These are an extremely reliable, dependable strong binding. I have used these in the bumps on the resort to high speed runs in powder to small hucks to icy couloirs in the backcountry to variable conditions on an 8000 meter peak, and they withstood the tests of all- never once came out of them. As a female, 5'7, and 135lbs, these bindings are plenty strong enough to withstand any ski activity. They are light weight, easy on/off, and have an excellent riser system that is easy to adjust while on the move in the backcountry. Highly recommended for anyone skiing in varying terrain in both the front country and backcountry.

Disclaimer: These are my first and only pair of AT bindings so I am compairing them to the mediocre quality alpine bindings I had on before.

When I first got my Prophet 100s earlier this season I was overjoyed. They were everything I hoped for and more. The were fast, responsive, all mountain machines, and the float, good god the float! My only complaint was that it was sometimes a long hike back to the car after a snowkiting session and I wanted to make that hike more comfortable and maybe explore the backcountry a little too. That's where the Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus bindings come in.

I just got my lovely prophets back from the shop today where they switched out my Look PX 12's for the Fritschis. After eagerly driving up to my local ski resort I slapped them on and was off.

They sucked the ever loving life out of my prophets. They were utterly unresponsive and I was reminded of the 210cm monsters I used to ski 10 years ago. I hoped I'd never have that feeling again but there I was.

I had been so stoked to find these bindings and hear that they were engineered with alpine performance in mind. I knew that these were AT binding and expected a small drop in performance, but not this. The claim that these can hold there own with even the most mediocre alpine binding is, at best a cruel joke and at worst, an outright deception. I was so depressed that I had to stop skiing after an hour and a half and go home.

I have three theories as to why these perform so dismally, perhaps someone with more knowledge of ski performance can shed some light on which one may be the culprit:

1) They place the boots so much higher above the ski than conventional bindings.
2) They are heavier than a typical downhill binding.
3) Their weight distribution is such that it puts substantial weight a good distance behind the heel (my boots measure at 305mm so they were slightly too large for the small range and right in the middle of the medium range).
4) ?????

I have an open mind and will give these bindings several more shots. Perhaps I will become used to the feeling or gradually forget that my Prophets have become an empty husk of what they once were. Time will tell. Below is a summary of my feelings:

Pros:
- Very nice AT feature with climbing adjustments.
- The ability to quickly switch to climbing/hiking mode with the flip of a switch.
- The functional parts of the binding seem quite stout and durable (the faceplate covers seem very flimsy but, as far as I can tell, these are purely aesthetic).

Cons:
- *weeps silently*

EDIT: So it turns out it was the ramp angle. After digging around the Teton Gravity Research forums I found a thread with a bunch of people complaining about the same thing. It turns out the ramp angle on the Fritshci's is 0 deg while a normal alpine binding is 4-6 deg. For me, the shifted my weight distribution toward the tail of my skis without me realizing it (causing a drastic reduction in ease of turn initiation). To test this, I folded up some socks and stuffed them under my insoles and the skis came back to life. I am having the cosmetic toe piece removed to gain some ramp but I doubt this will be enough, I will probably have to have some sort of lifter added under the heal as well. I am adding one more star to these because performance is now satisfactory. Fritschi really should make a lifter plate for the heal as an option, especially since these are marketed more towards Alpine skiers going to back country rather than nordic skiers. If fritschi had a solution I would give these 4 stars.

The Freerides have worked great for me in & out of area - nowadays I ride backcountry much more though (more pow - less $!). I rode the older Freerides for years before picking up some Sugar Daddies and upgrading the binding too. The old bindings held up really well, despite the "Fritschi Wiggle" which I didn't notice until reading reviews. The new +s are noticeably beefier, lock my boot in nice & tight, and haven't pre-released at all (I have ~10 days on them). I really like their ease of use and all 4 positions of the heel riser (Key for lots of ups & downs). Ride Free!

These bindings are great. Use them in/out, all kinds of conditions. Mounted on BD Kilowatts. Nice match.
There was one thing I noticed, early on. Snow can get jammed in between your heel and the binding when touring, requiring some ice chipping when you rip your skins. A friend recommended a light amount of spray on cooking oil to prevent the "stick" of the snow. Works o.k.

