You guys are hands down the best when it comes to reviews! I’d love to hear what you think about CAST’s touring set up? Anyway, keep up the great content and thanks for the in depth reviews!
I actually think the CAST touring setup is probably the closest thing on the market to the Duke PT. Very similar concepts. On the CAST you're removing and replacing the entire toe piece, of course. I think the Duke PT is a little more user-friendly for most skiers. I (we) know the guys that developed the CAST quite well.
Good review,thank you. Not sure where people get the notion that shift has big issues. I have used shift on /off piste in alps. Real test was in Scottish winter back in UK. Where I toured in horrendous weather, 40 mile gusts, freezing rain and whiteout. I had no issues with shift! Marker bindings are equally awesome. this is shift, cast alternative which I am eager to try next winter.
I’ve had big issues with my Shift bindings. I’ve had them eject prematurely, frequently at resorts. I have also had issues with my brakes. Snow builds up underneath and when I try to lock my brake, they completely popped out of the heel piece. This happened on both skis on every transition. It was super frustrating. I was lucky to have a screwdriver because that descent would have really sucked. Overall not super impressed with them.
Topclass review - as always. Your content is simply sensational. I'm looking for a new freeride set-up for next season, ideally an alpine touring binding for short tours + a reliable, hard-charging freeride ski for an advanced skier(~100mm underfoot) I have been considering the 104 Nordica Enforcer, but I'm not sure whether the ski is too heavy.
Hi Erik! No, I don't think the Enforcer 104 is too heavy. Honestly, there's a good chance I'll have a similar setup next season. I think it makes a lot of sense to go with a setup like that if you're sticking to shorter tours and you care more about the reliability for hard-charging. It's not going to be the lightest setup in the world, but you'll be fine for short trips.
@@SkiEssentials thank you so much for taking the time. I'm relieved to hear that you are on the same page. Would you consider another ski besides the Enforcer 104?
I would have liked to get a closer comparison to the shift binding, because I feel like both are for the same type of skier. Because I have heard from a few people that the shift is not working properly downhill and also breaks quite often so the marker seems to be the better option.
Benzknees had a similar question. Check out my reply there and let me know if you have more questions. It's definitely something we'll talk about more. There's easily a place in the market for both bindings because they're different enough from each other.
Guess the next steps in the evolution would be for a lighter lower din version and also the option to ski them without the extra toe piece, as if it was a kingpin for long days. Currently seems impossible as without toe piece the boot is too far forward from the heel
Interesting, but a few unanswered questions: (1) what is the weight vs the Shift; (2) what is the weight of the removable toe piece; (3) does the toe piece fit back on easily after a long skin in icy snow; (4) is there a toe stop for the tech fitting or do you have to manually line up the boot inserts; (5) is there any noticeable difference in performance compared with the Shift (aside from the higher DIN settings)?
You can find a lot of those answers in the written article! (1) A single binding (half a pair) weighs 1280 g in alpine mode and 1000 g with the alpine toe removed. For comparison, a Shift is 860 g. (2) 280 g. (3) Yes. I think you'd have to be in really specific weather/snow conditions to have any trouble. The only thing I can imagine causing a problem is heavy freezing rain, but even then you could just leave the toe on if you were worried about it. (4) Manually, although it's pretty easy. (5) Yeah, I think so, but in both directions. The Duke PT feels more solid, it really does feel like a Jester. The Shift is lighter, so it feels a little more efficient on the ascent, but not quite as strong as the Duke PT when descending.
Nice job fellas, i just bought those pink skis so i’m stoked about that but i’m gonna throw some colorful look pivots on that for the extra gnar factor
I noticed these binding only come in 100mm and 125mm brake width ? Is that right . Would the brakes be in the way on a 90mm ski like the qst 92 ? Does the massive toe piece make this that much better compared to the shift ? I'm still on the hunt for something I can use most days. May steer clear and get a frame binding 😭
Hey Dan! Yes, as far as I've been told, the brake options are 100 and 125 mm for next season. I wouldn't be surprised if we get more options down the road sometime. That said, a 100 mm brake will be fine on a QST 92. That's about 5 mm of overhang (assuming an extra 2 mm in width on the brake, they're usually a little wider than stated) on each side, which should cause any catching. I do notice a difference in downhill performance between the Duke PT and Shift, yes. The Duke PT feels so much like a Jester, but the Shift doesn't necessarily feel like an STH 16, which would be the equivalent so to speak. I'm personally hoping to use both next season, a Shift on my "regular" touring skis, and the Duke PT on a bigger pair of powder skis that I'll likely use in the resort more than anything, but want to have touring capabilities if I happen to find myself out west or touring on a super deep day here in the east.
