New Marker touring binding

[squirrelmurphy]

Yeah, normal skiing, although it was not skiing I would normally do on Dynafits. Had comforts on Explosive 3s, tore out a toepiece while carving a turn on a groomer. Going fast, but nothing crazy, just apparently a bunch of force. It sheared the metal topsheet off in a pretty tight outline of the toepiece, and took a lot of core material with it (core material dry, looked like fresh wood. I had skinned up and spent the night at the mtn, otherwise I would generally avoid skiing Dynafits inbounds. I've also broken one of the plastic pieces that guide the heel pin out of the heel piece. Made the binding fully un-usable mid day. Also pretty normal skiing, though I had done some inbounds stuff recently.

BS, I don't think any other boots have failed at the insert, though I do know people have broken both toe and heel pins. I just don't like the finnicky nature of the bindings. They tour awesome, but just generally sketch me out. I've hucked and charged on them and been fine, but also pre-released at din 12 for no reason, insta-tele'd too many times, and never found a tech boot that I was happy skiing in. Meh, just not for me.

F12 definitely a Fritschi competitor, only reason to get it over dynas is if you can't find a tech boot you can ski, or if you need the elasticity of a spring-loaded toe piece.

[SILENCER]

For duke/baron owners or those who have fondled these new bindings - how easy will it be to flip the climbing bar up and down while skinning? Seems like that's a big disadvantage the duke/barons have compared to FR's.

Hmmmmm. Looking at them up close they do seem easier to access than Dukes. I think it could be done w/practice with your pole fairly easily. The red "cap" on the end looks like a nice target. Worst case you use the basket of your pole to push on it...might help to catch it easier.

[roadgap]

Yeah I was looking at that red cap. Really hoping these end up being the fritschi-killer they seem like they might be. I'm going to see if I can fondle them in a shop in the next month or so.

[arewolfe]

Regarding the weights previously posted:

The small F10s weigh in at 1685g = under 3.75 pounds if you're willing to go brake-less. In that case you're shaving A FULL POUND off each ski (vs. Dukes).

[hutash]

What am I missing? If you want light get dynafiddle, if you want bomber go Duke/Barron. I just see the F10/12 as being mediocre all around, which is why I sold my Freerides.

[roadgap]

What about if you want a one ski quiver that you can use riding the lifts and on substantial tours? That's where the FR (and perhaps this new marker binder) seems to fit.

[hutash]

I get that by using dynaduke plate. Neither of the new binders look bad, but they just seem like too much of a compromise. The plate is also a compromise, but the weight and stack height are pretty minimal, and there is a good binder/ski interface.

I don't know about the new FR (or the F10/12), but I don't think I would want them for my everyday resort, beat on them binders.

[roadgap]

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who's been able to ski FR's inbounds for years without issues. Sure, they ski like shit but I've never prereleased and I haven't broken anything. I really like being able to be on the hill and decide spur of the moment that I'm going to hit some sidecountry when the inbounds pow starts to get scarce.

That said I'll probably go to barons this year. I agree that FR's are a compromise but I do think they're justified for a lot of people.

[DerekPersson]

Got to take a look at those f12's in a shop yestaerday and all I gotta say is if you are at least 140 pounds and ski hard, I bet something breaks on them within 10-15 days. They felt like toys....literally.

[arewolfe]

What if I'm 130 lbs and skiing them mostly in soft snow?

Do you remember the price tag on them?

[lynchdogger]

Got to take a look at those f12's in a shop yestaerday and all I gotta say is if you are at least 140 pounds and ski hard, I bet something breaks on them within 10-15 days. They felt like toys....literally.

What if I'm 6'1" and 190 ilbs but ski like a ballerina? Tu-tu and all! Hehehe!



Sure this will happen if somebody is stopping 30-50 footers but for regular touring? I wanna wait and see.
I agree that this binding is competing with Freerides and not Dynafits. Weight and just the simple fact of having to lift the heel piece each time and the lesser range of motion. But again wait and see.
Nonetheless, I'm going Dynafit this year just cuz I've never tried it and looking to do longer tours. Plus the new TLT5 Performance looks $$$.

[arewolfe]

bumping as I'm interested to hear more opinions on these things.

