Review: Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings · 2023
By Curated Experts
Spencer O and max pilling
7 photos
The Curated Take
5.0/5
The Marker Duke PT 16 ski bindings are designed for skiers who prioritize downhill performance and versatility for both resort and backcountry skiing, particularly aggressive skiers who value speed and control. While the bindings are a bit heavier and only feature one heel riser, their downhill performance makes them ideal for sidecountry skiing and powder touring setups. Their durability and power transfer are great for a one-ski quiver setup. The combination of alpine binding performance for downhill and pin tech toes for uphill touring makes these bindings a top choice for skiers needing one binding for diverse skiing experiences.
Ideal for
- Ideal for sidecountry skiing
- Powder touring setups
- One-ski quiver
Not ideal for
- Brakes can lightly drag through carving turns
- Binding weight is noticeable on the uphill and on lighter skis
Durability
As the Duke PT shares basically the same heel mechanisms as the Jester/Griffon, there is guarantee of extreme durability so I will focus on the toe piece. I expected the...Read more
This binding rocks an all-metal design. The toe is the new hybrid touring/resort toe, but the heel piece is the tried and true Griffon heel. These things are bomber and...Read more
Versatility
Just to be clear, for a touring binding to power through long tours 15+ days a season, I would opt for a full-pin binding. But for a one-ski-quiver binding or...Read more
This binding's versatility is what sets it apart from the rest of the pack. It offers a tech pin toe for touring on the way up but a normal alpine...Read more
Power Transfer
I have skied on a Marker Griffon and Jester for years and implicitly trust those bindings to drive even the heaviest ski through the most aggressive turn. I have just...Read more
This binding is miles ahead of other tech bindings. The pin toe is only used for the way up — the way down is an alpine binding. When compared to most...Read more
Release Reliability
The Marker Griffon, Jester, and Squire are all known for their reliability and consistent release values. After skiing on some form of Marker binding in the resort for the last...Read more
This binding stands out amongst other backcountry bindings in terms of release reliability. Because it is a normal downhill binding on the way down, knees are much safer than with...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Spencer O
max pilling
About the bindings
- Model: Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings · 2023
Test conditions
- When I bought these: 21/22 season
- Where I’ve used it: In resort at Alta/Snowbird/Solitude/Brighton in Utah and Big Sky, Montana. In the backcountry in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado
- How many times I've used it: 95
Expert Reviews of the Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings
Spencer O The Duke PT is definitely a hybrid touring binding leaning much more toward the downhill than the up. For those prioritizing downhill performance and alpine skiing, I would definitely recommend this over a Kingpin or ATK high-DIN pin binding. As far as downsides go, only having the one 10-degree riser was not as large of an issue as I expected it to be. There were definitely some stepper-kick turns having a second riser would've helped with, but it just takes getting used to. The more noticeable issue was the 100 and 125mm brake widths. This binding is perfect for the 110-120 underfoot ski, but the lack of a 115 brake means bending the brakes or dragging the 125 brake in turns.
Being able to remove the toe piece on the uphill does really help with the weight distribution of the binding more than it helps with overall weight. With the toepiece attached, kick turns may not fall evenly. All in all, for shorter tours or a one-ski-quiver setup, the downhill performance far outweighs the weight.
max pilling I love this binding for when I want to have the utmost downhill performance, but I need to tour uphill to get to where I want to go. This binding is perfect for those who want alpine bindings for the downhill in and out of the resort. While it is a little bit heavier on the uphill, the pin tech toes enabled me to tour up the mountain, and when I clipped in the toe piece, I was skiing on a normal binding on the way down. I have used this binding on skis when I want a ski that can be used in and out of the resort. For one binding for both in and out of bounds or just to get sendy in the backcountry, this is an ideal binding.
Product Specs
| Gender | Unisex |
| Model year | 2023 |
| Ski binding type | Alpine Touring, Tech |
| Skill level | Advanced, Expert |
| Din release - low value | 6 |
| Din release - high value | 16 |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Durability
5/5
Spencer O gave 5 of 5 stars. As the Duke PT shares basically the same heel mechanisms as the Jester/Griffon, there is guarantee of extreme durability so I will focus on the toe piece. I expected the removable toe piece to feel a little wobbly and slightly disconnected just because of the nature of the bindings function. However, when this binding is in downhill mode the design of the pins locking the toe piece to the touring platform beneath really secures the toe piece to the ski (as long as the mount isn't botched). There were some reports of breaking the walk mode lever in the first production release, but I did not experience that issue. I would say to be careful to not put too much force on the lever when pulling up just to be safe.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. This binding rocks an all-metal design. The toe is the new hybrid touring/resort toe, but the heel piece is the tried and true Griffon heel. These things are bomber and will stand up to anything you throw its way. Throughout my time using this binding, I've had plenty of opportunities to smack them, hit them, and drop them, and not once has this binding ever shown any signs of wear beyond some paint chipping.
Versatility
5/5
Spencer O gave 4 of 5 stars. Just to be clear, for a touring binding to power through long tours 15+ days a season, I would opt for a full-pin binding. But for a one-ski-quiver binding or a sidecountry weapon, these are the right choice. In my local touring spots in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, these bindings are the perfect touring binding for quick powder missions where I'm prioritizing downhill performance. In an attempt to test the limit on these bindings, I took them out on my 118 powder skis for a full-day tour in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. I definitely noticed the weight after the first few hours, but downhill reliability was worth it for some of the steeper and more consequential lines in the Wolverine Cirque area.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. This binding's versatility is what sets it apart from the rest of the pack. It offers a tech pin toe for touring on the way up but a normal alpine binding for the way down. This enables skiing in both the backcountry and the resort confidently. The tech toes make getting up much easier than frame bindings, and the insertable alpine toe helps make skiing this binding like any normal resort binding.
