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Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering Bindings

Virtual Museum

Welcome to the online museum of backcountry skiing -- randonnee binding room. Through years of testing and product development, backcountry skiing bindings have progressed from simple cable bindings to engineered machines that represent state-of-art materials science and mechanicals. This collection of backcountry skiing bindings covers the full historical range of modern bindings, with emphasis on "randonnee" bindings that latch down at the heel for downhill mode, yet allow a free lifting heel for touring and climbing. (Note, bindings are presented in alphabetical order, not chronological.)

Your ideas and insights about these bindings form an important part of this interactive museum -- please make comments by using the "leave blog comment" link for each display.

Alpine Trekker touring adapter, early 1990s
(Heavy but functional solution still in production.)
Alpiine Trekker backcountry skiing binding adapter.
Pre production backcountry skiing binding, Dynafit Low Tech.
Low Tech (Dynafit) backcountry skiing binding, first productin model.
Low Tech (Dynafit) classic backcountry skiing binding.
Dynafit Tourlite Tech TLT 1993
Emery Chrono 1991
[leave blog comment]
(Unusual binding with rubber band release.)
Emery Chrono 1991

Fritschi Freeride Plus 2006
[leave blog comment]
(Major upgrade of this line.)

Fritschi Freeride Plus
Fritschi Diamir Titanal 1995
(First Diamir model.)
Fritschi Diamir Titanal

Fritschi FT88 backcountry skiing binding 1982
[leave a comment about this binding]
(First Fritschi binding.)

Fritschi FT88

Gertsch Binding Touring Adapter 1971
[blog comments]
(Unusual solution.)

Gertsch ski touring binding.
Iser backcountry skiing binding.

Iser backcountry skiing binding 1970s
[blog comments]

Marker Duke ski binding.

Geze Touring Adapter - late 1960s
[leave a blog comment Geze touring adapter]
(With heel lift that was ahead of its time.)

Geze ski touring adapter system.

Marker M Tour 1982
[blog comments]
(Amazing high tech features.)

Marker M Tour

Marker Rotomat TR Tour 1960s
[blog comments]
(Simple and effective.)

Marker TR Tour
Petzl backcountry skiing binding.

Ramer Comfort backcountry skiing binding
[blog comments]

Ramer Comfort backcountry skiing binding.

Ramer model R randonnee binding
[comment on this binding]

Ramer Model R aluminum

Ramer Universal randonnee binding
[comment on this binding]

Ramer Universal backcountry skiing binding.

Ramer Universal "Military" binding
[comment on this binding]

Ramer Military skiing binding.

Ramer MT-2000 backcountry skiing binding
[blog comments]

Ramer MT-2000
Salewa Tour backcountry skiing binding.

Su-Matic backcountry skiing binding
[blog comments]

Su Matic ski binding.
Secura-Fix Touring Adapter
[blog comments]
(Flawed solution to an age old problem.)
Secura-Fix
Silvretta SL backcountry skiing binding.

Silvretta 300 randonnee backcountry skiing binding
[blog comments]

Silvretta 300 ski binding.

Silvretta 500 - 1999
[leave your Silvretta 500 comments]
(Lighter wieight remake of model 404)

Silvretta 404 randonnee binding
[blog comments]

Silvretta 404
Silvretta Saas Fee

Tyrolia Tour randonnee cable binding 1959
[blog comments]
(Early binding shows transition from cable.)

Tyrolia cable binding.

Backcountry skiing bindings we're seeking: While our more than 50 piece collection (not all are online yet) comprises nearly every alpine touring binding made, we still need to acquire the Emery Energy, the purple version of the Fritschi FT88, CM Grande Randonee, Ramer RAT, as well as any exotics or one-offs. Will buy, or we can trade from our extensive collection. Use contact link to left.

Note, it's common to see vintage and classic backcountry ski bindings on Ebay being sold as if they're modern functional units. Be advised that spare parts and support usually do not exist for such bindings, and they may have problems with durability or safety release (many, if not most early randonnee bindings fall into that category). Would you buy and use an alpine skiing binding from 20 years ago, and trust it? Or for that matter, a two decades old set of tires for your car? If not, why do the same with a randonnee binding?

If you find alpine touring backcountry skiing bindings on Ebay, and they're priced "too good to be true," they probably are. If you have purchased such bindings and are less than satisfied after you've used them, before tossing in the trash please contact us for a possible buy or trade. They may not be great for skiing, but they might fit in the WildSnow collection!


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