2:1 differences (and this is just in the toe), so 'your mileage may vary'. My conclusion from reviewing the article is: If skiing at a resort, stay in Ski mode and ski so that inadvertent release isn't a serious outcome, else just "don't".
I just picked up a set of F12s..... I paid about 250 for him, so I guess I don’t feel that bad.
Should I get 75mm, NTN or tele-tech?
Thoughts on the skitrab tr 2 bindings?
Is there any difference between Atomic’s version of the Shift given they come out of the same factory. Just wondering. Love the hybrid ability of the Shift.
Zero difference besides graphics and logo. The Salomon, Atomic, Armada labeled Shifts are all identical.
Cody Townsend thanks boss
So the Warden MNC's would work with a touring boot, despite the smaller toe lug?
If there is a small touring welt on the boot that means it's not a certified touring sole. So no, it wouldn't work with that boot. It works with all certified boot soles.
What's the plan for the 50 with the terrible avy conditions out west?
waiting patiently...just gonna have to wait for the snowpack to heal and then go super hard when it's good.
Cody have they found out why the afd sp? pad drops in the shift binding causing that toe piece movement?
Yeah, it drops because it's adjusted incorrectly.
@@CodyTownsend How about the brake dropping in walk mode??
I have had a few incidents with the shift binding rendering me embarrassed and without my dignity, anything you have changed to your shifts to handle firm snow, hard landings ect.? My dins are a varying value usually changing between 10-12.
They just have to be adjusted correctly. Adjust the forward pressure with the AFD down. Then adjust the AFD until the plate is just putting pressure on your boot sole but not restricting the movement of the sliding AFD.
Where's the Meidjo binding at?
The CGI is out of this world
I thought you used a tech binding with a changeable toe piece?
Alright well goes my tech binding for the occasional ski resort idea
Cody, you're pretty far out, dude 🤙🤙
You forgot to talk about Tele bindings!
That would require a whole video and he is not a Tele skier. Three pin, three pin with cable, 75 mm cable, 75mm cable with tour mode, NTN, NTN tech. Lots of choices.
I know tech bindings are not ment for use in a resort, but I do use them in resorts for the last 6 years now without any problems. TIP: if you want to use tech bindings in a resort choose a binding with stoppers :-P
Ya'll out here sleepin' om Pivots.
Some good info, but too much of an obvious shameless commercial for Solomon. I don't understand why advanced pin bindings with elasticity and certified DIN release, e.g. improved safety and performance are not important. I suppose those bindings are made by Dynafit, not Solomon.
Frame bindings are superior to hybrid bindings and 90% of tech bindings in avalanche terrain. Elasticity, releaseability, lightweight, are secondary to the #1 concern in ski touring: avalanches. Cody, please consider re-issuing this informative video and include binding concerns while skinning in avalanche terrain. Thanks.
I completely disagree. The Shift has the same releasability features as a Guardian, ie both are certified alpine norm, and in fact, the Shift has a semi-lock in touring mode that allows for some sort of releasability when touring...something no frame binding has. Releasability is critical to avalanche terrain, so saying it takes second is not correct. Plus, I’m avy terrain, my bindings are like tenth on my list of concerns. So thanks for the input but will not be re-releasing anything.
"Or if you're a doctor, or pro-skier, helicopter" that was funny and sad at the same time
You don't think doctors should be allowed to go heliskiing?
I've been heliskiing in canada bc and i'm neither.
That line was the best part of the whole thing. Had me rolling on the floor.
I wish that was at least a little bit close to be the case in my country
@@johndarby4503 heliskiing is awful for the environment, so yeah
Absolute favorite ski show ever you guys got me into mountaineering 🤙🤙🤙
Dude same here. No joke.
Got me into ski touring. Cody gets me stoked
@@alexmacbean7764 same. I hope Salomon ski, Smith, Yeti, etc compensate him well. I have spent serious $$$ on those brands to further my new obsession of volcano climbing and skiing.
You and me both $$$$
Same, but I'm blue collar and live in Iowa so it's led to a bit of an existential crisis for me. Everytime I go skiing in the Black Hills of SD or the Northern Great Lakes ranges of MN, MI, I come back to my local and find myself bored out of my mind. Literally everything that isn't groomed is roped off, patrolled, and strictly enforced as I have found out the hard way. No places to go touring really, so I can't justify getting a new setup for a 90ft hill that I got to drive half an hour to get to.
