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The Alpinist 12 is the perfect binding for a lightweight touring setup. It sits very close to the ski and has a really stiff feel, which I love in choppy snow and in high-stakes spots. This year's Alpinist has a toe guide that makes stepping into the toe much easier. I've really appreciated how well these bindings tour. They're light, they have a decent heel riser option that's easy to use, and the minimal contact between boot and ski makes skinning simple and easy. Transitioning takes very little work and is conducive to skimo-style ripping.
I haven't had too many serious crashes on these bindings, but I've been impressed with how they release. In comparison to alpine bindings, they're definitely not super smooth, but as far as tech bindings go, I feel comfortable pushing these bindings hard. The only issue I've ever seen with durability is in the plastic surrounding the pins of the heel piece. In heavy landings, the metal U that forms the heel can break out of the plastic. Hasn't happened to me, and I've only seen it once.
For people who are new to touring, I might suggest a binding with a brake. These don't come with any feature to stop the ski from running if a release occurs, which also makes stepping in precarious in certain spots. Even despite this, I love both the skinning and skiing feel of this binding, and I'm excited to keep pushing them in the backcountry!
- Super lightweight and simple
- Rigid feel and close fit to the ski
- Simple transition
- Plastic construction
- No brakes
The Marker Alpinist 12 Ski Bindings are the perfect choice for experienced touring skiers who demand ultra-lightweight equipment without sacrificing performance. With a weight of just 270g (without brake), these bindings offer active length compensation that doesn't affect the ski's flex, making them ideal for those who want to push their limits on the mountain. The ISI front is very stiff, making it easy to step into, while the wide footprint with integrated stop automatically positions and aligns your boot. The kinematically optimized pin levers allow the pins to snap shut with just a gentle push, ensuring a secure fit every time.
Key Features:
- Ultra-lightweight design at just 270g (without brake).
- Active length compensation without affecting ski flex.
- Stiff ISI front for easy stepping in.
- Wide footprint with integrated stop for precise alignment.
- Kinematically optimized pin levers ensure secure fit.
- Super lightweight and simple
- Rigid feel and close fit to the ski
- Simple transition
- Plastic construction
- No brakes
- The bindings are super light weight
- Intuitive toe pin initiation
- Super simple heel piece makes for easy and fast transitions
- Heel piece requires a lot of force to turn
- Brake setup is hokey and requires a couple steps to use and is not automatic
- A higher climbing aid would be nice
Why did you choose this product?
As someone who appreciates simplicity in product design, the Marker Alpinist stood out to me. I was searching for a lightweight full-tech binding, but I knew I needed something that could take a beating. The simple features and sleek design made it seem like my own error and possible failures of the product were minimized. In addition, the price point of the Alpinists was hard to beat.What is the value for the money versus other options?
In my opinion, these are at the top of the list in regards to a price/quality ratio. They weigh in below many other tech bindings, they have similar durability to competitors, and they ski better than many other tech bindings I've encountered. Considering these strengths and the below-average price, I consider the Alpinist to be a great investment.What do you love about this product?
There's a lot to love about the Alpinist. The updated version utilizes a rubber toe guide to allow for easy entry. I've grown to trust the durability and reliability of this binding, and I've found the heel to release consistently. The Alpinist skis surprisingly hard considering it's one of the lightest tech bindings on the market. The low stand height and close contact with the ski have allowed me to maintain control in difficult conditions and in high-stakes terrain, and they're easy to swap between walk and ski mode. I'm a big fan of how simple the Alpinist is, and removing the bells and whistles that some other tech bindings feature has helped me trust these on bigger adventures.17% of customers also bought Ski Boots
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