Pro shop connoisseur 3 ｜ 2020-21 season "I want you to use it anyway, BINDING that changes the slip"

Store Manager
Fujisawa

ATOMIC ｜SHIFT MNC13

Recommend: Ishii Sports Sapporo

I've used the SHIFT for two seasons myself, and I highly recommend it to anyone who isn't satisfied with the performance of pin bindings or is concerned about stability. The secure feeling of a firmly fixed toe piece is ideal for experienced racers, powerful skiers, and skiers who can tilt their body axis. This year's color is all black, giving it a luxurious feel

Manager Fujisawa again

MARKER ｜DUKE PT16

Recommendation: Ishii Sports Sapporo Store This is another item we highly recommend you try. Duke, the pioneer of backcountry freeride skiing, has combined with PING technology to create a completely new binding. It delivers secure hold and recovery while maximizing the ski's performance. This high-performance binding combines the functionality of a safety binding, which provides maximum protection for the skier with its high release performance in the event of a fall, with the light walking comfort of PING technology.

The sense of security you feel from the moment you put them on is sure to give you confidence. This binding will become an essential item for riders who want to enjoy the snowy mountains in an aggressive yet cool way

Mikiya Tanno

Owner & Rider
Tanno

MARKER ｜KINGPIN13

Recommendation: TRUNKBASE has undergone a minor change from last year's "KINGPIN." The toe piece springs have been changed from three to one, making it lighter. The KINGPIN is lightweight and has good boot hold balance, making it suitable for a wide range of uses, from slopes to backcountry fields. It is recommended for skiers who want the gliding performance of a tech binding and want it to be as light as possible.

　Key points for choosing bindings!

When choosing bindings at a shop, it's important to consider what the customer prioritizes when selecting equipment. The key point

Manager
Tatsumi

ARMADA ｜N SHIFT MNC 13

Recommendation: SKI SHOP Vail These bindings allow you to walk and ski at the same time. When walking, they are just as comfortable as other tech bindings, and when skiing, they hold your boots in place with the same system as alpine bindings, so they offer both high performance and safety.

While regular tech bindings don't have a release value, SHIFT does, so skiers can use it safely on the slopes. It's also easy to operate and use

　What to look for when choosing bindings!

We often recommend bindings based on how long you plan to walk for. For example, if you plan to walk for about an hour or two after getting off the lift, we recommend bindings with high performance and safety so that you can continue to enjoy skiing on the same boards when you return to the slopes

Many tech bindings do not have a release value on the toe piece, which can cause anxiety for many people. When it comes to safety while skiing, we often recommend bindings that offer the same safety features as alpine bindings, such as the MARKER TOUR F12 and TYROLIA AMBITION, which have been in the lineup for some time

If you don't want to sacrifice your ability to walk, we recommend bindings such as SHIFT, TECTON, and DUKE PT, which ensure safety when skiing

Staff
member Amari

FRITSCHI｜TECTON12

Recommendation: Ishii Sports Shinjuku West Exit Store "Just try it out," so I thought I'd go with the popular "DUKE PT" this year, but I'm going with something a little more core (lol). The binding I recommend is the " FRITSCHI TECTON12."

The toe piece uses the PIN Tech system, and the heel piece is designed to hold the welt of the boot in place.The great thing about this binding is that even though the heel piece uses the same system as alpine bindings, the front and rear weight balance is almost even!　

What are the benefits? I'm sure there are many skiers who don't want to sacrifice their skiing performance even when choosing a tough climbing line. I'm one of them. These bindings have a light heel, even when the ski is strapped to your backpack, so the tail swings very little from side to side. They're especially useful when climbing steep slopes with an axe stuck in the snow. Unstable balance can be frightening... They really make climbing easy! And yet, the skiing doesn't disappoint. That's what these bindings are like

What to look for when choosing bindings!

To be honest, choosing bindings is the hardest part of choosing gear for me. In the past, I've struggled with it for three months and ended up failing (lol). The two things I look for when choosing bindings are:

1) What style of mountain skiing do you want to do with the skis and boots you choose? What kind of challenge do you want to take on?
2) Is the overall balance between the skis, boots, and bindings maintained?

Regarding 1, it's currently difficult for people who are just starting out in mountain skiing to imagine. However, this is where you should try your best to use the web, print media, media information, advice from acquaintances, etc. to help you expand your imagination!

For me, choosing skis and bindings is almost like buying a car. They are partners that will be with you in the mountains for many years. If you can visualize your future self and communicate your vision to the staff, you will be less likely to make a mistake. VISION is very important!

Regarding #2, " Is the overall balance of the equipment in place?" There are of course exceptions depending on the skier's physical strength and the style they are aiming for, but the balance between the boots and bindings is important.

Lightweight touring skis weighing around 1kg are an exception, but for other skis (approximately 1.4kg and up), you can choose your preferred combination. The key factors are the weight of the boots and the sole shape

The boots are heavy, and if they're Alpensole Gripwalk boots, they offer excellent maneuverability and power transmission. There are a variety of binding combinations you can create. If you're looking for a more solid walking style, you can go for the Pintec type, or if you're looking for a more manly setup, you can go for the cool "Marker Duke + Dukept" or "Marker Jester + Daymaker" setup

On the other hand, for lighter boots (under about 1.5kg), we recommend the PINTEC type, as they tend to lack rigidity. If you ski with light boots and frame bindings, the movement of the ski and the boot won't match, which can be uncomfortable.
　
Finally, it goes without saying that skis "flex." If you want to take advantage of the inherent flexibility of the ski, you can choose a separate binding (such as the "DUKEPT SHIFT"), or
if you want to add strength to your feet in addition to the flexibility of the ski, you can choose a frame binding like the "MARKER DUKE." The feel of the ski changes considerably depending on the binding you use, so it's a good idea to take the change in flex into consideration when making your choice!

Staff
Washiisan

DYNAFIT｜ST ROTATION 12

Recommendation: BLACKDIAMOND Lightweight, strong, and affordable, this is the perfect tech binding. It's TUV certified, so it's safe and reliable. It also automatically adjusts the center position of the toe piece when climbing, which helps you save energy even on long climbs.

This is recommended not only for those using techbins for the first time, but also for skiers who say, "I don't want to compromise on either going up or downhill!"

 What to look for when choosing bindings!

For customers (skiers), the most important points when choosing bindings are:
1) lightness, 2) holding power, 3) price, and 4) ease of use
. Which of these four points is most important will vary from customer to customer.

We have a wide range of customers, from gear connoisseurs who already have their preferences to those who don't know yet what kind of skiing they want to do. When customers come to our store, we talk to them about what kind of skiing they are currently doing and what they want to do in the future. Bindings are the "connector" between the skis and boots, so we consult with them to choose bindings that are compatible with both, and also take into consideration compatibility with the user

Lightweight, sturdy, affordable, and easy to use, we strive to select gear that will make customers smile and say, "These bindings are great!" or "I'm glad I bought these!" when they return to the store