Welcome to our dedicated section on ski touring bindings 2026.
Here you’ll find a complete ski touring and backcountry binding test & review, with detailed specs for each model, pricing, manufacturer insights, and of course, our in-depth field tests. Whether your style is classic ski touring, competition, or freerando, there is a binding designed for you.
Invented in the 1980s by Fritz Barthel, the tech binding has undergone many evolutions. When the patent entered the public domain in 2008, several brands jumped into the market. But it’s in recent years that innovation has truly accelerated. With the growing popularity of ski touring – especially freerando from ski resorts – manufacturers have engaged in a race to deliver lighter, safer, and more versatile bindings to meet the demands of modern skiers. Today, ski touring enthusiasts want bindings that perform just as well in the backcountry as they do on the slopes.
The challenge? Traditional pin bindings often compromise between lightness, safety, and convenience. Finding the right balance between release safety, weight, and reliable ski brakes is not simple. Each brand now competes with new models to attract the broadest range of skiers. This makes the current market quite complex, with many models and technical features that can be hard to decode if you’re not familiar with them.
👉 That’s why our ski touring binding reviews are here: to guide you through the options and help you choose the best backcountry bindings for your style. Don’t miss our full buyer’s guide in issue 62, featuring all our detailed ski touring binding tests.
SKI TOURING BINDING BRANDS
ATOMIC – ATK – DYNAFIT – FRITSCHI – G3 – INWILD – MARKER – PLUM – SALOMON – TRAB – TYROLIA – GRIZZLY.SKI
WHERE TO BUY BACKCOUNTRY BINDINGS?
AU VIEUX CAMPEUR – TELEMARK PYRENEES – MONTAZ – SNOWLEADER
BEST SKI TOURING BINDINGS
BACKCOUNTRY & SKI TOURING BINDINGS TESTED
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SKI TOURING BINDINGS?
BINDINGS WITH SKI BRAKES
A ski brake is essential for skiing safely. It allows the binding’s release system to work without the risk of losing your ski or, worse, getting hit in the face by it due to leashes, or twisting your knee because of a locked heel piece.
They are a good option if you often ski at your limit and are prone to falling.
Bindings with ski brakes are slightly heavier, but the latest models have significantly reduced the weight gap compared to brakeless versions — so why go without?
BINDINGS WITHOUT SKI BRAKES
Minimalist ski touring bindings without brakes come with the awareness that there’s no fully safe solution. You can reduce risks by adapting your skiing style and binding use:
- Using leashes, though in a major fall you risk the skis hitting you.
- Skiing in locked mode to avoid losing skis, but you increase the risk of knee injuries.
- Skiing in unlocked mode without leashes, but then you risk losing your skis (or sending them downhill toward other skiers).
LENGTH ADJUSTMENT
The heel length adjustment range allows the binding to adapt to different boot sizes. This feature is important if you change boots or plan to resell your skis. Even for the same size, boot sole lengths can vary greatly depending on the brand and model — having at least 20 mm of adjustment is far from excessive. For “race” bindings without adjustment, it’s often possible to add an optional adjustment plate.
ELASTIC TRAVEL (HEEL GAP COMPENSATION)
This feature allows the heel piece to maintain a relatively constant distance from the back of the boot using a compression spring. As the ski flexes, this distance changes: if the boot presses against the binding, it can cause the binding to tear out; if the gap becomes too large, it can trigger an unwanted release.
RISERS
Heel risers help reduce the effect of slope steepness during climbs. Generally, a single riser level is enough, but if the skin track is very steep…
PHOTOS
