Alpine touring binding

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

Alpine touring ski boot, binding, and ski crampon

An alpine touring binding (also known as an AT binding or randonnée binding) is a specialised ski binding with a releaseable locked down heel that can be used for ski touring and backcountry skiing. Most AT bindings have DIN safety release as in an alpine binding. Specialized alpine touring ski boots are also used, something of a cross between a downhill ski boot and a plastic climbing boot, which are light and flexible enough to be comfortable to walk up in while still being stiff enough to provide good control when skiing down. These boots have soles with traction and the ability to hold a crampon when climbing steep slopes with the skis carried on one's backpack.

Use

During ascent, the skis are fitted with self-adhesive plush climbing skins to prevent them from slipping backwards. The ski binding heels are released to allow a Nordic style of striding. The skins are very effective in preventing the skis slipping backwards, much more so than grip wax, and quite a steep hill can be ascended directly without resorting to side stepping or herringboning. The heels of the bindings are often fitted with adjustable steps to maintain the soles of the boots horizontal on a steep climb. Prior to descent, the skins are removed, the heel steps removed or lowered, and the binding heel piece is locked down. Descent is then by conventional alpine skiing technique.

Compared to Nordic boots and bindings, the alpine touring binding is less suitable for undulating terrain, but is more versatile on steeper and more difficult snow. Like telemark skiing gear, this equipment is popular with people from an alpine skiing background; but unlike telemarking, it requires no learning of a new type of downhill turn. Because the fixed heel provides additional support and lessens the force on the toe hinge in downhill mode, modern AT gear and telemark gear are comparable in weight, with both sacrificing control on the descent to reduce weight.

Manufacturers

The main manufacturers of AT bindings are Silvretta, Fritschi Diamir, Marker and Dynafit. Backcountry Access also produces a binding adapter to allow downhill alpine skis and bindings to undertake limited touring.

See also

• Ski touring

References