Last winter, Slatnar brought a binding to market with a smattering of features in the 300g binding space. Photo: Slatnar
If you are eyeing a somewhat cost-effective tech binding (these things all carry a somewhat steep price) with a feature set spec’d for a more aggressive ski tourer…but want to keep the overall weight down, it’s time to check out the Slatnar ST Touring binding.
I’m a hard sell when it comes to putting a heavier-than-race binding on my skis. I like to think of sub 200g, non-adjustable release, a single heel riser, and mostly metal construction as the defining characteristics of race models well suited to general touring use. To go above that 200g barrier, I am looking for some added functionality and likely a specific circumstance that pushes me in this direction. There is some added functionality that I value, such as easy riser adjustments without needing to spin the heel for flat mode, some sort of freeride spacer to promote power transfer and stability, added ease of use/durability in the toe piece, and last but not least, a wider mount pattern. There is also some added functionality with some heavier bindings that I don’t value– there are two big ones here–brakes generally don’t do me much good, and I don’t need to adjust my release values (I’d rather buy the RV I need and save the weight/complication of adjustment).
With my preferences, surprisingly few options compel me to jump to the 300g binding category, let alone anything heavier. Until last year, there was really just one option that checked most of my boxes–the Salomon MTN/Atomic Backland “Pure.” Despite generally enjoying my time on those bindings (I still have a pair on my rock skis), the durability hasn’t been awesome, with heel risers getting floppy and the heel towers getting wobbly over time. Generally, they weren’t that much better than the race bindings I used on other skis, so I continued to buy them.
Last winter, a new player with a new smattering of features entered the 300g binding space—Slatnar. As we covered last winter in our first look, Slatnar has a long history in the nordic ski jumping world and the CNC milling space. Given this history, touring bindings seems like a logical step for both the skillset and, I would imagine, business for Slatnar (how many people do ya think ski jump?). As the ski touring world grows and gear continues to improve, it’s awesome to see more companies dive into complex products like bindings.
So, what feature set does the Slatnar ST 1.0 bring to the table? Perhaps nothing revolutionary, but rather an evolution of previously available products that check a lot of the boxes I am seeking in this binding class. Maybe they are best described as a “super MTN,” they share many basic similarities with the MTN, especially in the heel. The “super” designation comes from a height-adjustable freeride spacer and a more solid, play/wobble-free build. Revisiting my feature checklist, the Slatnar has easy riser adjustments similar to the Salomon system, a freeride spacer, and a wide mount pattern. It also leaves off brakes—they are available but seem like an afterthought rather than a core part of the design, such as in the ATK Raider series—and they are sold in fixed RVs of 5-6, 7-8, or 9-10. This leaves only one of my boxes unchecked; the toe piece is rather ordinary.
The heel piece is certainly the most interesting part of the Slatnar bindings. On a basic level, it features a rotating tower topped with a U-spring and two magnetic risers. It becomes more functional for some with its freeride spacer.
The Heel Unit
The heel piece is certainly the most interesting part of the Slatnar bindings. On a basic level, it features a rotating tower topped with a U-spring and two magnetic risers. For the uphill, one can spin the heel 180 degrees to access a flat mode and two riser levels or leave the pins forward and access two riser options but no flat mode. I found the magnetic risers easier to use than ATK’s riser iterations, as the risers were both easier to catch with a pole and didn’t need to be firmly “set” in the pins to remain in place. Entering downhill mode, the rotational resistance is middle of the road, easier than Plum race bindings or the MTN with expert springs, but harder than Ski Trab or Kreuzspitze race heels. The U-spring is also a bit harder to stomp into than the buttery smooth ATK cam release, but significantly easier than something like an old Dynafit Superlight 12.
According to our friends at Skimo.co, the 9-10 RV version tests out at 11 for lateral release and 6 for vertical. I found the vertical RV surprising as I have had issues in the past with low vertical RV bindings popping off while unweighting during steep turns; this never happened with the Slatnar, and I felt I had ample retention skiing with the toes unlocked even when pushing the Solis hard in variable snow.
The “spacer AFD,” AKA freeride spacer, is adjustable on an angled interface similar to older ATK models, which isn’t the easiest to adjust between boots; it’s a reasonable 15-minute job. I’ll continue to test and update this review as more boots come through THR. However, the Atomic Backland XTD, Technica Zero G Tour Pro and Peak, Dynafit Ridge, and DNA were all within the adjustment range. While I didn’t find a published recommendation from Slatnar, I aimed for a tiny gap between the boot sole and AFD. The heel has a healthy 50 mm of length adjustment to achieve the 1mm recommended heel gap, which is tricky to measure but pretty reasonable to eyeball—there is a bolt head facing the heel fitting that constitutes a nice flat surface to eyeball the gap.
Along with the 1mm gap, the heel track features 6mm travel via a length compensation spring. The length adjustment happens via a worm screw on a machined track that feels robust and provides ample contact area with the heel tower base—I think this design will continue to be wobble-free into the future. The length adjustment is via a 6mm Allen key, which is a bit of a pain given the standardization of T-20 and Pozi #3 across much of the industry. Though I could make a T-25 work in a pinch, I advise adding a 6mm hex bit to the repair kit if you are skiing Slatnar bindings.
