We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
We purchased and tested 18 of the best touring bindings from ATK, Dynafit, Salomon, Marker, Plum, Ski Trab, and more
2025 tested bindings, left to right. Tyrolia, Fritschi Xenon, Ski Trab, Marker Alpinist, G3 Ion, Plum R170, Marker Duke PT
Credit: Jediah Porter
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated May 6, 2026
While the skis matter, it's the bindings that are really the difference between “resort skis” and “touring skis”. As they say, “one pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back,” and this is especially true when choosing bindings for your next pair of backcountry skis. The perfect pair will be lightweight enough for long walks, but ski nearly as well as a pair of alpine bindings on your resort skis.
Over the past decade, we've purchased, tested, and reviewed over 50 pairs of touring bindings. In that time, our team of ski guides has logged millions of vertical feet of human-powered backcountry skiing. We purchased and tested 18 of the best touring bindings, comparing them side by side over an entire season.
Our top spot is shared by two bindings. The ATK Raider 13 Evo strikes the perfect balance of weight and functionality. It's both reliable and skis better than any other lightweight binding we've tested.
The Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR is notably friendly for the first-time backcountry skier – no other binding we've tested is easier to step into. Its sturdy construction is just as reliable as the Raider 13 Evo, and skis nearly as well for a slightly more reasonable price.
Editor's Note: We updated our review of the best backcountry bindings on May 6, 2026, adding new bindings from Ski Trab and Tyrolia, while retesting some long-term favorites from Marker, G3, Fritschi, and Plum.
The ATK Raider 13 Evo is ATK's flagship binding, and many backcountry skiers – including our test team – love ATK's well-refined bindings. The Raider 13 Evo incorporates all the standard features we look for in a tech binding: adjustable length and release values, three heel risers, and brakes. But iterative improvements to this design have come together to deliver a backcountry binding with innovative release and retention characteristics that are unmatched. Even compared to our other Editors' Choice award winner, the Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR, the Raider 13 Evo has a more sophisticated release system.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
1.75 lbs
Release Value Range
5 to 13
Brakes?
Yes
Brake Width Options
86, 91, 97, 102, 108, 120 mm
Ski Crampon compatible?
"Standard" Dynafit style. (Not all crampons will be cross-compatible)
That more sophisticated system, however, comes with more moving parts. Those additional parts complicate how you adjust this binding, all of which requires time to understand. For folks who count every gram, it also adds a significant amount of weight. Compared to the very similar MTN Summit 12, the Raider 13 Evo is a touch heavier and takes more time to dial in your use. The hardest-charging skiers on our test team appreciate the enhanced retention and release characteristics, which together add meaningful value to this binding. For others, a lighter-weight binding like the ATK Crest 10 may be more suitable.
The ATK Raider 13 Evo is one of the few bindings with an adjustable toe-release. We couldn't get the locked-out toe to release in “soft” mode, even with a violent impact. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR is an incremental improvement on a binding we have long appreciated, one that has been at the top of our charts for quite some time. The MTN Summit 12 is an update to the still readily available MTN Tour. It is also exactly the same as the otherwise branded Atomic Backland Summit, while the MTN Tour is the same as the Atomic Backland Tour – a binding we tested and once honored with an Editors' Choice award. The improvements from “Tour” to “Summit” are mainly in release and retention characteristics. The Summit series bindings are more readily adjustable than the Tour models, and the Summit has a spring-loaded heel piece in the track that provides a measure of progressive heel “elasticity” for improved downhill performance and binding release.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
1.86 lbs
Release Value Range
6 to 12
Brakes?
Optional
Brake Width Options
80, 90, 100, 110 mm
Ski Crampon compatible?
"Standard" Dynafit style. (Not all crampons will be cross-compatible)
The best part is that these upgrades come with minimal compromise. The MTN Summit 12 costs a bit more and weighs a bit more than its predecessor, but the sophisticated release characteristics outweigh those costs. We particularly appreciated the improvements in adjustment – you can now adjust the release values with just a screwdriver, where on the Tour bindings, you needed to change out parts. It's more debatable how the spring-loaded heel piece improves performance. The additional elasticity certainly doesn't do any harm, but it isn't the boon that many espouse. We chose to test the “BR” version with brakes, but it's important to point out that the Summit 12 is also available without the brakes. However, if you plan to forgo brakes, we recommend a binding like the Marker Alpinist, as the Summit 12's refined brake system is an important part of our overall recommendation.
The Dynafit Speed Turn is the best deal available for a tech-style binding, costing much less than most other models. With its tried-and-true, straightforward design, the Speed Turn is built to last, and we do not hesitate to use it for remote backcountry ski trips. Many folks' primary complaint is in the required “spin” to change heel elevation modes. We can assert that, after a small learning curve, this is not as big a problem as it is often made out to be. Some – including our lead tester – argue that the spin mechanism to adjust riser height is even better than the more common “flip-flop” style heel lifters. It certainly makes for some fast transitions with your skis on.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
1.61 lbs
Release Value Range
4 to 10
Brakes?
No
Brake Width Options
N/A
Ski Crampon compatible?
