Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.
All material on this website is copyrighted, the name WildSnow is trademarked, permission required for reproduction (electronic or otherwise) and display on other websites. PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK INFORMATION.
We include "affiliate sales" links with most of our blog posts. This means we receive a percentage of a sale if you click over from our site (at no cost to you). None of our affiliate commission links are direct relationships with specific gear companies or shopping carts, instead we remain removed by using a third party who manages all our affiliate sales and relationships. We also sell display "banner" advertising, in this case our relationships are closer to the companies who advertise, but our display advertising income is carefully separated financially and editorially from our blog content, over which we always maintain 100% editorial control -- we make this clear during every advertising deal we work out. Please also notice we do the occasional "sponsored" post, these are under similar financial arrangements as our banner advertising, only the banner or other type of reference to a company are included in the blog post, simply to show they provided financial support to WildSnow.com and provide them with advertising in return. Unlike most other "sponsored content" you find on the internet, our sponsored posts are entirely under our editorial control and created by WildSnow specific writers.See our full disclosures here.
Backcountry skiing is dangerous. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of ski mountaineering, skimo randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information and news on this website is intended only as general information. Due to human error and passing time, the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow owners and contributors of liability for use of said items for ski touring or any other use.
Interesting clamps. And that background music…reminds me of stuff I listened to in high school.
I was wandering when where the experts going to start noticing this great stuff. I bought a set of surplus Swiss skis with the FT88’s including vintage skins for $ 30!! Very heavy all of it but skied great in the icy Eastern downhill resort. I got exited and got me a snow camo suit to go with it….JAJAJA
Been using the FT88 for many years, but the front slider notch broke a couple of weeks ago. Combined with a Tua Excalibur from ’89 it has been an allrounder in my work as a UIAGM guide.
Excellent binding for ice climbing boots and ski approaches to frozen waterfalls back home in Norway. Hopefully I’m able to get a pair or two of the white army type as replacement.
I have a pair of surplus Swiss/German army skis with a binding of that type as well – can anyone tell me how the settings on the release relate to bodyweight?
I have 6 pairs of Fritchi FT 88’s that still ski great except the rear plunger spring housing has several moderate radial cracks. All my bindings have the same-similar cracking. Im getting cautious about using them anymore. I tried to get anyone/everyone to honor the warranty that says they back their materials & design “without time limit” They say that warranty is only valid for the lifetime of the product which is over. Anybody else run into this baloney. Seems like when it says “without time limit” that’s what it means. Sorry they dont produce this anymore so send me some Freerides or cut a deal on trade in. Anyone have any spare parts- surplus or suggections. Why alieniate loyal first adopters?
I’ve been skiing these for over a year now, and love them. I stockpiled a few pair before my source dried up. How can you beat great bindings like this for $25?
I have seen the purple ones with my own eyes at a second hand store last year. If I remember, they weren’t just straight purple. Seems like there was purple and lime green and maybe white as well. That same store had a pair of new in the wrap Ramer skis last time I was in.
great but heavy binding, bought a few sets to mount up as backup sets for early seson and my alpine sking friends. the binding skis well and tour nice, the return spring is large making reversing directions when cutting skin tracks nice, the downside is they are very heavy and you must remove the ski to change modes. one last nice thing about the binding is if you remove the front plastic around the wire you can use tele boots so you can convince some of your knee doping friends to try real skiing
I have just been given a set of the above bindings (actually more red then purple) and noticed u were after some for the museum.
I am happy to take a photo of them if you like, but intend on using them so unfortunately won’t be able to donate them as yet.
If you would like a photo then let me know.
Regards
Tim Evans
Tim, if you ever upgrade please keep the museum in mind. No need for photos.
Lou,
I have 2 complete pairs of FT-88 circa 1986-87 vintage. The are red and white and preceded the purple/green model by a couple of years. A friend of mine has the newer purple model.
My red/white ones have the original heel piece, same as the military version above, as well as the optional add-on step-in heel.
They’ve been sitting on a shelf in my basement collecting dust ever since the original Diamir came out.
Let me know if you’d like them or if you’d like to see a picture.
Armin
Armin, I sent you an email. Thanks.
For the ones having contacts in Switzerland:
There are still hundreds of Swiss Army skis with the FT88 binding + seal skins (with hooks, not self ahesive) for sale in Switzerland, at Militarymegastore (they are selling Swiss Army surplusses and modern military style junk)
Price: 19 Swiss Francs (between 16 and 19 US$ -(the exchange rate is very unstable recently…).
For location of stores: http://www.militarymegastore.ch
I would like to give touring a try. Anybody using the straps that come with the bindings? If so how do you hook them up? Also what type of skis do you use for the seal skins with hooks. I am trying on shaped Atomic Tour Guide Super Light 96/67/86 skis and needed to bend hooks to put them on. Not sure if this will work but I will give it a try.
Just bought a pair of these, and am wondering where I might find mounting instructions and/or templates. Preferably online.
Hi,
I have a chance to get a pair of Swiss Army Alpine Skis and I’m pretty sure they have the FT88 bindings. What boots have you found to work best with this setup? I plan on doing primarily crosscountry skiing with some up/down moderate terrain. Do all boots fit with these bindings?
Thanks
Chris, yes, all alpine or randonnee AT ski boots will work with those bindings.
I just got my Fritschi FT-88s from eBay. I’m looking forward to next season when I can try some low-intensity alpine touring without springing for pricey gear right away. It doesn’t hurt that I’m a big fan of Swiss things, especially trains, roads, longboards and mountains. I honeymooned there and I’ve skied in the Alps. I didn’t even know there was an alternative to telemarking until I saw a magazine article two years ago. Just this past year I got back into skiing after a long, family-induced hiatus. I’ve been collecting alpine gear from the late 70s, 80s and early 90s, the decades I missed. So the money I would have spent on some Spademanns instead lifts me into the world of no lifts.
Great to have Lou and all you guys providing this information for a newbie.
Used a set of these bindigs mounted on rossi st comps in the late 80’s to do the Haute Route,Also used Saloman rear entry boots with vibram soles on em.This was high tech back then.Bindings worked great were hard to remount binding when and if they released.
Thanks for your illustrated history of this binding. Due to your help I was able to get into the binding correctly. You won’t believe some of the methods I have tried!!!
Bought them three or four years ago from a internet surplus store together with Swiss army skis, poles and skins for a very reasonable price. The skis and bindings are durable but quite heavy.
I have a set of these FT88 bindings for sale for 40 dollars.
call 203 723-2080
I’ll give you everthing you need to mount them correctly on your skis.
On the subject of swiss surplus skis, I’ve foune these:
http://store.colemans.com/cart/skis-swiss-army-p-1753.html?zenid=2b1bfa5e19535cdbbfd31cc61c2144d5
(I know they have cable bindings and not the FT-88, but the silvretta cable binding page has no comment section)
Anyway, would theses be worth the price to get for a ghetto ice climbing approach ski? I can’t find any other mountaineering boot compatible bindings for under $50, and these come with skis. Is it worth the hassle or will they be too much trouble or just junk?
Also of note, Coleman’s (site selling those skis), also has USGI Raymer cable bindings and some funky skins.
http://store.colemans.com/cart/us-gi-ski-bindings-p-2129.html
http://store.colemans.com/cart/gi-ski-climbers-p-870.html
Worth $10 each? (to use, not to have 😉 )
Gawd they were heavy. Good thing I spent nearly all my time on tele gear during the years I had these particular Fritschis
Wyatt, I got some of those skis/bindings so I could acquire the bindings for my collection. Yeah, the bindings would work for approach bindings, but I’d recommend a more modern ski. Also, the bindings are tricky to mount correctly, so keep that in mind.
I was give older no wax xc skis and poles. Can i put the US Army bindings on them and use my hiking boots? Thanks rob
I believe your boots would need to have a groove around the heel for the wires of the binding to rest in.
Yeah, there is a minimum boot configuration for a “hiking boot,” it needs to be pretty heavy duty. If so, It’ll work in the military bindings that have all the straps to hold in just about anything. Don’t expect much in the way of downhill control, a setup like that is for slogging on level ground.
I bought a pair of the Swiss surplus skis for slogging around the shelter belts here in North Dakota where there is an abundance of level ground. Anyway, my question is- do I put the bail up or down underneath my heel for slogging? I’m using a pair of German military surplus mountaineering boots in the binding they work great but I’d like to get some input.
Thanks for providing the information on the binding it was very helpful in getting me started.
I recently picked up a pair of these FT88’s for a casual touring set up, but I realized, that I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m hoping to mate them to some circa 1990 K2 Piste Stinx tele skis, but I’m not sure where to align the boot center. The skis have a “Chord Center” label on the top sheet that (I think) corresponds to the waist of the ski, as well as a K2 logo that is (I think) located at the highest point of the vertical arch (camber?) of the ski. Should I align the boot center with this “Chord Center” or the arch center when I go for the mount? Is all this moot since the tele ski design has a different center of balance? I’m not overly concerned about downhill performance since this ski will mostly be used to go on flat picnic tours, but I would rather not mess it up TOO badly if I can help it. I throughly enjoy this awesome resource.
Zach, tele skis were traditionally mounted with the pin line at the balance point or the chord center, which are pretty close to each other. That line is about at the toe of the tele boot. So the hypothetical boot center mark would be well back of chord center. I would guess that the boot toe should go somewhere near the chord center mark, although it may not be exactly the same given the difference between tele and AT pivot location, etc.
Hi there, I am keen to get my hands on some of these bindings, but I was wondering if anyone out there can tell me if the FT88s come in different sizes, or whether they would be able to take a size 32 ski boot (actual boot length 348mm)? I have big feet and trying to get AT gear second hand is a nightmare! Thanks, Sam
Sam, these are antique bindings, not made anymore. Look for other options.