What more can be said about these bindings. They work well switching from in-bounds, to slackcountry, to sidecountry to backcountry.

The Freerides are tortionally stiff (drive my Gotamas nicely and will be throwing them on Megawatts). Easy to switch to touring mode from ski-mode. Biggest sell for me v. the Dukes is the climbing mode. They had 3 levels (walking and 2 climbing modes) which raise your foot much higher than Dukes appear to. This makes climbs w/ skins MUCH more comfortable.

If you are hucking 60 ft cliffs or have another reason for a 16 DIN, get the Dukes. Otherwise, I would recommend the Freerides.

I am a telemark skier who is filling out my gear quiver with AT gear. After receiving tons of silly and not so silly advice and a lot of "don't knows" this is what I discovered: These are great bindings, if you are marginal on the size range and could fit into 2 sizes, choose the smaller size.

I started out a Midwestern bump skier that got into AT when I moved to the west. These are the only AT bidding that I that allow me to go from the Back Country to under the lift without an afterthought. You also never boot out on a good aggressive corduroy turn due to the lift they provide. I will never go back to have two separate setups again. Even though they are expensive they saved me money by only having to buy one set of gear for all terrain! BUMPS and BC FOREVER!!!

2 seasons of full time patrolling and hard skiing on 1 pair. These bindings have performed flawlessly since day one. The release is smooth and predictable but they hold solid when you need them to. Unlike the duke, you can go from ski to tour mode without having to remove your skis which saves time and is safer in certain rescue situations on hairy terrain. I will never patrol on another binding. Only complaint is the price.

I read the reviews and I talked to some locals who had these up at my local hill, Alpental. They swore by them and said how they take air, carve on the groomers and climb with super ease. I believed them and you should believe me. These lived up to the hype and then some. I am amazed and find it hard to believe that I ever used regular bindings before. I put them on my 184 Volkl Mantra's and they are unflippinbelievable!

I put them on some Dynastar Legend Pros with Garmont Adrenalines and have never been happier. The good old Fritschi wobble is gone. They release well (I can attest to this up to DIN10) and tour well. Never released the touring mode unintentionally and relatively easy to get in and out of. Bit on the heavy side. Front DIN should be half a number higher as they seem a bit soft there like all prevous Fritschis.

Absolutely bomber, stiff, reliable, responsive binding. A bit heavier than some of the others out there, but you can throw these on some true fat alpine skis and control them as though you're on a dedicated alpine binding. Some postings mention the Diamir pivot point not being ideal for a natural foot swing. I haven't tried any other brands of AT bindings and can't comment, other than saying these skin much smoother than my old tele setup. They have never "auto-teled" on the descent either. A highly recommended AT binding for anything except multi-day long hauls with little vertical. But what's the fun in that?

I started skiing when I was six. Went snowboarding when I was nineteen and returned to skiing when I was 30. We used to build all kinds of "home made" touring bindings when we were kids in New Hampshire and did the same thing when we were running the old Burton Airs over the table saw to figure out how to make spitboards. When I went back to skiing I purchased a pair of T1 bindings to use with my Structuras wich were left over from my final split board days. After destroying the T1s I went to a T2 and ran those like a couple of rented mules until I could not get any more toe pieces from Black Diamond. I picked up a set of Freerides and went to town on those for a couple of years until I passed them on to some kid in Vermont with back country dreams and no money ( ya gotta give to those in need if your cup runs over). That day I picked up a set of Freeride Plus clamps and have since been all over Canada, Europe, the West and New England with them. These are the last bindings I will buy unless they come out with something better. Cometition is good as it provides the consumer with more choises but if you are looking for the one binding that does it all this is the one. I am 5'-7" and weigh 180 lbs and ski the Freeride Plus with Evo and Zzero 4U boots with a DIN set on 7.5 front and back and have NEVER popped out unless the fall requires the binding to release my boot. Do your self a favor and throw down for a pair. P.S. Mount them with brass helo-coils so you can use them with more than one paie of skis.

I sold my old AT setup - skis/skins/bindings. I bought new skis and I stuck with the Fritschi binding. They are dependable and easy to use in all snow conditions. I am 5'5" and 130 lbs and I am not an aggressive skier but I ski advanced terrain. I would recommend them under all circumstances (except a someone over 200 lbs and super aggressive). They are worth the extra weight.