Any discussion about how it functions when it gets snow or ice in it? Like, how easy is it to clear ice out of any of the holes when you are transitioning?
We have a Blaze 106 review, have you seen that? ua-cam.com/video/fbYzC4aZe64/v-deo.html We'll definitely be including it in our comparison videos later in the summer/fall too.
I haven't seen these in person yet but its a safe bet that it will be different than the royal family pattern. If it uses any of the existing patterns it would most likely be the kingpin drill pattern, but my understanding is that the heel has some significant changes so probably completely new pattern. Although who knows It would be awesome if it uses royal family mount!
Are the toe pieces interchangeable between left and right? Don't need to worry about one being for the left and accidentally putting it on the right ski, if your were riding K2 Marksmen for example.
Even though this binding is alpine boot compatible is that only in relation to the downhill? You can't go uphill like you can with a frame binding using an alpine boot can you? So really it's just for touring or hybrid boots if you want to go uphill?
In my opinion, the mechanism in the Duke PT feel a little more solid and easier to use than the Shift. I ski a Shift personally and haven't had any major issues with it, but you're certainly not the only one with that feedback. I do think there's less chance of ice build up affecting the Duke PT than the Shift. Part of that is why it's also heavier... everything just kind of feels bigger and chunkier, which is why it feels so solid, but it's also heavier.
Why not make these bindings also skiable with a pure pin toe? It would be great to be able to ski it either with the pin toe or the DIN toepiece, giving the choice to the skiers. Marker already has the King Pin, so I do not think it could be a technical problem.
Hi Greg! Dalbello Lupo 130 would be a fantastic choice and would be the matching brand to the Volkl+Marker combo. Plenty of other boots out there that would work too. Tecnica Cochise, Nordica Strider, Salomon QST Pro, etc.
Both are great bindings. The Duke is definitely stronger, so if you ski really hard and want to maximize durability and stuff like that, it could be the better choice, but you are sacrificing significant weight. Basically comes down to skiing style, how aggressive you are, etc. Your boots will work just fine for either, and since weight isn't a big factor, sounds like the Duke might be a better choice for you.
I'd say drastically different, mostly in how they perform as alpine bindings. The strength of the toe piece on the Duke PT can't be matched by a pin system for descents. You have a better connection to the ski, and safer release, so if you're skiing hard and aggressively, it's valuable. The heel piece is stronger too, but the toe is a big difference. Of course, to achieve this, the Duke PT is much heavier. It basically comes down to how often you're touring and how you ski. For skiers that tour A LOT and that are covering long distances, the Kingpin is more efficient and I think a lot would consider it the better option. If you're not touring often, or if they're short distances, or if you're doing things like hitting jumps and dropping cliffs on the way back down, the Duke PT is probably more your speed. Hope that helps!
Two takeaways 1) Frame bindings are DEAD 2) I may never buy an alpine binding again now that a binding like this with the freeride heel is an option...though I think I'll always keep a pure touring set on hand as the weight penalty for that heel peice is pretty high
1) For the most part, I agree, although I think they'll hang on for a few more years as a less expensive alternative to get into touring. You don't necessarily need a touring boot in a frame binding and you can still partake in the activitiy. 2) I think a lot of people will agree with you on that. There will always be room for dedicated alpine bindings (Pivot 18, Jester Pro, STH 16, etc), but I agree that a lot of people will move to something like this.
I’ve read a lot of reviews about the toe piece breaking when in touring mode, is this a problem you guys have seen as well? What I’ve heard is the toe piece will snap and leave the binding unusable.
Gosh that's really interesting. Certainly not something I've seen first-hand and I can't recall hearing of any major issues either. We hear about issues with the Shift more often than the Duke PT.
Right on. My sister used to live in Morrisville. Was my ski crash pad in college. That was a loooong time ago. The Alchemist was still a brew pub/restaurant back then. Anyway, have you guys messed with the CAST Touring stuff? Trying to figure out what my best option is on something like a Ripstick Black 106 or Nordica Unlimited 104.
The Alchemist has sure changed! While we're huge Pivot fans, we have not gotten a Cast system to play with. From everything I know and hear, it's legit, and works great on upper-end skis like you have. between the skis on your list, the Risptick is the more damp and smooth downhill option while Unlimited rips, but in a lighter, more poppy way. It's all about compromise for sure, so you may want to lean to the Unlimited if you're looking for touring.