Thanks Lou. Are you recommending against the bindings because they are antique, or simply because they won’t be big enough for my boots? Many thanks, Sam
Because they are antique. Would you put antique tires on your car?
I have a Crampon set for Fritschi FT88 tour. They are available for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping.
You can adjust the bindings to different size boots by unscrewing the heel cable body from the side of the binding and moving to another hole. I unscrew this just a little for fine adjustment on boot size, but I am not sure if Fritschi recommends that part-check.
Here is a video on basic skiing with the Fritschi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5cGTRHO-k&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Bobby,
I would love two crampon sets even. How can I reach you? Or maybe you can email: sailaway1984@yahoo.com
The straps that come wrapped around the two ends of skis were just safety straps to keep boots linked to skis when the skis fell off in a fall
The fine adjustment was obtained by loosening the turnbuckle like joint on the heel cable that I unscrewed completely to change holes on the side of the binding.
I actually learned to ski and did a season worth of touring on these bindings. They are a total and complete pain in the ass to get back into without taking the plate off the boot once you unclip in deep snow. Still it was a great binding for $50….but now-a-days I am in love with my dynafits. These seem to have dried up on the surplus market these days however.
Ok,
I give away my source since I can’t seem to sell internet items and drive truck at the same time. You can purchase Swiss Telemark skis with FT88 bindings, poles, and skins for $20!? at Swiss Link out of paradise California. The shipping is another $20. One secret to the bindings: Don’t tighten the heel cable elbows too much once you choose what hole you need on the side of your binding to fit your foot. If they are narrower than your heel, it will pop your boot off the ski.
You can also get the original 1960’s-’70’s Swiss Mountain boot with the ski groove in the heel that fit these from Waphaus or Hessian Antiques. They are great for ice and hiking too.
Do these bindings release if you wreck? Or are you locked in for ride?
Hi Skyler, yes, they release. How well they release is another matter. Not much elasticity, they tended to pre release unless you set them high. Lou
Hi Lou,
I have a favor to ask, if you’re near your museum and have a spare minute. If you pop the plate out of the release units, and weigh it on it’s own, how much does it weigh (in grams)?
It seems like one could drill the plate directly onto a ski (perhaps compromising the flex of the ski too much), and achieve a simple plate binding without release capability. However, unless it’s significantly lighter in that configuration than a Silvretta 500 there isn’t much point in doing so.
Thanks!
Colin
Colin, the European extreme skiers over the years have cobbled up various bindings with no release, and super low weight, but basically taking binding parts and screwing them to your skis. The ones I’ve seen over the years were usually based on a toe wire with heel latch type of configuration. I made some myself in the 1970s, using a Silvretta toe and a Marker racing heel unit that had a simple cam latch with no release, based on a Silvetta plate. Some of the bindings I’ve seen had no touring capability, they were just a way to lock your boot onto your ski. No release, super light. You get the idea. Pretty specialized! Could be some fun experimentation, I’ll weigh those for you when I get a chance probably later today. Lou
Yeah, I have actually often thought of bolting on a ski binding with no touring capability, just for summer descent use (for example, climbing Liberty Ridge, but not wanting to walk all the way down the normal route).
In the case of the Fritschi FT88, I’m hoping to maybe use it with climbing boots as an approach binding, but it all depends on how much it weighs relative to a Silvretta 500 without all the release pieces in front and back.
Thanks for the weight info later on!
Colin, the plate when removed from the Fritschi FT88 binding weighs 27.3 ounces, 774 grams. Still quite heavy. As you know but should be said, the plate incorporates the touring mechanism and could be bolted to a ski or snowboard for a non-release touring binding (without heel lift). You could also probably make a super light no-release binding by stripping off the toe wire and heel clamp parts, and somehow mounting them on a ski without the plates.
There are probably easier bindings to work with if you want to construct a no-release superlight. Any of the guys you ski with in Europe use bindings like that?
Lou
No one I know in Cham has any non-release bindings. People here generally trust the low-tech bindings for steep skiing.
Ah, too bad. At 774 grams it’s not enough lighter than a Silvretta 500 to be worth using. The white plastic plate itself might be worth mounting on a pair of light, little skis as a no-tour descent setup.
Well, thanks anyways for checking for me!
Too bad I can’t find any of the “Evolution Light” bindings by “Nic Impex” – they look like a good, light approach binding:
http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tamakisports.com/products/ski/evolution/evo-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tamakisports.com/products/bindings-at.html&h=166&w=600&tbnid=DRqbDnNjwqIm1M:&zoom=1&tbnh=90&tbnw=325&usg=__I5d-34TvryiNxl7_wKnVfib-GCk=&docid=MVGBq4KKVr1lzM&sa=X&ei=gIV_U8S-LoSc0QWY6oEI&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBA&dur=1431