Tecton vs shift

I’m sure it’s been whaled on somewhere but search function sucks. I’ve got some heavy but awesome skis, got a midweek pass for the first time in a few years this season. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, which of these should i put on a 2400gm 118 waist charger that will see a dozen days of lift and side country use? Here’s what I come up with-

Tecton pros: i can use them with my current “adequate “ touring boots. Cons: fiddly, maybe not as good for descending.

Shift pros: maybe stouter? Maybe better downhill behavior? Cons: Need new MNC boots. Questionable track record. Also fiddly.

Neutral/equal- both plastic. Both overly complex, but perhaps worth it to not destroy my connective tissues.

School me


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I had a Evo toe (same as tecton) fail on me by failing to disengage. I had to partially destroy the toe to get the ski off. Prior to that I had toes fail, side to side movement and heels, moved rearward. In ski mode. Just one data point. I love the concepts, but can not trust the product.

Tectons are fine. Not fiddly ime. I can switch between Tectons and STH and can’t really tell the difference.


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Trab TR1 appears to fit right in between these two-

https://skimo.co/ski-trab-tr1-bindings

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Originally Posted by turnfarmer

Trab TR1 appears to fit right in between these two-

https://skimo.co/ski-trab-tr1-bindings

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hohh dang! That’s sick. No longer need special heel inserts. Dope.

I would pick those or Cast.

This sounds like a prime candidate for the new version Cast is about to release.

To your specific question - both are good bindings. Tectons are the better choice if you'll tour more than ski the resort, Shifts are better if it is the other way around. Shifts are not as fickle as some would have you believe, as long as the settings are correct. I have tons of days on both and like both.

Shift v2 is coming for next year.

Also, ATK is about to release a Tecton killer supposedly. It will be expensive as all hell, but could be the golden ticket for lots of skiers.

But again, I would go Cast - that'a where I ended up after first going Tecton, then Shift, then doing the sensible thing because of FOMO.

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Originally Posted by kid-kapow

This sounds like a prime candidate for the new version Cast is about to release.

To your specific question - both are good bindings. Tectons are the better choice if you'll tour more than ski the resort, Shifts are better if it is the other way around. Shifts are not as fickle as some would have you believe, as long as the settings are correct. I have tons of days on both and like both.

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I prolly agree. I would never lug a Shift on a tour, so I don’t own one, but my Tectons are my “heavy” touring option.

What boots do you have that work with Tectons and not Shifts? The only thing I could think is some kind of Dynafit shark nose? But those would have too short of heel lug I’d think?

Most boots I can think of that have a full heel lug, also have the full ISo 9523 touring sole.

Trab TR1 appears to fit right in between these two-

https://skimo.co/ski-trab-tr1-bindings

I kind of assumed the heels would work ok, I really don’t keep up with the various standards. I’m in a skorpius.


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For the record I generally tour 110 days a year or so on much more reasonable and simple kits, this is just a way to get more out of my heavy skis. I saw some tectons here for $250, and I have a line on local shifts for $100 in decent shape. New shiny stuff looks good but for as much as these will get used, probably stick to used stuff.


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Originally Posted by riff

For the record I generally tour 110 days a year or so on much more reasonable and simple kits, this is just a way to get more out of my heavy skis. I saw some tectons here for $250, and I have a line on local shifts for $100 in decent shape. New shiny stuff looks good but for as much as these will get used, probably stick to used stuff.


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This is exactly why I bought Tectons for my Lhasa Pows. I skied the Lhasa’s seven days straight @ Jackson Hole inbounds when the snow was soft and I couldn’t tell the difference from my Pivots. Well may be a little bit on getting into them out of the tram.

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Originally Posted by kid-kapow

Shift v2 is coming for next year.

Also, ATK is about to release a Tecton killer supposedly. It will be expensive as all hell, but could be the golden ticket for lots of skiers.

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No one asked for more info on these? COme on.

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Originally Posted by riff

For the record I generally tour 110 days a year or so on much more reasonable and simple kits, this is just a way to get more out of my heavy skis. I saw some tectons here for $250, and I have a line on local shifts for $100 in decent shape. New shiny stuff looks good but for as much as these will get used, probably stick to used stuff.


