Welcome to the online museum of backcountry skiing — AT randonnee ski touring binding room. Through years of testing and product development, backcountry skiing bindings have progressed from simple cable bindings to engineered machines that represent state-of-art materials science and mechanicals. This collection of ski touring bindings covers the full historical range of modern bindings, with emphasis on bindings that latch down at the heel for downhill mode, yet allow a free lifting heel for touring and climbing. Your ideas and insights about these ski mountaineering bindings form an important part of this interactive museum — please make comments by using the "leave blog comment" link for each display. In particular, we need help dating the bindings.
Backcountry skiing bindings we’re seeking: While our 50+ piece collection (not all are online yet) comprises nearly every alpine touring binding made, we still need to acquire the purple version of the Fritschi FT88, CM Grande Randonee, Snowstar, as well as any exotics or one-offs. Will buy (low budget), or we can trade another classic or antique from our extensive backcountry skiing binding collection. Please use our contact link in our main menu.
Note, it is common to see vintage and classic backcountry ski bindings on Ebay being sold as if they’re modern functional units. Be advised that spare parts and support usually do not exist for such bindings, and they may have problems with durability of aged plastic or compromised safety release (many, if not most early AT randonnee ski touring bindings fall into that category). Would you buy and use an alpine skiing binding from 20 years ago, and trust it? Or for that matter, a two decades old set of tires for your car? If not, why do the same with a ski touring binding you depend on for your safety or even life?
If you find alpine touring backcountry skiing bindings on Ebay, and they’re priced "too good to be true," they probably are. If you have purchased such bindings and are less than satisfied after you’ve used them, before tossing in the trash please contact us for a possible buy or trade. The ancient used bindings you got suckered into buying might not be appropriate for skiing, but they might fit in the WildSnow collection!
