Fritschi Tecton 13

The Fritschi Tecton 13 binding is built for freeriders who demand uncompromising downhill performance, a high level of safety and low weight on the way up to untouched powder off the piste. The Fritschi Tecton 13 is the first pin binding for freeride use with a safety toe and the stiffest downhill heel on the market. It is for everyone looking for a binding that skis and skins equally well, without compromising on safety, stiffness or downhill performance.

Key benefits of the Fritschi Tecton 13 binding:

• Reliable Swiss precision: it releases when you fall, not when the terrain gets bumpy (both toe and heel absorb impacts thanks to their dynamic elasticity).
• It also releases as intended in walk mode – in an avalanche, if you lose your balance on the ascent or fall during short descents on skins.
• A stiff downhill heel transfers power from your legs straight into the skis – perfect downhill performance.
• The sliding heel follows the flex of the ski, so you can use its full potential.
• You can switch from walk mode to ski mode without stepping out of the binding.
• Operating the binding with a pole or with just a slight bend of the knee is a bonus that makes a full-day tour that much more pleasant.

A touring binding that skis like an alpine one

Alpine bindings are proven and their heel design remains unbeaten – and that is exactly where the Fritschi Tecton 13 starts. Its stiff, non-rotating heel without a pivot has no play and allows power to be transferred directly from the boot into the ski edge. The result is better control and greater safety on the descent. Power transfer is further improved by:

• the boot being clamped by the heel jaw over a large surface area,
• grooves in the heel engaging with the inserts on the boot, increasing the lateral stiffness of the binding,
• the boot resting on the heel pad,
• a wide screw pattern,
• the heel being mounted directly onto the ski,
• a large, wide contact surface beneath the toe and heel.

When skiing, the heel of the binding is loaded with four times more force than the toe, which is why the Tecton 13 pairs a sensitive toe with a stiff (alpine) heel. Precise load transfer onto the ski edge lets you enjoy every turn to the full.

A truly stiff heel for a perfect ride

The boot will not move a single millimetre in the heel thanks to the Power Rail grooves, which protrude from the heel unit and fit exactly into the grooves in the boot designed for the rear pins of the binding. The boot is therefore fixed both vertically and horizontally, and every movement you make is transferred from boot to ski without any loss of energy. As a result you get outstanding control and the confidence you need on the descent. Not only will every good skier appreciate this, but also beginners who are still getting used to off-piste terrain.

Excellent skiing thanks to the active heel

As the ski flexes during the descent, the active sliding heel follows the boot by up to 10 mm, allowing the ski to flex smoothly along its whole length – an essential feature for perfect skiing. A binding without an active heel restricts the flex of the ski, stiffening the mid-section so that the ski only bends in front of and behind the binding, which significantly impairs its performance. Fritschi has eliminated this problem, which is why the Tecton 13 binding is also ideal for a full day of resort skiing.

The highest level of safety among pin bindings

The Fritschi Tecton 13 touring binding is based on alpine binding design, with a toe that releases laterally according to the DIN release setting. Under rotational forces it therefore releases precisely, preventing torsional fractures. Health and safety are the guiding principles behind every product the Swiss manufacturer Fritschi develops. Safety matters more than weight.

The binding releases only when you really need it to

Conventional pin bindings can easily release unintentionally on the descent, which can have fatal consequences on steep terrain. The design of the toe and heel of the Tecton 13 gives a dynamic elasticity of 13 mm and 9 mm respectively – in other words, travel that absorbs the forces generated by riding over bumps or by sudden impacts. Even when skiing hard on firm or heavy snow there is no unwanted release.

• The Fritschi Tecton 13 does not release too early, but only after 13 mm of lateral travel at the toe and 9 mm of upward travel at the heel.
• This travel is enough to absorb the energy so that the binding does not release unintentionally when the DIN release setting is briefly exceeded – on a jump or an impact with a bump.
• The binding releases laterally even with the toe locked in walk mode – an important feature in an avalanche, if you lose your balance on the ascent or fall during short descents on skins.

The Fritschi Tecton 13 offers the same dynamic elasticity as the alpine bindings Fritschi produced for more than 30 years – expertise the company now applies to developing touring bindings.

A safe, lightweight freetouring binding

The weight of your equipment matters too, which is why the Fritschi Tecton 13 is made of carbon and glass fibre, now combined with proven modern polymers. Everything from design to production takes place in Switzerland. Carbon- and fibreglass-reinforced polymers are lighter than metal parts while offering greater strength and durability. Low weight is certainly important, but Fritschi will always put safety and reliability first.

Easy step-in, even on a steep slope

The new generation of the Fritschi Tecton 13 has a redesigned toe you can click into even blind, thanks to:

• stops underneath,
• stops at the sides,
• a stop for the toe of the boot,
• a sensitive trigger.

As you step in, the toe of the boot is guided precisely into the correct position – between the pins and the sensitive trigger – and even light pressure releases the pins, which engage exactly with the inserts in the boot.

Further key features of the binding

• Convenient operation with a pole or with bent knees – you can comfortably switch the binding into walk mode and set the climbing aid with your pole. To switch to ski mode, the Fritschi Tecton 13 can be operated with the pole alone, without bending down to the binding.
• Switching from ski to walk mode without stepping out – you can conveniently switch the Tecton 12 from ski to walk mode by lifting the heel unit, after which the whole heel slides backwards. You will appreciate this on ridge tours or during short descents in the middle of an ascent, when it is safer to lock the heel into ski mode with the skins on.
• Ice-free – the Fritsichi Tecton 13 touring binding is designed to keep snow out, so it cannot be compacted and turn into ice. That is why the binding works reliably in any snow and at any temperature.
• Adjustable binding dimensions – the heel of the binding adjusts by up to 25 mm (60 mm when using the rental plate). The binding is not compatible with "toe-less" boots such as the TLT 7, TLT 8, DNA, PDG, Arcteryx Procline, or any boot with a heel welt shorter than 6 mm, e.g. the Atomic Backland (an adapter is required here).
• Remounting on any ski – the Fritschi Tecton 13 has easily interchangeable brakes (80/ 90/ 100/ 110/ 120 mm), so the binding can be remounted on any other ski.
• Ski crampons – the binding is compatible with ski crampons and you do not need to step out of the binding to fit them. The binding is also prepared for use with a leash.