The Best Backcountry Ski Bindings of 2024

Once again, Genuine Guide Gear (aka G3) captures our full attention with its tried-and-true G3 Ion 12 Binding ($664). With a simple, user-friendly design that effortlessly performs on both the ascent and the descent, the G3 Ion is “skis down” one of the most reliable and underrated options on the market.

To start with, this binding has been around for years, and as a result, its functionality has improved to near perfection. G3 worked out any initial kinks, and now the Ion switches seamlessly from uphill mode to downhill mode with an effortless twist of the heel piece.

Thanks to its more durable, easy-to-clean toe-piece design, stepping into these bindings is a breeze compared to some of the other small, more technical bindings on this list. But rest assured, a simple design doesn’t mean it’s lacking in sweet characteristics.

The Ion boasts many features sure to excite a range of skiers. A variety of heel lift options, easily deployed with the flick of a pole, include a mega high riser that served our tester Ryan Kempfer well on unrelenting climbs in the Tetons, while snow-cleaning channels kept ice buildup at bay on arduous (and largely rolling) adventures during wet nukefests in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Power, responsiveness, and generous DIN ranges (Ion 12: 5-12 and Ion 10: 4-10) allow the Ion to grow with you as your skills improve and to perform extremely well both on and off-piste. We took this binding through powder high on 14ers in Colorado to groomers at the resort with confidence and ease. Once you try it, we’re fairly confident you’ll understand why the Ion has been, and will continue to be, a staple in many quivers for many years to come.

Our only real issue with the G3 Ion 12 is the weight; coming in at 2 pounds, 8.8 ounces per pair, it’s on the heavier side for a true tech binding. So, if you’re an ounce counter, this may not be the binding for you. However, we feel the extra weight is worth it for a reliable and intuitive binding capable of performing well whether you’re tackling long days in the skin track or multiple laps at your hometown ski hill.

If you’re looking for a binding versatile enough to carry you up the mountain and power you through the downs, whether it’s your first day of touring or your thousandth, the G3 Ion 12 is for you.

The Xenic 10 ($520) is more like other tech pin bindings you’ll see in its class than previous models from the brand. It has some innovative design features paired with high-quality materials to make a lightweight, easy-to-use backcountry binding, with a DIN setting from 4 to 10, at a great price.

A Swiss brand that many Americans may not have come across yet, Fritschi tries to differentiate itself by incorporating safety into each of its modern bindings. Many skiers use Fritschi bindings for their safe release, which includes lateral release in front, frontal release in the back, and active length compensation.

The Xenic 10 has a bombproof toepiece with a unique fixed-stop and step-in pedal. This, combined with broad heel support, creates unquestionable control on any descent and on any type of terrain. For uphill objectives, the Xenic is lightweight and has a heel riser climbing aid that flips down into an 11-degree position.

When skiing in downhill mode, this AT binding has a 10mm length compensation, which the brand says creates a more “reliable and quantifiable release.” This helps eliminate some of the prerelease and popout problems occasionally encountered by people using tech pin bindings in-bounds.

The Xenic 10 also has a unique lock position when in ski mode, so there is no need to block the binding into tour mode to prevent pre-release. This binding could easily become your new go-to for just about any terrain, as most skiers don’t employ more than a 10 DIN anyway in the backcountry.

Unlike the Vipec binding that slides back in tour mode and forward in ski mode, transition is achieved in the Xenic by a simple 180-degree rotation of the heel, much like its competitors. Additionally, and this won’t matter to anyone but serious tech pin geeks, the toe pin wings or jaws on the Xenic snap out completely horizontally, not out and down as the others in the class. Again, the brand says this design is to help prevent accidental prereleases.

Plus, Fritschi toepieces have an actual lever that stops the boot in the right position and engages the toe jaws. When you’ve practiced it and it’s working properly, this can prove very helpful in deep snow and dicey situations when you are trying to get your ski back on.

