Hi there!
I am wondering if you knew the toe-piece release setting of the guide 12? I know the
OAZO 8 toe-piece is set at 8. Any idea for the guide 12?
Thanks!
Plum Guide 12 Binding
Take a proven design, add higher release values and more adjustability, and you get the Plum Guide binding. Crafted in France with extremely accurate CNC machines, the binding echoes the classic TLT Speed that has proven itself reliable for more than a decade. However by using aerospace grade materials, Plum was able to increase the overall strength and dial up the max release value to 12. And with 30mm of boot sole length adjustability, the Guide can adapt to roughly 4 full sizes, making for very flexible mounts. If you're looking for a sturdy, lightweight binding with simple operation, Plum may have found the answer.
- Machined with aerospace grade aluminum, steel, and polyvinyl to achieve tangible strength and rigidity.
- Lateral and vertical (forward) release values can be adjusted between a range of 5.5 and 12 (similar to DIN values).
- Two riser heights (in addtion to flat) can be engaged by rotating the heel piece with either hand or a pole.
- Heel adjusts forward and backward within a 30mm range so the same mount can accommodate 4-5 full boot sizes.
- Front lever flips between fully-locked uphill and releasable ski modes, with a handy inscription so you know which mode you're in.
- Toe piece features a ski crampon receptor so you can get extra traction while skinning snow ice.
- Same mounting pattern as the Dynafit Speed, Comfort, and Vertical series so you may be able to use existing drill holes.
Update 17/18: Plum added a new orange color. Brake widths changed to 85mm, 95mm, 105mm, 115mm, or 135mm. The brakes have a locking mechanism designed to prevent deploying when skinning uphill. Also Plum is now making ski crampons which can be dropped into the top of the receptor instead of slid in from the side like the others. Binding remains solid.
Update 19/20: Plum is now offering this solid binding covered in a slick coat of black paint...err, anodization.
Update 20/21: Plum machined a little more off the toe piece to shave 10g and refined the heel a bit.
| Specifications | |
|
Weight |
341g |
| Weight (pair) | 682g |
|
Boot |
Tech |
|
Brakes |
Optional leashes |
|
BSL |
30mm |
|
Riser |
2 + flat |
|
Vertical |
5.5-12 |
|
Lateral |
5.5-12 |
|
Crampon |
Yes |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
Aluminum, steel, polyvinyl |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Everyday touring |
| Notes | Classic rotational heel piece with release values up to 12 |
| Bottom Line | Impressive strength for the weight |
| Compare to other Lean Bindings | |
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Questions & Reviews
2/22/2024
2/22/2024
Hi Alexander, these bindings don't have a release in the toe. Both the lateral and vertical are set in the heel. The Oazo 8 refers to the fixed vertical release in the heel, and the lateral is adjustable.
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2/15/2023
Looking at Plum Guide 12’s. For the heal and toe pieces, what is the pin height above the top of ski? Thanks.
2/15/2023
Numbers incoming! The toe pins are 29.5mm off the ski, heel pins are 47.5mm above the topsheet. That makes the delta +18.
All this data for all of our bindings can be found here.
All this data for all of our bindings can be found here.
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2/11/2023
Does the latest version of the guide have a removable/replaceable ski crampon receptor? If it does this is a great update as the only reason these toes seem to die is the ski crampon receptor on the older models failing as it wears out (we use ski crampons most of the time here in NZ). Also these will fit the Summit toe shim plate right?
2/13/2023
Hey Tom, the latest model has a removable crampon receptor and will work with the Summit toe shim!
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These were my first pair of proper tech bindings for touring; needless to say they did the job for me. The release values were solid and kept me in the binding when I needed to stay in. The heel risers provided ample height for the uphill. I experienced some issues with the locking mechanisms on the toe pieces seizing up on me mid-tour but a few drops of bike chain lube would more or less alleviate the problem. Great durability, with care they've lasted a long time.
Comment on this review:
11/9/2022
Does the Guide 12 share the same mounting hole pattern as the Oazo 8?
11/9/2022
Hi Ryan, the toes match, but not the heels (although you can get a substitute heel plate for the Oazo that does match). More info in our article on mounting patterns.
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6/25/2022
Hey team, are you guys able to mount Plum Yaks (2018 model) on Lotus 138s? Thanks a lot!