"Standard" Dynafit style. (Not all crampons will be cross-compatible)
With a brakeless design and the unique rotating heel, the Speed Turn takes a bit more practice than other bindings in our lineup. There is a learning curve to backcountry skiing with no brakes. Given the risk of beginner backcountry skiers losing a ski, we really only recommend a binding like the Speed Turn to well-seasoned ski tourers. If you'd really rather have a binding with brakes – and that's a reasonable ask – it's unfortunate that the next most affordable option, the Dynafit Seven Summits+, is much more expensive. Dynafit keeps costs low on the Speed Turn because it has seen very few incremental upgrades and refinements over its 30 years on the market. These bindings don't look much different than the Dynafit tech bindings of the early 1990s; in our book, this is a good thing.
Changing heel elevator modes with the Speed Turn isn't as difficult as is made out to be. Our lead tester has refined this procedure, but it's easy to learn. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 is a longtime favorite of some very passionate backcountry ski connoisseurs. The toe piece is unlike any other binding we tested. Like a climbing “wire gate” carabiner, the linkage and spring of the toe piece are a single piece of curved titanium. This simple design makes for a reliable binding, with very little that can break. A number of our testers noted that the toe piece also felt more secure while skiing. “I like that the toe piece applies constant pressure to my boot”, asserts one tester. Finally, that toe piece allows for more freedom and security while touring uphill. Since it always applies consistent pressure to the pins, you can confidently tour with this binding unlocked on everything except the steepest sidehills.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
1.24 lbs
Release Value Range
5-7, 7-9, or 9-11
Brakes?
Optional
Brake Width Options
74, 94 mm
Ski Crampon compatible?
Trab brand will work best, but “standard” Dynafit style works
The biggest downside of the Titan Vario.2 is that you must manually hold the toe piece open to step in. At best, it's an exercise in coordination and flexibility; at the worst, it can lead to your brakeless ski shooting off down the mountain. This is a pretty profound difference from how other bindings work, especially for anyone not already very familiar with tech-style touring bindings. Even a brakeless binding like the G3 Zed 12, with more of a “standard” design and a toe bumper, is significantly easier to get into than the Titan Vario.2. As a result, we really only recommend this specialty binding to experienced backcountry skiers with a strong preference for brakeless bindings.
Watch closely: you have to manually hold open the Titan Vario.2 to step into the toe piece. It's easy enough on flat ground; not so easy on a steep slope. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Dynafit Superlite 150 is the best ultralight ski binding in our test. It almost matches the weight of skimo race bindings but adds significant robustness, release value adjustment, and range. Any binding with release adjustments from 4-13 is significant. That it is this light is remarkable. We do need to make one note about the weight: the marketing material for the Superlite 150 suggests it weighs 150 grams. This award winner does indeed weigh 150 grams – just without the screws. Add the screws, and you get the weight we list above. Regardless of the design, all bindings require screws for mounting, so it only seems fair to include them in our measured weight.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
0.79 lbs
Release Value Range
4 to 13
Brakes?
Optional
Brake Width Options
75, 90, 105 mm
Ski Crampon compatible?
"Standard" Dynafit style. (Not all crampons will be cross-compatible)
You can add aftermarket adjustment plates and brakes to the Superlite 150 and still end up with a pretty lightweight package. But if you want those features, you are better off choosing one of our higher-scoring options that come standard with those features, like the ATK Crest 10. Choose the Superlite 150 to optimize uphill performance, with just enough downhill performance to instill confidence in any scenario you might find yourself climbing into.
Especially if you pair the Superlite 150 with a lightweight pair of skis, you seriously cut grams without sacrificing any downhill performance. Credit: Jediah Porter
Choose this binding for optimized downhill performance, but do so with caution. Regarding the inherent compromises we make with all backcountry ski gear, we can seldom make absolute claims. However, we can definitely assert that the Marker Duke PT 13 is the best alpine skiing binding that can also tour. Aside from minor points, the Duke PT 13 skis as well as basic to above-average resort bindings. That certainly sets it apart from most other bindings in this review.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight of 2 Bindings
5.99 lbs
Release Value Range
4 to 13
Brakes?
Yes
Brake Width Options
100, 125
Ski Crampon compatible?
Marker brand only
That, though, is where the applause ends. To get that downhill performance, the Duke PT 13 is too heavy and complicated to compete on any level with actual touring bindings. The Duke PT is literally eight times the weight of the lightest binding we tested (and 12 times the weight of the lightest options on the market!) For all that weight, you might get downhill performance that is twice that of the other lightweight options. That's tough math to reconcile, even compared to similar but lighter-weight options like the Atomic Shift2 13 MN. The Duke PT 13 is a little heavier than the Shift2, but we like the Duke better for touring – you can remove the toe piece for the uphill, and unlike the Shift2, you have a full range of motion. Basically, these bindings are for the resort or other mechanized skiing (i.e., helicopter or snowcat) that may involve only short ascents. “Regular” backcountry skiing is best done with regular and much lighter backcountry ski bindings, like the similarly priced Dynafit Ridge.
