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Dynafit Superlite 150 ($550)
At 10.6 ounces per pair, the Superlite is just that. But you can still kit it out with optional brakes ($80) and crampons ($70 and up). It also features an adjustable lateral release from four to thirteen and a vertical release of six. It’s one of the most capable ski-mountaineering clamps on the market, but also surprisingly adept for daily driving. 5.3 oz
Hagan Core 12 Pro ($649)
The new Core 12 is even more functional and elegant than its beloved predecessor. The brake has moved from toe to heel, which looks cleaner, and the adjustable front piece is compatible with different boots’ tech-toe tolerances. Magnets make the five heel-riser settings easy to engage. On the downhill, eight millimeters of heel elasticity provide excellent shock absorption while optional heel spacers ($79) enhance power transmission and snow feel. 11.7 oz
G3 Zed 12 ($499)
Like its forebearers, the new Zed is one of the best tech bindings available. Its rotating heel locks the brakes ($85) for walking and houses two risers that flick up and down fluidly. Thirty millimeters of rearward adjustability accommodates a wide range of boot sizes, and ice-up-reducing spring clearance at the toe offers unrivaled reliability. It also earned praise for its security going downhill. 12.6 oz
Salomon S/lab Shift MNC 10 ($675)
Three years ago, Salomon changed the game with the Shift, a 16-DIN platform designed to go big while still supplying a modicum of backcountry utility. The MNC 10 continues that tradition. It’s a lighter binding for lighter skiers, but the tech remains the same: an alpine heel and combination tech-alpine toe that grant step-in, resort-style reliability in downhill mode. An underfoot lever flips back for climbing and brings the heel to a baseline of two degrees, plus one ten-degree riser for steeps. 1.9 lbs
Fritschi Tecton 12 ($650)
With its resort-style heel and adjustable toe release, the new Tecton retains its unique, quiver-killing middle ground between ski-mountaineering lightweights and 16-DIN power bindings. It weighs 2.4 pounds per pair without brakes and provides both excellent retention and release (DIN five to twelve). It’s “not the lightest, not the heaviest,” one tester said, “but it could be the safest.” Testers found it pairs well with boots up to 110 flex. 1.2 lbs
Marker Duke PT 16 ($825)
Marker set out to transform the Duke into a competitor to the crossover Salomon Shift. Mission accomplished. The binding’s front consists of a traditional tech-pin mechanism under a removable resort-inspired toe piece. Lift a lever to take off that 10.6-ounce top clamp for the climb. Slide it back on to rip down. DINs from six to sixteen and an alpine-style heel meant even hard-charging testers felt confident dropping big hits. 3 lbs
