- Buyer’s Guide reviews
- In words
- Technical specifications
Buyer’s Guide reviews
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
Release test / Dynafit inserts
FRONT R + L average
Excellent
Heel cap
Poor
In words
Intro
50:50 is the name of the game and the Kingpin, in its current form, borrows the Alpinist's toe piece with one spring per toe arm and all the other original features like the soft anti-ice pad, while maintaining bulk and weight within acceptable limits for a hybrid binding. Or even the first hybrid binding, as it was the Kingpin that paved the way. Rather than aluminum machined from one piece, the base is made from lightweight reinforced plastic, which we prefer for bindings built for performance. The ramp angle is relatively low and the two available brakes are adjustable, to fit skis between 75 and 120 mm in width.
Fit
Entry is easy, as with the Alpinist, though it's better to do it the old-school way: one pin at a time. The lever is fairly stiff but it works well. The ski/walk mode is operated via a lever between the heel and toe piece which is a little flat and not easy to work with gloves on, while the two climbing aid flaps are easy to manage even with a pole. This system loses the Kingpin points compared to the Tecton or the new TR1, which both open by maneuvering the heel piece from above, making sidestepping or short descents with skins a lot easier. The heel piece (with separate adjustable lateral and forward release settings) is impressive in how it locks in the boot, though some will need an adapter.
Technical specifications
Materials
hi-tech plastics, aluminum, steel
Type
Hybrid pin
Ski brake
yes (75-100, 100-120 mm)
Number of mounting screws
9
Crampon slot
Yes
Adjustable release range
Yes
Available versions
Kingpin 10, Kingpin M-Werks 12
Walking modes
flat + 2
Released in
2014
Price
560 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
N/A
Drop
XXXXX
715 gr
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Toe cap weight
XXXXX
N/A
Heel cap weight
XXXXX
N/A
Mounting screws weight
XXXXX
N/A
Front pin height
XXXXX
N/A
Rear pin height
XXXXX
N/A
Minimum release range
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum release range
XXXXX
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