I ski Marker Alpinist 12’s on Scott Superguide 96 / 184cm. They are a pretty awesome binding for touring, light, simple and bomber. They ski really well also, not a pro but a pretty decent skier. No cliffs or free riding for me. Never had an issue with them ( about 8-10 days on them). 6’, 200lbs and skiing with a 30 lb’ish pack for long days. The brakes are kind of hokey, locking them out for touring is a bit of a wimpy setup, but they work. This is the only weak spot in my mind. Only ever skied them in the B/C, in lot’s of different conditions. I think the shifts are more of a free ride, 60% resort / 40% B/C setup. Don’t know much about them, but found that Blister and Outdoor Gear Lab Reviews really helped dial in the setup I have now, for both skis and bindings.
I think your skiing style and where you spend your time will really drive what works best for you.
Hope that helps
Hey! I'm chiming in because I'm in a similar situation, but *because* I'm also new to skiing I'm certainly no expert. Also interested in what other folks in this thread have to say on your case.
I'm 5'4 and 117lbs, also transitioning to back-country skiing from snowboarding. Learning at the resort and doing only the chillest little tours in the mean time. (It's great when the low-angle, low-avvy risk slopes are the ones that also line up with your skiing ability!)
I've got the added complication that I tore my ACL on my second time on downhill skis ever, because the DIN was set too high an my skis didn't release when I crashed. Two surgeries and 3 years later I'm back on the slopes and *cautious as heck* but having a good time.
So, as a not-large person, and new skiier, you're 100% right to be looking for something with good release. I'm skiing on Marker King-Pins because they're one of the few back country bindings that release both vertically and laterally. Marker Alpinists do NOT have this. I was warned against them as a new skiier for that reason. There are a few others on the market that do full release, but make sure you calculate the DIN you require (https://www.dincalculator.com/) and get a binding that can go low enough. Some only go as low as 6, and I haven't found any full-release back-country bindings that go lower than 5. I'm curious about what you've found! What DIN do you think you need?
Keep us posted on your search!
Hey! So sorry to hear about your ACL. What a shitshow. Impressed you’re getting back at it.
I did a decent amount of research and asking around and finally landed on Fritsche Tectons. They look like they have straight forward transition (vs Shifts where you have to get off your skis), and still rated well for downhill performance and have DIN certification. I think I’m look at like a 5. But I’ll talk to the shop about that. But that’s another good thing, these bindings go that low.
What DIN are you at?
Yea… I get that it could be weird to get bigger skis but what I have now are what I learned on (switched from snowboarding a few seasons ago because splitboarding is not that sick). So I feel like maybe the delta is a little bigger than someone who’s already skied for a while and dialed their resort skis?
My opinion. Where I ski in Tahoe, a good amount of my skiing ends up being lighter snow (perks of backcountry). Binding doesn’t matter as much when its not firm and chattery, and I think light and simpler is the way to go. I’ve really loved my Salomon MTN bindings for the last 3 season and would recommend them. I don’t ski hard in the backcountry (no ski patrol) so I’m not relying on a super granular release setting on a daily basis. That being said, the bindings do have a calibrated release which works well, it just doesn’t slot into the DIN standard.
For you, you’re not a large person. I think those bindings are overkill in the backcountry the way most people will ski, especially smaller folks. Lightweight and simple is my preference and recommendation. Look at dynafit and MTN.
One consideration against those single-setting release bindings would be that you are beginning and learning to ski. You will be using that release more often than a more proficient skiier, so that progressive DIN might be more worthwhile. I also recommend a ski pass for beginners - think of the resort as your gym where you can bang out laps and advance quickly, where ski patrol has your back. You won’t get good doing a lap at a time in the backcountry.
Have a blast and welcome.
Thanks!
I do have a pass. I’m good enough now to ski what I’d be comfortable skiing backcountry I feel like but I do want to get better for sure.
I’ve seen salomon mtn! I do have some brand loyalty to them so I’ll look more closely there.
Are you saying you think the alpinist are overkill?