Without getting into technical details about how they're engineered, in general the Royal Family binding line is designed for all-mountain, freeride, and freestyle. The rest of Marker's bindings are either in a race collection, or basically a trickle down of race-bred designs into more consumer-oriented bindings that are generally more in line with firm snow performance.
@@SkiEssentials Sweet. Might consider this for my next setup. Kind of pricy. I just got the Deacon 84's, id hate to purchase something else now. Thank You
Wish you guys could get ahold of a pinding touring binding and do a shoot out(cast vs duke pt vs pinding) Also curious how the weight of this duke pt(with toes removed) compares to a shift? And downhill weight compares to cast, pinding and shift?
We will do our best! That would be a really fun comparison. The 16 is still a little over 100 g heavier than the Shift with the toe removed. I have that info in the written portion of the review.
@@SkiEssentials shift is a great 50/50 option. I wouldnt want to ski it around the hill everyday though. Theres a reason why solly 916 is much heavier. CAST and pinding and hopefully duke pt should be no problem as a daily hill binding. 100g extra on the duke pt on the uotrack in comparison to the shift is quite reasonable. Thanks for that, i missed that in the vid. Duke pt should be roughly same weight on the uptrack as cast then. Pinding would be a bit heavier but half the moving parts as a shift. A wash on the downhill between cast, duke pt, and pinding. Could be a good test shootout
Basically comparing the performance of a Jester to the performance of a Pivot 15/18. Both are strong bindings, both have really good heel pieces. A lot of skiers like the feel that Pivots provide, but among our staff, plenty of people ski the Jester too. Both are 100% trustworthy bindings. I think the bigger difference between those setups is the user-friendliness. You have a little more to keep track of with the CAST system, as you're always carrying one toe piece or the other.
Depends on how much money you have and how aggressive of a downhill skier you are. The nice thing about the 16 is that it feels like you're skiing a Jester when you're clicked in and skiing--very confidence-inspiring.
@@SkiEssentials appreciate the response. That’s what I ended up ordering so glad to hear the reassuring words to my decision. Ultimately I figured the magnesium would hold up much longer over time
Excellent review guy! I’m torn between the duke pt 12 and Fritschi Tecton 12. Obviously there’s a major weight difference but not a ton of direct comparison as to overall performance and longevity for either. Any words of wisdom there would be much appreciated! Jason
I think there are benefits to the Duke PT 12, mostly durability and downhill performance. In my opinion, most people who are alpine touring are going to appreciate the better downhill performance and not be too worried about it being a few hundred grams heavier. If you're touring a lot, or really demanding ascents, the Fritschi might be the way to go, otherwise, I'd go Duke PT.
Hey guys great reviews. I just got the Blaze and Duke Pt 12 setup. Im looking into boots I struggle with boot fit as an adult petite woman 23.5 and almost always go custom inserts. This is my first touring setup and saying Im stoked is an understatement. At my shop I tried on and love the K2 mind bender alliance boots. What are your thoughts on this combo? I realize Dalbello is the preferred however I just did not like them as much as the K2s I tried on. Im not to concerned with weight just yet as Im a proficient skier but new to touring. Thanks for any input you have!
K2 Mindbender is a great match for boots for the Blaze and Duke PT! Boots are tricky, you can't always just get the matching brand, sometimes it just doesn't fit right. If the Mindbender felt best on your feet, go for it!
So have any of you guys lost the toepiece yet. Looking at buying a pair of these but worried that I can't seem to buy the toepiece separate from marker
So far, no issues of Duke PT toe pieces being lost. I did hear a story of someone losing a toe piece, but I don't even know if that story as true. It was at least a 4th or 5th-hand story.
@@SkiEssentials still a worry though expensive bindings to lose a piece. Getting mine fitted at the moment onto new K2 mindbender 99 so see how they work. Great reviews and podcasts guys. Thanks
Hahahaha, is it really that bad? It's not often that someone points out my accent, but it does happen. I grew up in Maine, people sometimes say I sound Canadian. If you want some expert advice on "tauring" let me know.
@@SkiEssentials haha! Guess it depends which part of Canada. I'm from BC and everything else you say sounds "normal" to me, just that one word kept popping out at me.
@@SnootchieBootchies27 my whole life people have told me I say "house" funny, so not surprising. I loved your comment, gave me a good laugh, which is a valuable thing right now!
