AlpenFlow 89 — Review

The AlpenFlow 89 is a hybrid alpine-touring binding designed and machined in the US by AlpenFlow Design. It pairs a LockTurn rotating tech toe with a multi-axis alpine heel that delivers 40mm of recentering elastic travel — closer to a downhill binding than a tech binding in feel — at 790g per binding with brake. The AF89 is positioned as a "one-binding quiver" for skiers who want serious touring efficiency without giving up downhill confidence on big-mountain lines.

• Aggressive ski tourers and big-mountain freeride users
• DIN-equivalent window 5–13 — 60–110kg riders skiing technical terrain
• Skiers who want alpine-like release elasticity uphill and downhill
• Riders pairing with 90–115mm waist skis
• Buyers comfortable with non-TÜV-certified release values

• Release values 5–13 (lateral & vertical, independently adjustable) — covers most adult freeride and touring use cases; calibrated similarly to DIN but not third-party certified
• Weight 790g per binding with brake (750g without) — heavier than a pure tech binding but lighter than a Salomon Shift; reflects the alpine-style elastic heel
• Brake widths 95 / 105 / 115 / 125 mm — match brake to ski waist with the manufacturer's recommendation of −15 to +6 mm of deviation
• Elastic travel: vertical 9mm recentering / 11mm to release; lateral ±20mm recentering / ±25mm to release — significantly more lateral elasticity than typical tech bindings, closer to an alpine heel
• 30mm BSL adjustment + forward pressure system — large enough for most boot fit changes within the same binding
• 3 riser heights: 0° flat / 8° / 13° — flat for long traverses, 8° for moderate skin tracks, 13° for steep
• ISO 9523 + GripWalk + WTR + MNC compatibility — accepts any tech-insert touring boot with a heel shovel; not for pure alpine ISO 5355 boots
• Materials — 7075/6061 aluminum, steel, bronze, Nylatron, Delrin — aerospace-grade alloys at the load points, low-friction polymers at the rotating interfaces

The AF89's signature is downhill feel from a tech-toe binding. The 40mm of lateral elastic travel at the heel absorbs ski-flex loads that would dump a fixed-pin tech heel, and the rotating LockTurn toe gives consistent release similar to an alpine toe rather than the binary feel of pin retention alone. Touring efficiency comes from automatically deploying/stowing toe brakes and the three riser positions; transitions stay simple. Note that release values are not third-party certified — AlpenFlow's in-house testing demonstrates DIN-similar behavior, but skiers who require certification for insurance or competition should plan accordingly.

The AF89 is precision-machined from 7075 and 6061 aluminum with steel pivots and bronze bushings — premium materials chosen for fatigue resistance under repeated freeride loading. Nylatron and Delrin at the rotating interfaces resist deformation under load and remain consistent across temperature swings. Custom-color anodizing and engraving are available. Service is dealer/manufacturer-direct given the limited distribution; spring tension and AFD spacing should be checked at the start of each season.

The AF89 mounts to flat-topped skis with its own hole pattern (verify drill template before mounting; pattern is not Plum/ATK/Dynafit standard). Choose brakes within −15 to +6 mm of ski waist: 105mm brake suits 90–111mm skis, 115mm covers 100–121mm, 125mm covers up to ~131mm. Brakes deploy and stow automatically when switching between tour and ski mode.

• Salomon Shift 13 — the reference hybrid (tech toe + alpine heel) at ~900g per binding with brake; ISO 5355/13992 certified dual mode, lower elastic travel
• Marker Kingpin 13 — tech toe + alpine heel at ~730g with brake; older platform, narrower elastic envelope than the AF89
• Atomic Shift2 13 — Salomon Shift's Atomic-branded sibling at ~880g per binding; same dual-certified platform

Q: Is the AF89 DIN/TÜV certified? A: No — AlpenFlow's in-house testing shows release behavior similar to DIN, but the binding is not TÜV/DIN certified. Skiers who need certification for insurance or competition should choose a certified binding.

Q: Which boots are compatible? A: Any tech-insert touring boot with a heel shovel: ISO 9523, GripWalk, WTR, and MNC soles all work. Pure alpine ISO 5355 boots without pin inserts are not compatible.

Q: How does the AF89 compare to a Salomon Shift? A: Both pair a tech toe with an alpine-style heel. The AF89 has more lateral elasticity (±25mm to release vs ~17mm on the Shift), is lighter (790g vs ~900g), but is not third-party certified. The Shift is dual-certified ISO 5355/13992.

Q: Can I use it on skis wider than 125mm? A: The 125mm brake can be bent slightly to accommodate wider skis per AlpenFlow's brake-sizing guidance; the manufacturer caps recommended deviation at +6 mm.

Q: Is this a 26-27 product? A: Yes — the AF89 ships Fall 2026 with pre-orders open. This is its first full retail season.