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Ski touring bindings
The binding system for ski touring is an important part of the equipment, designed to free the heel on ascents and block it on descents. As in alpine skiing, touring ski bindings are a safety element designed to protect the skier from trauma, particularly to the joints. But touring bindings present other challenges, in particular making ascents easier and descents safer.
Three types of binding
- Releasable bindings
Very similar to alpine bindings, except that you can use them to climb without taking your shoes off. Usable with classic ski boots, they are the heaviest of all touring bindings. They should therefore be reserved for the approach or for very short, occasional outings. Freeriders, for example, will appreciate using them to reach hard-to-reach areas, even if the weight of their fats added to the weight of the bindings won't get them very high. However, these touring bindings do offer a safety advantage, as they can be released in the same way as alpine bindings.
Discover flagship models such as the Marker tour binding, or the junior model startup touring which are intuitive models for beginners or free riders.
- Low Tech" bindings
Bindings specifically designed for ski touring, Low Tech (or LT) bindings are only compatible with ski boots ski boots specially designed for touring They are fitted with inserts: a hole is drilled on either side of the front of the shell, into which the metal ends of the stop fit. Reduced to its vital minimum, the stop generally has only two positions: the "on" position, which completely locks the binding and prevents the ski from being lost on the way up, and the "ski" position, which allows the ski to be removed on the way down thanks to the adjustment applied to the heel piece.
The major advantage of these bindings lies in their weight: 700g on average per pair, it's hard to beat that. But lightness comes at a price, not least in terms of safety: no ski-stop, and a strap system linking the ski to the ankle.
- Latest-generation insert bindings
Halfway between the Low Tech and the plate fix, the new inserts touring bindings attempt to combine the lightness of the classic touring fix with the safety of the disengageable alpine binding. And the result is quite conclusive, with insert bindings weighing in at around 1.5kg per pair (compared with 3kg for disengageable bindings), while ensuring a release rate approaching that of alpine ski bindings, thanks to a modification of the heelpiece, which now incorporates ski stops and a lever system engaged by the heel. While Marker was a pioneer in the sector in winter 2015, unveiling its Marker Kingpin binding binding around which the brand had created so much mystery, these latest-generation insert bindings are set to become much more widespread as of the 2015/2016 season, and other brands are already working on marketing their own models.
For every type of skiing (approach, rando or freerando) there is a binding adapted to the skier's specific needs.
With the boom in ski touring in recent seasons, brands are focusing on developing their technologies to offer skiers bindings that are ever more efficient, safer and lighter. like Dynafit bindings.