Hi, I know this vid is 2 years old now, but could you tell me whether I should get the pt 16 or 12, considering im 5’9”, 70kg, boot size 9.5 UK, and aggressive style? Also if there’s anything new out that’s excelled these then please let me know! Thanks 👍🏻
First of all I've watched a lot of your guys videos and I love them! Thanks a lot! I have one question, what's the differences between the Duke PT 16 and 12? And could I mount them on the 2021 Block Crows Atris? Thanks a lot Felix
Awesome review guys! On the off chance you see this comment what do you think about pairing the PT16 with the Hustle 10? Thanks in advance 🙏 from one Vermonter to another.
I'm into it! Again, you're getting a heavier binding on a lighter ski, so the uphill will be more of a slog but you're certainly getting a direct and aggressive connection for the downhill. The nice thing about the Pt16 is that you can literally just use it in the resort and it feels like a Marker Jester 16--total confidence!
I genuinely feel bad for anyone who buys these. Heavier than the shift, more complicated, prone to icing, removable parts etc.There is literally no advantage to this over the shift. And that being said, the shift is already overkill for 95% of us out there. I stomp anything on my g3 ion LT including steep couloirs, 10-20 foot cliff drops etc. Actually I have a pair of the shift and literally only use them for resort now because no matter what im riding I feel just as good if not better on my pin bindings. A few days ago I was at the top of a fairly steep couloir that I measured at 48 degrees. Snow was firm and it was super nice being able to attach my leash to my boot and then gently step into the front pins and finally stomp into the heel. Literally would have to be a fool to drop your ski. On the other hand I was in a similar situation with the shift last year, and even after shoveling out a decent platform for the ski, its still unnerving to have to let go and stomp into it with nothing attaching the ski to your boot, while in terrain where dropping a ski would be really bad. Just my two cents
If you want even remotely efficient touring, you want a pin boot with a walk mode. If you're trying to tour in a downhill boot, you're just going to suffer.
Yuuup also I didn’t ask about suffering. I also have ridden pin boots and haven’t found one that performs Iike my “downhill boot”. Also I was with guys touring w touring boots on. I led the accent and guided. Talk shit now biatch
You guys are hands down the best when it comes to reviews! I’d love to hear what you think about CAST’s touring set up? Anyway, keep up the great content and thanks for the in depth reviews!
I actually think the CAST touring setup is probably the closest thing on the market to the Duke PT. Very similar concepts. On the CAST you're removing and replacing the entire toe piece, of course. I think the Duke PT is a little more user-friendly for most skiers. I (we) know the guys that developed the CAST quite well.
And you can get
Good review,thank you. Not sure where people get the notion that shift has big issues. I have used shift on /off piste in alps. Real test was in Scottish winter back in UK. Where I toured in horrendous weather, 40 mile gusts, freezing rain and whiteout. I had no issues with shift! Marker bindings are equally awesome. this is shift, cast alternative which I am eager to try next winter.
I’ve had big issues with my Shift bindings. I’ve had them eject prematurely, frequently at resorts. I have also had issues with my brakes. Snow builds up underneath and when I try to lock my brake, they completely popped out of the heel piece. This happened on both skis on every transition. It was super frustrating. I was lucky to have a screwdriver because that descent would have really sucked. Overall not super impressed with them.
CAST got great reviews. I have look pivot so for me it’s easy choice.
Topclass review - as always. Your content is simply sensational. I'm looking for a new freeride set-up for next season, ideally an alpine touring binding for short tours + a reliable, hard-charging freeride ski for an advanced skier(~100mm underfoot) I have been considering the 104 Nordica Enforcer, but I'm not sure whether the ski is too heavy.
Hi Erik! No, I don't think the Enforcer 104 is too heavy. Honestly, there's a good chance I'll have a similar setup next season. I think it makes a lot of sense to go with a setup like that if you're sticking to shorter tours and you care more about the reliability for hard-charging. It's not going to be the lightest setup in the world, but you'll be fine for short trips.
@@SkiEssentials thank you so much for taking the time. I'm relieved to hear that you are on the same page. Would you consider another ski besides the Enforcer 104?
@@erikhorstmann1159 check out WNDR Alpine Vital 100
Another great review! This binding on a Revolt 104 might be in my future. Looking forward to your review on that ski.
It's sitting in my basement right now waiting for its moment in the spotlight! That's going to be an awesome setup.
