Lightweight Ski Touring & Mountaineering Bindings

We could all use a multi-functional ski binding that is lightweight and simple. Dynafit has the hook-up with the Superlite 150 binding. If you're looking for the simplicity of a race binding, but maybe with just a little more panache, this elegant piece of engineering will end up in your shopping cart. The Superlite 150 is a thoughtfully designed ski touring binding with an adjusta..

The original Kreuzspitze GT Binding impressed the ski-touring world with its race weight binding that had adjustable vertical and lateral release values. So you can imagine our excitement to see Kreuzspite up their game with a further refined version of this binding, logically named the GT 2.0. Upgrades include an updated toe piece that features a revised geometry over the original..

Dynafit calls the Superlite 2.0 a revolution instead of an evolution. If you like brakes then you might be inclined to agree, since the new version is the first race-weight binding with an (optional) integrated brake. It maintains the fully adjustable lateral-release of the original Superlite that prompted many skiers to adopt ultralight bindings for everyday touring. With two vers..

Here at Skimo Co, we understand the challenge lighter skiers face when trying to find the appropriate gear. Boots are often too big, skis are too long, and the release values on bindings are too high. We deal with this challenge all year, and are now excited to offer the Plum Oazo 6 binding, one of the lightest and most capable touring bindings on the market made specifically for l..

The “Race Plus” category is growing neatly. That is, alpine touring ski bindings that are more featureful than race bindings but more streamlined than traditional touring designs. The Plum Oazo embodies that trend with a slick set of features that have it sitting right at the 200-gram mark (after which you start to feel the weight every step). The sturdy toe is a proven design that..

Sometimes, a binding is so well made and popular that the manufacturer has no choice but to make it again. Such was the origin of the Oazo 6 when skiers demanded that they be able to ski the Oazo safely with a lower release value, and now popular demand has squeezed yet another iteration of the Oazo family out of Plum. Introducing the Oazo 4; a slightly less Oazoy Oazo than previou..

The original Ski Trab Titan Vario is spoken of in hushed and reverent tones here at Skimo Co, and the fact that many of our employees ski this binding for ~90% of their days each season is evidence of how much we liked the original version. If the original Titan Vario was the first Toy Story movie, then the Titan Vario.2 binding is Toy Story 2-- the rare sequel that lives up to the..

In touring bindings, features and weight seem to have an inverse relationship. This is not the case with the Dynafit Blacklight binding. Packed with sensible features without tipping the scales, the Blacklight is a workhouse that will giddy up on just about any setup. Looking for adjustable lateral release? The Blacklight has you covered. Need a reasonable number of risers? Check. ..

The Helio 200 LT is the slimmer little brother that the Helio 200 has been hoping and asking for all these years. By ditching the adjustment plate, keeping the smooth Monolink 1.0 toe wings, and retaining the ability to independently adjust vertical and lateral release, the Helio 200 LT is ready to tackle the biggest vertical days filled with aggressive and dynamic skiing. Despite ..

The ATK Haute Route Plus is the flag bearer in the "Lean" binding category that we made up. Skipping the brakes while offering multiple risers and fully adjustable release and sole length, the Plus offers just the right features at a compelling weight. Since it's all exquisitely machined and assembled by ATK in Italy, this is arguably the most refined binding for ski tourers lookin..

Built on ATK's Haute Route Plus platform, the DPS L10 is for those wanting to venture far from the trailhead, but with the creature comforts of a more featured binding. With two heel risers, you can find just the right climbing height, making short work out of ridiculously steep skin tracks. The Cam Release System provides an easy step-in and also allows for an adjustable vertical ..

Marker has heard your pleas for a lower, adjustable lateral release value, along with a lower vertical release, all the while keeping your concerns about weight and ski performance in mind. Even though that is a lot to process in one request, they put it all together and have called it the Alpinist 8 binding. Along with hitting all the specs sought after by lighter weight, or less ..

With decades of alpine binding production and a stout following, Marker entered the pool of tech-bindings with a glorious half-gainer. With several models to choose from, the Marker Alpinist 10 nestles itself smack dab between the lower releasing 8 and the higher 12 so you can choose the value range best suited for your skill level and style of skiing. With a gapless heel, you will..

Marker had something impressive brewing in their secret lab: introducing the Marker Alpinist binding. The Alpinist brings release characteristics reserved for heavier bindings to the sub-250g category. The heel piece incorporates a spring-loaded track that keeps the heel piece flush with the heel of the boot, eliminating release-value fluctuation when the ski flexes. That, combined..

