Video Gear Review: Fritschi Vipec EVO 12 and Tecton 12 Touring Bindings

Next Adventure staffer, Reuben, goes into detail about the Fritschi Vipec EVO 12 and Tecton 12 tech bindings. - Hey, I’m Reuben from Next Adventure. We’re here today to talk about the Fritschi Vipec EVO 12 and Tecton 12 Bindings. The Vipec EVO and the Tecton are the latest innovation in touring bindings from Fritschi. For years, the problem with tech bindings has been that there is no adjustable DIN release in the toe. Ultimately, tech bindings have been not as safe as standard alpine bindings and there has always been a bigger risk of tearing ligaments in the leg. Now, Fritschi has solved that problem. Thanks to a built-in carriage on which the pins sit, the Fritschi Vipec EVO and Tecton 12 have an astonishing 13mm of elastic retention in the toe piece. They also feature an adjustable TUV certified DIN setting, both in the toe and the heel. The Vipec EVO is a standard tech binding with pins in the toe and in the heel. It has two plastic lifters and allows the skier to tour easily. The Tecton is Fritschi’s take on a tech tow with a standard alpine heel. Because of the revolutionary DIN release in the toe, the heelpiece doesn’t have to turn or swivel like it does on other bindings to release out of the toe. This means that there is no lost energy when you are skiing downhill on the Tecton 12. This makes it one of the better bindings for someone who is looking to tour but still wants to be able to shred on the way down. The toepiece on the Tecton 12 and the Vipec Evo features an easy step-in feature allowing the tourer to simply place their boot in between the pins and step down, and the pins easily engage. If you are a backcountry skier who is worried about the release of your tech bindings and want something more like the alpine bindings you are accustomed to, check out the Tecton 12 and the Vipec Evo from Fritschi.