Head Kore 99 maybe?
I would have liked to get a closer comparison to the shift binding, because I feel like both are for the same type of skier. Because I have heard from a few people that the shift is not working properly downhill and also breaks quite often so the marker seems to be the better option.
Benzknees had a similar question. Check out my reply there and let me know if you have more questions. It's definitely something we'll talk about more. There's easily a place in the market for both bindings because they're different enough from each other.
Guess the next steps in the evolution would be for a lighter lower din version and also the option to ski them without the extra toe piece, as if it was a kingpin for long days. Currently seems impossible as without toe piece the boot is too far forward from the heel
Its gonna be a hard decision between the Duke PT and the CAST freetour this summer...
Mind telling me what you went with and why?
Interesting, but a few unanswered questions: (1) what is the weight vs the Shift; (2) what is the weight of the removable toe piece; (3) does the toe piece fit back on easily after a long skin in icy snow; (4) is there a toe stop for the tech fitting or do you have to manually line up the boot inserts; (5) is there any noticeable difference in performance compared with the Shift (aside from the higher DIN settings)?
You can find a lot of those answers in the written article! (1) A single binding (half a pair) weighs 1280 g in alpine mode and 1000 g with the alpine toe removed. For comparison, a Shift is 860 g. (2) 280 g. (3) Yes. I think you'd have to be in really specific weather/snow conditions to have any trouble. The only thing I can imagine causing a problem is heavy freezing rain, but even then you could just leave the toe on if you were worried about it. (4) Manually, although it's pretty easy. (5) Yeah, I think so, but in both directions. The Duke PT feels more solid, it really does feel like a Jester. The Shift is lighter, so it feels a little more efficient on the ascent, but not quite as strong as the Duke PT when descending.
Skiessentials.com - Thanks, that’s a v.thorough answer! It looks like a great option to the Shift, especially for the occasional tourer like myself.
Solid review, thank you gents!
love the sweatshirt!-know a couple of buddies on the current FST along with Zack Masi- Great content as always!
Thanks! I (Jeff) was at UVM for the very beginning of FST! I could really throw it back with the old jerseys...
Nice job fellas, i just bought those pink skis so i’m stoked about that but i’m gonna throw some colorful look pivots on that for the extra gnar factor
Yessss Pink Rangers with Forza Pivots? I just fell in love with the idea of it.
Skiessentials.com yes 2021 pink rangers with forza pivots. We are going #fullRetro next year.
@@predatorpwr I approve 3000%
I noticed these binding only come in 100mm and 125mm brake width ? Is that right . Would the brakes be in the way on a 90mm ski like the qst 92 ? Does the massive toe piece make this that much better compared to the shift ? I'm still on the hunt for something I can use most days. May steer clear and get a frame binding 😭
Hey Dan! Yes, as far as I've been told, the brake options are 100 and 125 mm for next season. I wouldn't be surprised if we get more options down the road sometime.
That said, a 100 mm brake will be fine on a QST 92. That's about 5 mm of overhang (assuming an extra 2 mm in width on the brake, they're usually a little wider than stated) on each side, which should cause any catching.
I do notice a difference in downhill performance between the Duke PT and Shift, yes. The Duke PT feels so much like a Jester, but the Shift doesn't necessarily feel like an STH 16, which would be the equivalent so to speak. I'm personally hoping to use both next season, a Shift on my "regular" touring skis, and the Duke PT on a bigger pair of powder skis that I'll likely use in the resort more than anything, but want to have touring capabilities if I happen to find myself out west or touring on a super deep day here in the east.
Any discussion about how it functions when it gets snow or ice in it? Like, how easy is it to clear ice out of any of the holes when you are transitioning?
More coverage of the Blaze 106 please! A comparison against the Vision 108 and others would be fantastic.
We have a Blaze 106 review, have you seen that? ua-cam.com/video/fbYzC4aZe64/v-deo.html
We'll definitely be including it in our comparison videos later in the summer/fall too.
SWEET :) what is the mounting pattern vs regular marker royal family? hopeing to remount some, without new holes.
I haven't seen these in person yet but its a safe bet that it will be different than the royal family pattern. If it uses any of the existing patterns it would most likely be the kingpin drill pattern, but my understanding is that the heel has some significant changes so probably completely new pattern. Although who knows It would be awesome if it uses royal family mount!
I'll need to compare those side by side. My guess is the heel piece is very similar, but the toe is likely quite different. I'll let you know.
