Choosing Touring Bindings
Today, tech bindings dominate the market. These bindings are lightweight, reliable, and perform well on the descent. While the technology has been around for over 30 years, recent years have brought significant advancements in both weight and downhill performance.
Weight
Touring bindings come in a wide range of options, from ultralight competition bindings weighing around 100 grams to heavy freeride bindings approaching one kilogram. In our opinion, the best bindings tend to fall somewhere in the middle of this weight spectrum.
DIN Value
The DIN value of a binding indicates how much force it can handle before releasing. Factors like body weight, skiing style, and the size of your skis influence whether you need a binding with a high or low maximum DIN value. These days, many lightweight touring bindings go up to DIN 12, which should suffice for most skiers. If you primarily ski in resorts, we recommend a dedicated alpine binding.
Construction
Lightweight touring bindings are typically made of lighter and potentially less durable materials. If you plan to use your skis frequently in ski resorts, we recommend avoiding the lightest bindings. Additionally, lightweight bindings often lack ski brakes, which can be a useful feature. Remember that either ski brakes or leashes are mandatory in Norwegian ski resorts. Heavier bindings are naturally more robust and may withstand more intense use.
Choosing Touring Boots
When selecting touring boots, fit is the most critical factor. Feet vary greatly from person to person, so even the best and lightest boot on the market might not work for your feet. We recommend trying on several models in-store. However, here are some general points to consider when starting your search.
Weight and Construction
As with bindings, weight and construction are key factors for touring boots. The lightest boots tend to be less durable and don’t offer the best downhill performance. However, they excel on the uphill due to their low weight and walking range of motion. Heavier boots are fantastic for downhill skiing but can feel cumbersome during ascents. The good news is that technology is improving, and downhill-focused boots are becoming increasingly lightweight and uphill-friendly.
Flex
Flex often correlates with weight and construction. If you enjoy aggressive skiing and are used to stiff boots, we recommend downhill-oriented boots with higher flex. If you’re a beginner or plan to ski more casually, softer boots may be a better fit.
Compatibility
More and more boots are becoming specialized and only compatible with tech bindings. If you want a boot that works with both touring and alpine bindings, make sure to choose a versatile model.
Since ski boot fit is highly individual, we recommend trying them on and having them fitted by an expert. For this reason, we don’t sell boots online. Instead, check out our dealer map to find a trusted retailer near you.
Choosing Skins
Traditionally, ski skins haven’t received much attention from touring enthusiasts. But in recent years, the market has expanded significantly, offering a variety of options. We recommend considering the type of tours you plan to take and the season when you’ll primarily use the skins.
We have pre-cut skins for most of our models, and would suggest them as the best alternative.
We hope this guide has given you some insight into how we approach selecting bindings, skins, and boots for our touring skis. If you have additional questions or need purchasing assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our sales manager, Hans Kristian. He’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Hans Kristian Folde
Sales Manager and Touring Enthusiast
