AT Tech Binding Advice

I'm planning on purchasing new bindings for a new pair of G3 FINDr 94 skis I purchased on sale from Backcountry.com earlier this year.  With all the tech binding options out there, I'm finding it difficult to make a decision.  Here is a list of the tech bindings I am considering:

1. Dynafit Radical ST 2.0
2. G3 ION 12
3. Fritschi Tecton 12
4. Fritschi Vipec EVO 12

Here's a link The above video is Martin Volken's in-depth YouTube review of the Tecton Bindings.  Martin is an IFMGA guide with about forty days on the new Tectons.

I was recently fitted at my closest shop (three hours away) with a pair of 2018 Scarpa Maestrale RS boots, which I purchased last week.

I was originally going to pull the trigger on the updated G3 ION 12s, but after talking to my boot fitter, he made me aware of Fritschi's Vipec and Tecton bindings.  After a little research and the term "dream binding" and "Wow" being thrown around, the Tecton bindings look very appealing.  Also, I think I get a pro deal on the Fritschi bindings through Black Diamond, which obviously cuts my costs significantly.

Fritschi's claim-to-fame is the ability to transition from skin/ski/skin without having to take your boots completely out of the binding, as far as I can tell.

Being that this year will be the first generation of the Tecton binding, I'm a little apprehensive on buying the Tecton due to the possibility of warranty/failure issues, especially since the majority of the binding is some-sort of high-end plastic.  Obviously, the ION 12 and Radical 2.0 are mostly metal, tried and true.

I am by no means an expert skier and would consider myself an intermediate.  I have a several years of resort/alpine skiing experience and one season (last winter) on an AT setup I rented and/or borrowed from a friend. I will do a vast majority of my skinning and skiing in the Northeast.  At this point, I would say uphill performance is slightly more important to me than downhill performance as I don't see myself deep in the backcountry skiing slides or big peaks just yet. I would also like to ski this setup at the resort as well. 

The ability to transition from skin/ski/skin really appeals to me.  Additionally, I was told by an acquaintance that I climb with, if he were me, he'd go with the Fritschi line for that very reason: skin/ski/skin with seamless transitions. 

What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

For what it's worth, I don't really see the advantage of ski/skin transitions without removing the boot. I generally don't feel a need to rip skins without taking skis off, and I certainly can't imagine applying them while wearing skis. 

I've been running Ion LT 12's with great success, and they're generally what I recommend. Simple, tried and true, solid, cheap, and light. I run B&D ski leashes instead of brakes for AT skis, because the brakes on tech bindings tend to suck ass. And losing a ski in the BC would be terrible. 

I'd stay away from the Tecton for a season or two, practically every tech binding ever has major issues it's first model year or two. 

Edit: just saw you get prodeal on Fritschis. In that case, I'd narrow things down to the Vipecs and the Ion 12s. 

I think that the category of "freeride" equipment like the tecton is mostly a marketing gimmick aimed at dudes who don't ski nearly as hard as they think they do. It's a lot of additional weight for something that might work a little better. I've never had an issue with my Speed turn 2.0s personally. Also almost every new binding has had issues in the first generation, so you have to accept that you're a beta tester. I'd go for a proven pin binding design like the ion or radical 2.0. Unless you're going to ski bumps and jumps hard at the resort, then go with something more burly.

Edit: Switching from ski to tour without taking your skis off is pretty useless since you have to take you skis off to put skins on. Taking skins off with the skis on is pretty easy (I find) but any binding can go this way.

Being three hours away from a shop, I would stay away from the Tecton for a bit. The original Vipec had a number of issues its first year out, as have a number of other tech bindings. Check out reviews on Wildsnow as well as the Blister binding comparison to get more impressions but generally for ski feel a lot of people would rank these bindings Vipec->Ion->Radical FT. Personally, I just switched from Speed Radicals to Vipec Evos this year for the better feel while skiing. Really though, you can't go wrong with any of these bindings, and all of them will feel a bit rough inbounds. Not something I would recommend.