The heel looks to be the same, but the toe is different. Similar, but the holes are more spread out than a normal Royal Family toe.
@@SkiEssentials thanks, So in theory I could just drill new holes for fronts :o :D
@@pewpewpew8390 in theory, yes. I didn't measure or test it, I just eyeballed it. Toe was clearly different, but I'm 99.9% sure the heel is the same.
Are the toe pieces interchangeable between left and right? Don't need to worry about one being for the left and accidentally putting it on the right ski, if your were riding K2 Marksmen for example.
Good question! Yes, it's 100% symmetrical, so interchangeable between left and right.
Even though this binding is alpine boot compatible is that only in relation to the downhill? You can't go uphill like you can with a frame binding using an alpine boot can you? So really it's just for touring or hybrid boots if you want to go uphill?
Yup, won't work in touring mode with alpine boots. You need the PIN-tech.
Yeah, I've had icing issues with my shift bindings which I've always remedied with a little water. How do those things stand up with all the fuckery?
In my opinion, the mechanism in the Duke PT feel a little more solid and easier to use than the Shift. I ski a Shift personally and haven't had any major issues with it, but you're certainly not the only one with that feedback. I do think there's less chance of ice build up affecting the Duke PT than the Shift. Part of that is why it's also heavier... everything just kind of feels bigger and chunkier, which is why it feels so solid, but it's also heavier.
Thanks for the beta, cogent and to the point as always. You guys rock!
Good review, thanks! :)
Can I use the binding downhill also with a "normal" boot without pin holes?
Yup!
Why not make these bindings also skiable with a pure pin toe? It would be great to be able to ski it either with the pin toe or the DIN toepiece, giving the choice to the skiers. Marker already has the King Pin, so I do not think it could be a technical problem.
What boot suggestion to go with this beefy setup and a beefy board on a big beefy mountain and snow?
Hi Greg! Dalbello Lupo 130 would be a fantastic choice and would be the matching brand to the Volkl+Marker combo. Plenty of other boots out there that would work too. Tecnica Cochise, Nordica Strider, Salomon QST Pro, etc.
Nice video and breakdown of the binding. Was that video at Mt. Snow? That would’ve been nice to be out there all alone like that!
There's obviously some stock Marker footage, but our stuff was all shot at Stowe.
Hey do you think if i got the Salomon Shift boot that i should go with the Shift binding or these? Weight isnt really a factor for me
Both are great bindings. The Duke is definitely stronger, so if you ski really hard and want to maximize durability and stuff like that, it could be the better choice, but you are sacrificing significant weight. Basically comes down to skiing style, how aggressive you are, etc. Your boots will work just fine for either, and since weight isn't a big factor, sounds like the Duke might be a better choice for you.
Just wondering how you would compare the Marker duke PT to the Marker Kingpin 13 ?
I'd say drastically different, mostly in how they perform as alpine bindings. The strength of the toe piece on the Duke PT can't be matched by a pin system for descents. You have a better connection to the ski, and safer release, so if you're skiing hard and aggressively, it's valuable. The heel piece is stronger too, but the toe is a big difference. Of course, to achieve this, the Duke PT is much heavier. It basically comes down to how often you're touring and how you ski. For skiers that tour A LOT and that are covering long distances, the Kingpin is more efficient and I think a lot would consider it the better option. If you're not touring often, or if they're short distances, or if you're doing things like hitting jumps and dropping cliffs on the way back down, the Duke PT is probably more your speed. Hope that helps!
nice one guys, excellent review
Two takeaways
1) Frame bindings are DEAD
2) I may never buy an alpine binding again now that a binding like this with the freeride heel is an option...though I think I'll always keep a pure touring set on hand as the weight penalty for that heel peice is pretty high
1) For the most part, I agree, although I think they'll hang on for a few more years as a less expensive alternative to get into touring. You don't necessarily need a touring boot in a frame binding and you can still partake in the activitiy.
2) I think a lot of people will agree with you on that. There will always be room for dedicated alpine bindings (Pivot 18, Jester Pro, STH 16, etc), but I agree that a lot of people will move to something like this.
I’ve read a lot of reviews about the toe piece breaking when in touring mode, is this a problem you guys have seen as well? What I’ve heard is the toe piece will snap and leave the binding unusable.
Gosh that's really interesting. Certainly not something I've seen first-hand and I can't recall hearing of any major issues either. We hear about issues with the Shift more often than the Duke PT.
