Ski touring bindings - competition with Fritschi

Two systems for ski touring bindings have been on the market for many years: the frame binding system and the pin binding system. They differ fundamentally in the way the boots sit in the binding and have specific advantages and disadvantages. Like alpine bindings, frame bindings are fixed to the edge of the ski boot with front and rear jaws. To get on, the entire binding is lifted by means of its "frame" together with the boot with every step. With the pin system, the ski boot is fixed to the toe piece (and usually also to the back piece) using special inserts and two "metal pins" in the binding - hence the name. To get on, the rear jaw is turned, folded or pushed away - the boot is therefore only fixed at the front. This means that the entire binding does not have to be lifted with every step, which saves a lot of energy.

Until a few years ago, Dynafit was at the forefront of the pin binding market thanks to its patent. This not only resulted in a limited selection of ski touring bindings, but also limited the boot models with matching inserts. Since the patent expired in 2012, however, the range has multiplied. Not only do numerous manufacturers offer different types of bindings, but boot models are now so diverse that every ski tourer should be able to find a suitable boot!

Advantages and disadvantages of frame bindings

When I started ski touring at the beginning of the millennium, the frame binding (or the Fritschi Diamir) was the measure of all things. Especially if you wanted to ski downhill, there were simply no stable boots with inserts for pin bindings. And although all the innovations in recent years have actually taken place in pin bindings, frame bindings are not yet obsolete. Despite the design-related weight disadvantage (and the fact that some extra weight has to be moved with every step), they do offer some undeniable advantages. For one thing, almost any ski boot can be used in frame bindings. Secondly, they have an adjustable safety release that is comparable to that of an alpine binding. The operation of frame bindings, such as getting in and out, changing the climbing aid and switching between walking and skiing mode, is usually quite simple. There are also some models that are ideally suited for very heavy and aggressive skiers thanks to a maximum Z-value of 16.

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Advantages and disadvantages of pin bindings

The pin bindings, which are now available in a wide variety of versions, all have the advantage that they are lighter and offer a favorable pivot point when walking. They also offer very direct power transmission and a low standing height on the ski. However, with the exception of the Fritschi and Trab models, there is no defined safety release on the toe piece. And although the selection of suitable ski touring boots is now considerable, not every boot can be used. While there is still no alternative to pin bindings in the lightweight and ski touring racing sector, models such as the Dynafit Beast are now also offered as alternatives for tough freeride use.

Conclusion: Which system is better?

The same still applies to ski touring bindings: Everything has advantages and disadvantages. Pin bindings are "in" (and rightly so), but frame bindings still have a right to exist, especially due to the better choice of boots, ease of use and safety release.

When is a frame binding convincing?

A frame binding is recommended for those who mainly use them in ski areas with only occasional ascents, problematic feet or corresponding ski boot requirements. If you are looking for the stability, maximum power transmission and high Z-value of a strong alpine binding, or only want to go on short, lift-assisted tours anyway, models such as the Fritschi Freeride, Marker Duke or Salomon Guardian are recommended bindings that have been tried and tested for years.

When are pin bindings convincing?

For long tours where weight and ascent performance play a role, there is hardly any way around a pin binding. Many of the newer pin models can also cope with a faster skiing style and are fully suitable for action - especially the Dynafit Beast models. With the Vipec (and from next season the Tecton) binding from Fritschi (as well as the exotic models from Trab), there are now also bindings with fully adjustable, defined safety release, which really have hardly any disadvantages compared to frame bindings.

Lorenzo Rieg

Krippenstein

Steffen Kruse

Win a frame binding and a pin binding from our partner Fritschi

Our partner and expert for both binding systems is providing us with a Diamir Vipec 12 and a Diamir Freeride Pro (each with a 100 mm stopper).If you want to win one of the bindings, send us an e-mail (info(at)powderguide(dot)com) with the correct answers to the following three questions by April 9, 2017 (11:59 pm), stating your name and a shipping address. Please enter the following subject in the e-mail: Ski touring bindings competition. As always, legal recourse is excluded and each participant can only take part in the prize draw once. The two bindings will be drawn from all entries with the correct answers.

1. What is the name of the new binding from Fritschi that will be launched next winter?

2. What prevents the Vipec 12 from accidentally releasing?

3. What is the key to a defined release on the Freeride Pro?

Tip: To answer the questions, you need to have read this article or take a look here!

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