As far as transitions, all of these bindings will allow you to transition skinning to skiing without removing skis. I personally can't imagine taking skis off to rip skins, but to each their own. Transitioning from skiing back to skinning without taking skis off isn't really a thing. The advantage of the Vipecs is for rolling egresses from tours where you're skiing out and all of a sudden need to release your heel to fishbone up a small incline. Not something I would consider a deal-breaker.

Good luck, and honestly you can't go wrong with any of those three bindings, though I would suggest looking at the Evo over the Tecton.

Don't go with a tech binding that's full of fluff and features. KISS theory applies to these bindings as the more moving parts they have the more likely they are to break. From your list the only two I'd recommend are the:

1. Dynafit Radical ST 2.0
2. G3 ION 12

And out of those two I'd personally lean toward the G3 ION over the radical due to the stiffer interface, and the resulting better ride.

Vipec evo. 

Another vote for the Vipec evo.  

Echo what others have said: any binding can go skin to ski without removing the ski (if you're flexible enough you shouldn't have too much trouble ripping skins). The ability to go from ski to skin without taking the skis off is only useful on slightly rolling terrain when in "nordic mode" (skinning without skins). And any first-gen binding is going to have growing pains, so unless you want to spend a decent amount of time either wrenching on your skis or leaving them at a shop, I would avoid the Tecton.

I would replace the Radical ST 2.0 on your list with the updated version, the Rotation. Should be easier to step in to with the ball bearing detent that prevents rotation while stepping in.

Rotation and Vipec have more toe elasticity, which may be helpful depending on how hard you ski (which as was mentioned upthread is probably not as hard as you think you do :P). G3 just had a recall on some of their bindings as well, so I would look into that before making your decision. 

I sent you a PM about the Dynafits, so check your inbox.

Thank you to all who've chimed in.  I've narrowed it down to the ION 12s and the Vipec EVOs.  I'm leaning towards the G3s, but those who recommended the Vipec EVOs, can you explain why you'd choose them over the G3 ION 12s?  Am I comparing Chevy to Dodge here, or is just personal/brand preference?  Is Fritschi offering something G3 isn't at this point?

The vipec releases at the toe, whereas the ion releases from the heal. I agree with other folks that the vipec feels a bit more solid due to the fact that your heal isn't floating front/back or side/to/side on the pins as in a typical pin binding (e.g., dynafit speed radical, ion, etc.). The release from the toe can be safer for certain types of falls like catching a ski on a snow snake/rock/etc. or a forward twisting fall. The heal release of the ion may be safer for knees in some scenarios. There's some research and discussion on this topic around the web if you look. 

Basically, the vipec is a new and pioneering design due to the toe release and elasticity it features, whereas the ion is a solid implementation of a tried and true tech binding concept. If the price is lower for the vipec, I don't see any downsides. The evo model appears to have made the binding entry as easy as the ion or anything out there. I also think there is a benefit to being able to go to tour mode without stepping out of the ski. If you are skiing out of a hut or a longer tour with flats, you can go to tour easily and kick and glide, and then transition back to fixed heal whenever necessary.

AlpineIce wrote:

 Is Fritschi offering something G3 isn't at this point?

Yeah actually.....  A toe release!

Omg.

And a solid ride up and down.

In all seriousness......

Took a look at the skis you got and found they are carbon skis and pretty light to boot, aimed more at touring than resort or radical backcountry skiing.

So if it were me I wouldn't put ANY of those bindings on those skis.  Go find a deal on a super light touring binding and mount those on your skis.

With the Maestrale RS being a stiff (130 flex) boot, and what you say you want to ski I would suggest you find a much burlier ski for those boots and the bindings you are interested in.  

Lots of folks start off trying to find one pair of skis that do it all, but that doesn't exist.  You will like carbon skis touring in good snow, on groomers and in perfect conditions, but not so much in tougher conditions, especially if you are aggressive.

I didn't like my Radical 2.0s, the toe piece can pivot a small amount laterally on either side and it made stepping into them in deep snow a lot more difficult for me. I've been using Ion LTs on my setup for a year now and really love them. Personally I'd give Fritschi a year to work out the potential kinks in the Tecton. As great as it looks a mid season recall would be horrible and seeing as it's mostly plastic I'm very apprehensive. 

coldfinger wrote:

In all seriousness......

