Gear review | Tyrolia Attack Hybrid freeski binding

Freeriding combines many disciplines of skiing, whether steep slopes, narrow couloirs or kickers in the backcountry. Last but not least, the equipment also determines what is possible and what is not. Thanks to new developments, the before mentioned broad playing field is becoming more and more accessible.

One of the latest major innovations is the establishment of hybrid bindings. The idea behind this is to combine a pin toe piece for touring with an alpine toe piece for downhill skiing. In contrast to frame bindings, hybrid bindings have a more comfortable and natural turning angle when touring, less moving weight on the boot (which saves a lot of energy) and are often even lighter.

However, you need a ski boot with pin inserts to match the pin toe piece. In contrast to pure pin bindings, hybrid bindings are generally heavier, more robust and, thanks to the typical alpine front and rear jaws, offer more safety and a better skiing experience. Hybrid bindings don't open up a whole new world compared to pin and frame bindings, but they seem to be much better received than their framed predecessors. Time to thoroughly test a current model.

First impression - a real freeride binding

The Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 11 MN/PT was first available in the 25/26 season. Two versions of the binding are available: the Attack Hybrid 11, whose Z-value ranges from 3 - 11 and the Attack Hybrid 14, for larger/heavier/stronger riders, whose Z-value can be adjusted from 4 - 14. Apart from the spring strength, the bindings are almost identical, they differ slightly in color and the rear jaw of the Attack Hybrid 14 is slightly chunkier. The manufacturer specifies the 14 mm binding at 865g for the ascent and 1115g in downhill mode. The 11 binding is stated to weigh 60g less in both modes. Both bindings are Multinorm compatible, which means that touring boots as well as alpine and GripWalk ski boots fit into the binding. Boots with pin inserts are only required for the pin toe piece - i.e. for touring.

Typical for a hybrid binding, the Attack Hybrid must be converted between ascent and descent mode. Tyrolia has solved this with a plate on the toe piece, onto which the two different toe pieces for walking and skiing mode are pushed and locked. To do this, the gray lever (front on the pin toe piece, rear on the alpine toe piece) must be flipped and the binding must be pushed onto the rail from the front.

The assembly

Mounting the binding was more difficult than expected, as no store, at least in Innsbruck, had the appropriate drilling template to hand. In the end, we mounted the binding using a paper template that was kindly made available to us. This works quite well, but requires some manual skill and patience. However, the problem with the drilling template should soon become superfluous as the binding becomes increasingly established on the market. The matching paper template should soon be in the PowderGuide Google Drive folder!

Tester and test conditions:

I am 181 cm tall and weigh about 72 kg. I mounted the binding on my 186 cm long Spurart ski, which is 105 mm wide under the binding. The ski is mounted more centrally and is very soft because I like playful skis. Thanks to a wooden core made of ash, the ski weighs around 2 kg without bindings and skis very well even at high speeds and in poor conditions.

Before the Tyrolia Attack Hybrid, I had a Cast System with Look Pivots, so I'm no stranger to hybrid bindings. My interests in bindings are varied and I have already skied several pin bindings and hybrid bindings on different skis. To go with the downhill-oriented bindings, I ride a downhill-oriented ski boot - a Dalbello Cabrio LV Free 130. I tested the Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 11 MN/PT binding, and for my height, weight and skiing style, the Z-value was just about sufficient.

I prefer to go on longer tours where the descent is important to me. Over the course of the season, however, I spend more days skiing in the ski area, especially when it's as sluggish and dangerous as it is at the moment.

Unfortunately, not too much snow has fallen in the Alps so far, but the conditions have been all over the place. In addition to hard and icy slopes, hard terrain, deep wet snow and dust on crust, there have also been some very deep days in the recent past. Unfortunately, these were very dangerous, but I was still able to test the binding in all kinds of conditions.

Test report

Compared to the "normal" Tyrolia Attack, the Tyrolia Attack Hybrid is built slightly higher, which is due to the rail and the mechanism that allows the front jaws to be swapped. The stand height of 32 mm (measured at the rear jaw) is not noticeable in a negative way, however, and in my case even solved the problem of the ski boot buckle no longer getting stuck in the snow when carving. To be fair, however, it has to be said that a lower stand height is said to provide more control. Personally, however, I hardly notice it. When you step into the binding, the rear jaw snaps firmly into place and immediately gives you the good feeling of being properly secured.

In contrast to bindings that use pins to secure the ski boot, you don't have to work hard to gain confidence in the binding. The binding immediately instills confidence, even in very uneven and icy conditions. The elasticity of the front and rear jaws (30 mm laterally at the front, 16 mm vertically at the rear) comfortably absorbs shocks in rough conditions and also ensures very reliable release behavior.

