The Best Alpine Touring (AT) Bindings
We've tested 50 of the best backcountry ski bindings over the past 9 seasons, and recently tested 24 of today's top bindings side-by-side. We rely on a test team with hundreds of years of combined experience in the backcountry, making this the most comprehensive third-party review of AT bindings available. We compare these bindings by assessing downhill performance, touring performance, weight, ease of use, and durability. Our findings are based on a season's worth of human-powered ski touring, and we tailor our expert advice based on how you will actually use your gear in the backcountry. Our aim is to demystify the options and realign some of your expectations. Mainly, we cut to the chase to help you find the best bindings so that you can get out and spend more time skiing.
Of course, you will need to pair your new bindings with a pair of backcountry skis. We've also tested backcountry ski boots and climbing skins. And if you're in need of new clothing, check out our reviews of ski jackets, top-rated ski pants, and our favorite hardshell jackets. We use these reviews to outline the best options for each application – as you read them, it's important to calibrate for your own ambitions of backcountry skiing.
Editors' Note: We updated our review of backcountry ski bindings on November 18, 2024. We added 8 new bindings to our lineup from ATK, Salomon, Plum, and Marker, as well as a few 2025 models from Dynafit and Atomic. We were able to purchase these new bindings ahead of their release date to test through the 2023-2024 season.