Power Transfer
5/5
Spencer O gave 5 of 5 stars. I have skied on a Marker Griffon and Jester for years and implicitly trust those bindings to drive even the heaviest ski through the most aggressive turn. I have just as many days on this binding carving groomers as I do touring the sidecountry with it. With the Griffon heel piece copied exactly and a toe piece rated against the Jester, I am fully confident that I could bring the Duke PT to a race day with no issues. This is a true alpine downhill performance in a touring package.
max pilling gave 4 of 5 stars. This binding is miles ahead of other tech bindings. The pin toe is only used for the way up — the way down is an alpine binding. When compared to most backcountry pin bindings, the difference is apparent. While not as responsive as a downhill racing binding, this binding is more than qualified to ski on any terrain.
Release Reliability
5/5
Spencer O gave 5 of 5 stars. The Marker Griffon, Jester, and Squire are all known for their reliability and consistent release values. After skiing on some form of Marker binding in the resort for the last five years, I was skeptical that the same release reliability would be found in the Duke PT 16. After almost two full seasons on this binding I can confidently say that the Duke performs the same as the Jester (its inbounds cousin) even when run at the low or high range of the DIN settings. I can confidently push this binding way beyond any pin binding's performance. On the occasion when I am ejected, the loaded spring in the heel piece ensures I am sent flying smoothly and quickly. And with the full alpine toe piece I am not worried about staying locked into a pin and dragging a ski with me on my long falls.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. This binding stands out amongst other backcountry bindings in terms of release reliability. Because it is a normal downhill binding on the way down, knees are much safer than with pin bindings. They even work great in the resort. Because of spinning and flipping my way around the mountain I've had plenty of crashes, and these bindings have never failed to release when I needed them saving my knees. On the other hand, they don't release unexpectedly if set at the right DIN.
FAQs
What is the value for the money versus other options?
max pilling These bindings are not cheap, but for backcountry and resort skiing, buying one of these is much cheaper than having a resort ski and a backcountry touring ski. Combining both a backcountry binding and a resort binding into one saves the hassle and money of having two setups. While an expensive binding, its value is far above what it's priced at. I bought them for more when they were brand new and still spent less than if I had bought a backcountry-specific binding and a downhill binding.
What do you love about this product?
Spencer O I go up to get down. Venturing into the backcountry is all about getting to the line for me. And since I want that downhill to be as enjoyable and fun as possible I always opted for a higher DIN pin binding until I got my hands on the Duke. Although the uphill can be a bit more grueling because of the increased weight and only one heel riser, the confidence and speed I have on the downhill are worth it. What really sets the Duke PT apart from other, heftier touring bindings is the removable toe piece. Shedding weight on the uphill is invaluable and really makes this binding feel much more nimble than it should perform during the tour. I figured I would have some issues with the removable piece not clipping back on in icy conditions or having snow buildup mess with it, but the steel components snap down strongly (don't have your finger in there!) enough to secure the toe piece to the pins. I don't think there will be a year there isn't a Duke PT in my lineup.
max pilling Very similar to its Duke PT 13 younger brother, this binding's versatility is second to none. It is much more reliable than its competitor in the Shift. This binding is made for people who want to backcountry tour without sacrificing downhill performance or people who want one ski for both resort and backcountry. This binding excels on the uphill and the down. I've never skied as confidently on the downhill as I have on this binding. For a hybrid alpine/touring binding, this is the best one out on the market.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Spencer O The Duke PT 16 has been my binding of choice on the deepest days of the season. Having this binding on a QST 118 was the perfect setup for skiing the crazy deep days we so often get in the Wasatch mountains in Utah. On one such day we had received roughly 40 inches of fresh snow in the last 48 hours. My group was out early at the trailhead and were skinning up when the sunrise broke. It was a bluebird day, and avalanche conditions were relatively predictable. The only downside was I was forced to be the trailbreaker with my fat skis. It was all worth it for the multiple laps in the nearly three and a half feet of fresh snow through perfectly spaced trees and small cliffs. When the snow is falling and the entire backcountry is a powder stash, this is my binding. I want to be going big and skiing fast when the snow is good, not forced to make mountaineering turns in fear of my pin bindings. There isn't a time I am setting up my backcountry equipment where I don't think about that day floating through the trees.
max pilling Last season I was using this binding, and I skied the resort all morning. Once the powder was chewed up I simply walked across the parking lot, put on my skins, and hiked up in the backcountry across from the resort. I was able to ski powder all day long because I skied powder in the resort in the morning and, using the same binding, I skied powder in the backcountry in the afternoon.
Why did you choose this product?
Spencer O When I was shopping for a binding for a bigger powder touring setup I knew I wanted to prioritize downhill performance so I immediately gravitated towards the Salomon Shift or Marker Duke PT 16. Luckily I was able to demo both bindings and, although I found the Shift innovative, the Duke PT was far and away the better performer. No issues with prerelease or finicky transitions. I was concerned with the one riser, but both bindings had this feature. Being able to ski inbounds on my touring binding with no noticeable differences from my Marker Griffons was the main selling point. I find the downhill performance more than makes up for the increased weight and one riser on my fatter touring setup.
max pilling I chose this product because I needed one binding that could do it all. I didn't want to sacrifice anything on the way down for my touring, and I also needed to be able to ski the resort. This binding allowed me to sacrifice nothing for the downhill while being able to still tour. I could only afford one ski and binding setup, but I wanted to tour and resort ski, so this was the perfect binding.
Spencer O
Ski Expertmax pilling
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