There's nothing quite like backcountry skiing on an alpine binding. While you'll pay for it up on the uphill, no other binding we tested quite matches the downhill capability of the Marker Duke PT 13. Credit: Jediah Porter
Product Comparison Table
A close examination of every binding in the gear lab is supported by an entire season's worth of backcountry skiing. Credit: Jediah Porter
Why Trust GearLab
Testing backcountry ski bindings, for us, involves some lab time and then a whole lot of skiing. We weighed each binding (including mandatory mounting screws) to the nearest gram (and then made conversions). We obtained measurements of the stack height and binding delta for each binding to get a numerical idea of the edge-to-edge leverage and forward-to-back weight distribution. Next, things got fun.
We put in hundreds of thousands of vertical feet in all sorts of conditions and circumstances. Our team put each of these bindings through the wringer to take the guesswork out of your decision-making experience. Virtually all of our backcountry ski binding testing took place in the actual backcountry. This lattermost fact alone sets apart our review from many other reviews on the internet; to test in true backcountry circumstances is harder but far more useful. We hold ourselves to a high standard. Plus, we love backcountry skiing.
Our testing of touring bindings is divided into five metrics:
Weight(35% of total score weighting)
Downhill Performance(25% weighting)
Touring Performance(20% weighting)
Ease of Use(15% weighting)
Durability(5% weighting)
Our lead tester, Jed Porter, is an internationally-certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide. Jed's primary gig is guiding backcountry skiing around his home in the Teton Range and around the world. He has notched a summit-to-sea ski descent of Mount Saint Elias and made the first integral (and first solo) completion of California's historic Red Line Traverse. In 2020, he logged 800,000 vertical feet of human-powered mountain terrain, including a period in which he logged “half-a-mil in half a year”, all on skis. Other years aren't that far off of his 2020 stats. Jed leads a seasoned test team from a wide range of backgrounds to extensively test these bindings and consults with peers, partners, and clients for additional feedback.
A close examination of these bindings provides a baseline for how they might perform once we take them into the wild. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Teton Range, full of world-class ski touring and ski mountaineering and home to our test team. Credit: Jediah Porter
We measure binding stats to keep manufacturers honest, and to help us dissect the nuanced differences. Credit: Jediah Porter
Analysis and Test Results
Like with choosing any other piece of technical outdoor gear, the first question you should ask yourself is, “realistically, how am I going to use this gear?” The best binding for a skier you respect, or even seek to emulate, might not be the best binding for you.
You should honestly consider your skill level, how much you value uphill versus downhill performance, and the kind of skiing you do most regularly. Since most of us aren't buying multiple pairs of skis, you want to consider the best overall value that will allow you to do the most skiing, regardless of conditions or objectives.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Touring bindings span a wide range of prices. What do you get at different price points? As bindings get lighter, they get more expensive. From the budget end of things, bindings also get more expensive and heavier with incrementally greater safety and downhill performance. Spend more in the lightweight direction, and you can cut the weight in half with almost no loss of performance. Spend more for greater downhill performance, and that downhill performance increases by a marginal amount. If you are looking for “bang for your buck,” going lighter is definitely better than going for more downhill performance.
The Speed Turn is a great value: Proven design, reliable functionality, widely available, affordable price tag. Credit: Jediah Porter
The least expensive bindings are light and straightforward but not super light. Paradoxically, there is an inverse relationship between price and durability. Normally, we might expect more expensive products to last longer. In the case of backcountry ski bindings, the least expensive are the most robust and longest-proven designs. That further enhances value. We love this sort of synchronicity. With bindings, subtract weight from something proven and affordable, and it gets more expensive and less durable. Add features (and, inherently, weight) to that same binding, and it gets more expensive and less durable. The Dynafit Speed Turn offers excellent, long-lasting value at a reasonable weight.
Deep wilderness, glaciated skiing, and tricky snow conditions require reliable, carefully chosen ski bindings. Credit: Jediah Porter
With the presence of the Shift2 and Marker Duke PT on the market, our review, and the award selection roster, we acknowledge a discussion of value decisions around these appealing “hybrid” resort/backcountry bindings. With acceptable resort performance, we know that it is tempting to choose the Shift or Duke as bindings to anchor a sort of “quiver of one” for resort and backcountry skiing. We advocate against this strategy, as it likely won't have the value or performance you hope for.
Salomon Shift2 vs. Atomic Shift2
As we noted previously about the Salomon MTN and Atomic Backland series bindings, the Atomic Shift2 13 MN we tested is functionally identical to the Salomon Shift2 13 MN. Salomon and Atomic are both owned by Amer Sports and produce much of their equipment in the same factories. We may link to either one for purchase.
Weight
While weight is a factor in touring performance, we keep it separate for our OutdoorGearLab scoring purposes. More than most other types of gear, the difference in weight from one binding to another is quite large. Look at the more than 1-kilogram difference between one of our review's lightest bindings, the ATK Trofeo (166 g per foot), and the heaviest, the Marker Duke PT (1360 g per foot). That is an immense difference, and that weight will have a major impact on your experience. Overall, touring on lighter bindings is noticeably easier. The old adage, “a pound on your foot is like five on your back,” runs true, as people can endure noticeably more vertical gain with less weight on their feet.