"When your skis can't release, it can cause serious bodily harm" **cries in splitboarder**
haha.
Cody - add the CAST freetour to your list of hybrid bindings on the market, total of 3 for now. And the durability and ski feel of tour bindings on the market spans such a wide gamut that it's likely the tour category will be thought of as a few subcategories in the near future.
Lord I click on these videos faster than my bindings in the morning
What are your thoughts on bindings like the fritschi techton or vipec that have elasticity and front release?
They are way better than the junk his sponsor make. Apk fr14 ftw
Interesting question... just remember this is guy is representing Salomon.
The Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 looks really cool too; I haven’t had the chance to test it out.
@@Wutaskier I'm not gonna hate on a guy for making money doing what he loves. This is his job and it is his responsibility as an employee to represent the companies he is sponsored by as well as he can. I think he does that well while also balancing his personal opinions and providing informative content in a balanced manner. At the end of the day he is being paid by some of these companies to represent them but I'm just curious what his thoughts are on a binding that has elasticity and front release, which isn't represented here. Still doesn't tick his boxes of simplicity and reliablity due to the many moving parts but for me it is a great 90/10 binding 90% back country 10% resort.
What's your take on the tecton 12 from Fritschi? Pin binding with elasticity release and DIN norm.
It's one of the few bindings I have yet to test that I really want to test. It still falls under touring norm certification, so is different than alpine norm.
I've heard of some pretty bad reliability issues, I've largely stayed away because of how much plastic was in the construction.
@@CodyTownsend You should try the Skitrab Titan Vario, the design of the toepiece allows for both elasticity and the avoidance of pre-release. Only tech toe that releases gradually instead of holding on until it suddenly opens completely.
Should be very similar to Marker KingPin 10 and 13, but from what I've read it's more prone to ice up, and it isn't any better or worse usage-wise either. I'd go Marker KingPin, but that's me. If you really wanna charge, Shift or Duke PT for sure. Still riding Shifts on my Katanas and Alpinists on my BMT90s tho.
@@CodyTownsend I've been using it for 2 years now and on the downhill i've been feeling really confident in it. From groomers to moguls to steeps. Because of the wanted elasticity of the toe piece, i find that on the uphill there's some unwanted movement pivoting from the toes. Not super efficient yet still reliable. Hope you can follow up on your review of the binding! Cheers!
Wow totally neglected rat traps.. the peak of binding innovation
I was so hoping you would do this video!! I always learn from you!
Who's skis do I need to wax to get a new FIFTY video?
Don’t forget the CAST Freetour !!!! 🤙
Agreed. Cody has said many times and will probably say again that its way overkill unless your name is Sam Anthamatten or Jeremie Heitz and that you should just get the shift, but in my opinion there's definitely a place for it. Imo its the only touring binding that I can trust to kick the living shit out of in the resort and not worry about it breaking. I know that the shift will perform very well if adjusted correctly but clearly from the complaints a lot of people have problems getting it adjusted correctly, while the pivot is pretty foolproof to adjust with the static AFD and fairly forgiving forward pressure. It's also cheaper than the shift if you already have a pivot, and has the option for the second ski kit. I also like how minimal the tech toe is, though it can get iced up in transition. I'm pretty sure its actually lighter than the duke pt so it at least deserves a mention alongside it. Some people also just really like the pivot feeling. Imo the best touring binding for very aggressive skiers who will ski 70% in the resort (or less if you really push it in the bc), want to not worry about beating up their bindings or adjusting them, and don't get a free pair of bindings every year.
@@alexbarth1904 totally agree! I usually grab my Free tour setup over my shifts even on days with no lift access. The elasticity in much better imo particularly in the heel. less moving parts than the shift and pivot 15/18 is the best on the way down. The only downside to the free tour imo is just the possibility of forgetting your toes. But i think it’s a worthy competitor of the shift and it’s really the first binding in that category. Business aside i think they deserve more credit than they have received for such a badass system.
@@rundmc1087 haha the forgetting of the toes is real! Ive gotten close a few time so now I just keep them in my skin bag
Gotta put in a plug for tele bindings... I still haven’t locked the heel.
