Telemark & Alpine Touring Bindings
Bindings have matured along with ski and boot designs. The springs in modern bindings are housed inside cylindrical cartridges and they compress rather than stretch under tension (they’re often called compression bindings) giving them the strength and durability to match up with our progressively fatter skis. Examine the list below to find the binding that best suits your equipment and style. Some bindings defy categorization, so come in and talk to us for the full story.
Three-Pin / Three-Pin Cable:
- the old standard the best choice for touring performance
- as simple as simple can be and very lightweight
- still the greatest telemark binding if the year is 1979
These are the bindings that started it all. We pay homage to them, but also recognize that they were meant for a kinder, gentler time, when skis were long, boots were leather, and love was in the air. They work great with our Rugged Touring line of Nordic skis (like the Fischer Outtabounds) but are not adequate for today’s full tele skis and stiff plastic boots.
Voile 3-Pin
Soft Cable
- great for backcountry or resort skiing
- the soft cable and neutral flexpoint reduce touring fatigue
The spring cartridges are connected to a flexible cable which doesn’t provide as much resistance while touring in the backcountry. Additionally, the cable’s flexpoint is typically positioned further toward the front of the binding, providing a neutral flex that is touring-friendly. Soft cable bindings are great in soft snow because the neutral pivot does not drive the ski tip down. These bindings are just fine for the resort as well.
G3 Targa, Black Diamond O3
Rigid Wire
- usually geared more toward resort skiing or those seeking the most control
- rigid wire reduces lateral movement and improves turning power
In this variation, the soft cable is replaced by inflexible steel connecting rods that increase the binding’s rigidity. This translates to more edging power, especially when carving on harder snow or in bigger boots. The springs are stiffer than soft cable models and the flexpoint occurs toward the rear of the bail providing a more active, aggressive feel. Of course, long approaches in the backcountry will be more tiresome because of the extra resistance with each heel lift, but it certainly doesn’t preclude a skier from venturing there.
Cobra R8, Voile 3-Pin Hardwire
Alpine Touring Bindings
- can be used both at the resort and in the backcountry
- have a reliable heel and toe release setting, like standard alpine bindings
- flip a lever and the binding freely pivots at the toe for touring and climbing
The basic premise behind Alpine Touring (or AT) bindings is that they enable an alpine skier to ascend slopes with a free-heel (like Nordic skiers and Telemarkers), and then lock down the heel when it comes time to descend in the alpine style. We carry the Freerides from Fritchi, a binding system that accomodates both regular alpine ski boots and the lighter-weight AT boots with their vibram sole. They can be mounted on virtually any alpine / telemark ski, but Tele or AT-specific skis are lighter in weight and typically possess the right characteristics for backcountry skiing.
Fritchi Freeride Plus
