Salomon Shift - Review 2023

Two years ago Salomon released the Shift binding and brought the true possibility of a single quiver frontside and backside setup to the average consumer. The Shift was the first single-piece touring binding that offered the downhill safety and performance features of a frame binding, without necessitating the suffering on the way up.

It’s truly a revolutionary piece of equipment that is being imitated and played with across the ranks of their competition.

What we appreciate about the shift is its wide range of appeal. The Shift is an awesome product for dedicated alpine skiers who are anticipating spending more time exploring the backcountry, and for seasoned backside skiers who want the freedom to huck without worrying about not releasing if they don’t stomp the landing.

It’s truly a frontrunner in the industry, and though the Baron and the Kingpin offer a similar compromise, no one is doing it quite like Salmon. But the Shift is not without its caveats.

As much as Salomon would love to market the Shift as an instant transition super ski binding, it’s subject to many of the same problems as any other touring binding. They’re finicky when it comes to snow buildup, and chances are you’re going to end up taking your skis off between topping out and dropping in. We’ve also received some feedback with uphill brake detachment, and the occasional break in the toe piece, presumably from cold making the plastic brittle.