6/25/2022
Hi Jack, we can absolutely mount that for you!
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2/7/2022
Would these bindings be okay for the new DPS Pagoda Powderworks 117?
2/7/2022
Hey Dustin, the Plum Guides would drive the DPS Pagoda Powderworks 117 just fine!
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10/19/2021
Thanks, I added my email for notification of stock. Also I was looking at the hope pattern chart and it seems the ATK Raider 12 with the spacer may be a good fot for BMT 109. Thoughts?
10/20/2021
Thanks for reaching, Subhro. The Raider 12 would be an excellent binding for the BMT 109. Its wide mounting pattern, rearward travel, and relatively natural ramp angle (with the toe shim) make it a competitive option. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
10/22/2021
thanks all, I'll pull the trigger very soon. You guys do a great job with Q/A. Very helpful!
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10/18/2021
thanks Cole, very helpful. I have the Alpinist 12 on my Salomon 95 and love them. Just on the fence how they wil handle wider underfoot and a bit more aggressive (occasional drops) skiing in the BMT's. Looks like the Summit 12 is pre-order, expected in fall. Do you know when?
10/18/2021
Hi Subhro,
We placed the Plum order earlier in October so in all likelihood the Summit 12s won't arrive for a while. We'll keep you posted with any updates though! Appreciate all the research you've been doing, and keep the questions coming if need be.
We placed the Plum order earlier in October so in all likelihood the Summit 12s won't arrive for a while. We'll keep you posted with any updates though! Appreciate all the research you've been doing, and keep the questions coming if need be.
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10/18/2021
I'm considering a binding for Volkl BMT 109. Would these be compatible/similar mount compared to Marker binding? The topsheet has a note to use Marker bindings only. I'm not keen on putting the Kingpin. Alpinist 12 is an option but I'm inclined putting the Guide 12 if it will not create any mounting/warranty issues. I called Marker and their respons was a bit vague, and didn't say it's not supported but asked me to check with authorized shop. Thanks!
10/18/2021
Hey Subhro, The mounting plate is in an H pattern which is why they say that you must use Marker bindings. Because of this, the Plum Guide heel looks ok but the toe pattern is a bit narrow and would recommend going with something a bit wider. I recommend taking a look at our Binding Hole Pattern Recognition article and taking a look for yourself. The Alpinist looks to be fine and is a great binding, but if you are keen on getting a Plum both the Plum Caribou and Plum Summit 12 binding use a wider mounting pattern in the toe which would line up on the H shaped mounting plate.
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5/3/2021
Now that you have them in stock I may need a pair for my boy...
Thanks as always for the great mount. Your measurement and tolerances remind me of the first time I weighed a pair of Trab skis...and they were identical. Better your OCD than my lack of detail and clarity...
What's the best place to attach the included leash to this binding, if one must? Thanks, TC
Thanks as always for the great mount. Your measurement and tolerances remind me of the first time I weighed a pair of Trab skis...and they were identical. Better your OCD than my lack of detail and clarity...
What's the best place to attach the included leash to this binding, if one must? Thanks, TC
5/3/2021
Thomc- Glad you appreciate our compulsions! Best place for the leash is the side of the toe lever. There are some holes on the side of the lever you can girth hitch the leash too, if you must.
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1/5/2021
Random question on these bindings related to transitioning into climb mode from ski mode:
I used to use my pole as a pry bar with the Dynafit version so i didn’t have to completely step out of the binding to get back into just the toe (undo the toe, twist the heel, step back into the toe). I’m sure others used to do this too where you’d lock the toe, place the pole between your boot heel and the comical climbing riser and flick the pole to twist the binding heel enough to release your boot from the pins.
This is a more of a “want” obviously but really useful for when using Voile fish-scaled skis and don’t need to put the skins on after a downhill run.
Does the Plum binding allow this with a locked toe? Is there any other AT binding that can be transitioned into climbing mode without stepping completely out of the binding?
Thanks
I used to use my pole as a pry bar with the Dynafit version so i didn’t have to completely step out of the binding to get back into just the toe (undo the toe, twist the heel, step back into the toe). I’m sure others used to do this too where you’d lock the toe, place the pole between your boot heel and the comical climbing riser and flick the pole to twist the binding heel enough to release your boot from the pins.
