Skip to content

Cookies 🍪

This site uses cookies that need consent.

Learn more

Zur Powderguide-Startseite Zur Powderguide-Startseite
gear reviews

Test & Overview | Ski touring bindings for children

Ski tours with the next generation

by Baschi Bender 10/18/2021
It was the end of August 2020, I had just returned from my summer vacation, the surfboard had been put away and the ski season was just around the corner. Like any normal skier, I asked myself typical questions for the time: When is the first snow coming? How many PowderAlerts await us? Is my setup right for the new season?

Because the time wasn't quite typical back then and a tough coronavirus winter was feared, the questions were a little less typical:

  • Were the ski resorts opening at all?

  • And if not, how would the next generation get on skis?

  • Would the next generation need new skis? Does he even need a touring set?

Normally, researching new equipment is not a problem for me. The selection is huge, tests and recommendations are waiting on every corner. But what about skis for children? And above all: what options are there for touring bindings?

An initial search on the internet in early winter temperatures of 30 degrees was sobering. Even talking to an otherwise competent specialist dealer didn't really get me any further. So I set off again virtually and tried to put together a sensible and reasonably priced set for the offspring. Many days and discussions with the wife later, the set was ready.

Unbeknownst to me, just 30 km further north, another ski enthusiast father had asked himself similar questions and set off on a search. I met him by chance 3 years ago while surfing and now again by chance while touring on the Belchen. We got talking, also about touring sets for children, and decided to write a joint test about touring bindings and skis for children.

The (short) test

As we have equipped a total of 3 children with equipment, we can present 3 different models. Going into the race:

  • Hagan Z02 Junior with Atomic Bent Chetler Junior 1.20m and skins from the secondary market. Weight of the set: skis + bindings = 3530g

  • Contour Startup Jr Touring Adapter with Völkl Mantra JR 1.18m length and 86mm under the binding and with old skins from dad. Weight of the set: skis+binding+adapter= 3946g

  • Marker Alpinist 8 with Völkl RICE Above W 1.49m length and 88mm under the binding and skins from Marker/Kohla. Weight of the set: ski+binding= 2686

The test subjects

Child 1: 6 years, 122cm (at the beginning of the season) 128 cm (towards the end of the season), 24kg light and equipped with the Hagan Z02

Child 2: 7 years, 129cm, 24kg, equipped with the Contour Adapter

Child 3: 10 years, 147cm, 35kg, equipped with the Marker Alpinist 8

gear reviews
presented by

Test conditions

The entire season was tested, exclusively in the Black Forest and exclusively off-piste. The reasons for this have already been described. Anyone who read the countless ConditionsReports from the Black Forest here on PowderGuide last season will know that the conditions were varied. From spring-like soft to wind-pressed to Badish Columbia Pow, everything was there. And so the youngsters were able to test the bindings extensively in a rollercoaster of weather conditions.

The material - hard facts

The bindings couldn't be more different. There are differences in weight, handling and, of course, price.

Hagan Z02 Junior
The Hagan has a range of sole lengths between 225 and 280 mm in the XS version. This was one of the main reasons for the binding, as the ski boot length of child 1 is exactly at the lower end of the scale. The Z-value ranges from 2-7, which is also a reason to buy the binding for a six-year-old lightweight. Most bindings on the market can be turned down to a minimum Z-value of 3 at most and are designed for lightweight adults. However, young touring skiers often need a setting range between 2 and 2.5. The weight is specified as 740g/piece without stoppers and 940g/piece including stoppers. In ascent mode, the climbing aid lever can be set at 10° and 15° in two positions. The third position (5°) results when the climbing aid lever is laid flat to the rear and the step frame rests on the locking lever.

It is important to know that the bindings may only be used with alpine ski boots in accordance with ISO standard 5355 type A and with touring ski boots in accordance with ISO standard 9523! Children's boots must not be used!

The Hagan Z02 Junior is more or less a touring frame binding like those found on adults, but for kids. It works accordingly. Anyone who knows how a frame binding for adults works will quickly get to grips with the Hagan. The frame binding also makes it easy for children to get on, as it basically works in the same way as classic alpine bindings. Using the climbing aid is also easy to learn and works well. We left out the stoppers, which led to the odd rescue jump when getting in and out unsupervised, so that the skis didn't accidentally shoot off into strictly protected grouse territories.

The first few meters were made in a parking lot, but then we quickly made our way up the first slope. The relatively high standing height ensures that the inexperienced touring novice stands unaccustomedly wobbly on the skis during the ascent. Without the ski poles as support, there would probably have been significantly more snow contact on the ascent than there already was. If you insert the first or even second step of the climbing aid, the child-ski system becomes even more destabilized.