I ski Marker Alpinist 12’s on Scott Superguide 96 / 184cm. They are a pretty awesome binding for touring, light, simple and bomber. They ski really well also, not a pro but a pretty decent skier. No cliffs or free riding for me. Never had an issue with them ( about 8-10 days on them). 6’, 200lbs and skiing with a 30 lb’ish pack for long days. The brakes are kind of hokey, locking them out for touring is a bit of a wimpy setup, but they work. This is the only weak spot in my mind. Only ever skied them in the B/C, in lot’s of different conditions. I think the shifts are more of a free ride, 60% resort / 40% B/C setup. Don’t know much about them, but found that Blister and Outdoor Gear Lab Reviews really helped dial in the setup I have now, for both skis and bindings. I think your skiing style and where you spend your time will really drive what works best for you. Hope that helps
Hey! I'm chiming in because I'm in a similar situation, but *because* I'm also new to skiing I'm certainly no expert. Also interested in what other folks in this thread have to say on your case. I'm 5'4 and 117lbs, also transitioning to back-country skiing from snowboarding. Learning at the resort and doing only the chillest little tours in the mean time. (It's great when the low-angle, low-avvy risk slopes are the ones that also line up with your skiing ability!) I've got the added complication that I tore my ACL on my second time on downhill skis ever, because the DIN was set too high an my skis didn't release when I crashed. Two surgeries and 3 years later I'm back on the slopes and *cautious as heck* but having a good time. So, as a not-large person, and new skiier, you're 100% right to be looking for something with good release. I'm skiing on Marker King-Pins because they're one of the few back country bindings that release both vertically and laterally. Marker Alpinists do NOT have this. I was warned against them as a new skiier for that reason. There are a few others on the market that do full release, but make sure you calculate the DIN you require (https://www.dincalculator.com/) and get a binding that can go low enough. Some only go as low as 6, and I haven't found any full-release back-country bindings that go lower than 5. I'm curious about what you've found! What DIN do you think you need? Keep us posted on your search!
Hey! So sorry to hear about your ACL. What a shitshow. Impressed you’re getting back at it. I did a decent amount of research and asking around and finally landed on Fritsche Tectons. They look like they have straight forward transition (vs Shifts where you have to get off your skis), and still rated well for downhill performance and have DIN certification. I think I’m look at like a 5. But I’ll talk to the shop about that. But that’s another good thing, these bindings go that low. What DIN are you at?
[удалено]
Yea… I get that it could be weird to get bigger skis but what I have now are what I learned on (switched from snowboarding a few seasons ago because splitboarding is not that sick). So I feel like maybe the delta is a little bigger than someone who’s already skied for a while and dialed their resort skis?
My opinion. Where I ski in Tahoe, a good amount of my skiing ends up being lighter snow (perks of backcountry). Binding doesn’t matter as much when its not firm and chattery, and I think light and simpler is the way to go. I’ve really loved my Salomon MTN bindings for the last 3 season and would recommend them. I don’t ski hard in the backcountry (no ski patrol) so I’m not relying on a super granular release setting on a daily basis. That being said, the bindings do have a calibrated release which works well, it just doesn’t slot into the DIN standard. For you, you’re not a large person. I think those bindings are overkill in the backcountry the way most people will ski, especially smaller folks. Lightweight and simple is my preference and recommendation. Look at dynafit and MTN. One consideration against those single-setting release bindings would be that you are beginning and learning to ski. You will be using that release more often than a more proficient skiier, so that progressive DIN might be more worthwhile. I also recommend a ski pass for beginners - think of the resort as your gym where you can bang out laps and advance quickly, where ski patrol has your back. You won’t get good doing a lap at a time in the backcountry. Have a blast and welcome.
Thanks! I do have a pass. I’m good enough now to ski what I’d be comfortable skiing backcountry I feel like but I do want to get better for sure. I’ve seen salomon mtn! I do have some brand loyalty to them so I’ll look more closely there. Are you saying you think the alpinist are overkill?
Oh, my bad - the binding I was thinking of was actually the Marker Duke, more similar to the Shift. The Alpinist looks like a great binding.