We recognize that not every binding we tested is created equal: some are sold with brakes, some have optional brakes, and some aren't offered with brakes at all. (See our Specifications chart.) As opposed to the graph above, when we say “common setup,” that is how these bindings are commonly sold. For example, the Salomon MTN 12 is available without brakes, but you'll commonly find it sold as the BR version with brakes.
The lightest bindings in our test have no brakes, limited adjustment, and come in under 200 grams per foot. That short list holds the ATK Trofeo, Dynafit Superlite 150, and Plum R170. Of those the Dynafit, especially with an affordable and light aftermarket adjustment plate, is the most adjustable. The ATK Trofeo is the lightest, but it isn't adjustable at all.
The 275-350-gram range includes some bindings you should consider. Notably, the 306 g ATK Crest 10 has what we consider a “full” feature set. Its release characteristics are unsophisticated compared to bindings just over the 350 g threshold we're discussing here. Also in this range is a newcomer, the Tyrolia Almonte 12 PT. The Almonte 12 feels good underfoot and, despite its mostly plastic construction, has proven itself to be a reliable option. The brakeless Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 weighs 282 grams and offers some pretty significant uphill and downhill performance advantages for a binding this lightweight.
Binding weight is our most heavily “weighted” scoring metric. It is the most meaningful measure of your uphill experience, and uphill consumes most of your time backcountry skiing. But when you go downhill, even we admit that heavier bindings are superior. Credit: Jediah Porter
Between 350 and 400 grams, there is a wide range of performance. Both top scorers, the ATK Raider 13 Evo and Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR, offer an impressive balance of downhill performance and durability. Because of its older design, the Dynafit Speed Turn doesn't include the same features that other bindings in this range do, but it also costs a lot less. Unless you won't settle for anything less than the downhill-optimized performance of a binding like the Duke PT 13, we don't see why you would settle for bindings over 400 grams.
Even lightweight bindings can excel at high-speed powder skiing, like the kind you find in Alaska. Credit: Jediah Porter
Downhill Performance
For our downhill performance score, we compared how well each binding performed on the down. We divide our assessment into two main categories: how does the binding perform in “routine” downhill, and how is it designed and built to work when a release is required? While most felt great in softer snow, we made sure to compare them in harsh, icy, and variable snow and at higher speeds where our testers could feel more of a difference.
Several factors contribute to downhill “routine” performance. We look at overall rigidity, release elasticity, stack height, and ramp angle (e.g., heel-toe-delta). A more rigid initial connection between ski and boot lends better downhill performance. Binding “elasticity” – or elastic travel – is the distance your boot can move within the binding before it is released. Bindings with more progressive elasticity allow the boot to get deflected by normal skiing forces and then return to the center for the next turn.
AT bindings that release appropriately can, in the event of hitting an unseen rock or otherwise blowing a turn, mean the difference between continuing on and requiring a rescue. Credit: Jediah Porter
If a binding had zero elasticity, every lateral force would result in a complete release, and every ski turn involves some degree of lateral force. Longitudinal ski flex creates the same sort of issue. Every ski turn involves longitudinal ski flex, which shortens the distance between the toe and heel pieces. Bindings have to accommodate these flexions and forces. From the binding's perspective, many of the forces associated with normal skiing appear to be the same forces associated with a fall.
Modern heel piece design allows the pins to both rotate in place and to slide in and out of the connection on your boot to allow for improved elasticity. Credit: Jediah Porter
The elasticity of a binding offers some level of forgiveness so that you're not ejecting with every turn. If the force is short-lived – as in a normal turn – the binding and ski will return to normal position relative to your boot. If that force continues, the ski comes off, and the force is relieved before it is transmitted to your bones and connective tissues, in theory. Of course, binding release isn't perfect, and people get injured all the time. Release performance is also difficult to objectively assess in the field, as we simply cannot (and don't want to) crash enough to collect reliable data. What we look for here first are certification standards. Then, we consider the range of adjustment and the type of non-certified release methodology.
Skis aren't rigid, and neither are bindings. There needs to be some level of play, or “elasticity,” to allow for a ski to flex. While other bindings have a gap between the back of your boot and the heel piece, you can actually see the bottom of the Titan Vario.2 move as the ski flexes. Credit: Jediah Porter
It's sometimes incorrectly stated that older binding designs have “no elasticity”. Tech bindings have always included some inherent elasticity – things would break if the ski-boot connection were fully rigid. Traditional hinging, sprung toe pins allow a tiny bit of lateral elasticity at the toe. Heel pins that insert only partially into boot heel fittings, with a gap between the boot and the heel tower, provide elasticity. That said, in the last decade, bindings have increasingly included springs and linkages that allow contact points to move relative to the ski base.