The conversion is simple and can also be done quickly by children. However, as with most frame bindings, snow can sometimes get stuck in the binding, so a final check is not a bad idea. From time to time you have to tap, shake or help with the ski pole to make sure everything clicks into place properly. However, there were no problems with icing or anything similar and so the skis were quickly ready for the descent.

Of course, it is difficult to judge the downhill performance if you haven't skied yourself. However, it was noticeable that the acclimatization phase downhill was significantly shorter than on the rather shaky ascent. Of course, we already had the routine from previous years, but I was still surprised that there were no problems downhill with the new skis or bindings. And this despite the fact that we were only skiing off-piste. The feedback from the test person on the descent was therefore consistently positive.

Contour Adapter
The adapter is easy to explain. It turns any alpine ski setup into a touring ski. The adapter is simply clicked into the alpine binding and has a movable joint at the front so that the heel can be lifted while walking. The ski boot is clamped in like a crampon. The sole length is adjustable from 245mm - 305mm and can be used with any boot. It is probably the simplest and cheapest option for ski touring with children. An old skin that was no longer in use was cut to size. The weight of the adapter alone is 900 g per pair. The adapter can be easily adjusted to the sole length without tools. The fold-out climbing aid makes it easier for the child to cope with steeper slopes. Cost: 99.90 for the adapter.

The Contour Adapter works amazingly well, we've done tours up to 600m with it. At first I was rather skeptical as to whether all the plastic would hold together, but we never had any problems. Due to the high stand height, everything is of course a bit wobbly, but even at 7 years old, the little one coped well with this. However, he usually needed a bit of help when putting on and taking off the harness. With a little practice, he was then able to use the climbing aid himself. On the descent, dad always has to take the parts in his backpack. It's nice that the child can always use the same skis and is already used to them on the descent. In addition, a normal alpine binding is used on the descent, which provides correspondingly low Z-values. He has always skied the Völkl Mantra JR with 86mm under the binding. The ski is slightly rockered at the front and rear and allows the kids to plow through the terrain extremely well.

Marker Alpinist 8
Marker is known for bindings in both the alpine and touring sector. The Alpinist 8 is a pin binding and can therefore only be used with touring ski boots. It has a Z-value range of 3-8 and with a weight of 245g it is extremely light compared to the other sets tested. Unfortunately, it only has a 1.5 cm adjustment length to adjust the sole length. The heel offers an ascent aid with 0°, 5° and 9° angles and can be quickly and easily adjusted between ascent and descent mode. You have the option of mounting crampons and can ski with or without stoppers. Cost: €299.95 for the binding.

The weight is of course unbeatable and allows the child to ski long tours effortlessly. In combination with the lightweight and easy-to-ride RICE Above from Völkl, this setup is great. The initial worry that my son wouldn't be able to cope with a pin binding was completely unnecessary. Getting in and out worked without any problems. Turning the automatic heel switch to change to uphill or downhill mode was a little difficult for him at first, but after the second tour it was no longer a problem. With the ski, which has 88mm under the binding, he coped really well in all terrain. The tip rocker was also very helpful in the terrain. We opted for the women's version of the skis, as only these are available in such short lengths. He uses a Dynafit Mercury TF women's touring boot, which has a narrower cut and fits his young feet very well. He has skied tours up to approx. 900 m without any problems. The limiting factor with this variant is probably the availability of boots with inserts, which are not available for feet that are too small.

Conclusion

It is difficult to say which binding is the best and which one should be recommended. Both the Contour Adapter and the Hagan Z02 Junior are suitable for beginners in the touring world. It really depends on how intensively the setup is used. If it turns out that the youngsters are not interested in touring, but rather want to go classic alpine skiing, you won't have lost much money with the Contour Adapter. With the Hagan, you have the option of simply skiing on the piste. If you notice that your offspring have tasted blood, you should definitely think about a pin binding, because anyone who has ever skied with a pin binding will be reluctant to switch back to a frame binding. Pin bindings score points with their comfort and low weight, especially on difficult ascents for children. Pin ski touring boots are available from shoe size 37, i.e. you have to think about something else beforehand, but then it gets interesting. A practical feature of all three bindings is definitely the flexibility in size adjustment, which allows you to continue using the setups for the next few winters.

The best setup is definitely the one that is used a lot!

Addition: Many thanks to BastiK, who shares further experiences on the topic in his comment on the article. Photos of the removable soles mentioned in the comment (front sole part too long, but still works) can be found at the end of the picture gallery below the article.

Photo gallery

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.

Show original (German)

Related articles

Comments

gear reviews
presented by