Ski Trab TR1 Bindings

To step into the front binding, a pole can easily be used to depress the front black plastic tab, which widens the metal jaws. The jaws open nice and wide, which I found made these more user friendly than many other pin bindings I have used. The small dark metal piece in the centre between the metal jaws helps guide the boot to the correct depth to line up the toe of the boot into the pins. Once your pins are in place, a pole can be used to pull up on the front tab to walk mode with the toes unlocked or locked. For safety, it is great to have the following two setting options:

• Unlocked (one click). The force applied in the binding keeps the ski on while skinning and allows the ski to release easily if one is involved in an avalanche.
• Locked (two clicks). For icy terrain, the lever can be pulled up into locked mode to make sure the ski does not release when you do not want it to.

The toe piece has an adjustable release setting of 6 - 13 and front jaws that move independently from each other and are designed for lateral release. This helps reduce the risk of a twisting injury.

The toe piece includes a black plastic tab, indications on the body for ski and walk mode, metal jaws with pins, a slot for ski crampons, and a metal loop to attach a leash.

On the heel piece, you will notice a unique design that includes a sturdy steel jaw, a plastic plate connected to the brakes, and a large black plastic lever. The heel adjustment plate allows 21 mm of movement to fit slightly different boot lengths. The heel piece is designed for a frontal release which helps reduce the risk of injury when a large forward force is applied to the ski boot. The brakes are automatically activated in downhill and uphill mode. Brakes come in four sizes with options for 88mm, 102mm, 112mm, and 120mm.

Uphill Mode - lower riser position. Pictured here you can see the toe piece has been pulled up for walk mode and the boot is resting on the metal jaws as the lower of two riser options at 6°.

Uphill Mode - higher riser position. When the skin track gets steeper, simply lift the heel and flick the black heel piece forward to transition to the higher riser option that is at 12°.

To switch from uphill to downhill mode (with the toe released, and the metal jaw engaged on the heel piece), a pole can be used to press the toe lever flat and then press the black heel piece lever backwards to raise the metal jaw. Then, all you need to do is stomp the heel down, the brakes automatically retract, and you are ready to shred.

The metal jaw in the heel piece of the TR1 is compatible with boots that meet the following standards: Touring (ISO 9523:2019) and Alpine (ISO 23223:2021) in adult sizes. The TR1 is not compatible with type C boots (Child size 15.0-25.0). For boots that don’t meet these standards, the following are required:
1. The compatibility of the toe insert if different to Dynafit, SkiTrab/LaSportiva and
Salomon
2. The radius of the heel (Internal radius 34 +/- 4mm External radius 36 +/- 1.5mm)
3. The height of the heel 32+/-2mm (the most important thing)
4. The depth of the heel lug: minimum depth. 7.0 mm to 50mm.

Here is a list supplied by the manufacturer of compatible boots:
Scarpa 2022/23 F1 XT and F1 LT
Dynafit Mezzalama (TLT8 is not recommended)
LaSportiva Solar, Stellar 2, Skorpius, Vega, Vanguard (not compatible), Racetron (not recommended)

• Steel back jaw increases grip of boot to ski for immediate power transmission
• Incremental force at toe lever allows you to walk with the lever open or locked for varying snow conditions
• Lateral release on the toe piece and frontal release on the heel piece
• Ability to switch from uphill to downhill mode with pole and no need to release the boot
• Ski brake automatically activated in downhill and uphill mode
• Boot compatibility: Touring (ISO 9523:2019) and Alpine (ISO 23223:2021) in adult sizes
• Ski crampon compatible
• Leash attachment point at the toe
• Riser Heights, 0°, 6°, 12°

The Ski Trab TR1 touring binding provides superior downhill performance and many ideal safety features. As someone who has broken their ankle from a combination of one ski releasing when it shouldn’t and the other ski staying on when it shouldn’t, I am all for bindings with better release control.

After a short practice session with the TR1s, I was able to master the uphill to downhill transition consistently. I prioritize fast transitions and this binding made it happen - simple and easy. The heel risers were easy to switch between when needed on the climb. The skis felt balanced during long skinning sessions and I had no issues with release on side hill skin tracks.

Downhill, the TR1 Bindings were so much fun to ski. In the past, I have had issues with feeling movement in other pin bindings but the TR1 bindings are super-solid. The back metal jaw gripped my boots securely and held me to my ski. I could initiate turns quickly and even felt super comfortable with getting some air and landing safely with these bindings. They made me feel like one with my ski.

The downhill-to-uphill transition with the TR1 Bindings was a little tricky at first as my wide powder baskets made it more of a challenge to get my pole tip in the correct location to easily press the plate attached to the brake arms down in order to retract the brakes. Once I mastered this (after a few practice sessions), it was much easier—unless of course, it was really snowing heavily and snow got under the brake plate.

Ski Trab markets the TR1 Bindings as being able to transition from uphill to downhill mode and back again without removing your ski boots from the binding. At first, I didn’t appreciate the value of a downhill-to-uphill transition while keeping the boot in the bindings, but then it came in handy on a long ski out. If you want to free your heel to help skin across flat sections—The TR1 can do that!

The only real challenge with the TR1 Bindings for some skiers out there will be their boot compatibility. Check the compatibility closely to make sure that there is a good connection of your boot to the binding so that all of the safety features will work for you. If you have compatible boots, love downhill performance, and prioritize safety, then the Ski Trab TR1 touring binding may just be the binding you are looking for.