New tech binding Marker "King"

[SiSt]

IMHO rotating toes do nothing to prevent toe releases (caused by a compressed ski and running out of pin stroke at the heel). The heel elasticity of the Radical 2 and Beast are what helps prevent toe pre-releases, the toe rotation is simply for consistent release values for DIN certification.

And for sucking up some of the harshness of normal tech bindings? How about mounting the toe of the kingpin on ~3mm of elastomer rubber?

This morning, I imagined a tech binding mounted on a ball joint like the fks toe, where a separate spring controls the force required to rotate the toe piece. Any binding mfg reading this, feel free to make one...

[Lindahl]

The Beast gets DIN certification this year, right?

Beast 14 comes in at 795g, I think. Good competitor. Though, no flat touring mode and I like the standard alpine heelpiece of the Kingpin for vertical release. Damned that low 13 max DIN.

I wonder if the 6 springs truly do anything better, or if it's all about marketing perception. MOAR springssss!

[ak_powder_monkey]

so that looks sick, my biggest concerns about dynafits, being a fat dude, is the fact that two pins support your whole boot in the heel piece. will be interested to see if the icing problems are better or worse than the duke/baron

[bfly]

IMHO rotating toes do nothing to prevent toe releases (caused by a compressed ski and running out of pin stroke at the heel). The heel elasticity of the Radical 2 and Beast are what helps prevent toe pre-releases, the toe rotation is simply for consistent release values for DIN certification.

I guess I should have been more specific. I was referring to releases due to the poor elasticity of older pintech systems. To get more lateral elasticity in the heal unit they needed to keep the toe from releasing as the heal twisted. This extra return-to-center of the heal is made possible by the rotating toe. I'm assuming (maybe wrongly) that the stronger springs in the KingPin allow a similar resistance to release in the toe as the heal attempts to recenter.

Of course I am no binding expert. I could just be smoking crack.

[1000-oaks]

This extra return-to-center of the heal is made possible by the rotating toe.

Could be it, I don't know how far the boot heel has to swing before the toe pincers pass the point of no return. Could be within the elasticity of the heel, or maybe the toe stays attached until the boot heel is well clear of the binding heel.

[The SMP]

Has anyone seen if this thing has a forward pressure setting or just a spring loaded heel like the vipec/beast?

[1000-oaks]

My guess is some forward pressure, but not as much as an alpine binding. The attachment to the ski at the flip lever cuts down on the forward pressure variations during ski flex, so it doesn't need as much pressure. It's kind of like how an F10 mounts, but backwards on the ski.

[coldandwet]

Has anyone seen if this thing has a forward pressure setting or just a spring loaded heel like the vipec/beast?

What would be the point of 'real' forward pressure in a tech binding? The toe pins stop the boot sliding backwards and forwards; there's no need for a spring to push it into place from behind.

The heelpiece is sprung to keep it in contact with the back of the boot.

[The SMP]

What would be the point of 'real' forward pressure in a tech binding? The toe pins stop the boot sliding backwards and forwards; there's no need for a spring to push it into place from behind.

The heelpiece is sprung to keep it in contact with the back of the boot.

even in an alpine binding the toe is in place to prevent the boot moving forward. I thought the forward pressure is used to enable a consistent release value. Since these are fully certified I thought maybe the heel would require the same type of setting for consistent release. It could be my first assumption is wrong and then yes it would have no need on a tech binding.

[Spyderjon]

What would be the point of 'real' forward pressure in a tech binding? The toe pins stop the boot sliding backwards and forwards; there's no need for a spring to push it into place from behind.

The heelpiece is sprung to keep it in contact with the back of the boot.

+1. Like the Dynafit Rad 2/B14/B16 it's not forward pressure at all but instead it's rearward elasticity to allow for a flexing/shortening ski

[ak_powder_monkey]

isn't the forward pressure nice so when the ski flexes its less likely to prerelease?

[iscariot]

When the ski experiences a big rebound flex, the forward pressure can keep the boot in the ski. Go beyond that limit and you get the Salomon non-release release.

If the Kingpin only moves aft, a big rebound flex, in say chunky conditions, could definitely cause insta-telle.

[TheDon]

I was talking with some reps this weekend. Apparently this clamp is "all the buzz" in the "industry" right now. Take it for what its worth. Two of the reps i was talking with sounded pretty stoked.

