Ski Trab Gara Titan Binding

How well does the flat mode work, when compared to something like the Hagan? It looks like they're both mounted at a 4mm spacing, and both have very minimal plastic (i.e. almost none) sticking out beyond the horseshoe, so is the flat mode performance identical?

Me: 5'10", 160lbs, type III skier. I have these mounted on my 177cm Movement Response-X, and ski them with green TLT6Ps. These are my first real race bindings, having been on the progression towards truly light gear for some time now. They're awesome. The toe is different from normal Dynafit-style toes in that it defaults to closed, you apply pressure to open it but it closes as soon as you release the pressure - there is no "locked open" mode like with most other tech toes. In practice this means you press down on the toe lever with a ski pole while entering the binding. On any sort of flat ground this is intuitive and straightforward. Like with any brakeless setup, this can be a somewhat riskier proposition on a sharp ridge or standing in a steep couloir. I have found that I am able to use my thumb to open the lever while I hold the ski in my hand in these situations, and I anyway haven't managed to have a ski run away yet!

The heel is simple and feels well constructed. There is a satisfying mechanical click into flat mode, and a single riser. The riser flap has no play in it whatsoever and stays in whichever position you put it in. I was told the RV was somewhere around 10 or 11 with my BSL / weight / skis and that seems right - I have not fallen on them a lot, and have released once when it was appropriate. The heel works with the Hagan ZR adjustment plates to save some weight over the adjustable version (at the time I purchased the setup it was cheaper also due to various sale prices)

I am 100% satisfied with this binding, it has everything I want (flat mode, low riser, the ability to go from uphill > downhill without rotating the heel piece) and nothing I don't feel I need (high risers, adjustable RV, brakes, etc). They also don't have a funky ramp angle or anything, even with the adjustment plate I stand very flat on the skis.

I'm a race binding convert after owning these... I'm curious to try some of the lighter race bindings with "normal" toes but I absolutely would not hesitate to buy these again.

Hey Jason,
Do you know if the steel version has a higher release value than the titanium one? I'm wondering if the steel would be more on par with the Hagan/ATK heel?

Thx,
John

How does this binding stack up to the Hagan ZR in the ~100g category for potential use in a non-racing ultralight touring setup?

I have used this binding for only a week now so I can't speak to the longevity of the product. Having used ultralight race bindings for descent oriented ski touring for the past four years, I can say that these certainly feel the most robust of the lot. The heel cover is sturdy. The heel piece rotates smoothly into the flat touring mode without undue force. I quickly became accustomed to the toe piece's requirement for active pressure when engaging the boot. One can use one's hand or the tip of a ski pole and it has not proven to be a factor with regard to time during transitions. I have yet to utilize the locked position of the toe piece while skinning uphill or skiing downhill which suggests that releasing from the bindings is going to be unlikely when I fall. One must remember that this is a minimalist's binding as it has no heel riser, brake, or reliable release. For people that are primarily focused on weight while ascending and are potentially interested in a binding that allows big turns while descending, this Trab binding has proven to be a great option thus far.