Right on. My sister used to live in Morrisville. Was my ski crash pad in college. That was a loooong time ago. The Alchemist was still a brew pub/restaurant back then.
Anyway, have you guys messed with the CAST Touring stuff? Trying to figure out what my best option is on something like a Ripstick Black 106 or Nordica Unlimited 104.
The Alchemist has sure changed! While we're huge Pivot fans, we have not gotten a Cast system to play with. From everything I know and hear, it's legit, and works great on upper-end skis like you have. between the skis on your list, the Risptick is the more damp and smooth downhill option while Unlimited rips, but in a lighter, more poppy way. It's all about compromise for sure, so you may want to lean to the Unlimited if you're looking for touring.
Very impressive engineering.
What is the difference between Marker's "Royal" line of Bindings and their numbered line such as the 12.0 TPX
Without getting into technical details about how they're engineered, in general the Royal Family binding line is designed for all-mountain, freeride, and freestyle. The rest of Marker's bindings are either in a race collection, or basically a trickle down of race-bred designs into more consumer-oriented bindings that are generally more in line with firm snow performance.
@@SkiEssentials Thanks for responding to me. There are virtually zero reviews of Markers numbered bindings anywhere online.
so you can use this setup for down hill on piste skiing and touring skiing?
Yessir!
@@SkiEssentials Sweet. Might consider this for my next setup. Kind of pricy. I just got the Deacon 84's, id hate to purchase something else now. Thank You
How does this compare to the solomon S/Lab, thanks
Hey Kim, check out my response to Benzknees and let me know if you have more questions about it compared to the Shift!
Wish you guys could get ahold of a pinding touring binding and do a shoot out(cast vs duke pt vs pinding)
Also curious how the weight of this duke pt(with toes removed) compares to a shift?
And downhill weight compares to cast, pinding and shift?
We will do our best! That would be a really fun comparison. The 16 is still a little over 100 g heavier than the Shift with the toe removed. I have that info in the written portion of the review.
@@SkiEssentials shift is a great 50/50 option. I wouldnt want to ski it around the hill everyday though. Theres a reason why solly 916 is much heavier. CAST and pinding and hopefully duke pt should be no problem as a daily hill binding. 100g extra on the duke pt on the uotrack in comparison to the shift is quite reasonable. Thanks for that, i missed that in the vid. Duke pt should be roughly same weight on the uptrack as cast then. Pinding would be a bit heavier but half the moving parts as a shift. A wash on the downhill between cast, duke pt, and pinding. Could be a good test shootout
Downhill performance: Marker duke vs Cast touring upgrade kit of Look bindings ?
Basically comparing the performance of a Jester to the performance of a Pivot 15/18. Both are strong bindings, both have really good heel pieces. A lot of skiers like the feel that Pivots provide, but among our staff, plenty of people ski the Jester too. Both are 100% trustworthy bindings. I think the bigger difference between those setups is the user-friendliness. You have a little more to keep track of with the CAST system, as you're always carrying one toe piece or the other.
@@SkiEssentials thank you !
Any thoughts on 16 vs 12 (or 13)? Is it really worth the extra money for that heel piece and burlier construction?
Depends on how much money you have and how aggressive of a downhill skier you are. The nice thing about the 16 is that it feels like you're skiing a Jester when you're clicked in and skiing--very confidence-inspiring.
@@SkiEssentials appreciate the response. That’s what I ended up ordering so glad to hear the reassuring words to my decision. Ultimately I figured the magnesium would hold up much longer over time
Excellent review guy! I’m torn between the duke pt 12 and Fritschi Tecton 12. Obviously there’s a major weight difference but not a ton of direct comparison as to overall performance and longevity for either. Any words of wisdom there would be much appreciated!
Jason
I think there are benefits to the Duke PT 12, mostly durability and downhill performance. In my opinion, most people who are alpine touring are going to appreciate the better downhill performance and not be too worried about it being a few hundred grams heavier. If you're touring a lot, or really demanding ascents, the Fritschi might be the way to go, otherwise, I'd go Duke PT.
Hey guys great reviews. I just got the Blaze and Duke Pt 12 setup. Im looking into boots I struggle with boot fit as an adult petite woman 23.5 and almost always go custom inserts. This is my first touring setup and saying Im stoked is an understatement. At my shop I tried on and love the K2 mind bender alliance boots. What are your thoughts on this combo? I realize Dalbello is the preferred however I just did not like them as much as the K2s I tried on. Im not to concerned with weight just yet as Im a proficient skier but new to touring. Thanks for any input you have!