The toe unit’s single spring-per-side design and all-aluminum construction are confidence-inspiring.
Slatnar Toe Piece
Moving to the toe, there is little less to talk about. The single spring-per-side design and all-aluminum construction are confidence-inspiring. I haven’t exposed any durability concerns to date. The center area of the toe is relatively open, and it is much easier to clear snow and ice buildup than with more busy or compact designs. The geometry of the wings/springs is a little different than something like a Plum toe piece or the extreme example of a G3 Ion toe piece that has significant “travel” between open and closed. The Slatnar has much less travel and makes for a less positive “snap” engagement. In steep transitions with snow and ice in the toe piece/ tech fitting mix, the difference between securely attached and the toe piece opening up is more subtle than I’d like but is workable with some extra care.
Similarly, the retention while skinning with the toes unlocked is average to below average. Realistically, it isn’t feasible to skin any significant distance with firm snow or sidehilling with the toes unlocked. It’s not the end of the world, but it would certainly be nice to skin with the toes unlocked with less care. The lock lever feels robust and secures in place smoothly but has a bit of play/floppiness if it ends up between uphill and downhill modes, similar to lightweight ATK toe pieces. Opening the toes to remove skis takes a fair amount of force. The levers have a dimple for a pole tip, but the angle/curve isn’t all that ergonomic, but it gets the job done.
The toe pieces have a solid leash attachment point that works great for leash attachment but stays out of the way when you aren’t using leashes. It’s nice to have a fixed point rather than an optional add-on, as I’ve found that I often don’t mount the optional loops/attachment points and then regret not having them when I end up in glaciated terrain. The ski crampon slot is optional/removable and works/looks similar to the machined ATK crampon slots. The machined slots are a bit nicer to use than some of the more simple sheet aluminum-style slots. While the Plum/Salomon style slots are certainly easier to use, I’ll take the added compatibility here.
The ramp of the Slatnar is about average for tech bindings at 10.5mm. Looking at the Skimo binding delta chart, this is more or less average for non-race bindings. I’m working through some thoughts on the interactions of binding delta, mount point, boot ramp, and forward lean this fall and it’s certainly a complex topic. Long story short, some people and some skis are more sensitive to these variables, and knowing your preference (or lack thereof) is the most importantaspect. Shims are an obvious answer to ramp issues but aren’t commercially available—I’ll add this to the list of reasons to get a 3D printer.
While the obvious comparison is with the Salomon MTN, which has a similar look and feature set, the current “king” of the 300g binding world is the ATK Raider and its variants. A simple way of looking at this comparison is asking what you want out of the binding; the most features at a given weight, or just enough features that are well executed and robust. While a long list of features is appealing, and the ATK is certainly well executed, there is an appeal to the simple industrial vibe of the Slatnar. The ATK toe (evo or regular) is among the best in the business because of its anti-icing and springless design. The heels are more comparable, with the ATK having a smoother step in and adjustable release vs the Slatnar having easier to use risers and a more robust freeride spacer. For brakeless use, the Slatnar heel looks much cleaner and doesn’t have a large gap that could fill with snow/ice, which can be a challenge with the Raider+Freeride spacer combo. Cost is also a factor, with the Raider coming in between $550 and $640 (Depending on the specific model) vs $499 for the Slatnar.
Freeride Spacer
A broad similarity and discussion that applies to both the Slatnar and the Raider series is the efficacy of the freeride spacer. A few factors are at play here from a performance and durability perspective. Performance-wise, conditions and what ski the bindings are mounted on seem to play a large role in how impactful or noticeable the freeride spacer is. With skis or conditions that are generally more vague—powder snow, rockered tails, maybe reverse camber—any added power transfer or “platform” for the boot heel is pretty hard to notice; there are too many other factors at play for me to feel the effects of a spacer. Meanwhile, in firmer or 3D snow, the freeride spacer adds meaningful performance on more demanding, stiff, or precise skis. With these factors at play, the freeride spacer adds precision and direct power transfer that feels reassuring and solid. Especially in the Slatnar with close to zero heel gap, much of the vagaries of traditional tech binding heels are mitigated—that being the slop of both the pins gliding in and out and playing up and down within the boot heel fittings to adjust to the flex and impacts to the skis.
With support behind and under the heel, a feeling of being much closer to alpine bindings is achieved. I’m not sure where the line is regarding conditions and ski choice for the freeride spacer to be worthwhile, but the Solis feels like an excellent application of the freeride spacer, and I appreciated the solid feeling heel connection provided by the Slatnar.
Closing it Out
On the whole, the Slatnar is a great addition to the touring binding market. While the useability of the toe piece could be improved, I haven’t experienced any issues or concerns with durability or major design flaws that have plagued first-generation tech bindings historically. While I won’t be swapping out my race bindings for Slatnars on most of my skis, in the specific cases that I want something more robust than a race binding, the Slatnar is a top choice alongside the ATK Raider series.
Slatnar Specs
Weight: 335g (verified)
Release Values: Fixed at 5-6, 7-8 or 9-10
Ski Crampons: Dynafit compatible adapter included
Heel Risers: Flat + 2
Mount Pattern (WxL, mm): toe- 41×36, heel- 36.5×73
Delta (heel-toe, mm): +10.5
Price: $499.95…call it $500.00
