Marker King Pin Vs Atomic Tracker

Ace3+4

Active member
Hey Guys,

Was wondering if anyone had had the chance to ski a few days on the Marker King Pin. I've been wanting to switch up from the Atomic Tracker, but I'm kind of scared of how it will react going switch and doing nose butters.

If anyone has any input, would be super appreciated
 
I have time in both, but this is a very loaded question, we need more info about what you plan to be doing with these, what kind of skis/boots you are going with, and what your ratio to touring/inbounds on them will be.
 
They will work fine doing whatever you want.i still use guardians and dukes for all my touring though cause I don't want to skip out of some cliffs thinking I might release...but it just depends on your weight
 
13609985:cydwhit said:
I have time in both, but this is a very loaded question, we need more info about what you plan to be doing with these, what kind of skis/boots you are going with, and what your ratio to touring/inbounds on them will be.

Skiing resorst 60% of the time and touring 40%. I have a Technica Cochise 120 2016 with both types of soles.

But sometimes skiing I like to ride switch and I love to butter everything (I'll be on the new SFB). I'm kind of scared they would release (I've never owned tech bindings). That's the only reason I'm hesitant.
 
13610619:Ace3+4 said:
Skiing resorst 60% of the time and touring 40%. I have a Technica Cochise 120 2016 with both types of soles.

But sometimes skiing I like to ride switch and I love to butter everything (I'll be on the new SFB). I'm kind of scared they would release (I've never owned tech bindings). That's the only reason I'm hesitant.

I think for buttering or the likes you're better off with a rail-binding. Tech-toes were not really designed with that in mind.

But that is just my opinion.
 
the kingpins will be fine for you. My buddy hucks pretty big, up to about 50 feet on his TLTs and as long as youre landing correct he's all good. He does lock the toe. The general thought is that retention is as good as the beast, and well HOJI fucking rips on those. I think youll be fine.
 
13610619:Ace3+4 said:
Skiing resorst 60% of the time and touring 40%. I have a Technica Cochise 120 2016 with both types of soles.

But sometimes skiing I like to ride switch and I love to butter everything (I'll be on the new SFB). I'm kind of scared they would release (I've never owned tech bindings). That's the only reason I'm hesitant.

100% guardians IMO.

For that boot, and what you are describing doing, and that ratio I don't agree with the others here. Go Guardians. More normal feel inbounds, less likely to mess up your knees, just generally way better suited to what you are talking about.

Althought.... Kingpins on the new SFB as a jibby touring setup with MTN Explores sounds pretty dang fun to me....

Side note, is anyone actually honest about their backcountry/inbounds ratios?

I know I probably am not.....
 
13611729:cydwhit said:
100% guardians IMO.

For that boot, and what you are describing doing, and that ratio I don't agree with the others here. Go Guardians. More normal feel inbounds, less likely to mess up your knees, just generally way better suited to what you are talking about.

Althought.... Kingpins on the new SFB as a jibby touring setup with MTN Explores sounds pretty dang fun to me....

Side note, is anyone actually honest about their backcountry/inbounds ratios?

I know I probably am not.....

I really think the kingpin/frame binding conundrum is confusing and I'm not even sure now haha. I was fully going to go pettitors with kingpins wit the pinnacle pro, but I'm now second guessing myself and thinkin maybe I should just go dukes and know I'm secure. But that setup will weigh a tonn. I really wish they had a beefed up kingpin 16.
 
13611782:tomPietrowski said:
I really think the kingpin/frame binding conundrum is confusing and I'm not even sure now haha. I was fully going to go pettitors with kingpins wit the pinnacle pro, but I'm now second guessing myself and thinkin maybe I should just go dukes and know I'm secure. But that setup will weigh a tonn. I really wish they had a beefed up kingpin 16.

Ha! I agree, and I am not 100% sure where I stand either, especially since my time in kingpins was in pretty flimsy boots.

Anything you put on those Pettitors will weigh a ton, haha. (and that's coming from a guy that just put a tech binder on his shreditor 112's)

However, I would say, for a ski, that will occupy a place in your quiver that it will see more than 50% inbounds/variable condition skiing I would vote Guardian over kingpin, just for that added peace of mind as far as release, and for the ease of getting in and out of the binding.

Touring in a frame binding is not the end of the world, especially if it's shorter, huck your meat laps, and I'm a big fan of alpine binding style release, especially if you plan on getting jibby regularly.
 
13611807:cydwhit said:
Ha! I agree, and I am not 100% sure where I stand either, especially since my time in kingpins was in pretty flimsy boots.

Anything you put on those Pettitors will weigh a ton, haha. (and that's coming from a guy that just put a tech binder on his shreditor 112's)

However, I would say, for a ski, that will occupy a place in your quiver that it will see more than 50% inbounds/variable condition skiing I would vote Guardian over kingpin, just for that added peace of mind as far as release, and for the ease of getting in and out of the binding.

Touring in a frame binding is not the end of the world, especially if it's shorter, huck your meat laps, and I'm a big fan of alpine binding style release, especially if you plan on getting jibby regularly.

See that's te thing actually. The only time they would be coming out is for tours in good snow and real pow days on the mountain. I'm really think tech inserts may be the way to go. I'm now actually thinking I'm going to need two setups for touring as they will be way too much for anything other then epic snow. Wonder if they will let me out a demo kingpin on a marksman haha
 
guardians/ trackers are not exactly issue free and extremely heavy. I work at a shop have

I ride the King Pin on a pair of Wailer 112s, I am 200 lbs and have not had an issue. Had an absolutely massive tomahawk bail backcountry skiing and no pre-release issues on the take off or landing but did release after the crash. 3 of my friends ride them and not a single one has had pre-release issues in or out of resort. (not a binding for rails though)
 
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