Mine broke

By cra3193842 Ranked #803 - Alpine Touring Bindings November 29, 2009

I originally liked these bindings, using them about 25 times resort skiing and about 10 in the backcountry last year. Never had any problems with them at all. I've heard about problems with the AFD in the toe, but I put these things through hell jumping in the park and off off stuff (weighing about 215 lbs with gear on). Never released when I shouldn't have.The problem I have with them is in the backcountry. They do do the job- they get you up the hill- but thats about it. Ease of use is a major issue. Whenever the weather/sonw conditions are conducive to snow sticking to your skis, it makes it really hard to get the binding back into downhill mode (especially when ice forms in the slots the binding slides along). I can fumble around for 5 min plus (and often have to take my gloves off) to get them back into ride mode.The main problem I had with them is the metal piece, which is pretty thin gauge steel, that holds the pivoting part of the binding to the mounting plate that is fixed to the ski (not sure what to call it). Because of what the function of this piece is, there is naturally a lot of stress placed upon the part. I believe it broke on my skis because of the very wet and heavy snow that I was breaking trail through (the type of snow that is like concrete when compacted). The snow was wet enough to build up between the underneath of the pivoting part of the binding and the ski, then each time I stepped down I put pressure on this part (the part is raised up off the ski about 3/4" when in climbing mode), which caused it to flex and eventually break. Once broken, my foot, with the binding attached to my boot, completely slid off the mounting plate, thus leaving my ski behind. Could have been a very serious problem if I hadn't been only a short hike to the resort. I did find that I could keep my binding on the ski as long as I went up a decent slope. It could be used for downhill skiing, but the binding would slide back and forth on the rail about a half an inch.One additional thing to think about regarding these bindings for resort skiing (I think this applies to the Fritschi and other similar bindings) is the solid plate or support strut that connects the two ends of the bindings together does not flex very well when the ski is arcing. Because this plate is fixed to the ski, it creates a sort of dead area on the ski underneath the foot. It is not a huge deal, but should be thought of when looking at pros and cons.I bought this ski as I was getting into A/Ting, now that I have experience I can tell you that this binding does not do a good job of doing both A/T and resort skiing. Something else might, but I would say buy a touring binding for touring and an alpine binding for alpine.

Oh, and the heel riser got loose on one so it wouldn't stay in the up position.

View Details: Marker Duke Ski Binding

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes