WildSnowers, Steve Christie of Backcountry Access sent in these photos of the latest design iteration of the ever elusive Trab backcountry skiing binding. As it’s been for the past few years, the binding is displayed at ISPO trade show (Munich, Germany) but no one seems to know if and when the contraption will ever go retail. Trab toe uses regular tech fittings in the boot, yet grabs by the pincers coming from the front, instead of underneath as all other tech binding do. Big difference is in the heel, which requires a different configuration of the boot fitting. Unknown if the boot heel fitting needs to be molded in during manufacture, or retrofitted.
Trab backcountry skiing binding in climbing mode. Click image to enlarge.
One of the problems with the existing tech binding system is that the heel fitting is so narrow in comparison with width of boot and ski. I suspect we’ll see constant efforts to address that, perhaps even going to the point of Dynafit themselves going to a different fitting at the heel. Interesting that Trab is already addressing this, if not just to get tire kickers over to their booth.
Binding toe unit, pincers come in from the side, and lateral release appears to be part of toe rather than heel.
Heel unit in downhill mode. Obviously less developed than toe unit.
Detail of heel fittings required, the small metal chips to the outside. We suspect these are actually inserted or molded into the boot, and are larger than they appear.
The heel lift system. Click image for a bit of enlargement.
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.
