If you have already considered this optimisation for your binding, you might next want to think about whether another piece of equipment is limiting your downhill performance: the boot. Many so-called AT, freeride or freetouring boots are specified with the non-standardised 130 flex. In terms of stiffness and progression, these are still clearly inferior to the heavier, more material-intensive alpine boots. Due to their "simpler" construction without a flex mechanism, etc., the latter also provide a boot fitter with much easier conditions to develop freely. They also have the advantage of being significantly more robust and durable.
Although it is possible to ascend in a frame binding with alpine boots, the lack of shaft rotation and the additional weight of the bindings make it no real fun. In addition, there is the constant, unpleasant rattling and slipping of these systems.
A small but significant improvement is possible for some riders. With a small adjustment to your boots, you can drag your beloved alpine boots up the mountain in the pin toe pieces of the downhill-orientated systems. On the descent, you can then leave the lightweight braids in the spray on your "hybrid" bindings such as the Marker Kingpin, Duke PT16, Salomon Shift or a Castsystem.
You can have the front part of the pin holder, the pintoes, retrofitted. Some dealers and tinkerers are equipped for this and also offer the conversion for ski boots that have been sent in.
The sole is milled slightly above the lip and on the sole side and an embedding for the inserts is milled. The pin inserts are then glued in and additionally screwed and glued in place with a new removable insole. Thanks to the milling process with the new interchangeable sole, the boot retains its ISO 5355 standardised dimensions and can still be used in any alpine binding.
The manufacturers only approve the retrofitted Pintoes for the ascent. However, they are not used on the descent. The use of classic pin touring bindings is not possible.
After the corresponding new product launches in the freetouring sector in recent years, such as the recent market launch of the B.A.M. Pindung, there will hopefully be more providers of this solution.
I'm super happy with my retrofitted Pintoes. At last I can use all the usual confident downhill solutions and, apart from the high weight of the equipment, the only compromise is the lack of shaft rotation. I can manage a sweat-inducing 1000 metre ascent a day with the set. On the other hand, many thousands of metres of descent are worth it, because the relief of the good alpine equipment is clearly noticeable and fatigue simply sets in much later. Very suitable for a lift tourer like me!
