Is it possible to install an alpinist heel (running without brakes) without the little extended bit that goes under your boot heel? Wanting to place my own DIY freeride spacer in that spot and pair with a Ski Trab toe in order to have no heel gap, near flat delta, and a heel that features active length compensation.
I’ve included a picture with the part I’d like to potentially go without.
Marker Heel Pieces
Here you will find heel pieces to bring your beloved Marker bindings back from death's cruel grasp. Please note all items are sold individually so if you need to replace a set of bindings, you'll need two.
Marker Alpinist 8 - The stock heel piece that comes with Alpinist 8 bindings, includes mounting screws.
Marker Alpinist 10 - The stock heel that ships with the Alpinist 10 bindings. Mounting screws are included.
Marker Alpinist 12 - The stock heel that, you guessed it, ships with Alpinist 12 bindings. Mounting screws are included.
Marker Alpinist Long Travel - These are the heel units that ship with the Alpinist Long Travel binding. Please note they are offered in different release values and come with mounting screws.
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Questions & Reviews
4/2/2025
4/2/2025
Hi Carter,
That extended piece also has some small washer-like holes that fill a gap between the forward two heel screws, the ski topsheet, and the heel piece of the binding. If you wanted to remove the extension, you would need a way to ensure that that gap is still filled, so that you don't volcano your topsheets or let water into the ski. You could improvise something for this purpose, including potentially cutting off the existing plastic tabs that currently fill the gap, just removing the extension. But you will need to make sure there's something there.
That extended piece also has some small washer-like holes that fill a gap between the forward two heel screws, the ski topsheet, and the heel piece of the binding. If you wanted to remove the extension, you would need a way to ensure that that gap is still filled, so that you don't volcano your topsheets or let water into the ski. You could improvise something for this purpose, including potentially cutting off the existing plastic tabs that currently fill the gap, just removing the extension. But you will need to make sure there's something there.
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3/13/2025
Does anyone make a plate/track, etc. so one could swap between an alpinist heelpiece and a Kingpin heelpiece without remounting?
3/13/2025
Hi Nat!
That's a cool idea, but such a plate does not exist. The way these heels integrate into their plates, it would take a fairly complex design to make it happen. Thanks!
That's a cool idea, but such a plate does not exist. The way these heels integrate into their plates, it would take a fairly complex design to make it happen. Thanks!
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1/23/2025
I have the 2022 m-werks kingpin 12, and I’m wondering if these heel pieces are a direct match with the 12 release spring. Are these heel pieces compatible with brakes? Thank you!
1/24/2025
Hi Sommers,
The M-Werks Kingpin does use an Alpinist toe piece, so if you replaced the alpine heel piece with an Alpinist heel (from this listing), you would have a Marker Alpinist binding. You can add brakes to the Alpinist heel pieces if you'd like. As far as the release values, the Alpinist heel pieces are adjustable laterally, and you would simply choose how high you want your vertical release (fixed) to be when deciding which one to order.
The M-Werks Kingpin does use an Alpinist toe piece, so if you replaced the alpine heel piece with an Alpinist heel (from this listing), you would have a Marker Alpinist binding. You can add brakes to the Alpinist heel pieces if you'd like. As far as the release values, the Alpinist heel pieces are adjustable laterally, and you would simply choose how high you want your vertical release (fixed) to be when deciding which one to order.
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1/12/2025
Hiya! Is there any downside to running an Alpinist heel at the very back of its track? Asking as I've got an Alpinist 8 heel which can *just* fit my new boot when the heel is maxed out rearwards; and wondering if it would be better to replace it with an Alpinist LT heel. Thanks!
1/13/2025
Rhys- As long as you have a sliver of daylight between the heel of the boot and the heel of the binding while the boot is in the system you will be fine. If you do not have a sliver of light you might have to go to a longer track heel.
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1/6/2025
I have two sets of skis with Aplinist short travel heels. I'm changing up my boots to a shorter BSL (314 -->303) and I'm wondering if I can accommodate the change by simply purchasing two new long travel heels.
Photo attached. Merci!
Photo attached. Merci!
1/8/2025
Mic, Yes you could change up the heels. The long travel and short travel use the same drill pattern and are interchangeable.
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12/12/2024
These seem like a great fit to pair with Trab toes instead of Vario heels. I keep "zero" gap, vert and lat release (though maybe less elastic than Trab heel?), BSL adjustment. All while lighter, no ramp, and hopefully more durable. I keep getting disconcerting play in my Vario heels at the pins, tower, and the Vario plate. What am I missing?
12/13/2024
Hi Aaron,
I have heard of/seen this pairing being done before, for the exact reasons you describe - folks who prefer the Trab toe, but want a lower ramp angle than the Vario.2 while maintaining the gapless benefits. It seems promising! There is one main caveat: there is no way to predict how this combination will release. If I had to guess, I think it would release higher rather than lower, but since the Marker heel is not designed or tuned to work with the Trab toe piece, it could throw the release values way off. You would need to test it to find out. The nice thing is that the Alpinist heels are adjustable laterally, so you could play with it and try to dial it in.
Regarding the play with the Vario heels, we sometimes notice a little bit of play in the adjustment track, but we don't normally see play in the pins and heel tower itself. If you're concerned, feel free to send video to help@skimo.co and we can take a look at what's going on!
I have heard of/seen this pairing being done before, for the exact reasons you describe - folks who prefer the Trab toe, but want a lower ramp angle than the Vario.2 while maintaining the gapless benefits. It seems promising! There is one main caveat: there is no way to predict how this combination will release. If I had to guess, I think it would release higher rather than lower, but since the Marker heel is not designed or tuned to work with the Trab toe piece, it could throw the release values way off. You would need to test it to find out. The nice thing is that the Alpinist heels are adjustable laterally, so you could play with it and try to dial it in.
Regarding the play with the Vario heels, we sometimes notice a little bit of play in the adjustment track, but we don't normally see play in the pins and heel tower itself. If you're concerned, feel free to send video to help@skimo.co and we can take a look at what's going on!
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9/18/2024
I have an older touring set with kingpin 10s that had the spring in one of the heel pieces break last winter. Would it be possible/advisable to create frankenbindings with kingpin toes and alpinist heels, or not?
9/19/2024
Anna, The past couple seasons the Kingpin uses the same Toe piece as the Alpinist. The older Kingpins with 6 springs in the toe piece, has a different spring tension, so would affect the overall release value of this mix. Overall it would work. But you should go to to a shop and have them test and set the release.
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