True to their fashion, Marker is entering a new market (tech-bindings) with great fanfare. The Alpinist binding is focused on weight, ski-ability, and a user-friendly nature that is robust and foolproof. The heel piece sits flush against the heel of your boot and uses a spring-loaded track to keep the release dialed regardless of the flex of a ski throughout a turn or hard landing. This is analogous to forward-pressure in an alpine setting but adapted to a race-weight tech binding (a first). The Alpinist 9 is an impressive offering in terms of downhill performance, weight, price, and uphill-capability. It’s backed by a German name (Marker) that is synonymous with ski bindings, so you know its a good one.
- Strategically placed anti-icing pads under toe and heel promote consistent performance no matter the temperature, humidity, or water content.
- Generous 15mm of boot sole adjustment allows enough freedom to accurately mount for multiple boots.
- Gapless heel piece offers 4mm of Dynamic Length Compensation for improved ski rebound and release-value consistency.
- Adjustable lateral release values from 4-9 and swappable vertical U-Spring helps dial-in retention and release.
- Use the heel flap for a low riser-height or spin the heel-piece 180° for increased lift.
- Flat-on-ski mode is also available for those long, flat approaches.
- Removable brakes come in 90mm, 105mm, and 115mm widths.
- Integrated crampon receptor accepts Marker ski crampons.
| Specifications | |
|
Weight |
266g |
| Weight (pair) | 532g |
|
Boot |
Tech |
|
Brakes |
Accessory 90, 105, 115 |
|
BSL |
15mm |
|
Riser |
2 + Flat |
|
Vertical |
Fixed |
|
Lateral |
4-9 |
|
Crampon |
Included option |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
Forged aluminium, carbon, fiber-reinforced polyamide |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Touring |
| Notes | Integrated rubber pads simplify the step-in |
| Bottom Line | Lightweight adjustable touring binding |
| Compare to other Lean Bindings | |
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Questions & Reviews
Pretty good, not great. I overall like the bindings, but they're just a little fiddly. They ski really well, are pretty dang light, and I haven't had any durability issues. The heel towers are a bit hard to rotate (can't figure out how to do it with a pole) and the risers are a bit lower than I'd prefer for the Red Bull-fueled teenage Skimo racer skin tracks that apparently are all the rage in the Wasatch but I would buy them again.
3/15/2021
Oh Michael, in the Wasatch, we train our teen racers to put in more efficient shallow tracks!
Comment on this review:
2/22/2021
Hi guys, do you see these as being able to be swapped back and forth with a pair of kingpins using mostly the same holes/inserts? My partner has Kingpins, but is looking for a lighter pair of bindings for longer days, while still having the option to have more release safety on others.
2/23/2021
Niko- The kingpin and alpinist use the the same toe holes. There is 2 holes of the heel that overlap but the heel mounting position will be way off for one of the 2 bindings. So heel will probably not work in sharing holes. But there is a enough room that you should be able to put inserts for both heel pieces.
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I bought these in January 2020. After one season, the heel riser became loose and wouldn't stay in place. Skimo arranged a Marker warranty submission to remedy the problem. Not wanting to send them back mid ski season, I jerry rigged them to be functional. I am perfectly satisfied with the binding; I think there is a design flaw in the heel riser (at least on my 2019/2020 set). Also if you like a high riser, these may not be for you. The highest position is only medium in my opinion. Bottom line: with all the bindings out there now, I think you can do better.
2/15/2022
Having the same issue with loose riser. Wanna share how you rigged it?
2/15/2022
Here's what I did. I wrapped coarse thread around the axle that the riser rotates on. This increases the friction against the riser and the binding. This year I added a bit of Gold Label skin glue to the thread I added. This definitely helped adding friction to the system. Seems to be working fawlessly this season but I wouldn't buy this binding again. Good luck.
2/16/2022
Thanks! Will try it out.
Comment on this review:
1/13/2021
Do these come with leashes included?
1/14/2021
Hello Anthony, the Marker Alpinist 8, 9, and 12 bindings do not come with leashes.
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12/19/2020
A great binding overall. My heel risers are getting loose, however. Any suggestions on remedying this? Seems they're held by a rivet that can't easily be adjusted.
12/19/2020
Hey Alex,
Thanks for the question! Shoot us an email to help@skimo.co and we'll see if we can remedy this!
Thanks for the question! Shoot us an email to help@skimo.co and we'll see if we can remedy this!
Answer this question:
11/28/2020
Are the brakes the same for Alpinist 9 and 12? Thanks.
11/28/2020
Hi Steven, yes they are the same!
Answer this question:
12/26/2019
Does the Alpinist have an attachment point/ cable for a leash? If not, where do you suggest?
12/27/2019
Russell, There is not a good point. You can see a hole just below the toe lever pivot point. You can thread a wire through and crimp it to create a loop.
Answer this question:
12/10/2019
I bought a pair of the Alpinist 12 Marker ski bindings because they're on a long track that allows a couple of pairs of boots to fit in them. My problem is that the spring that is on the alpinist 12 has a very high vertical release value. I understand that it tests out at about 11 on the vertical release scale. My DIN is supposed to be around 8 and I ski conservatively in the backcountry. I just read on your comments about that binding that the medium spring which is on the alpinist 9 test out at 9 or higher. I think I might need the lighter spring but I don't want to be blowing out of it if it only tests around 5 or 6. I definitely don't want to be skiing in the backcountry with the 11 DIN vertical release. I will probably want to talk to someone and get the lighter spring.
12/11/2019
Hey Curt! Fortunately the Alpinist has a swappable U-spring that controls vertical release, so we could hopefully swap out your 12 spring for a 9. Give us a ring or reach out by email, help@skimo.co!
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This binding has pleasantly surprised me so far. The price to weight to function ratio is perhaps unmatched. I had the MTN bindings but the heel riser came loose and got quite floppy so I switched to these. So far they certainly ski better because the release mechanism is a ball and detent so as you ski there is ZERO side to side play at the heel. This is a big deal for me and translates to much more confidence in the binding. For shorter laps, I use the heel riser flipped over the pins and they function just like a race binding and for longer sections, I spin the heel 180 and have the option of flat or high risers. I don't miss having all three risers available at once very much. Honestly, people need to spend less time fussing with risers and just keep skinning. I don't think choosing the perfect riser has ever saved anyone time. I have about 10 days on these bindings and so far nothing but positive impressions, however, there is a LOT of plastic in these bindings and I am curious to see how this will hold up as I get more toward the 100-day mark.
1/20/2020
Hi Curly, any long-term follow-up on these? Curious as I haven't heard much bad about them with failures, etc. Thanks!
Comment on this review:
4/19/2019
I have been impressed with this binding. They have a nice, almost flat ramp angle. They seem over all damp.. No metal clacking during skinning and feel good skiing. Very detailed quality construction. Turning them is a bit of a pain but I find I just use flat or the high level and don't need to mess w/ it.
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10/15/2018
What is the approximate RV of the "medium" and "hard" u-springs for the marker alpinist? I've heard everything from 7.5 to 8 to 9.... and everything from 10 to 10.5 to 12 for "hard"?
10/15/2018
We haven't received our shipment of them yet, and I absolutely don't want to steer you wrong. Give us a shout when it's in stock! We'll have had a chance to look them over thoroughly and test them in our binding release testing device, then we can give a detailed answer.
12/1/2019
Any more info on this front?
12/2/2019
Hi Aaron and Emily, the medium seems to be testing at or above 9 while the hard spring tests more like 10-11.
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