Marker Duke Review

[Core Shot]

P.S.- These things were never field tested between production and delivery, so essentially YOU are the R&D for this product. And don't think that they are ready for mass warranties or a recall... they sold every pair that they made this year. Good luck. I'm waiting for the first generation design to do a whole season before I plunk down the cash!

I felt the same way, until I heard from so many pros and cliff huckers that were oh so satisfied with the prototypes and preliminary production run.

Will the first gen version have flaws to be fixed in future versions?
yes.
Will there be random defects?
yes.

Are they better than Fritschi?
Without question for most sidecoutnry useage.

[Dirk Diggler]

After some time touring on the Duke I figured I post a few impressions. I've got 5 Dynafit rigs so thats what I'm used to. I originally picked these up with the intention of mostly using these for snomo access, but with my Lotus 120's not back from warranty I ended up skinning them on a pair of Praxis for a couple of days this week.

The good:
The franken pivot of the freeride is non exsistent on the Duke. I'd say the stride is nearly as natural as a dynafit. I was pretty surprised. This makes the binding feel lighter under foot than I expected. Its still heavy, but its not as noticeable as I thought it would be.
As expected, the Duke skis very solid. I can't say I'd ski anything on a Duke that I wouldn't do on Comfort, but I'm not a huge hucker either. One problem newbie dynafit users have is thinking they are locked in when they aren't. When you step into the Duke, you know for sure you're in.

The bad:
Taking off your skis and wallowing in waist deep snow to rip skins and fuck around with locking down your heel is bullshit. The argument that people like to hang out for a minute at the top holds no weight with me. If I want to hang out, I'll hang out on my skis. I also found that I spent more time cleaning snow out the track than I've ever spent with Dynafits. People talk about "Dynafiddle", but there is way more fiddling with the Duke.

Also as mentioned, the heel lifter is pretty weak. The lowest setting is worthless and the high is too short. I'd like to see both heights increased by at least a 1/2". They also should have made the lifter protrude more from the back of the binding to make it easier to tap down with a pole on the fly. Its doable but requires more accuracy than should be required.

Brakes. I hate fucking brakes. I don't know how many times I hooked one brake on the other while skinning. My brakes are bent as close to the ski as possible, but they still hang up. They are worthless on powder skis anyway. Might have to toss those bastards in the trash.

Fingers. How many people are going to break a finger on that mode change lever? I got bit pretty good once with cold fingers and that shit hurts. I also had the toe piece pivot onto my finger while putting skins on in tour mode and that hurts too. Got to remember to put on skins, then switch to tour. I guess I'm just not used to all the moving parts of the plate type design.

Can't say I'll buy another pair, but they are nice for the occasional bc skier sidecountry/quick skin exploits. For people who skin for all there turns, Dynafit is still the only way to go.

[Chris Knight]

Funny Dirk, I was just thinking of you yesterday after our "conversation" about Dukes on Praxis/120s in my other thread a while back.

I ended up with the Dukes on the Praxis, and toured with them for the first time yesterday.

Stride = great, no probs. Maybe more problems with the girth of the boards than anything else. I do think I'll have to watch the hip flexors.
Weight = agreed, heavier than other stuff, but whatever, you know what you're getting. Not really all that heavy considering.
Binding = skis perfectly, a zillion times better than the freerides.
Heel lift = didn't actually bother me. Yes, I am going to buy or make a longer one that both sticks out further and gets me more lift, but meantime it wasn't a big deal.
Switching = Also, didn't bother me, because it was no different from what I always do - stand on one ski, pop the other off, lock the heel, rip the skin, put the ski down, click in, repeat.
Switch = agreed on this one, why does this little piece have to be such a painful pointy thing?
Track = agreed, I think this will be the "issue" for the binding if there is one. You do have to clear the track to get the plate back in, and I could imagine in wetter climates than CO how this could really ice up. Time will tell.

Overall, I still give it a solid A for it's intended purpose.
And the Praxis are RIDICULOUS. (In a good way).

[Dirk Diggler]

I'd give them an A for their intended purpose as well. I guess I'm just saying that I reaffirmed that they weren't intended for everyday touring. I'm guessing the Duke/Praxis rig is 2-3 pounds/ ski heavier than my 120/Dynafit rig and that's pretty tough to swallow, regardless of how good it skis. I'm definately going to skin the Praxis more than I originally thought I would because they are super fun as you well know, but I still love my 120's.

[toiletduck]

Chris - how was touring on Praxis in general with the Dukes?

[This is me]

Who stocks these in Canada and what's the best rate going? Thanks

[shirk]

Who stocks these in Canada and what's the best rate going? Thanks

use google you fuckwit

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

Go grab a Duke, put it in tour mode, lift up the heel, move side to side. Notice how sloppy it is? Notice all the plastic parts flexing and hitting each other? Notice how the heel comes down to the left or right of the heel track while sidehill climbing?

