Marker

Kingpin M-Werks 12 Alpine Touring Binding - 2022

Marker took the ski community by storm a few seasons back with the Kingpin's DIN-rated versatility both in and out of bounds. Beefy enough for freeriding, the Kingpin M-Werks 12 Ski Binding boasts a lighter weight than its predecessor while still retaining all the features that helped so many backcountry skiers ride like royalty. The toe still uses steel pins and springs to provide greater energy absorption and contact pressure for smoother skiing, and there's still a crampon adapter. Marker really kept every single feature from the original Kingpin, and still managed to reduce the binding's weight by ten ounces. The key differential ingredient: carbon.

Carbon reinforces both the thermoplastic toe and heel pieces to lighten the binding and improve overall torsional rigidity and power transfer. More specifically, Marker made 30% of the toe and heel pieces out of carbon for reduced weight and better stiffness. Marker also updated the ski/walk lever and heel elevators with a more ergonomic feel for faster transitions on steeper and flatter terrain alike. There are visual mounting aids on the platform to ease clipping in and out, and anti-ice sheets help prevent ice buildup by shedding snow off the plates. The Kingpin M-Werks Binding includes brakes that you can detach at your convenience.