Marker Duke PT 13 Review

Backcountry binding design will always be a compromise between uphill and downhill. At the most basic level, lower weight helps with uphill performance, while downhill performance requires mass. On the spectrum, the Duke PT 13 sits way out on the downhill-optimized end.

Performance Comparison

Weight

The Marker Duke PT 13 weighs 1360 grams per foot on our scale. The lightest binding in our test is 1/8th that, at 166 grams. This is a huge, huge difference. You will notice this difference.

Compared to its closest downhill-optimized competitors, the weight of the Duke PT 13 warrants closer analysis. On the surface, the close competitor is quite a bit lighter; 929 grams versus Duke's 1360 grams. However, in touring mode, you can remove the toe piece of the Duke and carry it in your backpack. Yes, you still carry it. But the weight on your feet is more draining than the same weight on your back. The option to move each 309 g Duke toe piece to your backpack roughly equalizes the touring weight of these prominent competitors.

Downhill Performance

With the Duke PT 13, you have something of a familiar binding – it has the same DIN certifications, boot compatibility, release value adjustments, and binding elasticity you expect of resort bindings. There are race-level resort bindings that are better for downhill, but few of us need that performance, especially in the backcountry.

Those who truly need optimal downhill performance and the ability to tour a bit will get what they need from the Duke PT 13. Most others, though, will not need all of that downhill performance – it's overkill for most of us on any given day of ski touring. This is good for the truly charging freeskier.

Touring Performance

In assessing touring performance, we examine the range of motion, heel lifters, and propensity for icing. As compared to dedicated touring bindings, the Duke PT 13 suffers greatly. The toe range of motion is compromised, all the moving parts are prone to extensive icing, and the heel lifter is limited and difficult to deploy. On the other hand, as compared to other downhill-optimized touring bindings, the Duke performs pretty well.

The biggest touring performance advantage of the Duke PT 13 compared to downhill-optimized touring bindings is its toe range of motion. For uphill travel, the downhill toe piece of the Duke moves entirely out of the way. You can even remove it entirely and put it in your backpack if you wish. This leaves a ton of room for your foot to achieve a nearly full range of motion in a pivot. Compared to its closest competitor in this regard, the Duke PT 13 is much better. Compared to balanced or touring-optimized bindings, this binding has a slightly narrower range of motion. In the other touring performance attributes (icing, heel lifters), it's very similar to its closest competitors.

Ease of Use

To accomplish their design goals, Marker had to compromise on ease of use with the Duke PT 13. Transitions are complicated, usability attributes are secondary to downhill performance, and normal function (especially uphill) is a little fiddly.

Transitions require removing your boot entirely, or at least pivoting the toe piece out of the way (if not removing it entirely). Stowing the brake for uphill travel is a little finicky. For some testers, especially at first, transitioning the ski brake required removing gloves. Accessing the heel lifter lever requires dexterity, reach, and flexibility. Our test team learned of another user who inadvertently left their downhill toe pieces behind on a tour and didn't notice this until the top of their run. Forgetting or losing a part of your binding is something that owners of any other touring ski bindings never need to worry about.

Construction Quality

The Duke PT 13 is relatively new. We had it in action for most of one season with no problems, and a survey of fellow mountain guides suggests no major patterns of issues. Especially as compared with its closest competitors, we are pleased with the durability.

We expect resort bindings to be pretty reliable. We also expect heavy gear to last pretty well. On the other hand, gears with many moving parts and those newly on the market are automatically suspect. We will keep testing the Duke PT 13 while keeping our ears to the ground to identify any patterns of unreliability.

Should You Buy the Marker Duke PT 13?

You might be drawn to these bindings for their “2-in-1” value promise. You might be seeking the “quiver of one” for resort and backcountry use. That could work for you if your resort-to-backcountry ratio is upwards of 10:1. These are definitely downhill optimized bindings. For dedicated human-powered backcountry skiing, the weight and usability compromises of the Duke PT 13 will significantly and negatively affect your experience. Be very, very cautious in your expectations of saving money by purchasing a hybrid binding – there are better ways to reduce the cost of your backcountry gear.

What Other Backcountry Ski Bindings Should You Consider?