The drop, i.e. the difference in stand height between the front and rear jaws, is 4 mm and ensures a pleasant and natural, not too aggressive stance over the ski. The feel is no different from a classic freeski binding and that's a great feeling when you get into the binding after a tour. With the binding, you can go full throttle with a clear conscience - no matter what the terrain, whether freeride, backcountry kicker sessions or park - the binding gives you complete confidence.

The rail and also the toe piece itself like to collect a little snow, so it is worth knocking both off a little so that the pin toe piece can be pushed on without much resistance. Once the skins are on, the ski brake can be locked. To do this, the silver lever, which is located directly behind the ski brake, must be folded down, press down the ski brake with a little pressure and the brake stays up.

Compared to other hybrid bindings, this mechanism is exceptionally well done because the locking mechanism works amazingly easily and is also very reliable. If things get steeper, the climbing aid can be opened. As always, a little precision is required when getting into the pin toe piece, but there is a line on the toe piece that shows the exact position of the ski boot, making it easier to get in. Operation is the same as with a normal pin binding, so it can be locked by tightening the lever.

The climbing aid increases the angle from 0° to 9° (the climbing aid is 60mm high) and creates a comfortable angle that is neither very flat nor very high. Having to limit yourself to one climbing aid may be a disadvantage for some, but I generally see a simple system where you can only choose between two options as an advantage. The climbing aid is not particularly easy to set up, but with a bit of skill you can do it with a ski pole.

Because the stirrup of the climbing aid is shaped like a W, it can be easily returned to flat mode - very well thought out! The heavy rear jaw is noticeable when touring, as it pulls the rear part of the ski down when making hairpin turns and pushes the tip of the ski up. This makes hairpin turns much easier for less technical ski tourers, as they don't need a "kick" to get the skis around properly. Technically strong ski tourers may miss the kick turn a little, but the simplicity of the hairpin turn is convincing.

To switch back to walking mode, the ski brake must be released before skinning down; a light tap with the pole or a careful kick against the silver levers is enough to release the brake. Just replace the toe piece and you're ready for the descent!

Special features

The Attack Hybrid is the only hybrid binding on the market that can also be used with a pin toe piece. To do this, it must be pushed into the "Emergency" position and locked in place. Emergency mode is really only reserved for emergencies, as the binding is virtually impossible to release, which can quickly have painful consequences even in the event of minor falls.

The rear jaw can be pushed off the rail in a similar way to the front jaw, which saves valuable 585 g per rear jaw on the ski for the ascent. This catapults the binding into an extraordinarily light weight range, which of course makes the backpack all the heavier. If you can manage well without climbing aids, you can save a lot of energy on long tours. However, the boot is then positioned at a negative angle, which takes some getting used to. If you push the toe piece back onto the ski, you should check the contact pressure, which then has to be readjusted (which fortunately works very easily).

Because both the front and rear jaws are fixed on one rail, several pairs of skis can be equipped with the matching rails, which then work with just one Attack Hybrid. This is really cool because the already inexpensive binding allows you to get a second ski ready to go for even less money (these plates are available for around 80€, but seem to be difficult to buy at the moment).

The stylish Tyrolia Attack Hybrid box, in which the front and rear jaws can be stored, is of course not necessary if you want to save space and weight. However, the springs for fixing the binding are very greasy, so the box is very practical so that you don't get any dirt on them.

The total adjustment range is about 20 mm, i.e. +10/-10 mm in the middle. That's not a lot, but it's not a lot either and is usually enough for a touring boot and a freeride ski boot of the same size.

Conclusion

The binding is really fun and is impressive in both hike and ski mode. Sophisticated features make handling easier and make it easy to switch from ski mode to walk mode and back again.

Advantages:

• Very good downhill performance

• ISO and TÜV-certified

• Reliable release

• Multinorm compatible

• Binding plates available separately to use the binding on multiple skis

• Emergency mode

• Inexpensive

• Crampon compatible with Dynafit system

• Adjustment range of around +10 / -10mm

Disadvantages:

• Weight (compared to other hybrid bindings, however, in the midfield)

• Time-consuming conversion (typical for hybrid bindings)

• Toe pieces can be forgotten or lost

• Shoes with pin inserts required for the ascent

Information:

RRP € 475,-

• Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 11 MN/PT: Z-value 3 - 11, 805g on the ascent and 1055g on the descent

• Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 MN/PT: Z-value 4 - 14, 865g on the ascent and 1115g on the descent

• Stopper widths: 95mm, 110mm, 130mm

Click here to visit the Tyrolia website for more information on the Attack Hybrid.

The bindings were provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer. Find out how we test them in our test statement.