Solving one of the shortcomings of the Alpinist, the Alpinist Long Travel is the same binding with a longer heel track. Doubling the track length to 30mm, you can get three full boot sizes of adjustment out of the binding. The rest of the features are the same great Marker Alpinist, albeit without the latest "ISI" step-in tweaks on the toe. This version also cannot be used with bra..

Simple, capable, and user-friendly. The Backland Pure Binding has a combination of features that folks have been eager to see for a long time. Hauling around excess weight in an overly complicated binding isn’t anybody’s favorite activity, and Atomic is here to simplify things. The toe piece screams "work smarter, not harder", utilizing a long lever to increase leverage during tran..

The excitement was palpable when we saw the first samples of the ST Touring binding from the high-end Slovenian CNC manufacturer, Slatnar. Wanting to create a high-performing and extremely durable touring binding, Slatnar drew upon their knowledge of producing World Cup and Olympic-winning ski jumping skis and bindings to do just that. Largely composed of aerograde 7075‐T651, the S..

In 1928, just outside Vienna, Austria, the company that would become Tyrolia introduced a touring binding onto the market: the original Almonte. It's been long enough that Tyrolia decided to forego a "Version 2" naming scheme here, concluding that it's unlikely these two products will be confused. A rare nod to the consumer intellect that we appreciate. Technology has come a long w..

Salomon’s first tech binding, the MTN. If you think it looks an awful lot like the Atomic Backland, that’s because it is. The companies are related, meaning you can ensure proper color coordination on your setup with identical functionality. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, your skiing will likely be just as good. The MTN binding is light, fully featured, and fool..

Salomon's MTN Summit Leash bindings have everything you need and nothing you don’t. Compared to its proven MTN Pure sibling, the Summit features a glass-infused polyamide (PA) construction, rearward travel, and adjustable lateral release. While glass-infused PA is lightweight, don't be lulled into thinking it won't perform. Glass-infused PA is a widely used material known for its d..

Among a sea of tech bindings with subtle distinctions, the Ski Trab Titan Vario.2’s singular titanium toe rod and gapless heel instantly stand out. After a few seconds of learning how to step in, its general effect is to instantly win over a new convert to this rare Italian import. The principal drawback of this binding’s design was that its delights were limited to heavier, or at ..

When we asked Dynafit team member Benedikt Böhm which binding he uses most, he immediately pointed to the Expedition. Given his casual pastime of skiing 8,000 meter peaks this came as no surprise. The Expedition's durability-to-weight ratio is about as high as they come and the simplicity is tough to beat. The unique rotation-free heel piece is what gives the Expedition its edge. S..

Blacklight's back, alright! The Dynafit Blacklight Plus is a slimmed-down binding packing a number of Larger Than Life features. Icebreaker Pins and the Step In Side Towers make entering the binding easier than finding a boy band to listen to in the 1990s, which is to say, easy. The removable brake automatically deploys when rotating the heel into ski mode, so you can Quit Playing ..

While we were already impressed with the weight-to-performance ratio brought to market by the ZED 12, G3 has delivered yet again with the addition of the ZED 9. Gearing the binding towards lighter skiers, G3 put simplicity and ease of use to the forefront of the design process, with well-thought-out features like a toe lever requiring less force to actuate and all screws using the ..

The Swiss binding makers at Fritschi have been trend-buckers in an industry that typically prioritizes lightweight construction over all else. Providing competitively weighted bindings while emphasizing release safety, durability, and ease of use is the name of the game for them. The Xenic binding checks all those boxes, weighing in under 300g and offering lateral toe elasticity, a..

The Fritschi Xenic 7 is like a fairytale come to life. “Why Xenic, what a unique toepiece you have!” All the better for entering and exiting the binding, my dear. Stepping into the Xenic 7 is almost brainless, a paddle between the toe wings activates the pins, meaning you don’t have to fight the springs that keep your boot in just to get your boot in. The toe also has a bumper t..

A pika is a cute mountain rat. The Plum Pika is a cute alpine touring binding. Both are known to thrive at altitude so let’s start by avoiding confusion. Adding this item to your shopping cart will net you beautifully machined ski touring bindings and not a “whistling hare” (pikas often sound a high-pitched alarm when burrowing). Made in France, the Pika is a lightweight AT bind..

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 valu..