I only have 3 days on these, but feel the marker barons are a much more solid binding. I'll update as they get more use. Initially, the binding worked well but seemed flimsy...as compared to the barons.

There is a reason these are the market standard for tourers who like to ski hard - they simply work. And very well - the release, the lifters, and the walk/ski switch are all very well designed. These will give you the confidence you need to push big skis to the limit on those deep days in the backcountry. I recently also used them in the resort and found no real problems, but these are meant for day tours in places like Rogers Pass and Jackson Hole. If you skin around only once per season, buy some Dukes and you will be fine. If you ski in a resort a few times a season, but mostly earn your turns and still like to ski hard, these are definitely the ticket. If you are willing to sacrifice downhill durability for weight, get a Dynafit setup and never look back.

This binding is a great touring binding. Tours really well on the uphill, with 4 different heel elevation positions. Very smooth lift. Pretty lightweight. This binding is great for someone who wants a binding exclusively for touring, and even for the person who wants a binding to ski inbounds and out. Even though there is a ton of plastic on this binding it is pretty durable, and feels quite solid. The only complaint I have about this binding is when actually skiing it, there is some lateral play. There is some side to side wobble when you're skiing downhill.

Used: 4 years, touring, in area with AT and alpine boots
Durability: excellent- some wear in the rear of the binding where it locks down for ski mode with no effect on performance. People who are breaking the are probably stomping on them with their opposite ski.
Vs. Marker: lighter, better materials, better riser, proven design. Higher rise off ski and din 12 may be negatives fir some.
Vs. Dynafit: heavier than; dynas can release in tour mode if too much lateral stress. Work with alpine boots

These have been trusty companions on several pairs of A/T skis and they work really well. I love the touring feel and pivot location. I prefer not having the optional springs installed--seems to allow me to execute switchbacks without having a mousetrap feel that the springs provide.

They are a bit heavy, which is making me lean towards going to Dynafits next year after 8 years of using Freerides. I've found them to be solid inbounds (yeah, they might flex a bit if you hammer the bumps like Moseley) and invisible in the backcountry.

Changing the lift is super-easy with the flick of a pole and locking them down for the most fun part of the day is just as simple and easy. Toe-height and length adjustments are equally easy--even in the field.

Great binding, but it is a little heavy... the only real downside.

Wow, what a great binding! Touring in moist snow can cause some small areas to suffer ice build up. Having something along to pick the ice out of some of the small spaces prior to locking the heel back down is handy.

They ski really well, this is a great choice for the performance minded skier pushing big boards or crossing over into resort skiing.

Best AT binding that I have skied that works with all boots. Use these bad boys for both backcountry and inbounds skiing. Even though you think the rise off the ski will be a big deal, its really not and it is barely noticeable. Dropped cliffs of small/moderate height, up to 25 feet to powder with no problems at all, and the ability to change to AT without taking your boot off makes it easy to switch when you hit flats while with other AT bindings you'd have to take your foot out and then clear all the snow off which on a deep day SUCKS, with these, its no worries all day.

Used these five times, then noticed the cheap plastic bracket holding the toe din spring broke. Hopefully they will warranty. Also pre released a hand full of times. Maybe I will have better luck with some dynafits? To bad I cant tour in my look turntables.

the is one of the BEST AT bindings out there. now i have been using these bindings for the past 8 years. over 1000 days on them. my only complaint is they are laterally a little soft. i wish they would lower them and widen the screw pattern for today wider skis. this isn't 1999 anymore.

I agree with the other reviewers that you need to set the DIN higher than you would expect. I was prematurely releasing on hard snow until I cranked mine up. Other than that, my only gripe is that the enclosed user manual contains no information about setting them up, although Lou Dawson provides ample information at wildsnow.com.

As far as on-hill performance, they have been fantastic. Every bit as stiff as I would expect an alpine binding to be at a fraction of the weight. And they climb well to boot.

Not sure I understand the one comment about having to reach down to put them in tour mode. Just use your ski pole to release the heel or set any of the three tour heights.

I usually ride on Diamir Explore bindings but had a chance to try these out. In short they are bombproof. They are noticeably stiffer than the Explore version. The action clicking in and out is much smoother and I didn't have any rattling while skiing on hardpack.

