Big Skis, Little Bindings Pt. 2

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A few weeks ago, Powder's Gear Editor Max Ritter dove into why he thinks pairing big skis with little bindings was a good idea .

Early in 2013, I mounted up my first pair of touring skis. A 185cm long, 122mm underfoot rockered resort ski with a Marker Baron frame binding that I figured would be my forever backcountry charger set up. I was psyched.

That season, I skied all over the Wasatch, my home range. From couloirs and faces to bowls and glades, I made ski touring a serious part of my winter. Red in the face and completely out of breath, with my tall cotton hoody soaked through, I couldn’t understand why my 45 year old buddy was skinning circles around me. He was also riding a powder ski, but had a Dynafit Radical binding. I widened my eyes at the small pins and the tiny contact points between the boot and the ski. I watched his steps and realized that unlike me, he wasn’t picking up his binding each time he glided forward.

After realizing that my gear was limiting me from experiencing the mountains in the way that I hoped, and that the technology available was safe, bomber, and easy to use I made the switch to a tech setup. The Marker Baron system I swore I’d have forever lasted me two seasons.

Now, more than a decade later, I’ve tried just about every binding-ski combination. I’ve used the transformer bindings; I’ve run around on lightweight race bindings; I’ve had crossover setups, Kingpins , and the classic Dynafit that my friend rode on (which are still being produced and sold). I’ve spent many arduous pre-seasons pouring over new technology and reviews. In 2016, the Dynafit patent on pin technology expired and companies all over the world started producing a torrent of tech bindings. The outcome is that we have a huge array of options that function for any type of skier, and better yet, the tools work exceedingly well.

Pin tech bindings refer to any binding that has a non-traditional binding/ boot innerface where the skier connects to the ski. The step in function snaps small teeth and rods into the boot, instead of the full binding being

The concept of mounting fat skis with tiny bindings feels a little goofy and, early in my switch to a pin tech, there were certainly models that I did not love. Some of the early bindings I skied pre-released, broke, or were not as ergonomic or easy to use as current offerings are. But, I tried a few, learned some tricks, the nuanced differences in bindings, and how to adapt my ski style to fit the technology. And, overtime I have found what works well. I can confidently say that for most skiers, there is a very good pin binding out there for you. Indeed, professional skiers around the world are trusting some version of a pin tech binding to ski big lines in good style. From freeride to ski mountaineering, there is likely a binding for you.

Still, some skiers hold the idea that a pin binding comes with sacrificing performance, durability and perhaps most importantly, that they are more likely to lead to an injury. In my experience, and having watched the technology change over the years, I don’t think these are necessarily fair critiques for most skiers.

Here in the mid mountain West, I have settled on a daily driver of a 182 cm ski, 108 underfoot, with an ATK binding. I have several pairs of ATKs: the Trofeo , the Haute Route , the Raider , and the FreeRaider . Each of these serve a slightly different purpose but the outcome is the same: a pin binding that I trust to be able to ride every style of skiing on. I have other friends that ski a Salomon, Atomic, Hagan, or Plum and are able to ski fast and fluidly on deep days.

My everyday ski climbs like an absolute joy: fluid motion uphill allows nimble movement through the mountains. I break trail around twisted limber pine, weave through craggy outcroppings, and kick perfect geometric turns through untouched powder. They provide me with the ability to enjoy the up as much as the down.

At the top, I can click into a solid metal binding that has some heel contact and elasticity for driving the ski and for a safe ejection if the need arises. I do not compromise my skiing. I know what the boot, binding, and ski interface can do and I trust it. I am able to arc high speed turns, air off of features on the slope, and feel secure that the tool will work for what I need it for.

I have come to love my pin tech bindings and big skis but, rightly so, there is still some skepticism about the virtues of pin tech bindings and one of the biggest drivers of this is injury risk. Many holdouts attribute tech bindings to more injuries than a traditional alpine binding. The big difference between an alpine binding and a tech binding is that the release will come from the heel versus the toe. While this could lead to injury, there really isn’t great research out there on what is more “dangerous.” So, Skimo Co dug into this with some release tests and found that pin bindings, like alpine bindings, can cause common ski injuries such as ACL damage and tibia fractures. In their tests, Skimo found that it is possible to provide enough force to snap a tibia before the binding releases, but it was more challenging to get that result with a simulated ACL.

Regardless, injuries can and will happen both in the resort and out of bounds. Nearly 21 percent of all injuries at the ski resort were knee injuries. And knee injuries can also happen on the skin track. While gear can play a role, part of the risk of injury stems from the inherent motion of skiing, speed, ability, and external factors.

I have found that with a good understanding of your gear, the current tech offerings are just as “safe” as a traditional binding, and much simpler and lighter to use than a transformer or crossover product. Many of the tech bindings on the market today are made out of a sturdy alloy and have few moving parts-making them harder to break than their predecessors and simpler to fix than many of the other more complex options.

I truly believe that a pin tech binding on a mid-weight, mid-fat ski with a touring boot is the perfect tool for skiers in the American West and beyond. Much like my early setup, the ski touring products have come a long way. In today’s busy world, traveling into a quiet glade and moving swiftly through snow laden forests and over windswept peaks provides a solace we rarely find anywhere else. I, for one, want gear that matches this experience, and allows me to fully immerse myself in the mountains.