For years, the best skiers in the world were looking for a way to completely lock in the toe of the boot without having to rely on the pins, for both performance and safety, in a single-piece design. The SHIFT 10 ($550) and the higher DIN model SHIFT 13 ($600; available in multiple colors this year) are great options if you only want one pair of skis in your garage. These bindings work great for alpine skiers investing in their first pair of touring bindings.

Even though it’s not the lightest alpine touring binding on the market, the SHIFT 13 is one of the more sturdy touring bindings available. Aggressive skiers who want a reliable and powerful binding for the resort and the backcountry will love it.

The difference between the SHIFT 10 and SHIFT 13 is DIN settings. The SHIFT 13 is for skiers who set their DIN between 6 and 13 and is not the choice for lightweight or less experienced skiers.

Note: Figuring out the way the toe fits into the SHIFT binding for touring can take a little bit of practice, so play with it on dry land first.

While the SHIFT looks a lot like a Freeride binding, with an alpine-style heel and toepiece, and Multi Norm Certified (MNC) boot compatibility, the SHIFT is a true touring binding. So, you will need tech pin inserts in the toes of your boots to tour uphill — not to mention skins.

The binding’s toe height adjusts to accommodate standard alpine, WTR, tech, AT, and GripWalk soles. So, if you tour regularly but prefer the performance of a true alpine binding, this binding works very well. It also makes a great option for resort skiers who may want to venture out of bounds.

Salomon makes this unique binding from carbon-infused polyamide to keep weight down, while still offering a strong, responsive binding. The idea is to combine the best of a tech binding and an alpine binding in a single package.

The SHIFT allows you to tour in a tech binding while skiing in a full 13 DIN, MNC alpine binding with 35 mm of elastic travel (same as Salomon Warden alpine binding). It has 30 mm of adjustability and 47 mm of elastic travel, one of the aspects that makes this such a great downhill binding.

For more info, read our in-depth review of the Salomon S/Lab SHIFT Binding.

For those coming over from the alpine side, the new Marker Baron ($500) is a frame-style freeride binding that has a walk option and is compatible with alpine and touring boots. Similar to the original Duke design that came out in 2007, these crossover freeride/freestyle/touring bindings are ideal for more aggressive skiers less concerned with weight and more concerned with DIN/release and power transfer — or those who may not yet want to invest in touring boots.

If you are going for shorter skins to huck side-country or backcountry cliffs, and then shred bumps for the rest of the day, this is your binding. Built on Marker’s Extended Power Frame, the brand says this binding combines the power of a 13 DIN alpine binding and the walk option of an alpine touring binding.

The Baron sits on a wide chassis, allowing you to drive big mountain skis without worry, as freestyle skiers and heavy huckers are accustomed to. While they aren’t the lightest bindings, Marker aims to make up for the extra grams with power and control on the downhill.

Again, these are a great option for a resort skier who wants to explore the side country without simply hiking in your boots — as you’ll see happening at most resorts through backcountry gates. All you have to do is invest in skins and you’re ready to go. When you’re ready to climb, convert the binding from ski to walk mode by flicking a switch.

Like most alpine touring bindings, the Baron lets you adjust the heel riser to the slope angle, with two climbing modes at 7 and 13 degrees. And importantly, the newly designed toepiece is constructed with a unique anti-ice rail on top. DIN goes from 4 to 13.

If you’re just getting into backcountry touring, the G3 ZED 12 ($572) is a lightweight, high-performance binding loaded with features that you can count on as you learn more about traveling uphill. And, it costs less than your boots, which is always nice.

G3 stands for Genuine Guide Gear, and the brand’s reputation for authentic alpine touring expertise across its entire backcountry product line precedes it. In 2009, the company produced its first AT bindings. Since then, G3 has become one of the leading players in the game, focusing on engineering products that perform on the downhill and the uphill.

One of the great things about G3 bindings, especially for beginners, is their ease of entry and dedicated Boot Stop. And you won’t worry about snow buildup when you have to re-engage in deep snow, thanks to the binding’s anti-snowpacking features in both the toe and heel.

Born in Canada and designed with touring in mind, it’s easy to move the QuickFlick heel lifts with your ski pole, as they offer two riser settings for any slope angle. You can also adjust the heel turret in either direction to support your position when moving uphill.

