With the rate that ski gear is advancing, it can be hard to keep track of the latest space-age fiber blends and non-traditional rocker profiles. That’s where this Gear Guide comes in. Our editors spent their summer studying the newest features and technologies found in skis, boots and bindings. Then, they spent just as much time poring over our gear testers’ handwritten forms. These sprawling scribbles were made on chairlifts, in ski lodges and during the bus ride between the mountain and the condos. Between beer and coffee stains, testers’ notes tell us how these products work. Does the milled wood core flex as intended? Are the carbon stringers too stiff or just stiff enough? Is the walk mode actually 75 degrees, or does the lower shell cutout get in the way? In our reviews, we breakdown the latest tech and combine it with the unbiased tester feedback so you can find your perfect match. —The Editors
Fischer Attack Hybrid 14 Mn/Pt
1,776g (uphill), 2,270g (downhill) | DIN: 4-14 | BRAKES (mm): 95, 110, 130 | CRAMPONS (mm): 90, 105, 120 | fischersports.com
The Attack Hybrid—which is produced by Tyrolia—melds last year’s EC winning Almonte tech binding with the alpine Attack binding. The result, according to a freeride coach who took these for numerous springtime strolls, is a 6/7 downhill performance and a 5/7 touring performance.
Our tester dinged the uphill score based on the single heel riser and the weight, though she appreciated that she could put the heavy alpine toe in her pack instead of dragging it up on her skis. Otherwise, the brakes were easy to lock for touring and our tester enjoyed a long, unencumbered stride length. “I love the ease of this product compared to other hybrids as it is very clear on how to use it, while giving you a full downhill binding,” she said, adding that the downhill performance and ergonomics outweighed, well, the weight. To swap between tour and ski modes, a small lever allows the toe pieces to slide off a track labeled with walk, ski and emergency. “There are clear labels, and you never really have to double check if you are in the right mode,” said our tester.
Unlike other options with a swapable toe, the Attack Hybrid toe can be used on the downhill. “There is a setting called emergency where you can ski downhill with your pin bindings if needed so you are not SOL [Shit Out of Luck],” explained our tester. Simply slide the tech toe from walk to emergency and descend. “If you’re someone in this hybrid market, it is so worth the weight.”
“It is definitely made for the skier who charges really hard on the downhill and wants that alpine feel with the good ergonomics of a pin binding for the climb.” —Kelsey Colbert
Where to buy
Fischer Attack Hybrid 14 Mn/Pt
ATK Hy 13 Free
1,350g | RV: 6-13 | BRAKES (mm): 97, 108, 120, 135 | CRAMPONS (mm): 86, 91, 97, 102, 108, 120, 135 | atkbindings.com
The Italian engineers at ATK aimed to strike a balance between touring efficiency and bomber downhill performance with the new Hy Free. “Cool looking, unique and creative design,” said a Montana binding nerd.
The cool look may have been the shiny, aerospace-grade, CNC’ed aluminum and stainless steel design, with ultrastiff thermoplastic keeping the Hy Free lighter than even the tech-toed Kingpin. Despite the lighter weight, a Vermonter reported, “Feels like you’re skiing an alpine binding.” Averaging a tester-scored 6/7 for downhill performance, there was no question the alpine-style toe and heel and interchangeable AFD plate for various sole types were a hit. Explained a Tahoe tourer, “There are absolutely no worries about power transfer.”
The uniqueness comes down to the toe arms which rotate 90 degrees upwards for the ascent, sitting above the toe piece. Because of the high toe, when no risers are engaged there are 18 millimeters of drop from toe to heel. “The flat setting is vastly superior to other hybrid bindings, plus the two risers are easy to manipulate,” reported one believer who scored the stride and ergonomics a 6/7. A Vermonter who has to walk far for his turns did call the flat mode “a pretty uncomfortable position for long flat approaches,” but recognized its niche was on the descent.
Testers’ main concern? Icing up. “Toe pins have to tuck down for the mechanism to open correctly, which easily ice up,” said a Wasatch vert crusher. Still, she added, “The switch between walk and ski mode is intuitive.”
