I just got off the phone with a well respected industry bigwig who shall remain nameless, but who told me some things that validate positions I’ve had for years. Mainly, he mentioned release testing a variety of randonnee boots with various AT bindings, and that the test results were appalling. This due to excess friction of the rubber sole, lugs catching, asymmetric soles shapes causing higher torsional release values on one side, and more. This is exactly what I saw years ago when I tested various randonnee bindings on a Vermont release tester up at an Aspen ski shop.
Above is why every time someone asks me about using AT bindings at the resort I say something like: “if you’re planning on spending lots of resort days on them, forget it and buy a state-of-art alpine setup — it’s safer” This could change if AT boots were made with soles more compatible to safety release. Stay tuned.
Legal issue:A person with a great deal of wisdom told me that I was opening myself up for a liability lawsuit by publishing the binding mount templates here at Wildsnow.com. If any attorneys reading this who have expertise in that area, and could provide me with some guidance, I’d appreciate it. Just use the email on my contact page.
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.
