Now let's talk a little about abseil bindings and those that can also be used to slide up the hill. For some time now I have been looking for a binding that would be good for descending, but could also be used to climb hills. The weight of the bindings has not been so important, as long as the whole has been the best possible in terms of the downhill. For years I used normal ski bindings in randohomme and trekkers as adapters. Even though beach ties had been on the market for ages. The whole thing with the trekkers was heavy, but at least you could use a decent bandage when descending. Trekkers are barked at in the swamp, because they are not really any more shitty gimmicks. So this is if you have a big backpack. What bothered me the most about them was the space they took up in the backpack.
Synthetic ties have been on the market for over 30 years. Their development has been focused on uphills and only in the last ten years have you also found beach ties designed for downhills in stores. If, on the other hand, you've had the desire to tear up on the downhill, with the pin bindings, you've had to lock the front piece in the up position, which again made the binding dangerous to use.
With Siljama in Canada looking for the source of eternal youth. The road came over and dripped water and the youth disappeared on its smooth road.
Since 1995, Diamir Fritschi Freeride and later BCA's Naxo have been an alternative to the deck binding. These also have hill descents, but none of them are suitable for modern free descents. In 2007, Marker launched Duke, an improved version of Diamir. Dukes and other bonds arrived in the world accompanied by a big incense. I myself was never very convinced of them and I continued to go on trekkers.
After the appearance of Diamir, it was fairly clear that a lighter and more collapsible bandage was wanted on the market. The hunters' desire for clean fishing grounds was also seen in big houses. As a result, other manufacturers also made bindings based on the Duke. I still wasn't convinced myself, so the trip up the hill took place with the familiar extra bits between the bindings and monos. The downhill was pulled with alpine ties.
At the northern tip of Lyngen, scrambling up.
The first glimpse of the direction of the new world happened when Dynafit brought beast ties to the market. At the same time, Marker launched King Pins. Both looked attractive and they ended up at the feet of the most demanding men very quickly. This time it seemed that bindings that could work both uphill and downhill had arrived in stores.
In 2016, I got Dynafit Beasts as my first boots. The 900-gram golden bars really looked true to their name. The ominous name wasn't just about appearance. Additional parts had to be attached to the monos, with which the whole could be played as desired. The planning work had been done carefully and for a long time. The front piece was released when necessary and the whole thing felt sturdy. They played very well even when going down the slope at speed. The skinning features were, to say the least, evasive, but sufficient. However, the Beasts had their own problems. The flat skinning position was forgotten in the design work. A relatively essential thing if you want to skin more. However, the biggest problem was a design error in the front part of the bindings. Sometimes the front part locked in the open position when putting the bandage on. The springs released, but the mono didn't catch the ties. Tools were needed to solve the problem, and if they weren't there, the journey ended at that place. Due to this complaint, Dynafit put the Beasts in the dock.
The fastest bet of my life with trekkers. On top of the yotei, admiring the scenery. Screws were fired from the Trekkers. An icy track is not suitable for these tricks.
After the Beasts, I found the Diamir Tectons as a continuation of my monos. The less than 700 gram bandage felt almost like air when you remember the meters climbed by trekkers. Safety is exactly the word that pin road users have been calling for. The front part of Tecton is independently functional and also opens laterally. I got to know this when I was counting forest tats in America. When I pulled the pans, the nose of the ski hit the snow and started to twist sideways. The pressure built up to such an extent that after a while I found myself cruising the last meters with one ski. Such moments give credit to the bond. There is nothing but the word of an engineer about the functionality of artificial ties. In skinning mode, the bandage is very fast and really comfortable to use. It is light to ski and quick to put on. It snaps into place painlessly and is a very reliable whole. Still, button bindings do not give you the feeling of descent that an alpine binding gives. However, Tecton is proof of how button ties have become safer and this is exactly what attention has been paid to over the years.
Buck pushes the Beasts to go. The Beasts were really good ties.
Last spring, I got to ski with Salomon's new Shift binding, and oh boy, the feeling of skiing when the mono is attached to the binding in the old, tried and tested way. The Shift weighs 890 grams per piece and is therefore slightly heavier than the Tecton. The new bandages should be worn a little at home, so you don't have a finger in your mouth when you go uphill. At first I was a little surprised that the bandage was installed too far forward. After a little trouble, sweat and thumbing, we found out that in order to work uphill, the front part of the binding moves about a centimeter forward. Going uphill, the binding performed like any heavy duty button binding. In uphill turns, the binding worked and the ski turned nicely around the ankle. I would see only one stock purchase as the biggest disadvantage. This affects route choices a bit. But that feeling when the tie snaps onto the mono before landing.
You can practice skinning and turns in these landscapes. Iceland is one of the best experiences you can get with skins. Great snow and a good slope.
When Shift comes to the market, it is clear that this is a watershed between two different styles. More and more attention has been paid to safety in button ties. Different concepts have been tried and invented. Still, I would see that with button ties you should look for lightness above all. Bindings like Shift are intended for those who want to enjoy more downhill speed, but safely.
If you're wondering what ties usually weigh, look no further.
Here are some of the bandages on the market, so not all:
Tire, weight and brake width, if there is a brake or info easily available
Atomic Backland Tech 298g no brakes
Dynafit ST Rotation 12 625 g 135mm
Dynafit Speedfit 352 g
Dynafit Radical FT 2.0 692g 120mm
Dynafit Radical ST 2.0 651g 120mm
Dynafit Speed Superlight 2.0 198g no brakes
Dynafit Speed Turn 2.0 368g no brakes
Fritschi Tecton 668 g 100 mm
Fritschi Vipec 587 g 108 mm
G3 Ion LT 12 483g one size?
Look Pivot 14 1153g 130mm
Marker Kingpin 13,775 g
Marker Squire ID 774 g 90 mm
Marker Griffon ID 1012g 110 mm
Marker Jester ID 1050g 110 mm
Salomon MTN Tech 387 g 110 mm
Salomon Warden 11 930g 90mm
Salomon Shift 886g 110mm
Salomon Guardian MNC 13 1478 g 115 mm
Atk Freerider 14 2.0 395g without brake
Atk RT 2.0 290g without brake
Here are the ties that still appear in the text, with which I have been able to calculate all of them. King Pins are also in the text, but I haven't calculated with them.
From left to right. Trekkers, Diamir Freeride, Marker Duke, Diamir Tecton, Dynafit Beast 16, Salomon Shift
From left to right. Trekkers, Diamir Freeride, Marker Duke, Diamir Tecton, Dynafit Beast 16, Salomon Shift