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Gear Review
Marker Duke Ski Binding
Item #MRK0036
|
9 in Stock
Marker Duke 16 Ski Binding
By Nate Blouin
Ranked #151 - Alpine Touring Bindings
December 11, 2009
These things are idiot proof. Haven't put them through a whole lot of skiing yet, but what I've done has been sick. The only thing I can really see being an issue is buildup of ice in the walk to ski transfer, but that can be easily chipped away with a pole. Also they are a bit high off the ground, but after a couple runs in soft snow and even groomers I really haven't noticed it.
View Details: Marker Duke Ski Binding
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Change me.
5 Comments Last Reply: January 6, 2010 By: D. Joshua Christensen
Still though, I use this binding for my touring setup and it is better than the alternative.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Well, Dan is partially right, but he is only taking into account people that want to make narrower turns. Skiers that want to straight line as many lines as possible or skiers that are touring in order to get to backcountry kickers don't want lift. These type of skiers want to feel the flex of the ski naturally, and they don't want to be higher off of the ski which can cause them to catch an edge when landing backwards in powder or when not turning through crud.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
You have a point about waist width on today's skis. However, there is essentially no advantage to being right on the ski as far as turning goes. Lift is an advantage to prevent booting out as you stated, but that is only part of the picture. It is actually not all that much of an issue on hard snow if you have proper angulation and you are countered with shoulders square to the hill. It is precisely in soft snow conditions that booting out is an issue. The booting out, as I mentioned, is only part of the picture though. Lift allows you to get your feet out from underneath your upper body, giving you increased angulation allowing you to shorten your turning radius as well be more aggressive as you get on more challenging terrain. This is why racers use as much lift as the rules allow, and using any more is an unfair advantage. This applies to any snow conditions and any type of skiing. Lift is not critical in backcountry/soft snow conditions, but it is in no way a detriment. Provided the lift still has torsional rigidity, which the duke does, it is always helpful assuming you can achieve big angles without leaning in. It is a big part of the reason I like the binding so much.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
height is an advantage on hard snow, partially to avoid "booting out". in soft snow, it is most definitely not an advantage. the ski width most people mount these on does even more to negate that, while also preventing booting out on harder snow!
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Actually for skiing a lifter is an advantage. Gives you more leverage for angulation. They limit height in ski racing and if they didn't everyone would have over 2 inches of lift. As long as the mechanism doesn't have any play in it(and my dukes don't) it should ski better.
Helpful Votes: 4 Yes