And ooh, that popsicle stick demo was cringeworthy.
The FIFTY! My favourite series. Much love, Cody. I'm always on the lookout for the safest binding possible after my 3 ACL repairs.
blech...lol. Thanks for dropping science, elasticity...who knew.
Appreciate the content. Wishing you the best on your exploration!!!
Hey dude, while it’s obvious that you’re advertising the Salomon/Atomic products, I have to admit that I got myself the Salomon MNC in blue recently. It’s a good average if you want to ski with hard charging as well as tour. However, nothing beats my Look Pivot bindings in terms of downhill performance :-)
You NEED the CAST FreeTour Upgrade Kit. It allows you to use your pivots for touring or on the resort. Super bomber
Might be worth mentioning in the future that are types of bindings that bridge gaps, for instance the Marker Kingpin is half way between a Hybrid and a Tech, it has a tech toe but a unique heal released like alpine bindings do. It's a great option for someone who wants to ski both resort and BC, also less expensive than something like the Shift.
Thank you for the input but that assessment is actually quite incorrect. The Kingpin is certified as a Touring Binding and does not meet the standards of a certified Alpine binding, so therefore isn't a bridge binding. So just like all tech bindings, it too should not be skied at the resort at all. The toe piece is a tech toe and therefore it has all the trappings of any tech binding. The toe is far far far more important to releasability factors according to the binding engineers I work with.
@@CodyTownsend what about the Fritschi Tecton? It has toe elasticity and DIN certification. And in my (not as good as yours) ski experience, it has released whenever I wanted and never when I didn't (with my din set as I progressed in skill and intensity).
I can speak firsthand to agree with your sentiment that durability is a concern, as I've had multiple non-critical but annoying failures with plastic components, but overall them being lighten than kingpins and with better release characteristics, I'm pretty happy having them on a ski I ride for most of my resort and backcountry days.
Perfect, down to earth, no-nonsense advice. Coming from a snowboarder, I hope this says it all.
To lock out or not lock out your tech bindings on the down...that is the question...
"Invented the category" the cast system would like a word
Great video! Have you ever seen or tried the Fritschi Vipec evo 12 or the new Fritschi Xenic? Keen to hear what you think about them since they're marketed as tech binding with higher safety standards. It also comes with a heavier heel piece, which you said you're not really looking for.. Where I'm from they're really common (I have them too) and even though lots of people used to be sceptical, I've rarely heard bad things about them.
I bought the dynafit rotation with the knowledge that they had a consistent release. Literally the only reason I went with them. I'm still careful but maybe I need to look into it more.
I agree with everything you said here, 95%. The only part I might quibble with is the part about "elasticity and heavier heel pieces in tech bindings being useless". This might be the case for someone doing ski mountaineering. However, for the weekend warrior who does a lot of short touring with the occasional mountaineering trip I think there is a case for bindings like the Tecton as long as the elasticity and heel does add value. (I think it does)
That being said having used both some of these "mid tech" bindings and the shift I would prefer the shift unless I had a dedicated touring ski.
Tecton has been great for me, using it extensively in resort and in the backcountry, even in some "mild skimo"
Only problem I've had is durability, got 2 non critical but very annoying plastics failures
Cody this is the best and most honest boot and binding comprehension video. Cant wait for more 50 project videos to come out!
Saw you on Blister talking bindings
This is fantastic...so much people don't know
What about tele skis?? Interesting video 🤙🏼
I dont think I've ever seen that many skis in one place holy shit
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Then I thought the landfills must be mostly used skis. Then again the average brah quiver is min 5 deep these days.
Just having my first season on pin bindings and I popped a ligament in my knee when it failed to release in the backcountry. Ended up laying in the snow with my foot stuck 180 the opposite direction. Friend had to release my boot for me. Not good!
Perhaps I was unlucky but I assumed their release would be in line with my alpine bindings. Be careful.
That brings up a point Cody didn’t really call out: alpine bindings are really good at protecting the lower leg from fractures. Protecting the knees? Not so much. Would an alpine binding have protected you better in this case? Maybe. But maybe a different tech binding would have done better also. Or a different adjustment or the binding you were using.