Even in steep terrain and soft “hero” snow, you're exerting a lot of force on your bindings with every turn. Credit: Jediah Porter
Bindings that form a more positive connection between the boot and the ski tend to perform better on the downhill because you are able to transfer energy from your boot straight into the ski. This is a fact, but it is also nuanced. Mainly, bindings differ less in the positivity of connection than others might claim. The fanciest, most “resort-like” bindings and the lightest, simplest bindings are more similar in connection than they are different. For routine and even a lot of non-routine skiing, modern bindings hold your boot to the ski as securely as you could ever need.
The release and retention function of the Marker Duke is indeed better than the others. But there's a major weight penalty associated with that small increase in functional performance. Credit: Jediah Porter
Many bindings in our lineup, like the Dynafit Ridge, ATK Raider 13 Evo, and Ski Trab Titan Vario.2, provide some degree of “simulated forward pressure” that, theoretically, creates elasticity, a more secure fit, and more reliable release function. Other, more traditional pin-style bindings, like the Dynafit Speed Turn, Dynafit Superlite 150, and ATK Trofeo, accommodate longitudinal flex and play with a gap between the boot and heel piece. In these, the pins slide in and out of the boot heel fitting, allowing the binding to compensate for the flex of the ski underneath your boot. Some others have both a heel gap and a spring-loaded heel piece.
Once you're in downhill mode, you can see the much larger gap between the back of the boot and the heel piece of the Speed Turn. Credit: Jediah Porter
Binding geometry varies from one product to the next. Each binding puts your boot sole at a different distance from the ski – like with running shoes, the distance between the boot sole and ski top sheet is called “stack height.” While some ski racers like more stack height because it allows them to tip their skis way over on edge, most skiers, especially backcountry tourers, prefer to be closer to the ski. This gives the user a better balance and “feel.”
By measuring the stack height of each piece, we derive a “heel-to-toe” delta and start to build a picture of how these bindings might perform once we get them on snow. Credit: Jediah Porter
Generally speaking, most manufacturers compete to see who can get the lowest stack height possible. The more sophisticated tech bindings, however, have a greater stack height because of the additional parts to improve the release function. The higher stack heights are in the mid-to upper-40 mm range, while the average hovers around 39 mm. Plum and ATK dominate the “low stack height” list, with the greatest number of bindings below 36 mm. It's important to point out that none of those bindings with the lowest stack height have brakes, which also require space between the boot and the ski.
The low stack height of the svelte Plum R170 puts your boot as close to the ski as possible. Credit: Jediah Porter
The skiing ramp angle is the angle between your foot sole and the ski top sheet. This angle depends on boot size, insole choice, boot sole geometry, and binding construction. Here, we focus on just the binding component of this equation. The binding affects your ramp angle in that different bindings have different relative heights of their toe and heel pieces. We call the difference between toe and heel height “heel-toe delta.” We measure this by measuring the distance from the ski surface to the center of the effective toe pins and to the center of the effective heel pins. (We use the term “effective” because not all bindings have heel pins, and some hybrid designs do not use their toe pins in downhill mode.)
The Marker Cruise 12 has many of the same release characteristics as a resort binding (including the additional weight), yet maintains an excellent balance of the other qualities we want in a touring binding. Credit: Jediah Porter
Touring bindings tend to feature a greater heel-toe delta than most resort bindings to help, theoretically, make up for generally softer, less aggressive, and forward-leaning boots. Unless you are 100% confident that you have strong preferences in ramp angle and you know your boot size and boot geometry (as it pertains to ramp angle), we don't recommend thinking too much about binding toe-heel-delta. If it does matter to you, pay special attention to bindings with particularly low stack heights.
Measured Binding Geometries
Heel-Toe Delta
Measured Stack Height
ATK Trofeo
1 mm
31 mm
Plum R170
4 mm
34 mm
Marker Alpinist 12
4 mm
35 mm
Dynafit Superlite 150
10 mm
36 mm
Dynafit Speed Turn
17 mm
37.5 mm
Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR
8 mm
38 mm
ATK Raider 13 Evo
12 mm
40 mm
Ski Trab Titan Vario.2
11 mm
40.5 mm
Marker Duke PT 13
9 mm
42.5 mm
Atomic Shift2 13 MN
7 mm
47.5 mm
There are three main categories of touring bindings in terms of release value adjustment. First, some have no adjustment to the release. Next, there are the adjustable release bindings with no certification. Finally, there is the category of bindings that have third-party-endorsed release values. The Marker Duke PT 13 and Atomic Shift2 13 MN are the only two bindings we test that have their release values certified. Many others indicate that they “meet the standard” without clarifying that they didn't actually have their bindings tested by a certifying body.
Let us take a moment to break down the “alphabet soup” that surrounds ISO/DIN certification. DIN is a German organization that defines binding release parameters. ISO is an international organization that does the same thing, meaning ISO and DIN parameters are generally synonymous.TUV is a company that tests ski bindings to the ISO/DIN standards. It's a common misconception, but you can't actually have “DIN-certified” bindings. The bindings are “TUV-certified” to the DIN standard. It may be semantics, but it is important to us that you understand the difference.