Took a look at the skis you got and found they are carbon skis and pretty light to boot, aimed more at touring than resort or radical backcountry skiing.

So if it were me I wouldn't put ANY of those bindings on those skis.  Go find a deal on a super light touring binding and mount those on your skis.

With the Maestrale RS being a stiff (130 flex) boot, and what you say you want to ski I would suggest you find a much burlier ski for those boots and the bindings you are interested in.  

Lots of folks start off trying to find one pair of skis that do it all, but that doesn't exist.  You will like carbon skis touring in good snow, on groomers and in perfect conditions, but not so much in tougher conditions, especially if you are aggressive.

Not all carbon skis are equal. I love my Pure3 Wailers in all conditions but ice, and that's more testament to the shape of the ski not that fact that they have carbon. There's nothing wrong with sticking an Ion or Radical Rotation on the ski he mentioned. I've demoed them with the old radical and they ski great and the binding is certainly not overkill. That being said, there are much better and more fun skis out there on the market that are light enough to tour and much more versatile IMO. 4FRNT Raven, Hoji; DPS Wailer 112, 106; Black Crow Navis and Corvus Freebirds; Dynafit Beast 108; Volkl 100Eight to name a few

As a splitboarder I find myself skin-skiing fairly often on slopes that aren't long enough to justify a transition but still take a bit of skill to get down.  I've become proficient at skiing my fat asymmetric skis with the toes locked, the heels free, and skins on the bottom enough to link a few pow turns.  I'd also be pretty happy if I could quickly lock the heel down to side step my way up something that I couldn't fit a kick turn in.  I wouldn't dismiss the ability to transition both ways without popping the ski off but you probably won't be getting a skin back on without pulling the ski off.

I have been riding the Tectons hard for a few days at the resort with no issues.   IMO, much more enjoyable on the downhill than traditional tech bindings, and I have yet to experience a unwanted release.

Jason4Too wrote:

As a splitboarder I find myself skin-skiing fairly often on slopes that aren't long enough to justify a transition but still take a bit of skill to get down.  I've become proficient at skiing my fat asymmetric skis with the toes locked, the heels free, and skins on the bottom enough to link a few pow turns.  I'd also be pretty happy if I could quickly lock the heel down to side step my way up something that I couldn't fit a kick turn in.  I wouldn't dismiss the ability to transition both ways without popping the ski off but you probably won't be getting a skin back on without pulling the ski off.

If you get Karakoram bindings you can lock the heel down.  Not recommended for going down hill, have a 6 "DIN" ratings. Good for side hilling and long flat areas you can skate. 

Parker Wrozek wrote:

If you get Karakoram bindings you can lock the heel down.  Not recommended for going down hill, have a 6 "DIN" ratings. Good for side hilling and long flat areas you can skate. 

The only problem then is that you're on a Karakoram setup.     You can lock heels on Spark and Voile setups as well.   

Parker Wrozek wrote:

If you get Karakoram bindings you can lock the heel down.  Not recommended for going down hill, have a 6 "DIN" ratings. Good for side hilling and long flat areas you can skate. 

My first split bindings were Karakorams, then I briefly went to Voiles while I was playing with AT boots for splitboarding, now I'm on Phantoms and I can lock the heels down if I want to but it's not worth it for just a few steps sideways.  I still just freeheel my way around.  Occasionally I'll pull the skins and ski a run in the ski area free-heeled.  I'm doing ok.

How are you digging the Phantom rig?    I switched to hard boots this year for Sierra/Volcano season setup, I'm liking the simplicity of the Spark setup after two seasons on Karakoram.    The Phantoms looked like a lot of moving parts, are you having any icing or loosening issues? 

I like the sparks as well but I got too good a deal not to go with Karakoram. As long as you avoid Voile you are doing good imo. I haven't run into any problems with Karakoram stuff either. I don't understand the push for hard boots on a board (you are better off getting a ski setup at that point). But I use my setup to ride powder and that is it (so not trying to climb ice or mixed to get to steep lines). 

I haven't looked into the Spark or Voile heel lock, I didn't know about or use this feature when I was on these bindings. I would be a bit worried if the system doesn't release in a fall though. I will check it out.