Silvretta SL Backcountry Skiing Randonnee Binding -- Virtual Museum

K2 has an amazing selection of backcountry skis.

The leader in lightweight and efficient backcountry skiing gear. Speed up!

Shop for randonnee AT rando backcountry ski gear-- best deals -- best service.

Scarpa, for incredible backcountry skiing.

Amazing story of skiing Colroado's highest mountains.

Backcountry Skiing Bindings

Virtual Museum (collection index)

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.

Silvretta SL - 1994
Backcountry Skiing Alpine Touring Binding

In 1994, the Dynafit binding was winning the weight wars by a healthy margin. Competitors were scrambling. Somehow, Silvretta worked out a deal with boot makers to include a fitting with the same function as that of Dynafit sockets: that of attaching the boot toe to the binding so a "rail" or "frame" between the binding toe and heel wasn't necessary -- thus producing substantial weight savings.

The binding Silvretta designed for this is called the SL (taken to mean "super light"). It was a noble effort, but rushed to market too fast with a fatal flaw. With no way for the toe to release in a fall while in touring mode, the binding would explode into small pieces if you took a forward beater. Such breakage was rarely field reparable.

Silvretta SL backcountry skiing alpine touring randonnee binding.

Complete Silvretta SL with a Scarpa Denali boot from the same period, shown in downhill alpine mode. Only a few models of boots ever had the fittings. One boot maker even made a model that included both Dynafit and SL fittings in the toe.

Click image to enlarge -- or check out our zoom presentation.

View of binding ready to accept boot for touring backcountry skiing mode.

See the binding in action on our videos:
Silvretta SL Video

Working the binding is like doing one of those ring puzzles, and operates like something out of a Transfomer movie. Once you figure our how to flip the toe unit around to touring mode, you slip your boot in and latch. Above video shows the process.

Boot latched in touring mode. It's solid -- too solid.

Another toe detail. The small black fitting towards the front (left) of the binding is spring loaded, and provides a small amount of for/aft elasticity to allow for ski flex when the binding is in alpine mode, but the amount of flex is limited compared to other bindings.

Lateral release functions the same as all other Silvretta backcountry skiing bindings from this period; by having the boot latch assembly slide to the side. See the Silvretta 404 museum display for release details.

In 1995, Couloir Magazine (VIII #1) tried to give this binding the benefit of the doubt when Lou Dawson wrote that "the outlook for this binding is good." That was not to be, as problems with durability as well as the binding's inability to allow much ski flex under the boot area made it an unattractive solution that was soon off the market.

Weight (one binding with screws): 18 oz, 510 gr

This binding was provided by Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

(All material on this website is copyrighted. Permission is required for any reproduction, electronic or . Recreation is dangerous -- you may be killed or severely injured if you choose to do backcountry skiing, 4-wheeling, four wheel drive trails, hiking, driving, or any other back country sport. All information on this website is intended only as general information for a variety of aspects of outdoor activities including backcountry skiing. While the authors and editors of the information in this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error and passing time, information within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. You agree to use any information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instuctions or templatates with care and at your own risk, and waive Wildsnow.com its owners and contributors of any liability. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are spoken here.)

MERE FLEXUS ... NIX INDOMITUS