Marker Alpinist Long Term Review

[kamtron]

Do you have the brake or brakeless model? Wondering if brakes support the heel at all.

Brakeless long travel version. I believe the nice ski feel comes from the kiss gap at the heel.

Had my first release in a crash 2 weeks ago. I run the 12 springs with lateral release set to 10. Not sure what kind of release it was, but I'm glad to know they do come off when needed.

[shitskier]

Brakeless long travel version. I believe the nice ski feel comes from the kiss gap at the heel.

Had my first release in a crash 2 weeks ago. I run the 12 springs with lateral release set to 10. Not sure what kind of release it was, but I'm glad to know they do come off when needed.

I tried the brake version for a few days. Brakeless is definitely the way to go. The brakes that come with these are very flimsy and extremely annoying to lock/unlock.

My other complaint is that the riser sucks. It's not just that there's only one, fairly low, riser height. It also seems to be mostly held by friction, instead via cammed spring (dynafit) or magnet (atk). This means that if you are flipping it with a pole, you have to push it the whole way to where you want it instead of just flicking it up/down and letting it set itself to its natural position. I think a lot of people set and forget riser positions, but if you skin a complex terrain and adjust the risers a lot, there are better bindings.

[ezgzy]

Mediocre product photo of the new “free” heel. Looks like the track gets a little oversized and the heel platform has been changed and texturized, i spoke to a rep about these a while back and he said it’ll be height adjustable and i think the brakes will be removable.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[EricB]

I tried the brake version for a few days. Brakeless is definitely the way to go. The brakes that come with these are very flimsy and extremely annoying to lock/unlock.

My other complaint is that the riser sucks. It's not just that there's only one, fairly low, riser height. It also seems to be mostly held by friction, instead via cammed spring (dynafit) or magnet (atk). This means that if you are flipping it with a pole, you have to push it the whole way to where you want it instead of just flicking it up/down and letting it set itself to its natural position. I think a lot of people set and forget riser positions, but if you skin a complex terrain and adjust the risers a lot, there are better bindings.

These bindings work best when you just use flat and the 1 high riser (height closer to most medium’s). When you’re not using the riser flip it to the vertical position, not all the way back. It makes flicking it with the pole easier. I’ve never had mine come loose.

[BskiP]

Link to some press release in france regarding alpinist free:

https://www.skieur.com/actu-nouveaut...-dalbello-2025

[altacoup]

These bindings work best when you just use flat and the 1 high riser (height closer to most medium’s). When you’re not using the riser flip it to the vertical position, not all the way back. It makes flicking it with the pole easier. I’ve never had mine come loose.

This exactly. 90 % of the time this is how In use the aplinist and it works great even on the stupid steep skin tracks in the wasatch. Low angle hippy pow lapping I’ll use them like a race binding, using the medium position to cover the pins. They are far and away the best skiing tech binding I’ve ever skied.

[ex-powderbroker]

This exactly. 90 % of the time this is how In use the aplinist and it works great even on the stupid steep skin tracks in the wasatch. Low angle hippy pow lapping I’ll use them like a race binding, using the medium position to cover the pins. They are far and away the best skiing tech binding I’ve ever skied.

that's high praise.

i never mounted the two pairs i bought and couldn't even get less than what i paid on sale....

maybe i should keep them.

[altacoup]

I would at least mount and ski 1 of them. I have a pair of ski trab vario 2 bindings I’m going to mount on some skis. Other than that my 3 other pin bindings set ups are all alpinist now. My old dynafits are basically unskiable now.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

[Cocximus]

I noticed a friend's heel does not spring back to center. That does not seem right. Any ideas?

[Blaster]

I noticed a friend's heel does not spring back to center. That does not seem right. Any ideas?

Remove the heel tower from the base plate, clean, and grease.

[Lord Thomas]

Anyone know how much grams the new alpenis freeride spacer will add? Also, will it be available as an add-on for existing clamps?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Anyone know how much grams the new alpenis freeride spacer will add? Also, will it be available as an add-on for existing clamps?

I think it’s a strap on


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Cocximus]

I looked at four more alpinists pairs and three of them had sticky towers. The only one without sticky towers had brakes.

[EricB]

Alpinist free on the website.
Comparable weight to the old version
Wider heel
Per skimo, the "freeride spacer" is adjustable
35mm BSL adjustment range is a nice improvement

https://skimo.co/marker-alpinist-free-13
https://markerbindings.com/en-us/p/a...-bindings-2025

[cat in january]

Am I right the freeride spacer is not backward compatible with the older version?

[EricB]

Am I right the freeride spacer is not backward compatible with the older version?

The heel looks completely different. But that's a question for Skimo.co or another legitimate shop/tech.

[Lord Thomas]

Somebody in SLC should go down to Skimo and ax the question. Would be nice to know prior to the season since I got a couple of pair to mount and would do the new version if I can't add the spacer to the old ones

[cat in january]

I suppose if Marker is not making the spacer available for independent sale, then a mute question. And knowing Marker if they sell it separately it will cost $125. Their leashes are way overpriced.

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

I suppose if Marker is not making the spacer available for independent sale, then a mute question. And knowing Marker if they sell it separately it will cost $125. Their leashes are way overpriced.

I bought the leashes straight from Marker for $31 last fall. Not bad I’d say.

Regarding the Free, Skimo sais the brake has the freeride spacer attached to it, so no dice if you remove them.

[cat in january]

I see that. Looks like they may have smartened up. No picture so hard to tell if a design change or just a price change.


Used to be $60. https://skimo.co/marker-alpinist-leashes

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

I see that. Looks like they may have smartened up. No picture so hard to tell if a design change or just a price change.


Used to be $60. https://skimo.co/marker-alpinist-leashes

Those look just like the ones I got.

[detrusor]

Anyone come across hacks to make the brakes easier to use? Those stupid little wires needing to gonibtobthevtightvtolerance homes is pretty frustrating. I’ve consisted drilling them out a touch..

[ASmileyFace]

Am I right the freeride spacer is not backward compatible with the older version?

Sadly, it will not be (at least this season). I was really hoping that it would be an addition, rather than a new binding completely.

Mount pattern is the same and supposedly it will only come with 105mm brakes standard... though Marker's website shows a brakeless version as an option.

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

My feelings are mixed about the Alpinist.

Step in is easy, pretty normal. Locking/unlocking the toes was too hard, as I mentioned above, but easy fix. That was for both pairs, but my friends old pair, and his newer pair both didn’t have this issue.

Low delta is a perfect for me. Skis well enough, but I’m not picky in that regard.
Riser works fine for me.
Stepping into the heel (on the 10), requires a fair bit of force (27.5 boot, 180 lbs). Not ideal in some situations, but not a big issue either.

Rotating the heels is the big downside for me.
It requires a lot of force, and due to the single, short riser, you can’t get much more leverage. With a moderately heavy pack, it becomes really hard to bend down and get enough leverage on the heel to rotate it.

I haven’t used any other U spring bindings before, so maybe these issues are par for the course with that design.

Anyway, I hope this is useful for someone considering these.

[bean]

Rotating the heels is the big downside for me.
It requires a lot of force, and due to the single, short riser, you can’t get much more leverage. With a moderately heavy pack, it becomes really hard to bend down and get enough leverage on the heel to rotate it.

I don't think I've ever rotated my heels. Flap over pins works great. Manipulate the flap with a pole handle.