'09 Marker The Duke 16 Ski Binding
The Marker Duke Ski Bindings go further, higher, and faster, just the way you want to ski. The Marker Duke Binding was designed with the "Easy Releasable Climbing Aid" feature. The Duke is the perfect choice to help big mountain enthusiasts get to those secret remote spots, with the confidence that new Marker technology will get them back down the mountain safely. The hiking aid has 3 positions, 0, 5 and 10 degree.
"The Marker Duke marries the alpine toughness with backcountry abilities. When engaged, the climbing mechanism hinges back three centimeters for efficient skinning. In ski mode, it acts like an alpine binding, allowing the ski to flex freely underfoot." - Skiing Gear Guide 2008
The binding weighs in at 5lbs 15oz, but with a DIN of 16 you will have one bomber of a Freeride Binding in the Marker Duke. The ski also has a wider footprint giving it more edge control than an alpine binding. Ski must be at least 76mm in the waist.
"Having used rondo gear for over 30 years now I have to say for side-country skiing and in particular for Las Lenas the Marker Duke is truly impressive, first it feels and sounds like a Marker (solid) and where I have been using Fritchis for years I always worried about coming out (and have) now I have a little better margin going to 16 din most of my skis are at least at 18-20 din depending what I am doing and where I am skiing. The biggest difference is the solid contact feel with the Duke on my Gotamas vs the soft feel of the Fritchis mainly due to the wider mount etc. For skinning they work very well and after becoming familiar with adjusting the climbing bracket and the fact you have to remove the ski to change from locked or free-heel, it is also an advantage to have the binding move back when in free-heel mode especially in soft snow and kick turns. I now have about 100 days on these and can honestly say they rule and no going back to Fritchis. The pair I received were prototypes and I had a problem with the brake but after I remedied a minor design flaw they have worked super. The Mantra or Gotama with the Marker Duke is a perfect combo for the backcountry access and designed with the “big mountain” skier in mind. I live in a world where if my equipment fails I can die almost everyday so it is great to have tools that are designed for my needs. Marker Duke skis like an alpine binding and works well for rondonee it may be a few grams more than the Fritchis but the transmission to the fatter skis is impressive. Needless to say I like them!"
Gregg Wardle
Marker Duke Bindings
DIN 6-16
Small: 265mm - 320mm
Large: 305mm-370mm
There is no difference in weight between the 2 sizes. The Large Duke will encompass more boot sole lengths.
Retail Price: $500.00 Our Price: $429.00