Whether you're bagging a peak in the Chugach or ripping down the groomers (not ideal), these bindings do it. I've put five seasons on my Fritschis and they're still holding up to abuse. I've used them for dozens of tours and even a good amount at the resort (more than I'd like to admit). I've never had a problem with the heel releasing while skiing. They do raise you up pretty high above the ski, and they do get some play over time, but all in all they are a good choice. Three levels for climbing, lightweight, and reliable.

These bindings are very solid. the three different touring modes and the ease of use is outstanding. I come from telemark sking and the flip turns on skin tracks are a little difficult due to the lack of a return spring. other than that hey hold me hucking off jumps and i weight 250 lb

This binding is by far the best AT binding on the market...bar none! The Marker Dukes cannot hold a candle to it in terms of durability, sensitivity, and quality of manufacture. While I do agree that for a touring only setup they are a little heavy when compared to Dynafits, they are good for those who head to the mountain and are not sure if they will play inbounds, slip into the sidecountry, or fully drop into the backcountry for an afternoon of fun. This one binding will do it all and then a little more should you ask it to. I want to address some of the "issues" that people have had with them. Firstly, MAKE SURE you get them setup by someone who knows how to set them up. Notice, I don't say bring it to any ski shop...you need a shop that knows how to adjust them perfectly for your BSL (boot sole length), your DIN, and also the toe height. If any of these are out of adjustment, then the binding can ski really sloppy and not feel tight. Also, it can be flat out dangerous. In addition, don't kick the fronts of your bindings to get the snow off your boots...it can lead to stress fracture which can eventually send you flying out of your toe retainer. Like all great ski items, it has one weakness, and that is you can't kick the heck out of it trying to get snow off your boots. Asides from that, they are better than the Dukes, tour as well as Dynafits, and flat out ROCK!

these bindings are officially more torsionally rigid than any binding marker makes. i mounted them on my b-squads. mount these on the biggest stiffest skis you can find, get some skins and you're the man.

I'm new to AT set up, and decided to just cough up the cash and get these. They're mounted on a Dynastar Exclusive all-mountain ski and are GREAT in- and out-of-bounds. I was hesitant to use them with lift service as to not wear them out or ride too hard, but they're beefy and sturdy. Plus they're lightweight. Very happy.

I wanted a beefy AT binding and was instantly drawn to the Dukes. After about half a season on the Dukes, I traded them in and got the Freerides....big difference. For starters, the Dukes would eat up the heel and toe portions of the boot...not so on the Freerides. I can also switch from skinning to downhill without taking my boot out...a big problem with the Dukes. Another point which I love about the Freerides are the lift positions and height: These things put you up there ready to take on the steep...not so on the Dukes (only 2 positions...both pretty useless except for really low angle). Lastly, some words on the performance. These things are lighter than the Dukes, so when combined with the heel lift options and height, it makes for much better touring...guess the Duke is really a side-country binding. Although the Duke has that 16 DIN, for my 145lbs, the 12 DIN on the FR's is more than enough for me. Lastly, I've seen folks talk about the height of the binding which is a non issue for anyone who has skied on a modern alpine binding lately with a lifter plate....aren't they standard/integral these days?

Great for touring and easy to use. I especaily like the differnt heel elvations good for hiking up steeps. I havent had a problem with them going in to touring mode when downhilling. Overall the bindings have met all my expectations i highly reconmend them.

Just completed a week long backcountry ski trip in the Norwegian Alps, and wanted to share my excitement about the bindings I bought just before the trip.
I am 6'6" and 250 lbs, and I am an aggressive skier. These bindings proved to be durable. I also enjoyed the heel release, without having to take off the skis to adjust. Also, the three height levels of the heel when hiking, proved to be a big plus. It makes for easier adjustments during the hike, for different terrain and slope angles. Once locked in and skiing, the bindings responded well, and gave me the confidence in all snow conditions, from hardpacked, powder to spring conditions (heavy snow).
I do recommend these bindings.

Ideal binding for backcountry tours... probably the best. Great mix of lightweight and burly. However, if you are looking for a crossover biding (backcountry and resort), these would work ok, but it may not be your best option. Just realize that the marker bindings are going to be heavier.