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Like plug says, Tectons work and as much as you tour they would be the best choice for occasional lift served on powder days. I have my Tectons on Renegades but I’m switching them over to an undrilled pair of Lhasas that I scored here. I won’t tour on them a lot but will use them on powder days and side country laps and as a travel ski.


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I have been skiing Tectons inbounds for 2 seasons on BG110s, so primarily soft snow duty. I have had no durability issues and I've figured out that getting out of the binding is easier when the heel is released first instead of just using the toe lever, which I have also found to be the case with Vipecs. It was awkward at first, but I'm used to it now. I honestly dont ski so aggressively to where I fall alot at this point in my life, but I recall they released as expected when I have so I think its just getting enough leverage on the ski/walk lever or something.

For tourability, Tectons are lighter, you dont have to hold the pins open to clip in, they have 2 risers instead of 1, the risers seem easier to operate, and you dont need to take the ski off to transition if you can remove skins with your skis on.

I have never skied the Shifts, so cant speak to any of their attributes but I know people that are happy with them and people that are disappointed, most of the disappointed ones use them more for touring, and most of the happy ones tour sparingly. I know one person that had issues with pre-release, so he epoxied the AFD height and that fixed it.

The weird thing about Tectons for me is that I seem to have to step "flat" into the binding. Other than that, they've been great on piste and off.

My G3 Ions are more lenient when it comes to stepping in at a ramp, toepiece first.

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Originally Posted by nyskirat

No one asked for more info on these? COme on.

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I have no more info sadly.

Shift V2 pics are already out there in the 24/25 thread on here or NS I believe.

The new ATK binding is supposedly the reason Schirmer signed with ATK (after Dynafit have promised but failed to deliver on the same type of binding in spite of trying to make one for quite a while supposedly - I have no clue) - other than the fact that the Rotation is a piece of shite doing the job of a binding from ATK at nearly half its weight ;)

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Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

The weird thing about Tectons for me is that I seem to have to step "flat" into the binding. Other than that, they've been great on piste and off.

My G3 Ions are more lenient when it comes to stepping in at a ramp, toepiece first.

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What do you mean by flat


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Originally Posted by turnfarmer

Trab TR1 appears to fit right in between these two-

https://skimo.co/ski-trab-tr1-bindings

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Any word on ramp? Toe height vs heel height?

Edit - i guess same questions about the shift 2.0

Article. Tecton vs Shift https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.new...news/amp/51021

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Originally Posted by MagnificentUnicorn

What do you mean by flat


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Sole of boot parallel to surface of ski

After skiing a lot of bindings, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll take ATK R/FR (with freeride spacers) even for big heavy skis, even for minor sidecountry.


Shifts there are too many prerelease horror stories that are scary plus the brakes are releasing in tour mode for me.


I don’t see the point lugging heavy bindings like this anymore. It’s too heavy even for short tours.


I already own the same pair of skis twice, one pair in STH2, the other one in ATK R/FR, and I’m planning to do it again for another 2 pairs.


@kidkapow any more infos on the ATK binding ? There was a video of one shown at ispo like 5 years ago, is that the one ?

Tectons. /thread

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Originally Posted by riff

I kind of assumed the heels would work ok, I really don’t keep up with the various standards. I’m in a skorpius.


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skorpius has a norm sole (surprising for such a light , minimal boot) so Shift or any other bindings will work.

So if it’s between $100 for Shifts and $250 for Tectons, I’d pick based on how much touring you’d do in them.

Do you have other touring skis in the same category, but with lighter bindings? Save $150 and get the Shifts, easy alpine style step in is nice the resort too.

Don’t have any comparable skis with light bindings? go Tecton. given your use of light, basic bindings for touring the rest of the time, I think the Shift’s would bug you for any serious touring.

Tecton

I have both, prefer the tectons to the shifts but mostly because I didnt like uphilll with the shifts. Didnt have issues with either on the down and still have tectons on mfrees for travel skis.

Get the red ones or get the cheap ones, oh and either way... yer gonna die.

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Originally Posted by Mofro261

oh and either way... yer gonna die.

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Very true …

I've spent time on both and I personally wouldnt go with either.

Both the shift and tecton have had some reliability issues - Shift - prerelease (which seems to have been mostly worked out) breakage of plastic parts, and the walk mech not staying up. Tecton - forward pressure fix gets worn out easily, plastic get worn out over time.

