New binding buzz

[ski diva]

The Duke is generating The Buzz.

Marker is introducing a new burly, streamlined alpine binding called The Duke, and it's getting a lot of attention at Ski Press World's Las Vegas Show. In fact, the show gave it a Snowpress Innovation Award and said it's a "must have for all-terrain skiers."

According to Marker, The Duke’s secret weapon is in its heel. With just a click of a switch, this binding also tours. It also has a din range through 16 and an adjustable height AFD for either backcountry or traditional boots. And the platform is 13mm wider than any other binding allowing for better and faster edge transmission particularly on wider waisted skis. They say the market is anyone skiing on a free ride or back country ski that would like to have the ability to climb into the back country, hike for some powder skiing, take a helicopter trip and hike to a distant peak, jump on a snowmobile and then hike to a remote run, or stay safely inbounds.

 

[SnowHot]

From what I understand the Duke is supposed to help Marker live down its reputation for prerelease.
Whats funny is that I've seen talk of the Dukes but not too many people say "marker duke" almost as if they don't want to say Marker out loud.

 

[SnowHot]

Here is a post from Epic that has a pic of this binding

 

[tradygirl]

From what I understand the Duke is supposed to help Marker live down its reputation for prerelease.
Whats funny is that I've seen talk of the Dukes but not too many people say "marker duke" almost as if they don't want to say Marker out loud.

So true. I know for a fact I wouldn't touch these new bindings with a ten-foot pole until they've been getting stellar reviews for about five years. ;)

I am very intrigued, however. It seems like the AT binding market is starting to explode. Does anyone have more specs on these things? I'm wondering about weight, pivot point mechanics, etc. It looks similar to the Freeride, but a lot heavier (although it does have DIN rating of 16!!!). The pivot point does look a little closer to the toe, which would be nice.

 

[ski diva]

A little more investigating, and I found the following about these on another website:

1. You must release your boot out of the binding to switch to and from touring and skiing modes
2. Access to the climbing bar doesn't look possible with the simple flick of your poles
3. The overall weight of the Duke will limit its use to sidecountry and short trips

 

[SnowHot]

The only information I have really read is from here
https://www.feedthehabit.com/articles/marker-duke-bindings.html
Hope this helps.

 

[ski diva]

A little more investigating, and I found the following about these on another website:

1. You must release your boot out of the binding to switch to and from touring and skiing modes
2. Access to the climbing bar doesn't look possible with the simple flick of your poles
3. The overall weight of the Duke will limit its use to sidecountry and short trips

The only information I have really read is from here
https://www.feedthehabit.com/articles/marker-duke-bindings.html
Hope this helps.

LOL -- same article! :D

 

[SnowHot]

LOL -- same article! :D

This thread has spurred me to do some more investigating.
Here is another that popped up for me.
https://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/0688-marker-duke-ski-touring-binding/

 

[tradygirl]

1. You must release your boot out of the binding to switch to and from touring and skiing modes
2. Access to the climbing bar doesn't look possible with the simple flick of your poles
3. The overall weight of the Duke will limit its use to sidecountry and short trips

Well, sidecountry is definitely the fastest growing touring market, so this makes sense. A lot of people don't care for long, 8-9 hour tours - they just want to hit that untouched bowl just over the rope, huck that cliff that's just out of bounds, or do laps on backcountry kickers. I've noticed a lot of binding designers are moving towards heavier, burlier AT-style bindings. Frischi released the Freeride Plus a few years back, and Naxo keeps cranking up the DIN rating on their bindings. It will be good to give Frischi some market competition to help push the technology. And it will be nice for sidecountry folks to have other options besides those God-awful Trekkers.

I can see a binding like this totally taking over the resort ski market. I would love to have the option of skinning with a binding that performs as well as an alpine binding and not have to worry about the wear and tear on my Freerides on resort days (just as the author of the FTH article points out).