Just finished the first day on these...after nearly five hours of touring I can say that they perform above all expectations. The pivot point is perfectly placed, greatly reducing the energy needed to drive the ski while skinning. They do just as well going downhill, powering my gotamas with very little perceptable flex. They do create a slight dead spot underfoot, but nothing more than I have experienced with any other alpine binding. The heel piece is a bit stiff, making changing the boot angle a bit tough, but I expect that they will break in and this problem will solve itself.

Sweet binding that stands up to anything. I had a pair of Naxo's that I ruined within a month. I mounted these on my 185 pocket rockets and now I am unstoppable! Work awesome with my Garmont Adrenalines (with both soles too I might add)!
Go big or go home.

Skied them hard for many tours and several resort days. I'm 175-180 skiing everything from the Cascade concrete to the deep pow up in the BC backcountry and they haven't flinched. Frontside performance as solid as my old Look PX-12's. They're every bit as burly as the Dukes but much more touring-friendly due to their on-the-fly function and weight. If you love touring as much as you love aggressive lines... buy these.

Got the bindings last winter. Have to say they have rocked a 70 plus winter last year and are still killing it this winter. I know the they don't have as a high din setting as the marker duke bindings. But the ablitly to take my skins off at the top of the climb and switch from walk mode into ski mode without having to take the ski off in deep powder is a HUGE plus!!

These are bomber, light weight and very effective. Stable for both climbing and skiing.

Well for all those folks that have broken these bindings or are looking for a good AT binding that will hold up let me just say that the perfect AT binding probly doesn't exsit yet. Because it's either too heavy (the Duke which has it's problems also) or it doesn't hold ya in tight enough or it's too flimsy or whatever your gripe may be. I've also broken various bindings on the hill and I know that it sucks. I'am happy to report however that I have had nothing but good results with these and believe that these are the best bet for your money presently, unless your doing seriuos mountaneering and want light weight then go with the dynafits. Anyway back to the Fritschi's. I have put them through there paces from backcountry tours to hucking cliffs to resort skiing including some terrain park and just about anything else and they have held up. Do I have my complaints? Sure, I wish they sat closer to the ski and stuff but until something better comes along I'am a very satified user.

I used this binding on demo skis for several years before purchasing, and find the Freeride to be a great all-round choice for backcountry or resorts. I mounted these bindings on a pair of 177cm Volkl Mantras with Black Diamond Ascension STS skins and they have performed exactly as I expected. I would recommend this binding for any serious backcountry skier, as well as skiers that occasionally hit the resorts.

This is a great binding. I put in on my 183 gotamas. The breaks only have to be bent a little to get around the 105mm waist. Make sure to set your DIN high.

Bought these in France last year, and have had about 30 resort days and 15 touring days on them, only once have they turned into Tele turn mode whilst skiing. They vibrate when pushed, on hard pack, but for me that’s there only down fall, they tour and climb very well and after using them 2 - 3 days a week for a season, they look like they'll be good for another couple of seasons yet

Hey these are expensive bindings, but they do absolutely rock. The springs located in the bar running down the middle of the binding are very responsive and will aid with your turning, snapping you out of your turns as it loads and releases. It really is no joke, these things are fun!

These bindings are pretty lightweight considering how beefy they are. Excellent in and out of bounds, although they tend to release prematurely when bump skiing or when making super hard lean-way-over turns on hardpack.

I bought these new for last season. Shredded all year on them for both resort skiing and touring. Getting into them can be tricky, but you will get the hang of it. Very lightweight and easy to use. The toe friction plate is slightly worn so I might send them back or get a replacement piece from Black Diamond. Oh yeah, this model is way better than the older white model. Bueno!

Performs well in out-of-bounds as well as in-bounds, never had a problem with them releasing when they shouldn't (6'2" 230). They are easily adjustable to allow your friends to try touring, my 335mm boot fits in the upper end of the M size, and I also used an XL pair that worked great as well. It's important to maintain the tightness of the bindings' screws however, there are a lot of them and there isn't much meat to the bindings so they undergo a lot more tortional stress than other bindings I think. Especially in AT mode. I recently had the base plate of one crack in half after a hard two seasons of use, not surprising really. I'll be replacing them soon with more Fritschis!