Shift2 10 MN 26/27

Shift is Atomic's hybrid: a pin toe for the climb that converts to a full alpine toe for the descent, and the 10 is the release ceiling. Micro AFD carries an aluminium Power Block insert allowing micrometric adjustment to the boot interface. This generation adds 30 percent more lateral stiffness, larger toe wings for shock resistance, an oversized toe lever, a sturdier brake lever, and a climbing aid reworked to add 4mm of lift. Multi Norm Certified.

A Shift is heavier than a pure tech binding and more complex, with a transition that takes longer than clicking a heel around. Our take is that the weight is worth it only if you actually ski hard on the way down, which is the entire point of the design.

For the skier who tours to ski something serious and wants an alpine binding underfoot when they get there. Long mileage tourers will prefer the Backland Summit.

Brake width should clear the ski waist by 0 to 15mm. Multi Norm Certified means it takes alpine, GripWalk and tech-fitted boots.

It is the binding that lets one setup genuinely cover both sides of the rope, and it does the downhill half properly.