Thanks for the video. I am a long time expert level downhill skier and snowshoer. I have been wanting to combine the 2 and am overwhelmed by the equipment choices.
Can't wait for the next one. Can't wait to get out and get skis on again.
Doctor or pro skier... helicopter! Haha. In these modern times add anyone in the Tech industry as well.
It would be great if you could explain the main types of skis and how to choose them in depth, such as why a particular 105 ski for powder vs another one
Would have been cool if you talked about breaks. Why and when should you or should not use breaks on tech bindings. What about leeches? Cheers!
Could you comment more about the elasticity range. What is too much, what is too little - in your opinion? Obviously it differs based on skier type
Never thought about tech bindings having no elasticity and poorer release function, but it makes sense looking at the bindings, especially those super light models.
Thanks for the video, very well done. Recently i toured with some friends who were using Shift bindings and they had issue in Tour mode staying in the toe pins, on some off camber uphill sections of track the pins would release their boots obviously this was unwanted. We stopped and tried cleaning out the boot inserts and the Shift toe, but still had issues. Any comment on this issue or plans to resolve?
Tahoe sports hub!
Best ski shop in Tahoe!
@@KyleRattay they really do a killer job.
Cast Freetour system FTW
Hey man looking forward to when you post some more videos!
Love this video. Cody has an effortless way of explaining everything.
Great video and info ...THANKS!
yes I broke my ankle in the backcountry because my foot went the direction of the ski and did not release.
I think this is a great video and yeah I learned the hard way.
Sheila Vancouver BC Canada
Exact same thing happened to me 3 years ago. Wish I had watched this video before that happened!
I assumed, over time, you would load this series with educational value. thank you. have a great winter!!!
I've been rocking frames for almost a decade. Yeah they're heavy compared to pins, but they are bomb proof. The weight...it's just strength training. Lol
Hey Cody, any thoughts on the newer tech bindings from ATK? They have "freeride" branded models that have tunable horizontal and vertical release values, around 350g for the pair, even with a bit of damping in the heel (~4mm?). I've had a great experience with them; even Aramada / Black diamond seem to be white labeling them into the US.
Second this. Would love to hear more.
Why only 2, when there are Shifts, Duke PT, Cast system with Looks, and BAM pindung (last one really small)
P.S. I know that you know about cast cause you're subscribed to them on insta))
Because I think Cast is in a category of it's own, it could and Bam isn't quite there in terms of mass production. But to each his own on that.
@@CodyTownsend probably. When Duke PT, with its removable toe piece, people said that Marker created overcomplicated cast))
The incredible month joly knock because house customarily expand unto a absurd carbon. instinctive, sparkling separated
Just picked up a pair of “Cody Townsend Pro Series” socks by Lé Bent from Powder House at Alta.
The information in this video is incomplete. There are tech bindings with elasticity, such as Tecton, vipec and dinafyt rotation. Toe release is safer than heel release, it is not like that, it depends on how the fall is.
Really disappointed in my Shifts. They pop up when they shouldn’t and I have had endless challenges with them.
Tech bindings should at least have the certification for ISO 13992 (touring binding). Even though it is different than the ISO 9462 (alpine binding), it is still WAY BETTER than having no TUV certification at all. I am not a big fan of the Salomon MTN binding because of the U-spring heel piece, and the lack of ISO 13992 certification, but I get that Cody needs to promote Salomon!
Yeah that's where I disagree because Touring certification is so different than Alpine certification, you're still left with a discrepancy in release characteristics that in my opinion, doesn't vastly improve upon predictable releasability. While I won't point out brands or any bindings specifically, I do know of Touring Norm certified bindings that do not independently test better in terms of release value and release predictability than non TUV certified bindings. This is a big underground topic among engineers and experienced shop techs. It's a hard subject to talk about and this is generally my opinion, but it is shared by many others.
Does the Marker Kingpin fall into the hybrid category? It has an alpine (Din rated) heel and pin/tech toe.
It’s a tech binding. It is not Alpine certified and therefore is a tech / touring norm binding. It is in no way a hybrid alpine binding
For someone who wants to go skiing backcountry/freeski in really steep terrain and go fast what kind of bindings to use?
Probably CAST.
look pivot's? whatcha think?
Thanks Cody! Do you know when you will be out conquering your lines of 50?