$495
The stout Marker Duke matches alpine-binding toughness with touring capability. Slide it into tour mode via an underfoot latch (your foot must be out of the binding in order to do this), and the entire unit (heelpiece and toepiece) slides back three centimeters for a well-balanced skinning experience. In ski mode, the binding interface allows heel and toe to glide for unhindered ski flex. The binding's wide footprint transfers skier power more efficiently than a binding built for older, narrower skis. In fact, it's more responsive than most—if not all—of the alpine bindings on the market. Yes, it's a heavy unit, but with a DIN range that tops out at 16, and the burly clunk you hear on step in, you never have to worry about a flimsy AT binding again.