Name: Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings · 2023
Brand: Marker
SKU: AgAAADAA9PSFujGYRT-DeQ7RqNpXmg
Price: 489.96 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Question 1

What do you love about this product?

Accepted Answer

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 have always opted for a higher DIN (release value) pin binding until I got my hands on the Duke. Although the uphill can be a bit more grueling due to the increased weight and only one heel riser, the confidence and speed I can have on the downhill are worth it. What really sets the Duke PT apart from other heftier touring bindings is the removeable 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 removeable piece not clipping back on in icy conditions or having snow build up 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.

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Very similar to it's Duke PT 13 younger brother, The versatility of this binding is second to none, it is much more reliable than it's competitor in the Shift and enables you to ski around the backcountry much more confidently. This binding is made for people who want to backcountry tour without sacrificing downhill performance or people who want one ski for 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. If you need a hybrid alpine/touring binding, this in my opinion is the best one out on the market.

Question 2

What was your favorite moment with this gear?

Accepted Answer

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 3 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.

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Last season I was using this binding and I skied the resort all morning and 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.

Question 3

Why did you choose this product?

Accepted Answer

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 finnicky 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.

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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 set-up but i wanted to tour and resort ski so this was the perfect binding.

Question 4

What is the value for the money versus other options?

Accepted Answer

It's always been the Duke versus the Salomon Shift. These two bindings are the two more burly downhill-focused touring bindings on the market. The Shift was first to market and comes in around $100 below the Duke. At $650 the Duke 16 is by no means cheap but if can eliminate the need for two different setups then this binding is cost-efficient. In my opinion the Duke's higher price is definitely worth it if: 1) You are close to maxing out the 13 din limit on the Shift. With an upper range of 16 the Duke is more than capable of holding even the heaviest expert skiers in place. Even if you are opting for the New 2024 Duke 13 the upper range of 10-13 DIN is much more stable. 2) You are prioritizing durable components over weight. The Shift's walk mode lever and toe piece plastic can feel fragile and hard to trust where the Marker Jester tech in the Duke toe piece is bombproof. In touring mode you are in a classic pin tech toe piece. 3) You are looking for full alpine performance or a true one-ski-quiver. The Duke does a much better job of performing just like its cousin the Jester/Griffon versus opting for a less-tested design like the Shift. In conclusion; if you are prioritizing reliable aggressive skiing, a true one-ski-quiver, or durability the Duke is definitely worth the uptick in price over the Shift.

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Coming in at around 419 dollars for the 2023 version, these bindings are not cheap. But if you want to backcountry ski and ski in the resort, buying one of these is much cheaper than having a resort ski and a backcountry touring ski. By combining both a backcountry binding and a resort binding into one you save yourself the hassle and money of having two set-ups. While an expensive binding, it's value is far above what you pay for it. I bought them for more when they were brand new and I still spent less than if I had bought a backcountry specific binding and a downhill binding.

Brake width (mm)	125
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
Boot sole type	Alpine DIN (ISO 5355), Alpine Touring (ISO 9523), Tech, Walk to ride (WTR), GripWalk
Age Group	Adult
Color	Black/Gunmetal

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Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings · 2023

$489.96

The Curated Take

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Marker Duke PT 16 Ski Bindings · 2023

$489.96

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