Skibindung

With the new Crux series, Head is launching a very light freetouring ski onto the market, which are intended to stand out from the competition in particularly through its downhill performance. At the same time, Tyrolia is launching new pin bindings. We have tested how the widest ski in the series, the Crux 105, mounted with the top Almonte 12 PT binding performs on snow.

Pin bindings are becoming more and more widespread and have almost replaced the good old frame binding. But how do they actually release and what do you need to bear in mind?

PLUM was founded in 2005 in the heart of the Chamonix Valley and has continued to develop ever since. The passionate family business has its roots in the mountains and combines the expertise of precision mechanics and wood tuners with a deep connection to skiing and snowboarding.

PowderGuide will be at ISPO again this year and will be visiting the most important, most beautiful and most innovative new products of the season for you. The PowderGuide team will take a thorough look around the trade fair in Munich and of course ask you a few questions. SPECIAL: This year you also have the opportunity to put your questions directly to the manufacturers via us!

Parts of the Amer Sports Group (Atomic, Salomon and Armada) initiated a voluntary and precautionary recall of some touring bindings in October 2023.

For some years now, ATK has had pin bindings with a high Z-value and very low weight in its programme, which are aimed at ambitious ski tourers. This season we were able to test the ATK Raider 13 Evo, which also offers an adjustable DIN setting on the toe piece.

ISPO, an interesting but also very exhausting trade fair, has been postponed from January to autumn. However, at PowderGuide we still do our best to provide you with information about the material for the coming season. However, the information is largely based on information we received from manufacturers - after all, we weren't able to scrutinise the new products ourselves at ISPO.

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?

Canadian Eric Hjorleifson, better known as Hoji, has been shaking up the freeski scene for 20 years. He first made a name for himself as a young talent in MSP's films, but is now increasingly drawn towards material development. We spoke to Hoji about his beginnings as a pro, current developments in the sport and, of course, about equipment.

When I saw the Duke last year, I knew I had to test it and it had to go on the Rustler 11. I had already bought the first Duke back then and was a big fan, but then switched to ATK as the material developed.

In recent years, the area of ski touring bindings and boots has probably been one of the most innovative in the winter sports segment. The trend towards ski touring continues and so boots and bindings are constantly being developed further. There are no major innovations this year - the manufacturers are mainly practicing model maintenance, especially in the area of bindings.

With the FR 14, ATK is continuing its series of high-performance, lightweight freeride bindings. With a maximum Z value of 14, the binding is also one of the strongest pin bindings on the market. You can read about how the binding performs in practice and what else I can think of here.