This is a more of a “want” obviously but really useful for when using Voile fish-scaled skis and don’t need to put the skins on after a downhill run.
Does the Plum binding allow this with a locked toe? Is there any other AT binding that can be transitioned into climbing mode without stepping completely out of the binding?
Thanks
1/6/2021
Hi Whit, oh that old trick! It's a bit more difficult with this binding with a smaller heel gap and stronger toe springs. Not something designed in, similar to Dynafit. Bindings that are designed with that transition include the Trab TR-2 and Fritschi Vipec/Tecton.
1/12/2021
Thanks jbo, this is something that’s been on my mind since I’d have thought by now skimo racers especially would have developed a quick-release heel piece to make transitions smoother and faster.
I’m imagining a quick-release lever that slides the heel piece forward and back on the mounting plate when actuated, only needs to move ~1cm back to free the pins. Flip the lever back to exit and start the climb, flip it forward to position the pins in place and kick the heel down to ski. Most bindings already have 10-30mm of fore/aft adjustment just with a Phillips head screw. What am I missing other than more engineering into the heel piece?
I’m imagining a quick-release lever that slides the heel piece forward and back on the mounting plate when actuated, only needs to move ~1cm back to free the pins. Flip the lever back to exit and start the climb, flip it forward to position the pins in place and kick the heel down to ski. Most bindings already have 10-30mm of fore/aft adjustment just with a Phillips head screw. What am I missing other than more engineering into the heel piece?
1/13/2021
Hi Whit, it's not a problem for racers since at the down-to-up transition you need to take off your skis to put on your skins. No need to add weight/complexity for something that's not an issue for up/down skiing. The switch your describing could help in rolling terrain if you have scaled skis though.
1/13/2021
Good point on the skins... I thought they were so good they could put them on without removing their skis! ;)
As well as the bindings you mention, I realized the old G3 Onyx heel piece has (had) the design I’m thinking of and used mounting plates that allowed use of one binding on multiple skis, such a great idea IMO.
I’ll research that more and contact G3 as I wonder why that has disappeared from the market. Thanks for the discussion!
As well as the bindings you mention, I realized the old G3 Onyx heel piece has (had) the design I’m thinking of and used mounting plates that allowed use of one binding on multiple skis, such a great idea IMO.
I’ll research that more and contact G3 as I wonder why that has disappeared from the market. Thanks for the discussion!
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1/24/2020
Hi!
Could you please tell me if the PLUM GUIDE bindings are compatible with the Grip Walk boot standart? Can I use them with Roxa 2019-20 R3 130 TI I.R. boots?
thank you.
Could you please tell me if the PLUM GUIDE bindings are compatible with the Grip Walk boot standart? Can I use them with Roxa 2019-20 R3 130 TI I.R. boots?
thank you.
1/24/2020
Hi Peter, that pairing should work just fine -- the Guides will mate nicely with any boot that has tech inserts in both the toe and heel.
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Between SkimoCo's detailed product specs and the generous number of questions/reviews on this page, I'm not sure how much I have to add to the conversation about the Guides. They're a long-standing, well-tested binding from the company that is, in my opinion, the most trusted name in tech bindings. I recommend the Guide to friends who are new/newish to ski touring and need the usual accoutrements (brakes, risers, adjustable release values) and aren't ready to use race bindings quite yet. I have yet to see an uptick of Guide clampers on the local skintracks compared to, say, Ions or Speed Turns, but the Plum evangelism continues...if only because the orange/purple anodizing colors are so much cooler than anything Dynafit or G3 makes!
For myself, running brakeless Guides on powder skis (DPS Wailer 106s) for the past year, I've had a flawless experience with only one complaint: ramp angle. The SkimoCo chart lists the Guides at +18mm delta for size 27 boots, which is 3-6mm more than most comparable models, and 14mm more than Race 170s! Now, you could debate ramp angles all day, and I don't think that a low ramp angle (like on the Race 170s) would be ideal for powder skis with tip and tail rocker, at least not for me. But 18mm delta is just too much -- even for size 30/31 boots! -- and leads to some wild quad fatigue and some surprise rocker throw sensations when skiing harder snow.
