The 7 best ski bindings of 2020

Welcome to a special Buyer’s Guide feature from FREESKIER. Here’s a close-up look at the best ski bindings of 2020. Can’t get enough gear? Click here to explore the entire 2020 Buyer’s Guide.

Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC 13

Buy Now – $725

Weight: 865 g/binding

Produced to offer the best combined uphill and downhill capabilities, the Shift should be on the radar of any skier splitting time between the chairlift and skin track. To engage its tour mode, a block in the toe is pulled back, releasing a set of wings with tech pins that allow for uphill travel with a natural range of movement. Once at the top of your ascent, the block is pushed back up, the wings close and an alpine-compatible toe piece is at your disposal for your high-speed descent. An adjustable brake pad engages and disengages the heel for tour/ski mode, and while transitions on this binding aren’t the fastest, its “best of both worlds” capabilities are geared toward those not hyper-focused on the “fast and light” mantra.

Look Pivot 18 GW

Buy Now – $475

Weight: 1,245 g/binding

If you fancy yourself a big air master, or just have cajones big enough to frequently punt it, the Pivot 18 is certainly on your radar. Its toe piece is packed with 45 millimeters of elastic travel and a 180-degree multi-directional release for incredible hold, power transmission and consistent disengagement. Its signature turntable heel design has 28 millimeters of elasticity to boost retention and rotates directly under the leg for injury prevention. The binding also boasts an incredibly short mounting zone for a consistent flex and reduction in swing weight.

Marker Kingpin M-Werks 12

Buy Now – $729

Weight: 620 g/binding

The newest Kingpin swapped cheeseburgers for salad, slimming down significantly in the process. The M-Werks weighs 620 grams with brakes (versus the Kingpin 13’s weight of 730 grams) and boasts a svelte, ergonomically sound ski-walk mode lever and climbing aids for smooth, aerodynamic uphill travel. Marker reinforced the sliding plate, toe piece, pins and heel with carbon to boost strength and power transmission, while the tried-and-true Marker heel design continues to ensure direct energy transfer for incredible downhill performance.

Dynafit ST Rotation 12

Buy Now – $649.95

Weight: 605 g/binding

It’s all in the name with this touring binding from Dynafit. The rotational toe piece has an integrated centering hub that makes for first-try step-ins—no Dyna-fiddling necessary, here—and helps to combat dreaded prereleases on burly descents. A carbon plate in the toe provides a boost in strength and power, while 10 millimeters of forward pressure adjustment in the heel helps keep you locked and loaded while reaping the benefits of that long tour into the backcountry.

Atomic Shift MNC 13

Buy Now – $725

Weight: 880 g/binding

After a monstrous first year of production filled with awards and critical acclaim, the Shift MNC 13 returns for its second season. The hybrid binding is fully alpine-certified when in ski mode, and is packed with 47 millimeters of elasticity in the toe and nine in the heel, allowing you to ski aggressively and confidently. A lever between the toe wings shifts the binding into tour mode, spreading the wings and exposing tech pins that fit snugly into the inserts on your toe bail. This allows a true, full range of touring motion you can only get with traditional tech bindings. Don’t be ashamed if you go both ways, the Shift binding is made for skiers just like you.

G3 ZED 12

Buy Now – $499

Weight: 345 g/binding

G3’s ZED binding is a minimalist, lightweight design that still packs a punch on the downhill. While the ZED weighs a mere 345 grams sans brakes, it’s built with effective elasticity in the toe for shock absorption and prerelease defense, along with a 10-millimeter range of forward pressure in the heel to promote consistent release and ski flex. Powerful toe jaws that’d put a T-Rex to shame make for top-notch retention, yes, but they also help to clear excess snow for no-fuss step-ins. Bonus!

Tyrolia AAAttack² 13 GW

Buy Now – $275

Weight: 1,035 g/binding

The AAAttack2 from Tyrolia has long been hailed as an affordable, lightweight alpine binding with retention capabilities high enough to be relied upon by the top athletes in the world. The binding’s 77 millimeter-wide metal AFD improves power transmission to the ski and keeps your boot centered, while the toe piece provides 30 millimeters of elasticity and allows for both alpine and GripWalk sole compatibility. The heel has 16 millimeters of elastic travel and is among the easiest on the market to step into, ensuring you won’t be fidgeting to get back into your bindings after a huge yard sale.