After 5 years of backcountry skiing on a pair of old Silveretta bindings, I decided it was time to invest in new ones. After some research, I settled on the Marker Baron bindings. Marker is well known for making quality alpine bindings, and last year they entered the backcountry arena with the Marker Dukes, a burly system that featured a DIN setting that went up to 16. Most skiers don’t require a DIN that high, plus the Dukes are heavy for an average backcountry setup, so this year they introduced a lighter binding called the Barons.
I mounted the Barons to my Black Diamond Havoc skis and took them out on a variety of terrain in different conditions. The Barons were awesome on a powder day. Stiff, stable and precise, they skied as well as any alpine binding I’ve used. In fact, the difference was stark in comparison to my old Silverettas as I felt the bindings were allowing me to ski more aggressively.
In the backcountry, I skied on everything from low-angle trees to steep, ski-width couloirs. Skinning uphill, the bindings were smooth, but noticeably heavier than my old setup. They were, however, more stable as my boots felt like they were locked in better, especially when making sharp switchbacks on steep terrain.
I do, however, have gripes about these bindings. The first is that the brakes don’t allow you to lock the skis together when you want to carry them. Once they are on the shoulder, you can arrange them so they don’t slide around, but I find it odd that Marker would design them in a way that a ski strap is still necessary to keep them together.
Second, the heel lift used for steep, uphill climbs doesn’t go nearly as high as I’m used to. Also, the way they are set underneath the binding makes them hard to access on the fly. I find I have to physically lift my leg up and flip down the metal bar with my hand. This hasn’t been a big deal unless I’m on a steep slope and my skins aren’t sticking very well. Then it becomes an awkward balancing act.
Finally, I’m not loving the system used to switch the bindings from uphill to downhill mode. It seems like a good idea to place the switch in the middle of the binding where the boot goes, as this ensures the binding won’t accidentally switch to uphill mode while I’m skiing. The downside is that I have to take the skis off to make the switch. This isn’t an issue if I’m on top of a climb and the skis are off anyway, but if I’m ever in a position where I need to strip my skins off without removing my skis, then I will be frustrated. Plus, anyone who has perfected the fine art of on-the-fly skin removal will resent the fact that the skis have to be taken off in order to lock the heel down.
This system has also caused me problems as the grooves on the bottom and sides of the binding that slide the toe-piece into downhill mode tend to get packed with snow and ice, making it difficult to make the transition. In the future I’m going to have to keep a small piece of metal in my pack so I can clean the grooves when I’m ready to ski.
Despite these issues, I’ve decided that they are far better bindings than my old ones. The downhill performance makes up for any issues with the weight and poor design concerning the uphill/downhill switch. When it comes down to it, I’m ultimately in the mountains to ski, and on that front, these bindings deliver.
MSRP: $435
Purchase the Marker Baron bindings for only $379.99.
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