[1000-oaks]

Bummed it only goes up to 13 - probably knocks it out of contention for me (had to run my Dukes at 13). Hope they come out with a 16 version.

Considering that the heel is somewhat similar to the Marker Squire, going to 16 would probably require a beefier design. Or perhaps an aluminum heel assembly instead of plastic. Toe could probably stay the same.

[SiSt]

I was talking with some reps this weekend. Apparently this clamp is "all the buzz" in the "industry" right now. Take it for what its worth. Two of the reps i was talking with sounded pretty stoked.

Now, this thing may be awesome for all I know, but on the other hand, what else should they be talking about? Reps are paid to be perpetually stoked on the new thing.

BTW, is that a sliding AFD on the brake?

[angrysasquatch]

Now, this thing may be awesome for all I know, but on the other hand, what else should they be talking about? Reps are paid to be perpetually stoked on the new thing.

BTW, is that a sliding AFD on the brake?

Would need to be for consistent release, with vibram soles and lateral release at the heelpiece. It's ISO cert so it is definitely consistent.

[bones get broke]

This thread needs a link..........................http://marker.de/kingpin/

[Ivan Oder]

Any idea about the specific mount patterns?

I'm thinking a Kingpin heel + a CAST / insert system swapping with the Lord S.P. toe?

[TAFKALVS]

Any idea about the specific mount patterns?

I'm thinking a Kingpin heel + a CAST / insert system swapping with the Lord S.P. toe?

Isn't that kinda missing the point of this binding in the first place?

[LightRanger]

Looks like the ski crampon slot might be cross-compatible with Dynafit? Been a couple months since I've looked at mine...

[Ivan Oder]

Isn't that kinda missing the point of this binding in the first place?

I don't know, what is the point of this binding? To pass some engineering bench test to achieve marketing and legal gold status?
(Six springs! A Six Pack! Hoo-Rah!)

I'm always skeptical of claims that a pintech binding will be just as good inbounds (or better!) than a standard alpine clamp.

Do you believe it? Wanna buy my v1 Radical FT 12's?

[TAFKALVS]

I'm assuming it'll be like a Beast - perfect for hard core gear whores to limp back to the lift from the sidecountry and feel like they're getting 80% of alpine performance. And I think that for most people I see skiing in the resort with tech bindings it will offer safer release and most likely less vibration/vague feelings in the heels on hardpack. It think it'll also offer safer release for lighterweight or slower backcountry skiers who could care less about the grams. Basically fill the role that the fritschi diamir or marker tour fills now. My wife got a tib-fib from a Dynafit binding not releasing in a way that an alpine binding would have and I get the impression that this binding is probably closer to having consistant release properties.

I think an alpine toe with the kingpin heel would probably be ill-advisable and potentially dangerous. (EPIC PRE-RELEASE BRO!) Skis and bindings are cheap on Gearswap, just have an alpine set-up and touring set-up. I've tried many permutations of alpine/tech/touring bindings/boots/skis, and it just doesn't pan out to try and do multiple things with the same rig.

[glademaster]

I don't want one binding to do it all, just like I don't want one boot to do it all.

No AT boot on the market skis even close to as well as the best alpine boots out there, so when I'm riding lifts I want a DIN certified, single purpose ALPINE binding to work with my single purpose, walk mode, tech fitting and gimmick free ALPINE boot.

Then I'll take my separate, lugged, rockered sole AT boots and run them in a dedicated AT binding. Yes, I like the idea of a 12+ DIN pintech binding, but I'm not going to ever ski one in bounds unless I am on my way out the gate, and this has as much to do with AT boot performance in bounds as it does AT binding performance. Top end alpine boots are pretty incredible these days, and nobody is going to convince me you aren't losing out by skiing even the burliest of AT boots in bounds.

Instead of frankensteining one setup to muddle through it all, I would much rather own two or three specialized tools that will excel where they were designed to be used. I genuinely don't understand the push to have one boot and one binding to do it all well.

[PNWbrit]

My wife got a tib-fib from a Dynafit binding not releasing in a way that an alpine binding would have

But to be fair...

People get tib fibs from alpine bindings not releasing the way they think an alpine binder should have.

Hope she's better.

[Skiing_Magazine]

Like Wildsnow, we were down in Chile all last week testing the Kingpin too. Seems pretty legit. Here are thoughts from one of our editors who skied it.