– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Marker Duke Ski Binding — Review and History

by Lou Dawson January 19, 2007
written by Lou Dawson January 19, 2007

[Shop for Marker Duke ski binding]

[Other articles about Marker Duke.]

[Ski binding collection index.]

Marker Duke  backcountry and freeride ski binding.

Complete Marker Duke ski binding shown above. Unit is in ski tour mode with climbing lift in up position.

In 2007, If you had been backcountry skiing for thirty years you still wondered why? Or, if you were new to the game you probably still asked the question: Why can’t they just make an alpine binding with a plate/fram and a touring pivot, and be done with it? Why do all randonnee backcountry skiing bindings compromise downhill performance to such a degree?

Then, you wondered no more when Marker released the Duke, their industry leading no-compromise downhill-oriented touring binding. This grabber was still going strong in 2015 and does one thing, does it well: While in alpine mode, Duke is a randonnee touring binding that may even exceed the downhill performance of many full-on alpine bindings.

Duke is a “frame” or “plate” binding that uses a carbon plastic structure to connect the toe and heel units, so the whole machine can hinge on a toe pivot and thus provide a walking (ski touring) function. Difference is that the frame is wider, very rigid, and latches in a firm system of slots with many times the engagement area of past bindings with similar design philosophy (genre known as “frame bindings”).

Marker Duke  rando binding heel latch.

Marker Duke rando binding heel latch.

As shown above, latch in middle of plate is moved up and down to slide the plate for/aft in a system of catches. The binding plate slides back 35 mm when you go to touring mode, resulting in a rearward position while touring unless you slide the plate forward and re-lock the latch while keeping the heel disengaged. We’re not sure locking the plate forward in touring mode is a legit way of operating the binding, but it seems to work. Also, being 35 mm back while touring is usually not a big deal, at times it can make kick turns more difficult, and help at other times. (Note that this binding makes no compromise in ALPINE performance. It does a bit of compromise in touring mode, such as the need to exit the binding to change between latched and unlatched.)

Marker Duke heel unit underside. These are the catches under the heel that engage with a plate on the ski. Incredibly solid -- virtually no play when in alpine mode.

Marker Duke heel unit underside.
These are the catches under the heel that engage with a plate on the ski. Incredibly solid — virtually no play when in alpine mode.

This plate on ski is what engages under the heel. to latch for downhill skiing.

This plate on ski is what engages under the heel. to latch for downhill skiing.

The way this system works (all integrated on one frame/plate) makes Duke easy to home-mount without a template or jig. The toe unit is completely integrated, just place on ski, center, mark holes, drill and screw. Then locate the heel plate by fitting under the binding frame, center with care, mark the screw holes, run those screws in and off you go. See this post for more about mounting, including access to a paper screw pattern template.

Boot toe height adjustment system, AFD slides up or down on a ramp.

Boot toe height adjustment system, AFD slides up or down on a ramp.

An innovative height adjustment system is one thing that allows Duke to be extra beefy. Most AT bindings with a toe jaw allow for height adjustment by raising and lowering the toe jaw wings with a threaded system. This means the toe can’t be firmly fixed to the ski. To solve that problem, Duke tow jaws are firmly mounted, and height adjustment is done by rotating a threaded rod that raised and lowers the AFD under the boot toe. It moves vertically because it’s slotted into an inclined ramp on botch sides, and slides up and down the ramp.

Note that side (lateral) safety release is done by the toe unit, and is effected by the toe wings moving out to the side, as with most alpine bindings.

The binding plate slides for and aft by virtue of this track and flange system under the toe.

The binding plate slides for and aft by virtue of this track and flange system under the toe.

The track and flange system has potential to wobble, it is manufactured with tight tolerances and has little to no movement. Also note the snap ring on a removable and presumably serviceable pivot axle.

Clear winner of the DIN "mine is bigger than yours" wars, Duke dials to DIN 16, and shows its DIN pride with this red painted spring that is beefy enough to use in my Jeep suspension. Set the binding to DIN 16, and enjoy leaving your foot and ski behind if you take beater. Ouch.

Clear winner of the DIN “mine is bigger than yours” wars, Duke dials to DIN 16, and shows its DIN pride with this red painted spring that is beefy enough to use in my Jeep suspension. Set the binding to DIN 16, and enjoy leaving your foot and ski behind if you take beater. Ouch.

Overall, the Duke is designed with a wider footprint that blends well with today’s wider skis. This stately stance is said to provide more edge control than other bindings. That might be a bit of hype, but after skiing these and bench testing the flex, I can say they’re easily the stiffest AT binding available (meaning laterally, as if pushing the boot cuff from side to side).

Crit? Yes Virginia, you have to exit the binding to change modes, and the heel lifter is difficult to flip while you’re touring. Angle of pivot in touring mode is limited to 90 degrees when the toe unit encounters the ski. This makes the binding vulnerable to damage in a “knee fall” while touring (as when you pitch forward with your knee trying to go down on a ski and thus yank the binding plate violently forward). Also, they’re heavy at 47 ounces per binding, and thus a poor choice if you’re serious about climbing and don’t tend to break bindings.

And what about the name “Duke?” What would John Wayne think? In my opinion this is equipment that redefines macho, so the name doesn’t insult the ultimate man’s man — thus we’re okay there. At least they didn’t, groan, call them “freeride.”

For most of us, Duke is too heavy for ski touring with major vertical (we won’t be trading in our Dynafits), but it looks like the perfect cross-over binding. In other words, this impressive engineering effort could become incredibly popular. At the resort it probably performs as good or better than most alpine bindings — ditto for heli skiing or snowcat skiing — and if you do want to tour you’ve got the machinery to do it. Thus, this could be the ultimate “one-rig” binding for modern resort skiers who make short stabs into the wild.

More, there is a population of backcountry skiers who will make major sacrifices in uphill comfort and energy expenditure to carry beefy gear that holds up for high speed skiing, cliff hucking, film stunts and other shenanigans. For them, Duke could be nirvana. Who knows, such backcountry hucksters might even start watching John Wayne movies. They can start with “True Grit” and work their way up (or down, as the case may be).

In all, finish and function of the Duke binding is exceptional. This is an excellent example of how design, engineering and materials science continue to converge and sometimes improve our lives.

Weight (one binding with screws): 47.1 oz, 1334 gr

Stack height (boot above ski), heel 40 mm, toe 32 mm for positive ramp angle of 8 mm

Shop for Marker Duke ski binding

Marker Duke thumbnail

Marker Duke thumbnail

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Spy Report – New Black Diamond Ski Line
next post
WildSnow.com Goes Euro – Day 7 – We Attempt the Epic Cevedale

Recent Comments

  • Aidan on Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review
  • Travis on Euro Puro Amoro — La Sportiva Orizion Touring Pant
  • Travis on Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review
  • TSO on Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry
  • Slim on Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

Gear Reviews

  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021
  • Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampon Review

    January 4, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • A Lifetime of Skiing the Heights — Natural Progression Book Review

    December 11, 2020

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry...

January 12, 2021

Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains...

January 7, 2021

Toe Jaw Closure Strength Testing —...

October 11, 2020