9 Best Ski Bindings of 2025

The Salomon Strive 14 GW are our hands-down favorite all-mountain bindings. With these, Salomon has stuck to its tried and tested low-profile/low center-of-gravity design from previous Warden binding iterations. These bindings really adapt and move naturally with elastic toe travel into and out of turns with excellent responsiveness. Plus, they’re almost half as light as the Wardens.

The Strive 14 GW offers a precise feel, confident control, and reliable boot retention thanks to the extra large wings in the toe piece. While the boot feels plenty secure, the SCP slider pedal (an anti-friction system designed for safe release) means hard chargers can breathe a sigh of relief that they’ll come off with a hard enough crash and save your ACL.

The toe piece also adapts automatically to both alpine and GripWalk boot soles. The brake options come in four sizes: 90mm, 100mm, 115mm, and 130mm, so you can mount these to a super wide range of ski widths.

For those looking to get some of the tech of more expensive bindings without breaking the bank the Salomon Stage 10 GW offers just that. They’re lightweight, easy to step into, and they have similar elasticity in the toe as more advanced bindings. Plus, they have a reliable lateral release in the heel and toe if you happen to take a spill.

They have techy automatic wing adjustment and toe height adjustment, so your boots fit in nicely, and they feature Salomon’s back rollers technology to make them easier to step into, especially in powdery conditions.

Similar to the Strive 14, they also feature a smaller mounting zone, so the bindings don’t interfere with the natural flex of your skis. The mellow 3-10 DIN volume should work for most intermediate skiers, especially lighter skiers,  but more aggressive, hard-chargers could find this a bit too loose.

The Tyrolia Attack 13 GW was a huge hit among backside freeriders and powder hounds, and the Attack 14 GW should delight the same crowd. With an easier DIN adjustment, redesigned toe piece, plus everything you love about the 13, these steep and deep bindings are as durable as they are flashy.

They’re light, they’re large platform has excellent power transfer, and, best of all, they’re super easy to step into, even in deep snow. Since we’re talking about steep and deep, we should mention these bindings have a safe AFD (Anti Friction Device), so they’ll release nicely when you need them to.

They have five brake size options: 85mm, 95mm, 110mm, 130mm, and a whopping 150mm, which is nice since you’ll probably want to bolt these onto your powder skis.

The durability of the all-metal Look Pivot bindings has been a popular selling point for freestylers and all-mountain skiers alike. This year the Look Pivot GW is back with a hyper-secure max 15 DIN and its reliable lateral heel release safety feature. These bindings actually have seven contact points with the ski and a low center of gravity for maximum control and maneuverability.

The mounting zone is fairly short, so it doesn’t interfere with the natural flex of your skis. This should appeal to freestyle skiers who are all too familiar with a dreaded slap effect from reduced flexibility on hard landings. They have excellent shock absorption for big booter confidence.

The main thing we like about these is they have added safe release features, including a wide 180° multi-directional release in the toe and a lateral release pattern in the heel to accommodate common falls, plus a high DIN volume to make sure they only come off when they need to. So they’re safe and extra durable with a metal design. What’s more metal than freestyle skiing?

The Marker Squire 11 has built a nice balance between a binding that’s progressive enough for more advanced freeskiers yet easygoing for beginners and intermediate skiers. Their Triple Pivot Light 2 Toe is compatible with both alpine and GripWalk boots, and this year’s model has an Anti-Ice Rail to protect the toe piece, including the DIN window, plus you can use it to scrape snow off your boots before stepping in.

Speaking of stepping in, The Squire 11 features Marker’s Hollow Linkage 2 Heel for easy, low-force clip-in. They are fairly compact, especially for GripWalk compatible bindings, sitting at only 24mm stand height for better feel and contact with the snow.

They also sport a stainless steel AFD plate for safe release, and their low 820 gram weight is perfect for younger freestylers and intermediate skiers. They have a 245 lb weight limit, so heavier skiers may want to look toward other binding options.

The Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC (Multi Norm Certified) 13 bindings are an evolutionary step forward in big mountain skiing, equipping big mountain skiers with hybrid alpine touring bindings that are compatible for uphill touring and WTR (Walk to Ride) while being safe release DIN certified for resort skiing, and maintain the power transfer of traditional alpine bindings. They’re really a do-it-all tool for true ALL-mountain skiing.

We can break this binding down into two categories; what it can do going uphill and what it can do going downhill. On the ascent, it features a carbon-infused lightweight design, tech pin-engaged climbing, a two-position riser in the heel for skin track compatibility, and it is compatible with certain types of crampons.

It has a touring mode setting, but tech-fitting boots are required to use this function. On the descent, it features an ample 13 DIN volume, compatibility with both alpine and GripWalk boots, and the same responsiveness as its alpine cousins.

Just by having enough material for alpine skiing, they aren’t as light as true touring bindings at 1780 grams, and they certainly aren’t cheap, but they do give you ultimate freedom for all-mountain and resort-ish backcountry skiing.

For our money, ATK is the new gold standard in alpine touring pin bindings and their Raider 13 Evo is one of the best on the market. With a full-metal design, ultra-lightweight build, and full adjustability from touring more to skiing mode, these are an alpine touring adventurer’s dream. They’ve also redesigned the toe piece from previous bindings for easier step-in and have new heel features and an Automatic Braking System, activated by turning the heel.

ATK has also kept its mountain-tested Cam Release System pins in the heel for added safety in the event of a crash. The magnetic risers in the heel offer quick and easy adjustment, and we love that the toe piece still features a DIN adjuster that’s noticeably missing from other touring bindings.

These bindings are ideal for hunting down backcountry powder with anti-snowpack toe platform and easy step-in. They also feature ATK’s U.H.V. System (Up-hill Hardness Variator) that locks in with a firmness based on a user’s weight and magnetic heel flaps to use in tour mode. In ski mode, they offer an Elastic Response System that adjusts the heel piece based on the flex of your skis. Truly groundbreaking stuff for the alpine touring world.

For the “3 pinners” out there looking to rip up their local resort or do some light touring, the Vice from 22 Designs is an extremely solid 75mm option, which will cover almost all of your telemark binding needs. The design is metal in all the areas you’d want it to be with a 2000 lb test cable, so it’s super durable and the toe platform is comfy without the slot other bindings have that’s prone to snow and ice buildup.

The chrome spring has an ample 2” of travel, and they come in both large and small sizes to accommodate a wide range of skiers. They provide smooth action, but you can still really edge your skis well, even with stiffer skis.

The Vice comes with three pivot point options to allow you to set them to your specific skiing style, and they are moved a bit back to provide more resistance. Overall it’s a burly, simple binding that has everything you need and nothing you don’t for all-mountain tele charging.

Getting gear for kids can be tough since they’re always growing so quickly so a lot of folks try to cram their kids into stuff that doesn’t quite fit. Totally understandable, but it can be unsafe and lead to some bummed-out kids on the mountain. This is especially true for boots and bindings, but ultimately it’s worth it to get kids some well-suited gear.

If you’re looking for some solid junior bindings for your up-and-coming skier, the Atomic Colt 7 GW provides solid heel and toe pieces, versatile DIN volume, and a safe, reliable release for inevitable falls on the learning curve. They work well for alpine and GripWalk boots, and the toe has some similar elasticity to more expensive adult bindings. Plus, they’re lightweight for easy-going skiing and hauling to and from the resort.

We love that they also feature automatic wing adjustment in the toe piece, so they’ll be attached properly, even on boots that are a little worn out. You can’t win an Olympic or X Games gold on your first couple times out, but these are a good step in the process.