With the young Speed Turn already turning 2.0, we officially say goodbye to the Dynafit 5-hole toe pattern. This updated iteration of the Speed turn features a simpler toe piece modeled after the Radical toes. With an elongated mounting pattern and forged aluminum and steel construction, the toe is stable and durable. While it is missing the Power Tower step-in guides from the Radi..

The Dynafit Speed Radical is the standard by which touring bindings are measured. Evolved from the tried and true TLT Speed, the binding is designed to be safer, easier to use, and support a wider range of boots sizes and release values. The skiability and precision control of the previous incarnation remain intact. If you are looking for a lightweight binding that gives you more a..

While the Caribou in the great herds of the Arctic tundra are gentle, migratory herbivores, the Plum Karibou 12 binding is a predator on the mountain, wanting to attack every descent. The burliest binding that Plum manufactures, the Karibou is made for charging and freeriding with no holds barred. What sets it apart from the rest of Plum's lineup is the 8mm elastic response system ..

For years, the Marker Alpinist has graced the skis of many skiers who value a simplistic design with a lower ramp and superior energy feedback, all in a platform that is anything but heavy. Building upon this successful formula, the Marker Free 13 adds features that promise to increase its performance on the most demanding descents far off the beaten path. Like the Alpinist, the ca..

Picturesque ski lines have a nasty habit of often being located far away from the trailhead. This unfortunate (or fortunate) reality then necessitates careful gear selection to achieve maximal performance while keeping weight to a minimum. Based outside of Chamonix, the folks at Plum are no strangers to this principle, and therefore designed the Summit 12. Like many Plum bindings, ..

With the V-Crest 10 LT, ATK has made an excellent entry-level binding that finds a compelling middle ground between price and performance. Like their other offerings, ATK includes the Elastic Response System, allowing the ski to flex naturally for consistent performance, both from the ski and binding. The Cam Release System allows for adjustable release values while lessening the f..

Holy stoppers: the Atomic Backland Tour binding with an innovative brake! Weighing in at a svelte 325g per side, this binding flaunts one of the highest feature-per-gram ratios we’ve seen. It includes all the creature comforts necessary to coax you into doing just one more lap. In addition to all the bullet points from the brakeless version, the Backland Tour + Brake offers five wi..

Proudly embracing its minimalism, the Seven Summits binding from Dynafit aims to provide skiers with a robust option that forgoes any unnecessary bells and whistles, at a competitive price. With a fully adjustable vertical and lateral release between 4-10, you can dictate your preferred release value. The toe piece has been purposefully designed to facilitate easier step-in while a..

The Backland Summit 12 binding offers a compelling feature set without all the extra weight. Being constructed primarily with glass-infused polyamide (PA), a thermoplastic known for its high performance-to-weight ratio, the Summit 12 keeps the weight down but is robust enough for season after season of use. With the introduction of the AutoFlex System, the Summit 12 compensates for..

The Backland Summit 9 offers the same great features found on Atomic's Summit 12 but with release values geared for lighter skiers. The glass-infused polyamide (PA) construction of the Summit 9 is lightweight, damp, and durable, making it an excellent material for a backcountry binding. The integrated brakes are intuitive and can be engaged with the ski still on, helping lessen the..

Keep up with AT companions easily, dominate rolling terrain, customize your binding performance, and execute delicious telemark turns like never before with the Voile TTS Transit Telemark Binding. With cables that can be easily removed for climbing, the Voile TTS can weigh as little as 250 grams on the uphill, placing it on par with lean AT bindings. You can also leave the cables a..

Update 2021/22: Salomon is now including leashes with the braked version of this binding. That means this binding is no different than purchasing the brakeless version and adding brakes. In fact, you now have to do just that to buy these: please go to our listing for the MTN Pure and add brakes as an accessory option to receive the same price as this combo. You will see a package d..

Challenge any summit with the MTN Summit 12 Binding. Built to complement the popular MTN, the MTN Summit 12 includes the easy-to-use brakes and intuitive heel risers found on its sibling. In contrast to the MTN, the Summit 12 has an adjustable lateral release that can be set anywhere between 6-12 as well as the AutoFlex system, which allows for elasticity in the heel to accommodate..

What light upon yonder ridgeline breaks? It is the East (face), and the Salomon MTN Summit Binding is the sun. Arise, fair Summit 9, and kill the envious competition, who is already sick and pale with lust for your features, lightweight construction, and durable materials. This likely is how Shakespeare would describe the featureful MTN Summit 9. Inspired by the Salomon MTN Tour..