We can dissect the nuances of ski bindings all day, but when it comes down to it, the best bindings allow you to worry less about release values and focus more on your skiing. Credit: Jediah Porter
As you ponder your binding choice, especially as it pertains to downhill performance, consider the following. Yes, you are here for the downhill. We all are. Nonetheless, you have to accept that you will spend 80-90% of your backcountry skiing time going uphill. Lighter gear gets you up the hill faster, with more energy to spare at the top. Bindings that go downhill better are heavier. More precisely, bindings that go downhill a little better are a lot heavier. The heaviest bindings we have tested are more than four times as heavy as the lightest, but go downhill marginally better. After watching hundreds of skiers of all abilities use dozens of different bindings, we can say on good authority that all else equal, more minimalist bindings enhance your experience more than beefier ones.
Our team does a lot of human-powered skiing, so the balance of weight to downhill performance is always at the forefront of our testing. Credit: Jediah Porter
Touring Performance
We tested and compared the heel riser range, variety, deployment, touring range of motion, and the binding's resistance to icing up during certain conditions for our touring comparison. We kept weight and ease of use separate for this comparison category, even though these things also affect touring performance.
First, let's discuss everything about heel risers. How easily does each heel riser engage and disengage? What does it take to switch between modes? How many risers does a binding have, and how high do they lift your heel? Most of the products we tested have three levels of touring mode. We compared how easily the heel risers were to engage and disengage while using our poles or hands.
Getting into and then adjusting the heel elevators on ATK Raider 13 Evo is very easy with a small bit of practice. Credit: Jediah Porter
The G3 Ion 12 and G3 Zed 12, and the Tyrolia Almonte 12 PT have risers that are the easiest to engage and disengage. The flip-flop style lifters are intuitive and have become a standard design. One important exception is the value-oriented Dynafit Speed Turn. To change modes – between ski and tour mode and between different lifter levels – you must turn the entire heel piece. Well-practiced moves, especially between the flat and middle heights (which should be the most common move you make), are just as easy on the Speed Turn as on any binding with a flip-flop-style lifter.
Flip-style heel lifter manipulation in action with the Tyrolia Almonte 12. Credit: Jediah Porter
The trickiest heel elevation transitions are on bindings that require both lever flips and heel rotations to access all the heel levels. This is the case with popular bindings like the ATK Raider 13 Evo, Ski Trab Titan Vario.2, and ATK Crest 10.
ATK Raider 13 Evo has the only toe piece with adjustable touring mode tension, though we noticed no difference between “soft” and “hard” modes. Credit: Jediah Porter
We also measure the height of the heel risers. For consistency, we report the difference between the toe pin height and sole of heel. Since the pins, in ski mode, keep your boot a few millimeters above the ski, the lowest number might actually be negative when a binding is in walk mode. We have long considered bindings with three heel levels the standard – this measurement provides a more nuanced glimpse at this standard feature. The Fritschi Xenic 10 has just two levels but covers a range of 43mm. On the other hand, the Marker Alpinist 12 has three levels, but they only span 46mm.
Toe Pin to Heel Riser Differential
Flat
Middle Riser
High Riser
Total Rise Range
Marker Duke PT 13
12 mm
22 mm
Only one riser
10 mm
Plum R170
-20 mm
11 mm
Only one riser
31 mm
Fritschi Xenic 10
-11 mm
32 mm
Only one riser
43 mm
Marker Alpinist 12
-23 mm
15 mm
23 mm
46 mm
Ski Trab Titan Vario.2
-26 mm
15 mm
25 mm
51 mm
Tyrolia Almonte 12 PT
-11 mm
19 mm
41 mm
52 mm
G3 Ion 12
-13 mm
25 mm
45 mm
58 mm
Next, we looked at each binding's toe piece range of motion. A “normal” touring stride requires a little bit of heel lift (about 6-8 inches, at most), and all the bindings we tested allow enough for this. Steep uphill terrain requires a specialized “kick turn” technique. The most efficient kick turners get the tip of the ski to their knee (and, therefore, the top of the toe of their boot) near the top sheet of the ski during a kick turn. Most bindings we tested allow you to have all of the range of motion you need. However, there are notable exceptions to this rule.
You will spend a lot of your time going uphill while backcountry skiing. Choosing a binding with an efficient range of motion is essential. Credit: Jediah Porter
The complicated toe piece of the Fritschi Xenic 10 has bulk and parts that limit the range of motion. During kick turns, this compromised range of motion is noticeable and unfortunate. Both the Marker Duke and Atomic Shift2 bindings have a limited toe piece range of motion. All other products in our list have a full range of motion.
The pivot range of the Xenic (left) is noticeably less than other bindings, like the Raider Evo 13 (right), which tend to pivot to 90 degrees or more.
The final step of examining touring mode was to assess how each contender resisted icing. All bindings ice up to some extent and need to be chipped free from time to time. Our review's simplest, lightest bindings are also the least prone to icing. The Shift2 and Duke bindings have more moving parts that collect ice. Any binding with brakes is more prone to icing than those without brakes.