[kiwinig]

For reasons given in other similar posts after skiing lifts on the F12s for a few days I do not like them at all! to the point where i'm going to sell them and stick with the hassle of swapping my 1st gen dukes between skis mounted with inserts...

[arewolfe]

^^^ type of snow skied on, reason they sucked? I'd like to know - considering putting F10s on a pair of skis that will be in soft snow 100% of the time.

[Big Dog Little Dog]

Anyone got any more info on these things?

[MC Slayer]

A bit of info from a Marker rep I talked to: the 10 and 12 versions of these aren't intended to be used like the Duke or Baron. More for the touring focused skier. Duke/Baron are supposed to be 80% frontside, 20% back or sidecountry. the new binders are supposed to be somewhere around 30%(Frontside)/70% (side/backcountry) - 80/20. Also take into account that the new bindings are not really intended for a heavier or hard charging/cliff dropping skier. Like has been said already, these bindings are more for the touring specific skier.

1.750g for the small version of the 12, 1.785g for the large version.

As for me, I'm not willing to sacrifice performance, retention, and the peace of mind that my bindings won't break, for a lighter, easier to use binding. Thus, I will stick with the duke (for small tours) or traditional bindings. If I find myself wanting to do a lot more touring specific skiing, I'll start freeheeling.

[kiwinig]

See my other post for more details but in brief:
heel seems to prerelease fairly frequently but randomly, not very progressive resistance.
Being NZ spring this was on a pretty comprehensive mix of snow... pow/ windblow/piste/icy piste/slush/superslush

^^^ type of snow skied on, reason they sucked? I'd like to know - considering putting F10s on a pair of skis that will be in soft snow 100% of the time.

[El Chupacabra]

I looked at the F12 today. It strikes me as possibly flimsier than the Fritschi.

If you're familiar with the Baron/Duke, think of it as being made out of 65% of the material in a Duke. Similar design, just much smaller/thinner parts throughout.

[Hugh Conway]

And it seems a real world F12 with brakes is heavier than a Freeride+. Who'd have thunk K2 full of shit?
http://www.wildsnow.com/3776/marker-...view/#comments

[roadgap]

I spent a lot of time waffling around between F12, Baron and FRPro for my new BG's. Eventually picked barons. My opinion from a lot of research and in-store fondling is that F12's are a very inferior compromise that *maybe* offers a bit more lateral stiffness than the FRPro with the tradeoff of that stupid heel lifter design, no rando ripping, and a flimsy heel piece.

I was actually very impressed with the FRPro but went with barons because those skis will see primarily inbounds/slackcountry use. If I was going 'quiver of one' I would probably pick the FR's, they look very solid.

[johnnygolucky]

Just fondled the F12 and that heel makes me nervous. Without much effort I could flex the rear clamp quite well with my hands. Like the changes to the new Fritschi pro but at 6.1 feet and 190lbs and then looking at the photo of the Pro on BC.com with the toe piece destroyed, I'm just sticking with the Duke for the new S7. Inbounds and side, they'll work just fine.

[lemonhead]

For you guys that have fondled or have used the F12 do you think it would be an acceptable binding for an inbounds powder/ touring set up for a chick? My friends is 110lbs doesn't really break bindings and wants one ski for two purposes and doesn't really want to invest in dynafits this year. For her the weight difference between the f12 and the baron would be significant. I have had barons and dukes in the past before I went to dynafits so I'm not really looking for info on barons rather any compelling reason not to get them for a light weight chick who's pretty easy on her equipment.

[ski school graduate]

^^^I think she would be OK as long as she's not super aggressive. I had a chance to fondle these for the first time today and they do feel a little flimsy but I think for someone who keeps there ski's on the snow and is not a hard charger, the f12 would probably work as part of a quiver as one.

Won't know for sure until we see some pics of her tits though

[lemonhead]

The tit pics are to be expected. I think shes going to pull the trigger on the f12's then. The barons are just so damn heavy. Well see how they hold up.

[arewolfe]

I'm tempted to slap the F10s on my CRJs. I'm 130 pounds and ski at DIN of 6. 15 foot cliffs are big to me, 25 would be huge.

What say ye all? Go with a Baron for now and invest in a full Dynafit setup next season, or go for the F10s?