Binding choice for backcountry/allrounder

Just brought some k2 coombacks (used) which I want to put a touring binding on.
I'm a complete newby to backcountry skiing although I'm pretty reasonable skier.
They will be used on resorts more then backcountry so needs to be solid enough for resort skiing.
The obvious is the marker dukes which are perfect, but heavy and expensive.
Marker barons are cheaper and I'm 80kg and 5'7 so might be ok with them. I wouldn't forsee myself needing more then DIN 12.
Salomon Guardians - don't know much about 'em but they seem to be marketed at the same sort of thing. Expensive too.
Fritschi - I don't know anything about these - look a bit more uphill orientated?

Just wanting some unbiased opinions.

Welcome to J2ski :D I've had some Fritschi's for several years, and found them to be solid and reliable both downhill and uphill. With Fritschi's it's important to purchase the correct size for your Boots, and get the smallest one possible.
You can switch from uphill to downhill mode without removing the ski, which is handy for short bits of downhill.

Many of the competitors need you to remove the ski to access the binding when you've finished your ascent. Make sure you get a brake that is wide enough, consider investing in the return spring on the Fritschis, and decide if you want to fit the ski crampons that are available.

Dukes are sooo expensive and the DIN is really high too!

Most touring bindings raise you up from the ski, unless you go minimalist aka Dynafit/Plum .

Fritschi's is what I am using. Normally set Din 1.0 higher than for a conventional binding and never had any issues. Normally 9 for same weight as you i.e. 85kg with touring gear, water and ski boots. DIN 12 is pretty beefy, unless you are really doing "no fall zones" in which case, think conventional binding is better anyway.

Salomon no idea, is their first effort so likely the next model (2014) will be the one to go for, as bound to be few lessons learnt. See the recall on their first dynafit compatible boot.

Ah I meant I couldn't foresee myself needing more then din 12 for anything - so the dukes would be unnecessary. In reality I'm only set to 8 at the moment.

luke2152 wrote:Ah I meant I couldn't foresee myself needing more then din 12 for anything - so the dukes would be unnecessary. In reality I'm only set to 8 at the moment.

I had a mate who owned some Dukes. He was told that the min recommended DIN for use was 9. Think he sold em -)

The Marker Baron/Duke, Salomon Guardian / Atomic Tracker and Head / Tyrolia Adrenalin are alpine bindings with a walk mode whereas the Fritchi bindings are touring bindings; some models have been beefed up and are sold as freeride bindings.

The alpine bindings are all functionally very similar, a transverse spring toe piece (similar to the Iser touring binding from the 70s) married to a heel piece from their standard ranges. The Markers have to be removed to change from walking to skiing mode whereas the Salomon and the Tyrolia ones don't. The Salomon is very expensive, I haven't seen any pricing on the Tyrolia yet, last year's Marker Baron can be had for about 230 Euro unless changing modes on the fly is an issue I would get the Barons.

I also use Fritchis, mainly because of the weight. When walking in the mountains the more weigh you have on your feet the more effort it is.

Bandit, if that was the case then the bindings wouldn't have passed the TÜV SÜD tests. Without TÜV certification alpine ski bindings can't be sold.

SwingBeep wrote:

Bandit, if that was the case then the bindings wouldn't have passed the TÜV SÜD tests. Without TÜV certification alpine ski bindings can't be sold.

No problems with the certification, but some problems at shop level with getting them set up correctly for users. He's walked out of his a few times. This may have led to the popular myth. My mate had his reset to his Garmonts 3 times (that I know of). They also have a mimimum weight rec. of 130lbs.

Thanks guys got an older set of marker dukes off ebay