In the right conditions, all bindings collect snow and ice. Bigger and more complex bindings, like the Shift2, tend to collect more. Credit: Jediah Porter
The ultra-low-profile heel pieces of the ATK Trofeo, Plum R170, and Superlite 150 collect virtually no ice. In sticky snow conditions, the G3 Ion 12 and Zed 12 gather ice that simulates informal “heel lifts,” even when the binding is in low tour mode. Almost all “traditional” tech toes collect ice under the center of the toe piece. This manifests as toe pins that won't close entirely. In this case, the ski needs to be removed, turned upside down, and the ice cleared out. On the other end of the spectrum, the toe piece on the Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 is nearly immune to collecting ice.
Without anything between your boot and the top of your ski, it's nearly impossible for a binding like the ATK Trofeo to glob up with snow (unless you get snow stuck to the bottom of your boot!) Credit: Jediah Porter
Ease of Use
Ease of use is summed up (you guessed it) by how easy the bindings were to use. First, we looked at how easy they were to step into and out of, and how easy it was to transition to touring or downhill again. We also compared how easy it was to adjust the release value and boot length. Overall, simpler bindings are easier to use than complex ones.
Ease of entry for tech bindings is where the G3 bindings take the cake, and it's the feature that impressed us the most about the Ion 12 and Zed 12. Instead of nearly all other tech bindings, where you need to either “hook” one side or line up your toe holes and use downward pressure to engage the front pins, both G3 bindings feature two vertical levers that, when lightly pressured, engage the side pins.
The Dynafit Ridge, it features two “posts” that help line your boot up correctly. The toe piece of the Salomon MTN Summit has a toe bumper that helps you line up the toe pins, making them incredibly easy to use for folks who have never stepped into a tech binding before.
To transition the heel piece of the G3 Ion 12 from touring to ski mode, pull up directly on the heel piece to disengage the lock mode. Credit: Jediah Porter
The toe piece of the Fritschi Xenic is engineered entirely differently, but the result is similar in terms of ease of entry. Its spring-loaded closure was very sensitive, and when most folks first start trying to use it, their toes close before their boot is in position.
Once you are into the Xenic, though, locking that toe piece is very, very strenuous. On the other end, you have to hold the toe piece of the Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 open to step in. However, once the toe pins are in place, it's very easy to lock out.
There are many bindings on the market, including the Dynafit Ridge, that rival "hybrid"-style bindings for downhill performance but are much easier to use. Credit: Jediah Porter
Different products have different advantages while transitioning. From up to down matters more, and nearly every backcountry tour will have at least one of these types of transitions. Many skiers regularly take their skins off without removing their skis. A binding that allows you to do this is an advantage, particularly while in deep, soft snow, where if you step down with a “ski-less” foot, you will plunge that leg to your hip.
With practice (and perhaps some stretching) you will have the option of efficiently transitioning without taking your skis off. Credit: Jediah Porter
On the flip side, you will always remove skis for switching from down to up. Bindings that can be switched from downhill to uphill are rarer, and that function is less important. The one time we dig being able to go into “cross country” mode, where you want your heel free, but no skins on, is during the descent and while traveling on long, flat, snow-covered roads and frozen lakes.
You will spend a lot of time with your backcountry ski bindings. Much of that will be in transition between uphill and downhill, and an easy to use binding improves efficiency during these transitions. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Salomon MTN Summit transitions pretty easily but requires an extra step with the brakes. The brakes must be manipulated by hand every time you switch from down to up or vice versa. All bindings with brakes require some sort of extra step, at least in transitions from down to up. Transitions with the Dynafit Superlite 150 and Plum R170 are quick and easy, since they're essentially designed as race bindings.
All the many moving parts of the Marker Duke PT move with satisfying snaps. Here, adjusting the heel lifters. Credit: Jediah Porter
Transitions with the Atomic Shift2 and Marker Duke PT are among the more onerous. Disengaging the Shift brake from tour to ski mode can be downright dangerous. One tester lost most of a fingernail early in the testing process. Further, you absolutely have to remove the Shift2 from your boot to go either direction between tour and ski mode. Transitioning the Marker Duke involves, in some cases, completely removing the toe piece and stowing it in your backpack. In just its first year of availability, we heard multiple stories of people ending up on top of their ski run with no Duke toe pieces. This is annoying, at best.
The Shift2 bindings are known for a lot of spring pressure in the brake deployment. This makes some aspects of transition much more difficult. Credit: Jediah Porter
Ski Crampons
Depending on where you ski and how much springtime touring and ski mountaineering you do, ski crampons can matter a tremendous amount or very little. In very windy climates, you will use ski crampons all season long (High Sierra, California, you listening? Colorado 14ers skiers, you dig?). Everywhere, on spring snow, ski crampons should be on your radar. The ease of use rating also considers the options and complications of employing ski crampons. G3's proprietary ski crampon system is excellent but heavier and bulkier than others. Plum's system is excellent and offers some cross compatibility. Marker's heavier bindings use special crampons, as do the Shift2 bindings. The remainder of the bindings on the market use a similar, semi-standard method of attaching ski crampons. It isn't super convenient, but it is simple, light, and proven.
Ski Crampon Compatibility
Crampon Compatible?
