Copyright Men's Journal
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing. Skis feel completely different depending on the binding. Think of it like driving a race car: racing slicks vs. all-weather tires vs. full-on studs—same chassis, wildly different control. Bindings may not be as sexy as those sleek new boards or precision-fit boots, but they’re the titans quietly holding your day together. Set properly, bindings bridge the gap between you and the mountain. They turn sloppy skids into sharp carvers, and panic stops into smooth, controlled halts. While no binding can make skiing totally risk-free, the right ones can make all the difference between a dialed-in descent and a season-ending tumble, which is why we picked the Salomon S/LAB Shift 2 as the best overall ski bindings—they are also ideal if you’re juggling resort laps with backcountry missions. Looking for exhaustive reviews on more great snow gear? Check out the rest of Men’s Journal 2025-2026 Ski Awards, where we’ve tested everything from outerwear to après-ski gear to bring you the best of every category—skis, gloves, boots, and more. Best Ski Bindings of 2025-26 Best Ski Bindings Overall: Salomon S/Lab Shift 2 We’ve tested the Salomon S/LAB Shift 2 for more than 150 days on the snow, and found that they live up to the hype. The Shift 2 is ideal if you’re juggling resort laps with backcountry missions. Building on the strengths of the original 1.0 version, the Shift 2 was our testers’ top pick for its simple transitions and rock-solid feel. Weighing in at 920 grams, it’s just a smidge heavier than its predecessor, but it packs a punch with an improved locking mechanism for the brakes and a completely redesigned Power Block adjustable AFD plate—no more unthreading and or pre-release. With shock absorption, elasticity, and dampening comparable to standard alpine bindings, this beauty is not only perfect for uphill travel but also ready to tackle all the epic big mountain runs our testers threw at it, many times involving windblown crust, icy moguls, powder glades, tight couloirs, and short cliff hucks. Comes with 10 and 13 DIN. The new Power Block AFD is a big deal. The height-adjustable aluminum insert enhances lateral stiffness by 30 percent, and testers reported that the improvement translated into a much better interface with rapidly changing terrain and snow conditions. Additionally, XL wings wrap snugly around the boot tips, instilling confidence for turns and enhancing power transmission. As one tester noted after pushing the SHIFT² in the French backcountry ski meccas of La Grave and Chamonix, “I felt secure on steep, icy descents, especially when hitting those windblown compressions that threaten to pop off a ski.” Testers also liked the no-nonsense single heel rise for climbing. It’s easy to engage with your pole, and there’s no second guessing about what height of riser you need. When you get the bindings, invest in a pair of ski crampons ($70) and climbing skins ($200) from Salomon as well. Then you’ll be ready for anything. Weight: 1,840 grams (per pair, with brakes) Why You Should Trust Us Our team of over a dozen testers knows how to do their homework. Collectively, we’ll rack up more than 1,000 on-snow days in a given season just testing out skis and gear to see if they live up to their promise. Most of us have been testing skis for over 20 ski seasons. We’ve skied New England and Eastern Canadian hardpack, Whistler powder, Pacific Northwest cement, and everything in between, including months in the French, Italian, and Swiss Alps and trips to Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Our testers have visited more than four dozen ski resorts in every condition imaginable, and skied plenty of peaks, steep slopes, and couloirs. We offer a combined ski history of more than 100 years of high-level race and big-mountain experience. We love reviewing skis and have tested more than 350 pairs of them. We harnessed not only ambition, but wisdom and experience, with testers from their early 20s to seasoned vets and guides. We also tested some skis on less experienced legs to assess how they performed for beginner and intermediate skiers. It’s never easy putting so many great skis through their paces before whittling them down to our favorite dozen pairs of top performers—but it’s always a ton of fun.
