Salomon's Original Shift Binding Failed Me, So I Tried The New 16-DIN Version

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When modern hybrid touring bindings first came out nearly a decade ago, they promised to usher in a new level of backcountry performance for skiers looking for added safety and increased performance by way of skiing downhill on a traditional “alpine” binding. The original Salomon Shift binding was the brainchild of Salomon and Atomic engineers and members of both brands’ athlete teams looking for a binding that would ski as well as any traditional alpine binding–with the ability to tour uphill. For the record, it’s always been the same binding as the Atomic Shift or the Armada Shift, but the development was mostly done in Salomon’s development lab. The original design was not free of problems, however, with issues like pre-release, breakage, and brake malfunction plaguing the first few years of the product release. I owned a few of the earlier bindings and, while they proved very innovative, was continuously frustrated using them both in the resort and in the backcountry.

Salomon spent some time investigating these problems and released an updated version of the original before completely re-designing the binding into the Shift 2.0. Now, a third version of the binding has been released that’s aimed directly at aggressive skiers looking for a more durable, higher-DIN hybrid binding. The all-new Shift 2 16 utilizes heavier metal construction, an all-new heelpiece taken from the fan-favorite STH heel, and offers a DIN range of 8-16.

I’ve been testing the new binding this winter, putting it through it’s paces mounted on various freeride and powder skis. To test the range of the new binding’s capabilities, I’ve skied it heavily both in the resort and on backcountry tours, mounted in a variety of skis including the Salomon QST X, Atomic Backland 109, Fischer Nothing, and Atomic Bent 110. For boots, I’ve used it with the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, Salomon Shift 130, Atomic Remedy 130, and Fischer RC4.

Salomon/Atomic Shift 2 16 MN Specs

• Stated Weight: 1210g per binding
• DIN Range: 7-16
• Compatibility: MN (Multinorm, height-adjustable AFD)
• Heel Riser: flat + 1 riser
• Brake Width Options: 90, 100, 110, 120mm
• BSL Adjustment: 30mm
• Elastic Travel: 16mm

Design

The previous iterations of the Shift we’re pretty awesome on paper, but didn’t work quite as well as advertised in many real-world situations. I know several guide friends who more or less refuse to take clients out who show up to the trailhead with them mounted on their skis. Ok, that might be a bit dramatic, but the point is that the early versions of the binding simply didn’t hold up. The most common culprit was pre-release–something I dealt with quite a bit on my own units, especially skiing hard bumps where repeated impact would blow me out of the binding randomly–which I’d attribute mostly to the binding’s toe height and forward pressure not being adjusted properly (or coming out of adjustment after a few days of use). There was also the issue of the brakes popping down on their own mid-skin, and some durability issues with the AFD, toe lever, and heel assembly. I never fully broke the binding, but most times I went skiing with it, it didn’t work fully.

Turns out, lightweight plastic might ski well, but it’s not the most durable material. That’s why Salomon decided to beef up the new 16-DIN version of the Shift with metal construction where it matters. No, the whole binding isn’t made of metal the way a Look Pivot is, but there’s metal where it counts–like where the boot interfaces the binding on the heel, and inside the toe block and AFD. The binding is stiffer, slightly heavier, and contains a spring that cranks to a DIN setting of 16. The toe and heel unit, while using the same mounting hole pattern, both sit slighter wider on the ski, promising better power transfer to your ski.

Functionally, the new Shift 16 is nearly identical to the previous version. The toe still transforms the same way the Shift 13 does, transitioning between ski and tour modes by pushing a lever down between the toe wings, and pulling a lever up in front of the toe to lock in the boot to the toe pins. The brakes fold up and lock in with the same piece (this mechanism was adjusted for the Shift 2.0 and doesn’t seem to cause problems anymore). The binding is compatible with boots featuring GripWalk, Alpine, and touring soles thanks to the adjustable AFD toe height. Unlike traditional pin bindings, the Shift uses an alpine-style heel, so boots only need tech fittings in the toe

In the field with the Salomon/Atomic Shift 16 Binding

To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to say about skiing the Shift 16, and I’d say that’s a good thing. In downhill mode, it’s a ski binding that keeps your feet attached to your skis. In fact, it feels indistinguishable from an alpine binding once your boot is clicked into ski mode. The neutral ramp angle (a 4mm delta) is on par with most popular alpine bindings like the Look Pivot, Marker Jester, or Salomon Strive, giving you a flat-on-the-ski stance for predictable ski performance. The updated metal construction also eliminates some of the flex/slop I found with the 13 when skiing firmer snow.

Adjusting the binding takes a little more care than most alpine bindings, but the new heelpiece’s forward pressure screw adjustment is the same as on the Strive or STH (in fact, it’s basically the same heel as these bindings)–turn the screw to be flush with the housing and you’re good to go. Toe height adjustment takes a little more care, but I haven’t found that the AFD height changes on its own the same way the earlier versions did.

Transitioning the binding toe unit between ski and tour mode takes a little more force than the Shift 13. That’s likely due to the metal housing having tighter tolerances and the stiffer spring inside. It’s not a huge difference, but I noticed the first few times I transitioned the binding it felt harder.

Overall, the binding is quite a bit heavier than the old one, and not as well suited to longer tours. It’s really more of a resort/freeride binding that can go uphill if you need it to, as opposed to a backcountry touring binding with an alpine-style ski connection. In general, touring on the Shift isn’t a great experience, especially if you’re used to touring on purpose-built pin bindings like an ATK, Dynafit, or anything like that. It’s cumbersome, the transitions take awhile, and it’s noticeably heavier on your feet.

In some cases, like sidecountry tours, snowmobile-access skiing, or when you really want to just bring (or own) a single pair of skis, it’s worth the weight/fiddle-factor penalty for touring. However, the new 16 is about as reliable of a resort binding as I’ve found short of the Look Pivot, so it’s a fantastic option for resort-first skiers looking for a binding that can tour.

What type of skier is the Salomon/Atomic Shift 16 Binding for?

The new 16-DIN version of the Salomon Shift is definitely a bit of a niche product, but it’s really well-suited for the type of skier it’s aimed at: someone looking for a beefy, high-DIN touring binding that skis the resort without compromise and has the ability tour uphill. I’ve mostly replaced using the Shift 13 in favor of the added durability and better on-snow performance. It’s not a binding I’m really taking on huge tours–that’s why skis with pin bindings exist in my quiver–but it’s perfect for riding the resort on powder days when I want to dip out the gates, go for a short tour (or have the ability to tour in an emergency), and not have to compromise ski performance.

I’ve long been a fan of the CAST Freetour system for that application, and think that the new Shift 16 will give that product a real run for its money. The Shift 16 is easier to use, doesn’t require swapping toepieces, and is lighter overall. I trust this in serious terrain, jumping off cliffs, riding variable snow, and skiing fast.