New Marker touring binding

[marshalolson]

so the f12 is lighter than the fritschi/naxos of the world, and will undoubtably ski significantly better. why will these not be popular? because it take 20 seconds to click out, switch modes, and click in? OMG!!! i switch modes 43 times per tour!!! DEAL BREAKER!!! [/liz lemon]

[single]

That would be sweet if they have the same hole pattern as the duke. Is square tail around?

[knumbskull]

From what I can see in the 2nd picture the climbing bar looks redesigned

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

I can't wait until Salomon gets into the AT binding market. They are making AT boots now... We can dream can't we?

[summit]

OMG!!! i switch modes 43 times per tour!!! DEAL BREAKER!!! [/liz lemon]

You can't have this binding anyways. You'll break the plastic just by looking at it

[squaretail]

Yes, same hole pattern as a Duke/Baron.

Yes, new climbing bar.

[hoarhey]

Cool....

[FlimFlamvanHam]

Yes, same hole pattern as a Duke/Baron.

Yes, new climbing bar.

Damn, and 1760 grams per pair...next thing you're going to tell us is Marker's built a little delta into it...

[Beyond]

I think a whole lot of chicks and light dudes who don't hit giant airs would be interested in this binder.
I think that's most likely why Marker made it.

Lighter male here who doesn't do a lot of air, very interested in the 12 version for touring. And look: How many here have personally had failures with plastic while touring, as opposed to dropping 20 footers or forcing your binding with your boot because you can't get it in? If the latter, then stay with metal, all good. Better, agitate for a 9 pound all steel setup with a 24 DIN. If not, unclear modern plastic is that much different in performance, just less weight and less cool.

[knumbskull]

Can you tell us more about the redisgned climbing bar? Different height? Easier to actuate? etc...

[srsosbso]

1760g, DIN 12, and I don't give a shit about the ski/tour mode switching. I would swap my barons for these in a hearbeat.

[jondrums]

Please oh please I hope they fixed the AFD problems! something tells me no, because it looks exactly the same from that photo. On the plus side, it looks like it will be interchangable if it is any better.

[PowTron]

I like the futuristic molded plastic aerodynamic look...

I think it is a good entry for them, but not for me. I don't do many huge airs (15ft is good a lot for me), but I am heavy and have zero finesse at all, hence the Duke

[Ted Striker]

squaretail,

One size fits all, or are there still going to be small/large versions?

[trees4me]

The F12 looks perfect!

Not being able to quickly switch b/n ski/tour mode is a minor inconvenience to me. I've broken a few of the plastic pieces on my Duke, but they've been warranteed, and overall I'm very happy with them. I just bent the main rails underfoot on my new nx22s after less then 4 days. I'd really like something lighter than the Duke for multi-day trips, and there's no way i'm taking my 280-lbs of self/gear near any small metal pins.

How do I get a proto this spring?

[Hugh Conway]

there's no way i'm taking my 280-lbs of self/gear near any small metal pins.

they'll break less than the plastic bits.

[flip]

If the F12 is a lower, stiffer, lighter version of a Fritschi, I'm in.

Switching modes without removed skis is irrelevant to me. I tour on dynafits and almost anytime I switch modes, I take the skis off to remove or mount skins. I can't mount skins with the skis on, so popping out of ski mode is useless to me. Sure, I can remove skins without taking skis off, but it's awkward and can't be more than 15 seconds faster unless you are incapable of stepping in and out of a step-in binding.

[thd]

Can you tell us more about the redisgned climbing bar? Different height? Easier to actuate? etc...

Yes please!

[squaretail]

Climbing bar is lighter (obviously) and much easier to manipulate than the Duke. 2 positions...7 degrees and 13 degrees.

Yes, 2 sizes, SM and L.

Different AFD than Duke.

[doublet]

Climbing bar is lighter (obviously) and much easier to manipulate than the Duke. 2 positions...7 degrees and 13 degrees.

Yes, 2 sizes, SM and L.

Different AFD than Duke.

Sickness.

[GeezerSteve]

. . . there's no way i'm taking my 280-lbs of self/gear near any small metal pins.

I do. I range from 238 - 255 lbs. buck naked, often >280 lbs. with multi-day pack. Dynafit Comforts have held up very well. One heel pin sheared off after est. 60 days of skiing and a few broken volcanoes (no adverse affect on performance). Otherwise, no problems w/ >120 days (40% lift skiing) on Comforts and FT12's. Note that I'm pretty good about care and feeding, e.g., snugging down screws, lubing, adjusting, etc., and I don't huck.

A spare heel weighs a few ounces and can be quickly changed out in the field.

It's nice to see more AT binder options on the market. But I'll need some persuading before abandoning my Dynafits.

[trees4me]

Big Steve - Thanks, that's really good to get a decent review from a big guy! I don't really huck with a heavy pack on, but 10-15' isn't out of the question. I also find that combat skiing to snowline in hard snow conditions is what seems to put the most stress on my AT gear. It's in those situations where I want a binding with a good release mechanism and reasonable DIN (I usually run about 12).

The dukes have been good (except the AFD and climbing bar-bent), so I'll probably try the F12. Hopefully Marker has figured out a better AFD design by now...

[GeezerSteve]

I also find that combat skiing to snowline in hard snow conditions is what seems to put the most stress on my AT gear.

I would generally agree with this observation. Frozen tree bombs, frozen avy debris, tree banging, etc. are tough on any AT binding, of course. Dynafit lack of elasticity (great for control, but little energy dissipation) does not help that. But they are amazingly tough binders, tougher than FR's, IME. And so lightweight and efficient. Dynafit is the pound-for-pound champion of the AT binding world, for sure.

I'm certain that my heel pin failure was a fatigue failure after thousands of bam-bam-bam cycles. The sheared pin was on my spring touring skis (King Salmon), which get way more firm condition abuse and are also stiffer than my other AT rigs. I have more days on my mid-winter rig (Shamans w/Comforts) w/ no failures (other than a few broken volcanoes -- no big deal), but they don't get banged around on firm stuff all that much. Only a few days so far on my 'tweener rig (AP's w/ FT12's).

[SpinalTap]

Marker updated the site. Details and pictures at:

http://www.marker-tour.com/

[bl2000]

Still has the 34 mm stand height that the dukes and barons have. <<sigh>>
The greatest benefit of the dynafits IMO isn't the weight, but that it puts me near the ski. (OK, the weight rocks too.)