ATK Raider 13 Evo
"Standard" Dynafit style
Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR
"Standard" Dynafit style
Dynafit Speed Turn
"Standard" Dynafit style
Fritschi Xenic 10
"Standard" Dynafit style
Tyrolia Almonte 12 PT
"Standard" Dynafit style
Ski Trab Titan Vario.2
Trab brand will work best, but “standard” Dynafit style works
Marker Alpinist 12
Marker brand will work best, but “standard” Dynafit style works
Plum R170
Plum brand works best. ("Standard" Dynafit style can be made to work)
Atomic Shift2 13 MN
Shift2 compatible only
Marker Duke PT 13
Marker brand only
G3 Zed 12
G3 brand only, with aftermarket adapter
Construction Quality
For our durability test, we did our best to compare how burly each product was. For this comparison, we not only pooled our own experience but talked to over a dozen reputable backcountry ski shops, mountain guides, and a few sales reps and customer service contacts; we wanted to see what broke, how often, and on which models. Overall, there is a pretty strong correlation between durability and simplicity. Simple, proven products will last better. Very lightweight designs and, at the other end of the spectrum, very complex designs will be the least durable. Everything in the “middle” will be pretty close in terms of durability.
Durability is what separates the award-winning Marker Duke PT 13 from the close competitor Atomic Shift2. Testers had trouble with the Shift2, which didn't appear alongside the Marker Duke. Over time and with use, the Shift brakes will sneak out of their touring-mode hiding place. None of these Shift issues were catastrophic failures for us, but they were annoying nonetheless.
If your aspirations include ski expeditions, it's paramount that you choose a solid binding that will hold up for extended periods of wear and tear. Credit: Jediah Porter
The award-winning Salomon MTN Summit and ATK Raider 13 Evo each call on a well-proven lineage. We have spent the majority of the past decade skiing on different versions of the Summit and Tour platforms – durability and function continue to be entirely reliable. Both incorporate proven components and features in important places while adding carefully tailored innovations that also hold up. We especially like the reliability of the brakes on the Salomon Summit. Alternatively, we can also assure you that the diminutive “meat” of the Raider heel piece is equally reliable. Despite the sliding heel piece, both designs integrate a moving part without much drama.
Simple bindings are not only lightweight because they have fewer parts, but also more durable because there is less to break. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Ski Trab Titan Vario.2, with its uniquely simple toe piece, offers the adventurous skier confidence in durability. Most of the issues we've had with other bindings are related to the multiple pieces that need to fit together for a binding to work. Unlike those complex designs, Ski Trab simplified everything in the toe piece of the Titan Vario.2 into a single piece of curved titanium that acts as both linkage and spring. That said, if we had to choose one binding based on all-time reliability, it would continue to be the Dynafit Speed Turn. The simplicity of that bomb-proof design is hard to beat.
The simple, single piece of titanium on the Ski Trab Titan Vario.2 (left) acts as both level and linkage. The toe piece on the Marker Alpinist 12 (right), by comparison, has many small moving parts to achieve the same end: attaching your toes to the binding. Credit: Jediah Porter
Other Touring Bindings to Consider
Long gone are the days when there were only a few bindings on the market worth their muster. Top brands often have huge binding lines to accommodate every type of skier. While we've tested more than 50 touring bindings over the past decade, we can't include all of them in our lineup. Here are a few that didn't quite make the cut, but are still well worth your consideration:
Atomic Backland Tour - We tested the Backland Tour years ago. It is a simple, proven design (and it's exactly the same as the Salomon MTN Tour). Compared to the Salomon MTN Summit, the Tour series bindings lack the same elasticity in the heel piece that makes the MTN Summit that much more comfortable to ski. The Tour also lacks a spring to adjust the release value. Instead, you have to swap out a piece, which is not nearly as convenient.
Dynafit Radical- This is essentially a more feature-rich version of the perennial Speed Turn. Mainly, the Radical has brakes and flip-flop heel elevators. Much like the Speed Turn, it's a long-running binding that will serve you well, even if it isn't particularly sophisticated in this day and age. The Dynafit Seven Summits+ is an even more refined version of the Radical.
Marker Kingpin 13 - Years ago, the Marker Kingpin was innovative among hybrid bindings – not only did it crossover well between the resort and backcountry, but it was unique in that it included a tech toe piece and an alpine heel piece. It works well enough, but like many hybrid bindings, it compromises in both directions. Now that there are lighter-weight bindings, like the ATK Raider 13, that ski just as well, and essentially resort bindings with a rudimentary touring mode, like the Marker Duke PT 13, the Kingpin no longer has a clear place in the market.
At the end of the day, we want to get up to go down. While many of these bindings may look similar, it's the small differences in weight and design that can make a big difference in both uphill and downhill performance. Credit: Jediah Porter
Conclusion
Touring bindings may all look similar, but they vary in many nuanced ways. If “one pound on your foot equals five on your back,” then it's most important to consider the weight of the binding. It's surprising the weight range between bindings – it's hard to think of another gear category where the heaviest product is eight times heavier than the lightest one. The best touring bindings are the lightest ones that offer the best downhill performance. In that light, you can't go wrong with our top recommendations.
