My previous Marker Kingpin post is so lengthy it would be insane to add more content. Thus, I’ll start this Part 2 and place new stuff here as it comes up. Let the questions fly, I’m still sitting next to all the demo bindings here in Chile.
You can run Kingpin without brakes. This is the leash mount hole in the toe moldings. Developer told me the mount is tested to be stronger than the cord they’ll use for their OEM leash.
Underside of Marker binding demo board shows various screw patterns, note Royal Family, with Kingpin screws marked as red.
Underside of demo board showing Kingpin rear screw pattern in relation to other Marker bindings (note where it’s labeled ‘Royal Family,’ remember you can move the heel unit quite a bit forward or back to avoid screw overlap. Kingpin screws are marked with red dots.
Rendering from Marker with notes from us, screw pattern is 38 mm wide at front and back.
To get clear on a few binding widths and screw mount pattern widths, see this post. I’ll update that post when I get a chance. At this time the Dynafit Beast is probably most equivalent competitor to Kingpin. Beast does have some screw pairs that are on a wider grid than 38 mm. Screw pattern of Vipec is narrow at the heel, 27.8 mm left/right. Dynafit Radical _heel_ screw pattern is 35 mm front pair 31 mm rear pair. Vipec screw pattern is wide at the front. Pair at the front of the toe on 42 mm centers, pair at rear 39 mm centers. Compare to Dynafit Radical at 30 mm wide for both pair. G3 Ion has probably the widest screw pattern at toe, 40 mm.
One thing I know is that when the screws are father apart, I ski way better. I mean, WAY better.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