K2 Mindbender is a great match for boots for the Blaze and Duke PT! Boots are tricky, you can't always just get the matching brand, sometimes it just doesn't fit right. If the Mindbender felt best on your feet, go for it!
So have any of you guys lost the toepiece yet. Looking at buying a pair of these but worried that I can't seem to buy the toepiece separate from marker
So far, no issues of Duke PT toe pieces being lost. I did hear a story of someone losing a toe piece, but I don't even know if that story as true. It was at least a 4th or 5th-hand story.
@@SkiEssentials still a worry though expensive bindings to lose a piece. Getting mine fitted at the moment onto new K2 mindbender 99 so see how they work. Great reviews and podcasts guys. Thanks
I usually go touring. I'm interested to try this "tauring" he keeps talking about.
Hahahaha, is it really that bad? It's not often that someone points out my accent, but it does happen. I grew up in Maine, people sometimes say I sound Canadian. If you want some expert advice on "tauring" let me know.
@@SkiEssentials haha! Guess it depends which part of Canada. I'm from BC and everything else you say sounds "normal" to me, just that one word kept popping out at me.
@@SnootchieBootchies27 my whole life people have told me I say "house" funny, so not surprising. I loved your comment, gave me a good laugh, which is a valuable thing right now!
Hi, I know this vid is 2 years old now, but could you tell me whether I should get the pt 16 or 12, considering im 5’9”, 70kg, boot size 9.5 UK, and aggressive style?
Also if there’s anything new out that’s excelled these then please let me know! Thanks 👍🏻
I'd go with the 16--the heel piece is more burly if you're an aggressive skier. Nothing really new to discuss at this point in the tech/alpine realm!
Do you guys know approximately how much it’s gonna cost for the pt16 and the pt12? Thank you!
$699 for the 16, $599 for the 12.
First of all I've watched a lot of your guys videos and I love them! Thanks a lot! I have one question, what's the differences between the Duke PT 16 and 12? And could I mount them on the 2021 Block Crows Atris?
Thanks a lot Felix
It's a different heel piece--Griffon vs. Squire heel basically. You can certainly mount them on an Atris for a pretty heavy overall setup!
You need a raise
Haha, I'll forward your comment to our owners ;)
Awesome review guys! On the off chance you see this comment what do you think about pairing the PT16 with the Hustle 10? Thanks in advance 🙏 from one Vermonter to another.
I'm into it! Again, you're getting a heavier binding on a lighter ski, so the uphill will be more of a slog but you're certainly getting a direct and aggressive connection for the downhill. The nice thing about the Pt16 is that you can literally just use it in the resort and it feels like a Marker Jester 16--total confidence!
Great video
Thanks!
Can You Telemark down with these?
No.
I genuinely feel bad for anyone who buys these. Heavier than the shift, more complicated, prone to icing, removable parts etc.There is literally no advantage to this over the shift. And that being said, the shift is already overkill for 95% of us out there. I stomp anything on my g3 ion LT including steep couloirs, 10-20 foot cliff drops etc. Actually I have a pair of the shift and literally only use them for resort now because no matter what im riding I feel just as good if not better on my pin bindings. A few days ago I was at the top of a fairly steep couloir that I measured at 48 degrees. Snow was firm and it was super nice being able to attach my leash to my boot and then gently step into the front pins and finally stomp into the heel. Literally would have to be a fool to drop your ski. On the other hand I was in a similar situation with the shift last year, and even after shoveling out a decent platform for the ski, its still unnerving to have to let go and stomp into it with nothing attaching the ski to your boot, while in terrain where dropping a ski would be really bad. Just my two cents
CAST Freetour system is the only thing better
This just looks like the cast system but worse
Cast system is great! I think the Duke PT is the first binding that can rival it to be honest.
Yea but you have to have a pin boot.
If you want even remotely efficient touring, you want a pin boot with a walk mode. If you're trying to tour in a downhill boot, you're just going to suffer.
Didn’t suffer one bit on a 7.2 mile tour yesterday. 3800 ft climb. My advice to you shit talker is use what works for you.
Yuuup also I didn’t ask about suffering. I also have ridden pin boots and haven’t found one that performs Iike my “downhill boot”. Also I was with guys touring w touring boots on. I led the accent and guided. Talk shit now biatch
Be quiet and go to bed kid!
Marker need to fix their shitty ass heel mechanism won’t buy a marker until that’s fixed