Sure, the Duke is rock solid in ski mode, but I don't think that you bought it to just alpine on...I hope. I mean they look cool, and people might get the impression that you are a backcountry skier when they see in the lift line with your poser pack and all but sheesh... these things suck for true backcountry!

P.S.- If you own Dukes but don't own climbing skins, you are a poser!

[snoboy]

P.S.- If you own Dukes but don't own climbing skins, you are a poser!

I own climbing skins, but not Dukes, what does that make me?

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

I own climbing skins, but not Dukes, what does that make me?

A real backcountry skier.

[This is me]

P.S.- If you own Dukes but don't own climbing skins, you are a poser!

Or maybe you like Vibram on the bottom of your boots, a comfy liner and walk mode so you don't shuffle around like a robot.

[This is me]

use google you fuckwit

Shouldn't you be doing your homework, it is a school night

[My Pet Powder Goat]

"Or maybe you like Vibram on the bottom of your boots, a comfy liner and walk mode so you don't shuffle around like a robot."

so Ucan just bootpack around like a gaper asshat?

[Phill]

Go grab a Duke, put it in tour mode, lift up the heel, move side to side. Notice how sloppy it is? Notice all the plastic parts flexing and hitting each other? Notice how the heel comes down to the left or right of the heel track while sidehill climbing?

Sure, the Duke is rock solid in ski mode, but I don't think that you bought it to just alpine on...I hope. I mean they look cool, and people might get the impression that you are a backcountry skier when they see in the lift line with your poser pack and all but sheesh... these things suck for true backcountry!

P.S.- If you own Dukes but don't own climbing skins, you are a poser!

I haven't tried the Dukes yet

..........

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

..........

I have since skied them. NOT impressed. And I ski Markers on all my alpine skis! I just think that Freerides work better for touring. The Duke has spawned a whole group of backcountry posers that are attracted to the look of AT gear but never actually take avalanche courses or go touring.

And using BC gear for resort skiing is silly. I don't care if the boots are easy to walk to the ski lift in.

[Phill]

And I ski Markers on all my alpine skis!

.........................

[My Pet Powder Goat]

I have since skied them. NOT impressed. And I ski Markers on all my alpine skis!

flamebroiled anyone?

[summit]

I have since skied them. NOT impressed. And I ski Markers on all my alpine skis! I just think that Freerides work better for touring. The Duke has spawned a whole group of backcountry posers that are attracted to the look of AT gear but never actually take avalanche courses or go touring.

And using BC gear for resort skiing is silly. I don't care if the boots are easy to walk to the ski lift in.

hehehe this one has spirit... I like that.... but it skis teh alpine markerz... hmm....

[Rimjob]

I ski Markers on all my alpine skis!

You're disqualified.

[shirk]

Shouldn't you be doing your homework, it is a school night

If you are smart enough to know what day of the week it is I would guess that you are smart enough to use google. So piss off back epicski.com where you belong.

[Core Shot]

Holy shit, this thread of once great information and opinion has been thoroughly jongified.

Is this the future?

[Dirk Diggler]

Go grab a Duke, put it in tour mode, lift up the heel, move side to side. Notice how sloppy it is? Notice all the plastic parts flexing and hitting each other? Notice how the heel comes down to the left or right of the heel track while sidehill climbing?

Drop the tude dude. You're full of shit if you think a freeride tours or skis better than the Duke. The pivot alone is much better. I experienced no slop skinning. Haven't hammered it on hard snow, but I've had none of the issues you describe in the full days of breaking trail I've got on the binding.
Backcountry Poser? My Dukes will likely never see the light of a ski area.

[Chris Knight]

I'll agree with Dirk, no attitude needed.

That said, I'll also mention that I noticed the play that DropCliffsNotBombs saw in the plastic piece in the toe housing that holds the pin on which the pivot happens, HOWEVER, having toured on them a bit now, I FELT NONE and noticed none in the field. I don't know if stepping the boot in eliminates that play or what, but I had NO slop when I used the binding in "real" life.

I'm wondering if all that DCNB has done is mess with this in the shop?

[Chris Knight]

I have since skied them. NOT impressed.

No wait, answered my own question.

So, I don't get it. You really think the Freeride tours better?
I don't even think it's close. I've been on the Freeride for 5 years or so now, ever since they came out in Europe, the year before they were distributed in the US.

I definitely prefer the Duke, weight penalty aside.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

I remember reading in a post somewhere around here...
a mag said the "slop" that was present on the dukes while fondling them at the shop is eliminated by the boot and the forward pressure.

I bought freerides when they first came out a few years ago ($149 retail!!) and have broken them a few times, (usually where the the front screws are) and BD has always replaced them, even gave me a pair of newer white ones last time. So I don't mind new production cuz they usually warranty u into the 2nd gen setup

I'm personally fuckin' stoked 2 get them but its the whole Praxis/duke setup that's got me creamin my ski pants!