So, despite the buttery-smooth mechanics of the Guides (both toe and heel) and well-designed adjustable release, I'm steering away from the Guides and back toward the Wepa/Oazo as a good middle ground with lower ramp angle.
For myself, running brakeless Guides on powder skis (DPS Wailer 106s) for the past year, I've had a flawless experience with only one complaint: ramp angle. The SkimoCo chart lists the Guides at +18mm delta for size 27 boots, which is 3-6mm more than most comparable models, and 14mm more than Race 170s! Now, you could debate ramp angles all day, and I don't think that a low ramp angle (like on the Race 170s) would be ideal for powder skis with tip and tail rocker, at least not for me. But 18mm delta is just too much -- even for size 30/31 boots! -- and leads to some wild quad fatigue and some surprise rocker throw sensations when skiing harder snow.
So, despite the buttery-smooth mechanics of the Guides (both toe and heel) and well-designed adjustable release, I'm steering away from the Guides and back toward the Wepa/Oazo as a good middle ground with lower ramp angle.
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11/27/2018
converting the original no-brake Plum guide to integrated brake/ baseplate: How much dis-assembly/ re-assembly is required? Do I need to open up the top plate and do I risk springs a-flying?
11/27/2018
Hi Doug, it's not too hard if you're changing the whole baseplate. You need to back the lateral release screw-cap all the way out, remove the internal springs (they will be decompressed at this point so won't go a-flying) and bushing, and pull the housing off. Simply reverse those steps on the new baseplate, being careful not to cross thread the lateral release screw-cap.
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A great binding. 341g vs 363g for the Speed Radical. That is not the important differece. The big differences are (1) the tower allows swiveling the binding back and forth to dislodge snow built up under the heel--a major peeve of mine; (2) it is easier for me to change lift settings; (3) I never had the heel piece rotate while climbing, whereas all my Speeds (every version) would rotate and I would snap into down hill, requiring removal of the foot from the ski and placing one in a precarious position on the sidehill. Bindings look good too. I bought them with front brakes and stomp pad to get a low delta for use with my TLT5 and TLT6, worked fine but I had to use the black accessory tongue with the 6. When my liner wore out, I bought Scarpa F1s and found the delta too low (I was in the back seat) and removed the brake and stomp pad, resulting in a pefect delta for the F1 in the lower forward lean (and, of course, significantly less weight!). This binding has advantages over the Superlites--more heel lifts, adustable RVs for lateral and vertical release, and greater delta--the benefit of this last one depends on the boot; too much for the TLT6 just right for the F1. The Guides are better lookning than the Speed Radicals, too.
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3/6/2018
Do these bindings come with a mounting template?
Does the overall durability (especially of the toe piece) compare well with current Dynafit products?
Does the overall durability (especially of the toe piece) compare well with current Dynafit products?
3/6/2018
Hi Ryan, they don't have a printed template included but we can send you an electronic version with your order. We've seen very few problems with the Guide over the last few years. In fact, Plum is so confident it will hold up, they just increased the warranty to 5 years!
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2/20/2018
Does plume have a rear platform spacers like the ATK freeride spacer to help stabilize the boot heel?
2/20/2018
Hi Gem, yes they are available here, listed as Guide Heel Pads.
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12/1/2017
Do you have just the brakes/stoppers for the Plum Guide bindings
12/2/2017
Hi Travis,
We have Plum brakes listed here, but please note you need the brake-compatible baseplate to use them.
We have Plum brakes listed here, but please note you need the brake-compatible baseplate to use them.
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11/2/2017
Hello,
I have the older Guides. Currently they are mounted on a pair of BD Justices 185 115mm underfoot. They are great for hiking but, I'm looking at getting new, wider sticks. I see the new Guides have breaks up to 130mm. How wide is too wide for my bindings?
Thanks,
Jon
I have the older Guides. Currently they are mounted on a pair of BD Justices 185 115mm underfoot. They are great for hiking but, I'm looking at getting new, wider sticks. I see the new Guides have breaks up to 130mm. How wide is too wide for my bindings?
Thanks,
Jon
11/4/2017
Hi Jon, there are no hard and fast rules, it can depend on your skiing. If you are worried about it, you could check out the yak which is a similar binding built specifically for wider skis.
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