So how many people are going to no-shit buy the Marker Duke?

[Jumper Bones]

I'm starting this epic thread because after all the the buzz for the Duke, and all the rave reviews (particularly Marshal's), I'm wondering how many of you are going to BUY this product, regardless of whether you can get them on bro form or group buy or SAC or whatever. I'm not talking about hemmers and hawers who aren't sure, maybe if the price is right, namby-pambly, yadda yadda, I'm talking about people who say "fuck it, I don't care if they cost 500 bucks, the benefits are worth it".

No I don't work for Marker, and no I have no stake in this. I'm just wondering how many people are going to DO this, with or without pro-form or a group buy. I guess I'm just sort of intrigued by Marker finally maybe getting their shit together, and the Maggotry jumping onboard and rewarding that instead of the usual Marker shunnery (which is well-deserved; I've been on the "fuck team Marker" bandwagon for many years now).

Also, how many are going to hold out and wait for Salomon or Look to release a similar product, just because the releasing company is, well, Marker?

anyway, I think I'm going to do this, give one pair a try. Who else?

***BTW a pre-emptive "fuck you" to any Marker execs reading this, and deciding that this kind of thinking means you can jack up your binding price accordingly and make beeeeeeelions of dollars. Go past 500 bucks and you can kiss my ass, I'll ski trekkers and 916s and proudly deal with the weight after that. This thread isn't for you to guage profits, it's for us to guage interest and forgiveness for years of shitty products. No money angels for you!***

[bisnibble]

I am sticking with trekkers

[Z]

The TGR bandwagon is rollin', better hop on!

[backcountry1pr]

I would pick up a pair for a reg dirt bag price, but for 500, ill stick with my 16's/trekkers, dont really have that much money to throw at any one thing.

[Squatch]

The TGR bandwagon is rollin', better hop on!

heh.

I've ordered one pair, deciding whether to make it two.

edit: I'm not sure I would pay $439 or whatever MAP is, though.

[Jumper Bones]

The TGR bandwagon is rollin', better hop on!

I guess I understand what you're saying, I never hopped on the freerides-for-all-skiing-including-inbounds bandwagon, but from all that's been said it sounds like this is vastly superior to any other means yet. And it might be nice to have a burly downhill ski (in my case probably a Sanouk) that is fully resort-able, without being hobbled in either downhill or uphill performance. I just have never bought in to the freeride being all that great on downhill or in the resort. This sounds different.

[Z]

I guess I understand what you're saying, I never hopped on the freerides-for-all-skiing-including-inbounds bandwagon, but from all that's been said it sounds like this is vastly superior to any other means yet. And it might be nice to have a burly downhill ski (in my case probably a Sanouk) that is fully resort-able, without being hobbled in either downhill or uphill performance. I just have never bought in to the freeride being all that great on downhill or in the resort. This sounds different.

That statement is not directed towards you, fyi. I just think the bandwagon mentality on TGR is pretty funny.

Same goes with the 916 craze. Pointing random people on the internet to high din metal bindings is kind of stupid, if you need em, you already know....


just sayin....

[summit]

I think the only people who would think about paying such an exhorbinant price for a binding are people like marshal (I cannot think of anyone who is harder on their gear) over 6'3" or over 190lbs

Only people skiing dukes will be the very tall chargers and shop guys who can pickem up for $200 or whatever

I might buy 1 duke... at the end of the season when I can buy overstock for $225. The NX21 serves my purposes.... I could only see a duke on a specialized ski like an ARG that will be skinning only 10% of the time... if I can get over my distaste for marker...

[addict]

I will 4 sure, bandwagons are the only way to travel. I'll keep the 916/trekkers as well though. It can't be worse than FRs IMO.

[doublediamond223]

I saw 2 people with them mounted on park skis today at Breck...

[Jumper Bones]

I saw 2 people with them mounted on park skis today at Breck...

you sure those weren't Jesters? Were the bindings white?

[doublediamond223]

you sure those weren't Jesters? Were the bindings white?

Yeah, they were white. My bad.

[icanseeformiles(andmiles)]

Larry was skiing on a pair earlier this week, I'm thinking it would be a cool purchase, he said the alpine (only) version slated to come out would have 0° ramp angle.

[hutash]

Just to help keep Marker from jacking the price up, I am a firm "NO". Like Summit said, I think these are over kill for a lot of people, certainly for me. Maybe in the future after some track record, but not now.

[Toby]

I'm a definite yes.

[Hugh Jass]

I'm sold on the concept, but not the MSRP.

[Jer]

I hate my Freerides, but I'd have a lot of difficulty blowing $400 on a pair of bindings. One or two years from now, after the inevitable bugs have been worked out, I'll probably feel differently.

[Yossarian]

I'm sold on the concept, but not the MSRP.

Ditto. And 1st year model releases make me leary of drilling new holes in funshape skis.

[fluffballs]

I am considering, on a pair of 195 praxis? The nx21's have been plenty for me this season, don't hold back and have had zero problems. I don't really know how they ski in comparison, only bindings I've ever skied on BRO's and my bro's always feel funny on hard pack. Even when I load the tip they seem unresponsive, and often grabby. Is that the binding or the ski? I've been pleased with my BRO/naxo set up in soft snow, so do I need a Duke on a Praxis? Will the extra width exploit the naxo's? I could likely get a proform, and I would love to have a spat like touring ski.

[backcountry1pr]

The only people skiing dukes will be the very tall chargers and shop guys who can pickem up for $200 or whatever

I dont agree. Im 5'9 165lbs and I spend a large portion of my time in the back-country, and there is nothing on the market right now (besides trekkers and 16's) that will do the job. FR's dont last long without breaking and Naxo's only a little longer. It will be so nice to (hopefully) be able to not have to deal with trekkers anymore, once less thing to worry about bringing. I think there are a ton of skiiers who will benifit from a pair of Dukes.

[HitMe]

Definitely getting at least one pair. The only thing (except money) that stops me from getting dukes on all my 95mm+ skis is that I like a low standheight. So I might have to choose one ski for skinning stuff. Which ski to mount the Dukes on hence becomes a harder decision that the decision to get a pair.

[hemas]

I'll buy the Duke, one pair... But only 'cause when I fiddled with it, it seemed a much better resort and some touring -rig binder than my present Freerides... Besides, I'm getting new skis, so I need new binders... And I can get a better deal on Dukes than with Naxos or Freerides .

[summit]

I dont agree. Im 5'9 165lbs and I spend a large portion of my time in the back-country, and there is nothing on the market right now (besides trekkers and 16's) that will do the job. FR's dont last long without breaking and Naxo's only a little longer. It will be so nice to (hopefully) be able to not have to deal with trekkers anymore, once less thing to worry about bringing. I think there are a ton of skiiers who will benifit from a pair of Dukes.

I'm about 2/3 to 3/4 of my days in the BC with three digit seasons. I'm only 15lbs lighter than you and the NX01s were enough retention for me (including 50 ft of drop). The NX21 is just a nicer angle and more solid contact.

I guess you must be super duper radical and need those 916s for the 100ft to hardpack landings in comps... but then who would ski a Naxo or FR in a comp?

And who would be that light and us 916s/trekkers for long or even shorter BC tours? (I know only very few people and they aren't that small or that light)

Are you a pro or something?

[pechelman]

no-shit, I will NOT buy the duke this season

hows that?

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

I'm with Hugh and Yoss. If the price point is right, I am likely to buy them some time after they've hit the market and have some breakage and redesign time on them.

But $500 for a first year pair of bindings - (or any binding for that matter)...Deeeeeeeeeez nuts.