“The ATK Hy is making great strides towards the ultimate binding. They’re solid, have instant power transfer and don’t weigh too much.” —Chad Miller
Where to buy
ATK Hy 13 Free
Marker Alpinist Free 11
790g | RV: 4-11 | BRAKES (mm): 90, 105, 120 | CRAMPONS (mm): 90, 105, 120 | markerbindings.com
The new Marker Alpinist Free may look a lot like the original Alpinist, but the design is tweaked to boost downhill performance while maintaining a lightweight profile. Testers thought it did just that. “More bomb-proof than the competition but significantly lighter and with less mass than the Kingpin,” proclaimed one Steamboat-based skier.
Marker increased power transfer by widening the baseplate and drilling pattern and added what they call a performance booster under the heel—essentially an interchangeable plastic piece that snaps into the brakes and fills the gap between the base of the ski and the heel of the boot. “Wider platform on this new Marker Alpinist Free seems to initiate slightly faster on a wider, 104-ish underfoot ski,” noted a longtime tester. The Alpinist Free offers 11 and 13 release value options with adjustable lateral release and a fixed heel. Its heelpiece shifts 4 millimeters to accommodate a ski’s flex. While it’s not DIN-certified, one Teton-based dawn patroller called the “weight to ski performance ratio one of the best.”
The carbon-reinforced toe piece of the Alpinist Free is similarly modeled off its featherweight kin, with rubber stops earning ease of entry a 5.5/7 score. “The only drawback I ran into was the lack of heel risers,” explained an otherwise impressed Utahn, “In order to get different riser heights you have to spin the entire heel, which for the small difference in height is not worth it.” Despite knocking points for finicky risers, the Wasatch tester praised, “Never had any issues with icing even in prime icing conditions.”
“Burly toe plate designed to accommodate wide-waisted skis, snaps toe into place with much more deliberate spring pressure, offers downhill performance on par with any traditional alpine binding.” —Marla Bailey
Where to buy
Marker Alpinist Free 11
Fritschi Xenic Plus 12
670g | DIN: 6-12 | BRAKES (mm): 75, 85, 95, 105 | CRAMPONS (mm): 85, 95, 105 | fritschi.swiss/en/
Fritschi’s latest convinced a heavy-metal-loving tester to ditch his hybrid binding. He found the minimalist Xenic was able to hold up on his 4,000-gram powder skis, saying, “For the weight, the Xenic 12 is a trust-inspiring binding.”
To keep the Xenic light but strong, Fritschi integrates carbon- and fiberglass-reinforced plastic in the casing and the walk/ski lever. Steel, aluminum and alloy are used where the boot meets the ski and in the release systems. “Lightweight, intuitive and clean design. Lots of plastic, but makes for a lighter make,” said a tester. She gave top marks for the ergonomics, adding, “They nailed it here. The entry is as easy as it gets, transitions smooth, and heel risers are natural heights.
While testers found slightly more resistance when spinning the heel back to ski mode, there were no complaints on the descent. “Solid hold and lateral power,” said a freeride coach. When the toe is in ski mode, a small piece under the toe rises up to absorb shock. Additionally, the pin’s wings can shift horizontally like an alpine toe, and the DIN-certified heel has 10 millimeters of travel. Extra safety comes from the Xenic’s ability to release laterally and vertically from the heel and vertical from the toe. “I love the idea of DINs on a pin binding and a normal heel for both release and performance,” said a tester who has blown her ACL.
The 12 Plus refers to the DIN and brakes, but the Xenic also has a brakeless option and 10 and 7 DIN models.
“I didn’t know you can have a damp feeling binding that also engages turns quickly.” —Nick Sheahan
Where to buy
Fritschi Xenic Plus 12
Get the 2026 Gear Guide
Published here are just some of the 144 best skis, splits, boots, bindings and outerwear from our 2026 Gear Guide. To check out the full range backcountry gear we reviewed, pick up a copy of the 2026 Gear Guide, available in print and PDF versions.
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