Gear of the Week | Ski Trab TR2

The binding was introduced around 2013, i.e. before the Dynafit patent expired. This means that it differs significantly from the patent by definition. I already noticed the binding back then. The problem was that the binding also required a special boot. Not every common model with a Dynafit heel mount is compatible with this binding. It was only last winter that I stumbled across the binding again, as a friend from Livigno had had it fitted to his skis for some time. He was really convinced by the binding.

Now Ski Trab offers a bracket for the heel part of the ski boot, similar to a Dynafit Beast. Nevertheless, it still needs additional recesses in the plastic. As one of these bindings was on sale with a good discount, I wanted to take the opportunity to test the design myself. As it turned out, the heel bar was still relatively new and therefore not yet available everywhere. I was therefore forced to make a trip to Livigno to make the necessary adjustments to the shoe. It also turned out that the heel piece is only compatible with the newer models of the Ski Trab TR2 binding. In the end, everything turned out fine and I was able to fit the binding to the ski.

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First impression

The binding makes a solid impression. As I prefer, all relevant components that are exposed to power transmission during the ride are made of metal. Only the entry/exit device is made of plastic. Otherwise, the workmanship looks very solid. The look is a little unusual, but you are holding a high-quality piece of craftsmanship in your hands. I mounted the binding on a 4FRNT Raven.

Performance

The binding was a revelation for me. Anyone who regularly switches between pin and piste bindings has already experienced how differently a pin binding rides. The vibrations are transmitted much more directly and everything feels somehow strange compared to a piste binding. Not so noticeable in bottomless powder, but in many other conditions. The Ski Trab TR2, on the other hand, has a spring in the front part that allows lateral play and thus absorbs vibrations and impacts better.

The rear triangle also looks different. In contrast to conventional pin bindings, where you literally hang in the pins, with the TR2 you stand directly on the ski and are held on it by the clamp, as with a piste binding. And you can clearly feel this when skiing.

Conclusion

For me, this is the best pin binding I've skied. It requires additional effort when fitting the boots and is also not available everywhere in the necessary combination of binding and fitting to the boot. However, in my opinion, the riding experience for a demanding freerider/tourer is definitely worth the effort.