Ramer Universal Military – Vintage Backcountry Skiing Binding
Post by WildSnow.com blogger Lou Dawson | August 2, 2006
This time we’re covering an interesting 1980s variant on the Ramer Universal, which we call the “Universal Military” or “UM.” See the display.

Ramer Universal “M” model.
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Posted by Lou Dawson on August 2, 2006 | Filed Under Binding Reviews, History
Tags: backcountry skiing, Binding Reviews,
Tags: backcountry skiing, Binding Reviews,
Please Enjoy A Few Suggested WildSnow Posts
Comments
3 Responses to “Ramer Universal Military – Vintage Backcountry Skiing Binding”
Your Comments
- Lisa: Christopher, Excellent point. I’ve been thing about getting some PT, and ...
- Christopher: Lisa: This seems to work well for you. Makes me think that maybe the right...
- Kristian: The picture of the fire extinguisher reminds me of the Ohio Players. And...
- Collin: Hi all...had to take a break from all the binding nonsense and actually ski...
- Jim Milstein: Since you survived your fall, Lou, I'm just wondering whether your cuffs we...
- Jim Milstein: Just curious, Lou, since you survived your fall, I'm wondering whether your...
- Lou Dawson 2: I think it could cause some wear after quite a few days, I don't prefer it....
- Lou Dawson 2: I fell today. Skiing downhill with my heels unlatched. I guess I'll never m...
- Kyle: I just purchased some ZED bindings but haven't mounted them yet as I have b...
- Jim Milstein: To Lou's question, Who falls, anyway? If it is you, stop right now! You cou...
- Lisa: Chase, total weight for my set is 3lbs 11oz. I didn’t notice the weight, p...
- Mitch: Thanks for the thorough review as usual. I've had a tlt7 for two seasons bu...
- XXX_er: hey Alberto, I figured Dynafit would probably stiff ya but thats that's gr...
- Rickardo H: Well that's all rum. Via my ski shop at home the UK rep also confirmed that...
- HBS: Why not adjust the canting of the boot instead of shimming the binding and ...
- Chase Harrison: Hey Lou, How do they perform skining up hill? Do they add weight at all...
- Lou Dawson 2: Hi Pavol, first, try using our site search function, at top of page, to lef...
- Alberto: After a couple of mails with Dynafit support they sent me 2 new Radical ST ...
- Pavol: Hi Lou, can you expand on your comment about use of ramps and shims with te...
- Kyle: That's fantastic that the device is letting you ski pain free, a great gift...
- Lou Dawson 2: Seemed ok in that regard David, though of course the rod and spring cartrid...
- DavidB: Hi Lisa / Lou, if you were skiing the mojo inbounds on firm snow and crashe...
- Jim Milstein: Ditto Kristian. The other day I popped in the cramps for the first time. T...
- Kristian: I use the ATK Trofeo elevators as opposed to rotating the binding also. Th...
- Jim Milstein: This season I am using the ATK Trofeo, which really has but one heel height...
- VT skier: John B, I regularly ski inbounds, at the resort, on a similar AT binding t...
- eric: https://www.folksam.se/media/S40056-folksam-ski-helmet-test-report-2019_tcm...
- Kristian: Chemical battery technologies like lithium can hold more energy, but they h...
- Joe John: Ha ha! Way to go Lou. My knees probably will need a pair soon!...
- Lou Dawson 2: After I right-click translated, it seemed to default to English, or else Go...
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Lou, just so you know…there was a military version of the MT-2000 as well, using the same c-channel instead of the solid aluminum stock. I have several pairs in my parts box, since everything is interchangeable with other Ramer models. If you want a pair of them for your collection, let me know…I’ll hook you up. In turn, if you ever see a source for either Universal or MT-2000 heelpieces, give me a shout. Also, there’s a guy who is selling a military version of the Universal on eBay right now (July 06), sans heelpieces, sans screws, etc. He’s on his third or fourth pair, so he must have a stash. These pairs have the pretty gold tuning-fork arms shown above.
Thanks for the info Bob, but shoot, yet another binding I have to get for the collection, it’s amazing how many of these things there were over the years! I’ll send you an email about some trades.
As for bindings without heel units (the uphill/downhill mode change clamp), In the 1980s Outward Bound used hundreds of pairs of Ramers without the uphill/downhill, and I suspect other institutional outfits did so as well, hence the incomplete bindings that keep popping up. Such are perhaps useful for spare parts, but not very collectible unless the price is right (pretty much free) in view of having to seek out the missing parts.
Hey Lou,
I just picked up a pair of the same purple TLT4 boots you have for sale on the Fleamarket page. Any idea which year(s) they were made? They are crazy light, pretty stiff, and so damn ugly I don’t need to worry about anyone ganking them. thanks Drew