Tyrolia Protector Attack 13

Why we chose the Tyrolia Protector Attack 13: Innovative, safe, burly
Weight per binding: 1,430g
Release Value: 4 – 13
Brake Sizes: 85, 95, 110 & 130 mm
Heel Adjustment: 259mm to 386mm BSL
Price: £300

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The Protector Attack 12 features both lateral and vertical release in the heels to help protect your knees. Standard alpine bindings (apart from the Look Pivot) just feature vertical release in the heels. This can be pretty unfriendly to your ACL in the event of the wrong kind of fall. By placing the heel essentially on a turntable, Tyrolia has managed to bring in useful bi-lateral movement in the heel.

This 7 mm of bi-lateral movement, plus 30 degrees of rotation, is particularly useful during rearward twisting falls such as when you’re backslapping off a drop. Not only is this helpful in the kind of falls that makes your knee ligaments squeal all the way to the operating theatre, but it also just means that you’re going to be able to run a lower DIN setting in the toe and heel; giving you a more consistent release as a consequence.

Who Is The Tyrolia Protector Attack 13 For?

We were left really impressed with how Protector Attack bindings rode while testing them out in Austria. It was pretty confidence-inspiring to know that you’ve got the extra level of knee protection built in, in case of an awkward fall. And, while the jury’s out on the durability of the bindings, the toughened construction gave us further confidence to really push the bindings (and our skis) as far as we could without too much fear that the binding would fold on us.

Selected for the 22/23 Mpora Ski 100. Check out our full Tyrolia Protector Attack 13 Binding Review here

Armada Strive 14

Why we chose the Armada Strive 14: Lightweight, solid, safe as houses
Weight per binding: 980g
Release Value: 5 – 14
Riser Heights: 0˚, 5˚ & 9˚
Brake Sizes: 90, 100 & 115 mm
Heel Adjustment: 30 mm
Price: £210

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The Strive kind of looks like the Shift and STH2 had a baby. It’s definitely smaller but it’s equally as tough. Available in a 14 or 16, you can be sure that your skis will stay on through any terrain you wish and then some. In fact, I think you’ll be pretty hard-pressed to rip these bad boys off if that’s what you’re looking for.

When it comes to bindings, all there is to talk about is the rotational weight, stack height and how they affect the ski-to-boot interface. Salomon has improved on all of these from their previous flagship binding with a lighter, lower profile, offering to help you feel more and, consequently, be more responsive. What’s not to like?

The Strive’s toe piece has been given a new, sportier look. It is 15% lighter than the STH2 and the ride height has stayed the same, coming in at 20mm which is about as low as it’ll ever get due to most new bindings being fitted with GripWalk technology.

Selected for the 22/23 Mpora Ski 100. Check out our full Armada Strive 14 Binding Review here

Salomon Stage GW 11

Weight per binding: 860g
Release Value: 3 – 11
Brake Sizes: 80 & 90 mm
Price: £150 / €150 / $160

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Brand new for 2021, the Salomon Stage 11 GW (GripWalk) is the lightest DIN 11 ski binding on the market. Yes, it’s always impressive to see binding manufacturers churn out 16, 18, and even 20 DIN bindings, but it’s also great to see them develop the other end of the spectrum. In doing so, brands give lightweight skiers the tools they need to safely shred the mountain.

The Salomon Stage GW 11 would be an ideal binding for skiers who are just getting into, and quickly progressing through, the sport. The versatile DIN range makes it an ideal choice for beginners as much as it does lighter weight intermediate – advanced skiers.

Selected for the 21/22 Mpora Ski 100. Check out our full Salomon Stage GW 11 Review here

Look Pivot 14

Weight per binding: 1,115g
Release Value: 5 – 14
Brake Sizes: 95  & 115 mm
Price: £247

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Look were the first, and still remain one of the only, ski binding manufacturers to incorporate a turntable heel design in an effort to promote a smooth release in their Pivot binding platform. The Look Pivot soon became a cult classic amongst those in the know. This, the Look Pivot 14, sits at the centre of the Pivot series while offering a versatile release value that covers a DIN range of 5 – 14.

The Pivot 14 has one of the largest ranges of elastic travel that we’ve seen on a ski binding – 45 mm in the heel and 28 in the toe, to be exact. Why is elasticity such a good thing exactly? Well, imagine hitting a dreaded shark underfoot. Rather than instantly kicking your boot out of the binding, the Pivot will attempt to re-centre your heel back into the binding (as far as the spring tension allows).

If you end up levering too much force on the binding then the multi-directional elasticity will give a smooth release which, most importantly, will work wonders in protecting those very precious knees of yours.

Selected for the 20/21 Mpora Ski 100. Check out our full Look Pivot 14 Review here

Marker Jester 16 ID

Weight per binding: 1,070 g
Release Value: 6 – 16
Brake Sizes: 90, 100, 110 & 120 mm
Price: £255

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From its inception ten years ago, the Jester family of ski bindings has become a firm favourite for many in the ski industry, from athletes, instructors and everyone in between. This is because of its reliable build, versatile DIN range, and a fair few features in some hit ski movies. The Jester 16 ID remains relatively unchanged from that super reliable Jester of 2010.

Featuring an impressively large DIN rating, ranging from 6 to 16, the Jester is going to be suitable for a huge range of skiers on the mountain (from 60 kg upwards). Having done the rounds on thousands of skis in its ten year history, the Jester family has proven its worth with freeride and freestyle skiers around the planet. It really is hard to beat the energy transmission, retention, and general bombproof construction of the Jester 16.

Selected for the 20/21 Mpora Ski 100. Check out our full Marker Jester 16 ID Review here

Atomic Shift 13 MNC

Weight (per binding): 850g
Release Value: 6 – 13 (DIN)
Brake Sizes: 90, 100, 110 & 120 mm
Price: £400

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Stick professional Salomon athletes Cody Townsend and Chris Rubens in a room together with a Salomon binding engineer, and I’m sure they’ll come up with all sorts of bonkers ideas. One of them, the Salomon Shift, was taken seriously and now, after 20 prototypes were designed and perfected over seven years of testing, we’ve got the Atomic/Salomon Shift.

Pin binding for the way up, Alpine binding for the way down. The idea is simple, and yet so many other binding manufacturers have previously failed to achieve this “Holy Grail” for skiers. The Atomic Shift works as a ski binding that covers both ski touring and downhill skiing, giving skiers a great option for skiers looking to explore outside of the piste and resort boundaries without having to go down the full on pin binding route.

Selected for the Mpora Backcountry Ski Guide. Check out our full Atomic Shift 13 MNC Review here

Tyrolia Adrenalin 16

Weight per binding: 1,210g
Release Value: 5 – 16 (DIN)
Brake Sizes: 85, 95, 110 or 130 mm
Price: £345

Those looking for a hybrid ski touring and downhill binding setup can’t go wrong with a frame binding. Yes, they might not look as fancy as the complex, and sometimes over-engineered, tech bindings but they offer an extremely safe system at impressively low value.

The Tyrolia Adrenalin is one of the best examples of a frame binding as they offer burly downhill performance in a package that doesn’t force you to sell your left kidney. This performance is thanks to a large spring that sits both in the toes and heels, offering a DIN range of 5 – 16. The whole binding is built around the Tyrolia Attack platform, so you can confidently attack the backcountry knowing you’ve got a pair of highly reliable clamps keeping your ski boots exactly where they should be.

Selected for the Mpora Backcountry Ski Guide. Check out our full Tyrolia Adrenaline 16 Review here

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