Introduction
New for the 2017- 18 ski season isFritschi’s Tecton binding.
Sort of new for this season is theFritschi Vipec Evo.
While this review will focus on the Tecton, the Evo has also been further improved.
Both are alpine touring bindings.
Both are RV 5 - 12 bindings.
Both have intermediate and high climbing aids (9 and 13 deg).
Fritschi Tecton alpine touring binding (bottom)
Here are some noticeable differences between Tecton and Evo.
The biggest difference is the Tecton’s heel piece.
Because of the Tecton heelpiece design only boots which have a substantial heel ledge will work with Tecton.
Boots like the TLT6, Procline, X-Alp, Hoji will not work with Tecton.
Both have identical toes with class-leading elasticity of 13mm.
Ski crampons are available for both bindings at $100USD each.
More on that in the section entitled “Potential boot damage issue” in the body of the article.
My skiing is usually in high moisture-content snow.
Accordingly, my preference is for bigger skis and relatively stiff boots.
Now one simply steps in.
2017-8 Evo/Tecton toe right.
Usually in a forward fall tech bindings have minimal enough retention that the skier will eject from the binding.
Fritschi’s design choice was to build in a rubberized bump at the apex of the toe lever.
More on the Evo heelpiece is in this review of the past year’s FritschiBlack Vipec.
Tecton on Joffre Lakes
The Tecton heelpiece is the new attention grabber and where the innovation lies.
This heelpiece is alpine style with two heelpiece - boot connection.
Firstly the heelpiece ledge clamps the heel of the ski boot down onto the ski topsheet.
Both these aspects should theoretically contribute to a more positive heel engagement and to more predictable releases when necessary.
As with the Evo heel, Tecton has 30mm of adjustment, two risers and a flat touring mode.
Fritschi Tecton heelpiece
Skiing
Both the Evo and Tecton ski shockingly well.
Then you have to move the heelpiece to a vertical position which then gives you a flat touring mode.
There are nits to pick.
Enough snow would accumulate that you effectively lose the flat touring mode.
However the plastic is so tough I could bend the heel lifter back into the slot.
Fritschi videos show that to engage the brakes on both bindings you simply stomp on the brake pad.
I find that if you do that it’s possible to crack some plastic adjoining the brake pads.
It crops up when the Tecton/Evo is in tour mode.
The fall must be with substantial impact (a person’s body weight will accomplish this).
If you have ever fallen forward while your toe lever is locked out your boot is vulnerable.
I reached out to Fritschi for further comment.
How will this matter to you as the user?
I can think of use cases where forward falls can happen.
Examples below all of which can result in a dented and/or damaged boot.
Aftereffect on boot is pictured.
There is no standard for AT boot shapes.
Standard boots with distinct toe ledges and heel ledges work.
Compact boot shells will NOT work.
Truncated boot shells will NOT work.
