Salomon Guardian MNC 13 Alpine Touring Binding for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

I used these bindings during my first season of touring, and they are AMAZING if you are using the same setup for the resort and the backcountry. Yes, they add quite a bit of weight, but the stability/durability tradeoff is well worth it if you are riding on a single setup. I was still able to do a few long, multi-day touring trips despite the added weight with no issues. I beat these up quite a bit in the resort, and they are still in perfectly good shape!

Thus far, I’ve ridden these bindings a couple times both in resort and a couple of times during tours. I’ve mounted them to my pair of Soul 7s, and while the highly experienced skinner might complain about the weight of the guardians, being the somewhat newbie that I am I’ve been happy with their performance. The transition between touring and downhill is flawless and couldn’t be easier to operate, and in resort they perform just as well, if not better, than traditional downhill bindings. The guardians are a great binding for someone without a developed quiver, such as myself, who wishes to split their time between backcountry and resort.

This binding is defective and Salomon knows it. The aluminum rails will break in the location of the rivets. Not sure who payed off some of these good reviews but don't buy this binding!

I got these to get into touring this year but unfortunately hurt myself before i got to actually try them. I did ride them on resort a few time and i do like them! They are a tad heavy but i expected that

If you only have one pair of skis and you are planning on spending time at the resort but cannot resist those tasty backcountry laps these bindings are great. They are low profile, relatively light for a frame binding and reliable. One of the coolest features of this bindings is that you can transition in and out of walk mode without having to take off the skis. My only wish would be that the walk mode could have a little more variation.

Great binding for skiers just getting into touring. It is rather heavy, but you get great downhill performance.

Pros

I've only gotten up on these once so far since purchasing but so far I love the way they function. If you want a solid set up to tour, but don't have the money to get set up with a quiver of skis, these are a solid bet. They adjust really nicely and function perfectly. As most other have said they are heavier than a tech binding, but they still fit the bill perfectly.

This was my first touring binding and as far as frame'd AT bindings go, I think it is the best on the market. This binding has one of the lowest stack heights around which was important to me because I like the feel of being close to my skis and the snow. Also makes tricks a lot more engaging. As for the weight, it's a common concern, I don't notice it too much but I am sure I would if I was coming from a tech set up. It doesn't really bother me too much though. Being able to release the heel without stepping out of the skis is super convenient. I only wish that Solomon would have included an intermediate riser option. The riser in up position is great for steep skin tracks and the rider in the down position is still good for slight up hill skinning, the only problem comes when you are on terrain that isn't quite steep but also not mellow, doesn't bother me too much but is still present. My roommate has the marker duke bindings which I have gotten the chance to use and I would take these over the dukes without a question.

I bought this for my girlfriend to use when she comes into the backcountry with me. the only downside is compared to the other similar binding i have is this one is heavier. it has a smaller construction but it heavier.

Going along the same lines as most reviews here. These bindings are just too heavy for my use. If you are are on a budget they are great. But otherwise I would urge you to go with a full tech set up. You will be happy you made the choice - even though it is a stout investment, it is all worth it in the end. I used these for two seasons until getting Kingpins in October '15. I am very glad I made the switch/investment and I wish that I had done it from the start!

Getting into backcountry skiing is pretty expensive, and if you don't want to break the bank, a frame binding is an easy way to get into it. I've found that this binding is extremely easy to use, a great price point, and hasn't failed me. The biggest issues with these are the weight, and how you don't have a ton of options in terms of the heel riser height. If you plan on doing long backcountry tours, I would recommend going with a tech binding, but for those who are just getting into it, or experimenting with some sidecountry, this binding is the way to go.

It's a solid binding, but its really heavy which is a BIG draw back in my opinion. Maybe I'm just out of shape. . . but trying to hike seven miles in these was physically exhausting. Who cares if there is a flex-free platform and low-profile chassis if my legs are burning so badly by the time I reach the top that my skiing is sloppy anyways. Be in really good shape if you buy these and put them on small, light skis or just get lighter bindings.

Solomon Guardian I purchased these bindings mostly for their versatility. I’m a resort skier who occasionally ventures out into the backcountry and the Guardian is the perfect fit. Stiff enough for the deepest pow on the resort and nimble enough for a full day of hiking. This is my first AT binding, so I can’t really comment on the weight. There may be some lighter bindings out there, but I find the Guardian to be the perfect fit for me. I use these on the K2 Annex and I couldn’t be happier with the combo!