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gear reviews

Long-term gear review | Fritschi Tecton

The Tecton in continuous use

by Lorenzo Rieg 11/24/2018
After we published a short test about a year ago, I have now been able to put the Fritschi Tecton through its paces in practically all conditions. Last winter, I took it to Alaska as well as the Alps, and now in "summer" I've taken it to New Zealand.

Testers and test conditions

I have now used the binding for over 30 days. In addition to the Scott Cascade in 189cm, I have tested them for the most part on a Downskis LowDown 102 in 186cm. As boots I mostly used the "old" Scarpa Maestrale RS. In terms of conditions, I think I've had practically everything by now. Of course, I am mostly on tour with the binding, but a few days in the ski resort have also crept in in the meantime. I don't want to repeat too much about the basic features of the binding here, but refer you once again to the short test from October 2017.

In summary, the construction promises great power transmission with comfortable operation and a high level of safety. The latter is not only due to the adjustable release and high elasticity on the toe piece, but also due to the possible release on the ascent, which is currently unique for pin bindings. While the binding shares the front jaw with the Vipec, the rear jaw is completely different. It grips both the ski boot edge and the inserts. This not only allows the Tecton to transmit power excellently, but also ensures excellent release behavior in conjunction with the toe piece.

Once again, I would like to emphasize the importance of correctly adjusting the Tecton. Both binding jaws must be adjusted correctly and precisely to the boots, which is somewhat special. So, please have your bindings fitted and adjusted to your boots at a specialist retailer!

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Durability and operation

Even after a long period of use, the binding shows no signs of wear. Both the front and rear jaws still sit as they did on the first day, and fortunately the climbing aids and stoppers also show no signs of wear. In terms of durability, the Tecton therefore deserves praise - I wouldn't have any concerns here.

I can't complain about the handling either, quite the opposite. While switching from ski to walk mode is a little unfamiliar at first, it is easy to do and every changeover is acknowledged with an audible click. In really rare cases, some snow or ice has collected in the rear jaws, which makes switching to downhill mode a little difficult. However, I haven't had a real problem with this so far (in contrast to other bindings). Getting into the binding is also a really good solution. With the current toe piece, it's just as easy as with an alpine binding. Even pin newbies can get into the binding straight away with a little aiming - best in class!


Ascent

The binding is naturally not the lightest model on the market, but it is anything but heavy. As it is a pin binding, the ascent is easy anyway and you also have the advantage that the Tecton is not completely locked, but can be released in the event of a fall or avalanche. During my time with the binding, I had no problems with unintentional release on the ascent, so the system seems to work well here, although fortunately I didn't have to test it in an emergency. The toe piece is also nice and stiff on the ascent and allows precise walking in tough conditions. As always, the good Fritschi crampons are also to be praised, although I rarely use crampons out of personal preference.

Adjusting the climbing aids is also easy with the tip of the ski pole. It's clear that the manufacturer has put a lot of thought into the ease of use of the Tecton. Switching from ascent to descent and vice versa is also done quickly in practice.

However, I would like to mention one disadvantage on the ascent, which is the freedom of movement with different boots. In principle, the Tecton works with all ski touring boots that have inserts and a minimal ski boot edge at the heel. However, depending on the shape of the ski boot toe and the position of the inserts, the shape of the locking lever, which pushes the toe piece open in the event of a fall, can restrict the crotch length. This was not really a problem with my Scarpa Maestrale RS, but with other boots, which I also tried with the binding, I was not able to fully extend my stride on flat terrain and hairpin bends in very steep terrain, especially when tracking, were also restricted, as the ski could not fold down to the usual angle. In addition to the boot model and the associated position of the inserts and shape of the toe, this is of course also due to the boot size and stride length. For this reason, I once again recommend testing the binding together with the boots or seeking advice from a specialist retailer.

Descent

The Tecton shows no weaknesses on the descent. The binding dampens a little due to the elasticity in the front and rear jaws and therefore does not ride as hard as classic pin bindings but more like an alpine binding, which I find pleasant. In general, the binding offers great power transmission, and overall I would definitely compare the downhill performance with that of an alpine binding.

The release behavior also leaves nothing to be desired. The Tecton has a high elasticity, so the ski stays on the foot when it should, but the binding releases when it should (due to my increasing age, however, falls are no longer a daily occurrence). In any case, the Tecton provides a lot of security and I now trust it completely. Neither high speeds in hard snow nor small drops upset it. Of course, due to the Z-value, the range of use is more for touring than hardcore freeriding, but the binding also has reserves in this area for heavy riders who prefer a fast riding style.

Conclusion

Great binding that leaves nothing to be desired. Great performance on the descent, easy and quick to use, high level of safety and also light enough for long ascents. Unfortunately, slight limitations when used with some boot models.

Advantages and disadvantages

+Super power transmission

+High level of safety thanks to adjustable release on the toe piece

+Release possible on the ascent

+Easy entry & comfortable operation

-Restricted crotch length with some boots

Details

RRP €534.95

Low grip system with alpine heel clamps: Direct contact boot-binding-ski - The heel clamp presses the boot sole firmly onto the heel plate, which is directly connected to the ski, and ensures constant direct traction.

Power-Rail: The boot remains fixed - As an absolute novelty, the Power Rail engages in the back of the boot, fixes it in the middle and prevents loss of power.

Fixed, non-rotating heel unit: The heel unit remains laterally stable - the power flow in turns is not interrupted by a rotating movement as with other pin bindings.

Long dynamic travel of 13mm: Release only when necessary - thanks to dynamic travel - The longest dynamic travel of 13 mm prevents unwanted releases and absorbs lateral impacts so that the ski always retains the best grip.

Lateral release with DIN adjustment at the front: As with alpine bindings - pin binding with lateral release and DIN value adjustment at the front, where the lateral forces act in the event of a fall.

Rear frontal release with 9 mm dynamic travel: Frontal release with dynamics - The frontal release takes place via the heel piece with 9 mm dynamic travel. The high restoring force of the spring prevents unintentional release and compensates for the high tensile forces on the leg when falling forwards.

Release Lever: After the heel is released, the shoe tilts forwards. The boot is also released immediately in the front unit by pressing the boot nose on the release lever.

Emergency release on the ascent: Good grip on the ascent and safety in an emergency - the boot is fixed and held in the middle. However, the binding releases when a lot of force is applied. Clamping systems must be blocked on the ascent to ensure stability.

Fixed stop for entry: Easy entry - The toe of the boot is optimally positioned via a fixed stop and an orientation aid. The system closes with light pressure as the pin levers engage precisely in the inserts. The movement sequence is comparable to alpine bindings

Simple, easy operation: Safety in any terrain, in all conditions - switching from ascent to descent and vice versa is very easy without getting out of the binding. The three walking steps can also be changed in no time with the pole.

Here is the link to the Fritschi website with further information, here you can buy the Tecton from our partner store Bergzeit.de.

The binding was provided to PowderGuide free of charge for testing. Find out how we tested it in our test statement.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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