Whew, after this I’ve got one more Ramer binding for the museum then I can start on some other brands. Ramer Universal, in my view the best binding Ramer offered during his run in the business. Universal is basically a refinement of the original Model R. For better release characteristics it uses steel spring bars, and eventually incorporated Ramer’s wonderfully effective push-button length adjustment (though this pair on display has had the length adjustment mechanism modified by permanently fixing it with small nuts and bolts). This binding was the lightest available at the time, and is still a player in the weight arena (it’s only 4 ounces heavier than the Silvretta Pure). While the Model R still had somewhat iffy safety release at certain angles, it was quite effective as a touring binding when maintained correctly, and yielded many a fine adventure for late 1970s and early 1980s backcountry skiers all over the world. Check out the museum display.
Ramer Universal was possibly Ramer’s height of achievement. Basic but effective.The rotating heel unit was tricky but you got used to it. Click image to enlarge
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.