The 30 mm of length adjustment on the heel lets you fine-tune for any sole length. Everything on the binding can be adjusted with just one Pozidriv tool. When it’s time for the descent, the ZED 12’s wide center of support of the turret and metal wraparound base transfer power and precision to your skis.

Aaron skied these bindings many days in bounds and has never pre-released, something he credits either in part or in full to G3’s toe elasticity. When the binding approaches the release point under pressure or flex, G3 toe jaws actually clamp the boot tighter until the specified release point is reached. Meanwhile, you can adjust vertical and lateral release with the turn of a screw.

One of the lighter offerings from Dynafit, the Superlite 150 ($600), weighs just 150 g per binding and comprises 100% aluminum construction. The Superlite is designed for eager ski tourers and the race crowd.

With an adjustable DIN from 4 to 13, this binding is appropriate for skiers of all ability levels. However, it does have a fixed toe release, which can be perceived as less safe during a crash. The binding also has four innovative walk modes for increased uphill efficiency. Skiers can employ the Race setup (no stoppers), or the Touring setup (with stoppers).

As it’s designed for Randonnée racing, Dynafit made it easy to attach optional crampons to the Superlite 150. And while the binding’s vertical release is fixed, users can swap out springs to adjust between a 6 and 9 DIN. Plus, an optional adjustment plate can be employed to accommodate differing sole lengths.

To raise the heels, you must rotate the heel piece. This isn’t our favorite method since it takes some practice and isn’t as easy as simply flicking up an aluminum tab with your poll, but fewer moving parts mean lighter weight and fewer things that can break, so there are many fans out there of this simpler design.

The Alpinist is a touring binding for alpine climbs and descents, made to be the ultimate ultralight option for serious backcountry tourers. It sports pin technology with a lateral (and fixed vertical) release.

On the skin track and while stopping for snacks, innovative anti-ice pads prevent snow and ice from building up in the toe and heel. So, you don’t have to worry about clearing out the binding with your ski pole when it’s time to step in. Gray elastomers serve as a visual aid to enhance boot placement for step-in.

Touring uphill in walk mode, switch easily between 0, 5, and 9 degrees, depending on slope angle, without having to rotate the heel with two risers. Once mounted, 15 mm of fore and aft adjustment allows you to use boots with different sole lengths.

Carbon-reinforced toe jaws are engineered to remain stiff, which aids in responsive power transmission to the ski. The Alpinist 12 lateral release adjusts from 6 to 12 DIN, while the Alpinist 8 adjusts from 3 to 8 DIN setting for smaller skiers.

Marker also added “active length compensation” to the heel piece, which moves slightly as the ski flexes to improve the release consistency and avoid prerelease while skiing aggressively on-piste.

The Marker Duke PT ($650) is designed to deliver downhill performance with the freedom of uphill travel for aggressive big mountain skiers.

Like the SHIFT, the Duke is designed for those looking for a more alpine-oriented downhill experience. Marker went one better and made the step-in toe lock mechanism removable for climbing, so you save about 300 g off your feet on the uphill.

Instead of having to carry this weight on your skis, where every gram counts and you also deal with additional snow weight, you can store what Marker is calling the “convertible toe” in your jacket pocket or backpack.

Again, aimed more at downhill chargers than free-touring, this Duke has the latest Marker heel with lightweight magnesium housing to give full stiffness and power transfer to the skis. The bindings are further enhanced with just 24 mm of height off the base, making for quicker turning. The binding also uses a multifunctional “Lock & Walk” unit that locks up the brakes and gives a 10-degree climbing aid (but no other adjustable heel risers).

When preparing to descend, users will click the front toepiece back into place to activate the Auto Quad-Lock technology (quadruple secured), and then step in just like a normal downhill Alpine binding. DIN may be set between 6 and 16 for one of the highest values in the category. It’s also available as a 2-12 DIN. The Duke PT is compatible with all alpine, touring, and GripWalk boots as long as you’ve got tech pin inserts for the way up.