More importantly to me, both pack up with snow like no other, making transitions slow/painful/frustrating. Nothing is worse than standing at the top or bottom of a line and you're not able to switch back into the mode that's needed.

I think they both ski great, and the tecton crampon attachment is excellent, but I'd personally stick with a Duke PT or cast system given the option of a hybrid binding, or an ATK or G3 Zed for a dedicated touring clamp.

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Originally Posted by rfconroy

Shift - prerelease (which seems to have been mostly worked out

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How have the Shifts well-documented pre-release issues been "worked out" exactly? I know a handful of people around Tahoe who won't touch them after dangerous pre-releases (all very experienced / good skiers), not to mention the entire TGR thread with many other people having the problem. I sold mine - no thanks.

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Originally Posted by stuntmanbo

@kidkapow any more infos on the ATK binding ? There was a video of one shown at ispo like 5 years ago, is that the one ?

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I know nothing, other than that something supposedly is coming. It is is not the final version of the one you refer to - I think they had to go back to the drawing board on that one due to some patent issue.

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Originally Posted by TahoeJ

How have the Shifts well-documented pre-release issues been "worked out" exactly? I know a handful of people around Tahoe who won't touch them after dangerous pre-releases (all very experienced / good skiers), not to mention the entire TGR thread with many other people having the problem. I sold mine - no thanks.

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The Shift thread is a fucking joke.

Well, I wondered if anything had been truly settled in the long term experience with this category of binding. I guess that cast would make sense, but I’m going to try the cheap local shifts and hope I’ve grown casual enough on the downhill to be ok on em. If not, I’ll go back to MTN on that ski and just dial it back.
Plum Oazo’s on everything else currently.


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Originally Posted by kid-kapow

I know nothing...

The Shift thread is a fucking joke.

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Re the ATK. Also curious.

How is the Shift thread bad? It's massive but surely that reflects that it's got a lot now users

Wife has Tectons. I have Evos and Vipecs. Maritime snow climate and no substantial snow/ice packing issue fwiw. Just adding another piece of data.

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Originally Posted by TahoeJ

How have the Shifts well-documented pre-release issues been "worked out" exactly? I know a handful of people around Tahoe who won't touch them after dangerous pre-releases (all very experienced / good skiers), not to mention the entire TGR thread with many other people having the problem. I sold mine - no thanks.

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From what I have seen, its been better education/process on setting proper AFD height for specific boots, as that binding is more touchy when it comes to setting that distance properly

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Originally Posted by rfconroy

From what I have seen, its been better education/process on setting proper AFD height for specific boots, as that binding is more touchy when it comes to setting that distance properly

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Sure, some of the time that’s the problem but the idea that there isn’t a flaw with the shift is delusional. For the record, three of the people (and myself) who experienced pre-releases had our bindings mounted in the same exact shop here in Truckee that Cody uses (Tahoe Sports Hub). They were not setup incorrectly. I’m not going to argue about this, it’s just a fact. It may come down to different or certain boots but the specifics have yet to be documented.

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Originally Posted by TahoeJ

Sure, some of the time that’s the problem but the idea that there isn’t a flaw with the shift is delusional. For the record, three of the people (and myself) who experienced pre-releases had our bindings mounted in the same exact shop here in Truckee that Cody uses (Tahoe Sports Hub). They were not setup incorrectly. I’m not going to argue about this, it’s just a fact. It may come down to different or certain boots but the specifics have yet to be documented.

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Cant disagree with that, but even if the shift was super reliable, it still packs with snow, hard to transition, and is near impossible to use the riser which are all deal breakers in my mind.

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Originally Posted by rfconroy

Cant disagree with that, but even if the shift was super reliable, it still packs with snow, hard to transition, and is near impossible to use the riser which are all deal breakers in my mind.

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My Shifts are currently for sale. They're being replaced by some $299 Duke PT16's that I picked up.

I had 2 pre-releases on the Shifts on a beautiful, bluebird powder day. After that got the AFD adjusted by a shop that knew how finicky the step-wise adjustment was. Still after that day I never trusted them again, so got rid of them. Also with K2 Mindbender boots getting into the pins was like trying to land a plane on an aircraft carrier.

This makes me happy to still be rocking my marker epf frame bindings.

Heavier? Yes.

But it continues to get me up and down, while never letting me down. I’ll probably do cast 2.0 when it comes out then.