Plum OAZO Bindings

With origins in automotive parts manufacturing, Plum first started making binding parts in 2005 and was not born as a true ski binding company until 2008. Since then they have honed their craft and diversified their product offerings, including experimenting with splitboard bindings in 2014. Today the brand is well known and offers a complete range of bindings for all styles, be it competition, ski touring, or freeride.

The new PLUM Oazo 8 is a hybrid between the R170 and WEPA bindings so it is neither a true competition nor a free-randonneur binding but a composite of the two. This ultra-light pin binding is a great backcountry daily driver that offers performance without sacrificing ease of use. A variety of features and increased safety make this a go-to binding for many backcountry adventures and users

The binding weighs just 200g per foot and comes with leashes and removable crampon slots (compatible with all PLUM crampons), and an adjustable 25mm plate that accommodates a wide range of boot sole lengths once mounted

Aluminum 7075 shaped out of one single piece, hardened steel front insert, POM plastic heel support shaped out of one single piece.

• 25mm adjustment track to accommodate multiple boots.
• Included crampon receptor comes at-the-ready on the toe piece.
• Fixed vertical release value and adjustable lateral release values from 4-10.
• Three climbing positions including a flat-on-ski mode.
• Includes Plum Leashes so you won’t lose your bling.
• Generous 220lb skier weight limit.

I’ve always been a big fan of Plum’s approach to alpine touring (AT) binding design, the fact that they use virtually no plastic and are shaped out of one single piece of aluminum is a huge plus for durability and weight savings. Unlike the Plum Pika Bindings which are more akin to the G3 Ions with their independent pins and larger heel frame design, the Plum Oazo bindings use a simpler design with a u-pin and a minimalist heel design, more like the Marker Alpinists. The advantage of the Oazo’s, in my case the 8 version, is that they are insanely light at just 400 grams and tied with the Black Diamond Helio 200’s for the lightest binding we have ever reviewed.

Weight aside, the Oazo 8 Bindings are durable thanks to their single-piece aluminum construction and also easy to use given that you don’t have to rotate the heel piece in order to use the risers. This not only saves time in transitions but also on the skin track. While I would prefer the flat touring mode accessible in the same position as the risers I found that I rarely wanted to be in flat mode unless crossing a large level expanse, say like a glacier. Day-to-day use always had me in the lower riser level with 41mm of inclination or the higher level and I found no need for a flat level position.

One thing that I did miss, however, was the option to have brakes added to the Oazo 8 Bindings. While leases save on weight they do increase complexity at switching over from ski to walk mode as you need to remove your skis to put on and take off your skins. Brakes weigh more but it’s minimal and in my books, and I find brakes much safer when a fall occurs or if you were to find yourself in an avalanche. I prefer to have my skis well away from me in both of those situations, something that leashes do not facilitate. The Oazo 8’s are designed as a super-light touring binding that can also be used for rando racing if needed and so I understand the choice not to have brakes included but an add-on option would make their appeal to the masses that much more broad.

Overall in my testing and days in the backcountry, the Oazo 8 Bindings performed flawlessly and the features, safety and durability they provide was unmatched in this weight category. If you are looking for a binding that is light on the way up and a strong on the way down, with a minimalist design suited for ski mountaineering and light/fast ski touring—then this is the binding for you.