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Marker Duke vs. Kingpin

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travias
Posts: 471 - Karma: 2,779
Anyone here know much about the Marker touring bindings? I can get a deal on them but can't decide between the Kingpin or Duke. Obviously the Kingpin is way better for going uphill (Kingpin at 750 G vs Duke at 2760 G) but I'm not sure how much they can withstand on the way down.

I'm not dropping T-Hall Pillow lines or anything but I want something that can handle 10-20 ft cliffs, butters, decent size jumps, switch landings, etc. I'd love to go with the Kingpin to make the way up easier but want to make sure they can do what I need them to on the way down. Link below is a clip of the time I ripped out my toe piece trying a butter 5 off of a drop in the side country and had to ski back in bounds on one foot. I'd rather not have to do that out in the proper BC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqXHCUAExs/?taken-by=traviastowsley

If it helps, I hover between 180-190lbs.

Bonus question: Also curious which skins people prefer for steep inclines? The side country track at my home resort is pretty steep. Could just be my technique but I've found myself sliding back a bit on the skins I've borrowed.

Bonus bonus question: Are there any fat Volkl skis that are light but can charge? May as well capitalize on the pro deal and get a whole setup.
Jan 7 2018 3:59PM
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MarkusFin
Posts: 366 - Karma: 2,623
Go for the kingpin.

As for the bonus question, I don't know about the Volkl skis, but the Line Sick Day 104 / 114 are light and super good for charging.

**This post was edited on Jan 7th 2018 at 4:12:11pm
Jan 7 2018 4:11PM
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percs
Posts: 2280 - Karma: 5,800
refer to Lucas wahs instagram if you'd like to see how kingpins hold up with high impact lands. He has an edit where he hits park on them. As for sliding back with skins on, G3(and probably other companies) make different skins for traction while climbing more or less vertical slopes. If you do purchase skins to ascend the most vertical trails, you'll be sacrificing some ease-of-glide due to the longer cut carpet bottoms
Jan 7 2018 4:35PM
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Cade2
Posts: 2124 - Karma: 2,706
Kingpin+volkl two/revolt 124
Jan 7 2018 7:29PM
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mcswizzle
Posts: 842 - Karma: 2,298
Kingpins are the shit. I think Sammy C rides them in most of his film projects from the past couple of years (someone correct me if I'm wrong) so I'd say they would be acceptable for your riding.

As for skins: Black Diamond Ascension skins are my go to choice. Not the lightest or most easily packable, but they get the job done every time. Had a few negative experiences with other skins in the past and will never get anything other than BD from here on out. Good technique goes a long way too (not that I got it).
Jan 7 2018 9:15PM
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smh
Posts: 410 - Karma: 2,144
I've always used Dukes and I have no real complaints about the uphill but then again I've never tried any different. My buddy has some kingpins and dropped a 40 on them and the binding took it like a champ so I really don't think you can go wrong either way!
Jan 7 2018 9:42PM
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Limitanie
Posts: 19 - Karma: 86
I can tell you from experience that I am a huge fan of the tech binding i.e. the Marker Kingpin. However, if you really toe drive and find yourself driving the tip of your ski into a mogul or some other bump that ski WILL go flying. Overall though, in a general sense, I much prefer tech bindings to traditional alpine bindings. Also, the power transfer in a tech binding is HUGE it's definitely a noticeable difference between an alpine binding and a tech binding.
Jan 8 2018 4:50PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
LimitanieI can tell you from experience that I am a huge fan of the tech binding i.e. the Marker Kingpin. However, if you really toe drive and find yourself driving the tip of your ski into a mogul or some other bump that ski WILL go flying. Overall though, in a general sense, I much prefer tech bindings to traditional alpine bindings. Also, the power transfer in a tech binding is HUGE it's definitely a noticeable difference between an alpine binding and a tech binding.


Anything with forward pressure in the heel piece will drastically reduce pre-releases caused by a flexing ski. The Kingpin addresses this well.
Jan 8 2018 7:00PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Just Wait for the Shift binding, you should be able to get your hands on them pretty soon.

If you want the best grip the G3 high traction skin will work really well but dont expect it to glide well.

V-Werks Catana would be my choice from Volkl
Jan 10 2018 2:26PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
tomPietrowskiJust Wait for the Shift binding, you should be able to get your hands on them pretty soon.

If you want the best grip the G3 high traction skin will work really well but dont expect it to glide well.

V-Werks Catana would be my choice from Volkl

Any word on the Shift drop date?

Heard some rumblings but no one wants to go on record...
Jan 10 2018 2:30PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Peach.Any word on the Shift drop date?

Heard some rumblings but no one wants to go on record...


me and lee lau will have our test setup in a week or two.
Jan 10 2018 2:34PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
tomPietrowskime and lee lau will have our test setup in a week or two.

Put it through hell.

Also do me a solid and measure the height difference between the toe and the heel piece when in downhill mode. I still want a tech binding that I can mount at -2 without feeling like I'm on high-heels. I'm sick of mounting my tech bindings with toe raisers.
Jan 10 2018 2:44PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Peach.Put it through hell.

Also do me a solid and measure the height difference between the toe and the heel piece when in downhill mode. I still want a tech binding that I can mount at -2 without feeling like I'm on high-heels. I'm sick of mounting my tech bindings with toe raisers.


Oh we will for sure, i planning on Jake C using it in the park a bit to see how it holds up.

And yeah we will look into all the tech finer details do not worry,
Jan 10 2018 2:46PM
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