Touring binding help

wasatch_rat

wasatch_rat

Active member
Hey, 6 foot 3, 200 lb guy looking for a pair of touring bindings that can handle the occasional big drop and perform like a regular binding. probably going to do around 25% backcountry and 75% on piste. +karma for all good responses
 
Marker duke/baron epf or guardian/tracker 13/16. They are currently the best out unless you want to spend twice as much and go the dynafit beast route. The beast would be amazing but I would prob choose a duke or guardian 16.
 
I just picked up a set of barons, I'm a big Marker fan. Light weight, more oriented like a traditional binding in my opinion, only downfall is that you have to step out of the binding to get in/out of walk mode. The new wider plate on the Marker bindings works pretty well in my opinion too. I like the adrenaline set up as well. If you are debating between Adrenaline and Guardian, I would suggest the Adrenaline, it is lighter and less likely to pack snow into the locking base.
 
The Guardian has metal teeth on the underside of the heel piece which automatically clears out the snow. They reason the Adrenaline is lighter is because more plastic is used in the construction, therefore it is less durable.
 
Except that just doesn't seem to be the case. Just because metal is more durable than plastic doesn't mean one binding will automatically be more durable than another.

There are way more reports out there of Guardians/Trackers simply snapping in half than there are of any such serious Adrenalin failures. Not saying Adrenalins won't break but there is a lot of evidence out there that the Guardians/Trackers are fragile in spite of the extra metal.
 
Like every frame binding, there is a possibility of snow build-up underneath the heel or toe piece. If enough force is levered against this snow, it breaks. Happens to almost any plate binding. Its user-failure more than binding failure.
 
Not sure if it's due to a smaller user base or if they are actually more durable, but have heard very few complaints with the Adrenalin system. I've skied on mine for a full season plus this year (probably 180 days) and have yet to experience any issues. Yes snow does build up underfoot, but not as much in critical stress points as other bindings. the snow build up tends to be under the heel which leads to a bit more work to swtich back to ski mode, but less work than trying to deal with a snapped plate.
 
It does happen with any frame binding but it seems to be much more of an issue for the Tracker/Guardian than for the others. I've had more friends on them have that happen than on the Marker offerings and there are way more reports of it on TGR, including cases where people claim there was no snow build up and not undue stress on the binding.
 
just stomp that shit out and you are all set.

When I demoed from 4frnt they had adrenaline 16s for their demo bindings and I didn't feel like I was on some high up binding. The ski walk selector is really nice and effortless and had no problems stepping into them. If I get the money for a AT binding I will for sure be going with adrenalines
 
guardian, baron, duke all solid choices for what you have described

don't bother with the dynafit beast wait a year or two for them to work out the kinks, and for you to see if your really into touring.

don't worry about the ice thing you just need to plan ahead on your switchovers to be faster than anyone else.
 
It depends on how wide your skis are, the dukes are for the widest skis, and if you have a ski narrower then 115mm i would go for the baron, wider dukes.
 
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