Atomic Tracker/Salomon Guardian Binding

I can't speak for the trackers, but look into MFD Alltime plates. I just bought a set for next season. You're a big dude, so you're gonna want a beefy setup. I haven't tried mine out, but this article helped make up my mind.

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/mfd-alltime-alpine-touring-binding

You're totally entitled to your opinion, and everyone is different, however I've heard a lot of negative feedback from people who's opinions I put a lot of stock in regarding the MFD's. The work alright, it just makes for a VERY heavy and bulky setup.

I don't know pricing for the Tracker/Guardian, but I would guess that MSRP will be in the $400-500 range. Not cheap, but looking at the cost of the Duke, and these are supposed to be better, that's my guess. Considering what I have heard/read about the Tracker/Guardian, it does seem similar to a Duke in that it is made to be a burly binding that can be ridden hard on firmer snow inbounds as well as in the BC. If anything it should be better due to more metal being used in the construction and a lower stand height.

yeah I looked into the MFD alltime plates and thats exactly what i've heard. having a heavy setup is not ideal which is why I've looked into the tracker/guardian binding and I've heard that people who are using the demos of them are apparently amazing.

Yeah not too cheap and I will be skiing BC so I just want something that will hold up, but I don't know if I'm ready to drop 500 bucks on a pair of bindings that have the possibility of me breaking them (due to being fairly heavy).

thanks for the replies so far guys!

I really don't understand how people can be saying the tracker/guardian is better than the duke. It's not even on the market yet and very few people have even skied it let alone given it some serious testing for longevity.

personally, being able to switch between the ski/tour mode without taking off the ski scares the shit out of me. if im skiing a steep chute, i want to make sure my shit in locked in

i agree. duke is the best. if you can afford it the next level down is the baron. itl be worth it on the way down

So, there are already a lot of threads on this but I'll give you some highlights.

Tracker sits 1cm lower on the ski than the Duke, has wider mounting points (than 11/12 Duke), and more metal in the construction, thus making it a bit heavier than the 11/12 Duke by about 60 grams. Also, adjusting toe height does not change the ramp angle of the boot in the binding, unlike the Duke.

The ski/tour engagement system is metal on metal and as you bend the ski (normal ski flex) the system engages tighter on itself creating a more than secure set up. When closed, it is not possible for the binding to go into tour mode.

Price will be $450 USD.

Almost every AT binding has a lock that prevents it from switching from ski to skin mode, and they work well. Having to take off your binding to switch from ski to skin mode is a huge pain in the ass and one of the biggest downsides to dukes. Older dukes really are kind of shitty if you do a lot of skinning- they ice up super easily (because of the placement of the walk ski mechanism) and break quickly if you ski hard on them inbounds (within a year or 2). Just looking at the design of the tracker makes it clear that it has a couple of features that are better than the old duke.

Youre gonna need to take off you skis anyway to take of your skins

Not necessarily, however I like others I ski with don't bother taking them of randonee racer style

Its actually pretty easy to take off skins with your skis on. Also there are a lot of times when you want to switch in and out of ski mode without putting your skins back on, for example when traversing after skiing down a ways or crossing a short flat section- if you're skiing in more complicated terrain this can happen 5 times or more and it really slows down the group when someone has to take off their skis every time.

This and also there are times when it is really unsafe to have to get out of your binding to go into ski mode. Having the ability to get back into ski mode while on a narrow ridge or other exposed area can be quite helpful at times. I've definitely been in areas where getting out of my binding has put me in a sketchy spot...

once all of you who are a pro duke actually ski the tracker/guardian, you'll change your minds right away. Ever since I've tried the guardian, I just laugh that the duke has yet to become over 4 (or 5 years? I forget) what the tracker/guardian already is after 1 year.

Really excited for this. Thinking I'll use some for a skinning/booter ski.

If the Tracker/Guardian turns out to be what it promised, I'll be really tempted to sell my MFDs and get a pair. I can always use the pivots from my MFDs on a pair of park skis or something.

All depends on how much it's gonna cost. I got my MFD/Pivot setup for a song.

^ the main thing that will amaze you is the weight saving. We mounted some MFD's with pivots on some rocker 2's and they weighed a ton. I cant imagine they would be any good to tour with.

Another option, find used dynafits and used fks and pay about the same as a new pair of guardians, mount your skis with both using quiver killer or binding freedom mounts. You can swap bindings in five minutes, those inserts are so clutch.

But with that set up you would need 2 sets of boots, so your cost could easily double. Your also restricted to what ever set up you have in the morning, you cant just change your mind and do somthing else.

The boots is a valid point, but you can swap bindings anywhere, just bring a screwdriver. I've swapped bindings on my buddy's hood before in the parking lot.

Thats my point, you still have to get back down to your car to swap them out, its not just somthing you can do on hill.

You really just need a screwdriver, you could do it anywhere.

False. One can lift their ski up and grab the tail of the skin and rip it off in a relatively motion (takes practice to do it smoothly). If I am in a hurry or psyched to ski a line I can do this and stick the skins in my jacket (recommended anyways to keep them sticky). Whole transition takes less than a minute.

With Dukes, the fastest I have seen anybody transition is 2-3 minutes, and even that's a quick person with no problems on the ski/skin lever.
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As for bindings, here are my own experience-based opinions:
-BD Fritschi: Cheap, full of plastic, and generally weak. They prereleased like crazy whenever I used them. Avoid like the plague.
-Marker Dukes: Overall felt stable, didn't have much of a problem with them on the downhill portion. Transitions were a huge pain in the ass (see above paragraph), and the high plastic content definitely lent itself to a lack of stability on the binding. Not worth the price.
-MFD: I have these and the FKS140s on Caylors. I LOVE them on the downhill portion of things. Very stable and feels very normal on turns and such. One can reliably use these for lift serve as much as any alpine binding, which makes it ideal for shorter backcountry trips and sidecountry stuff. Huge downside here is the weight. This is a well known fact by now. I don't mind how burly it is really, but I can see how it can be a drag to others. I would not take this system on a longer tour.
-Dynafit Radical/Vertical: These are, by far, the best option for a dedicated touring setup. The beating of lift serve is not ideal for these, but purely in a weight, simplicity, and retention standpoint these are king. The downsides are that you need a compatible boot (more $$$ if you don't have one already) and, again, they won't work for in bounds stuff very well. Definitely not a choice for an everyday setup. The bummer is that the Radical has a superior toe piece, while the Vertical has the superior heel, so you have to pick which half you like best unless you want to buy both and make a frankenDynafit (so...much...$$$). I know somebody who has done this (he is sponsored by Dynafit, though).

The new stuff coming out (Adrenalin and Tracker/Guardian) seem like improved versions of the Duke. I have no experience with them so I cannot offer advice.

Hope that helps.

sorry, just though i would quote that for reference.

no, you just need a pair of boots that are tech binding compatible and have swappable soles. switch the soles and you're good to go.

you don't read very well do you? he means the fact of lugging an extra pair of bindings in your pack in order to be able to switch them out at the top. depends on the binding but it could potentially be pretty heavy or annoying.