Armada Shift² MN 10 2027

Armada Shift² MN 10 2027

Introduced to much acclaim for the 2027 ski season after years of development, the Shift bindings have gained a loyal following amongst skiers looking for one binding that allows them to ski tour
and to ski with alpine levels of control and security. Weighing around 900 g per ski, these bindings are designed for skiers who prioritise the descent over rapid ascents, for skiers using medium and
wide skis inbounds and for touring. 

The Shift was a revolutionary design and like many 1st generation bindings some issues came to light over time.
Some skiers found the toe units did not offer sufficient support, the Anti-Friction Device (AFD) had play and the ski brakes would occasionally drop-down when skinning uphill.
These were not major problems and they have been resolved in the Shift² bindings.

Heavier and aggressive skiers commented that the toe units could sometimes pre-release under pressure. To prevent this the the toe unit now has larger toe wings with improved shock resistance to prevent pre-release, and the toe lever has been beefed up for improved durability.

The orginial AFD had a tendency to  drop down a little with use, creating slop between the boot toe and the bindings, and requiring further adjustment.
The AFD has been completely redesigned for the Shift² with an aluminium Power Block that provides improved torsional stiffness and improved power control.
The new AFD has micro-adjustment for an extremely precise fit with the boot sole. 
AFD adjustment is now by a screw at the rear of the mechanism, unlike the screw at the side of the older bindings.

Some skiers found that the brakes of the original Shifts would occasionally switch from walk mode to ski mode while climbing. The Shift² bindings have a new brake mechansim with a more reliable locking mechanism that eliminates accidental brake release.

The heel lifts of the Shift² bindings have also been updated and are now 4mm higher to provide greater comfort when skinning up steeper slopes.

The MN in the name refers to "Multi-Norm" and the Shift² bindings is compatible with the following ski boot sole standards: GripWalk, WTR, ISO 5355 alpine soles and ISO 9523 touring soles.
If you have lightweight touring boots with rockered soles then you should double-check compatibility before using these bindings.

An excellent choice for skiers looking for a binding that allows them to access the backcountry as well skiing  in resorts, the Shift² is not for gram counting skimo racers.
The Shift² is about 35 g heavier than the original bindings with the Shift² 10 weighing 915 g per ski and the Shit² 13 920 g per ski.

The Shift² is sold under the Atomic, Armada and Salomon brand names and is available in two versions.
The Shift² 10 has a 4-10 DIN range while for heavier skiers the Shift² 13 has 6-13 DIN range.
Both versions are available with a choice of 90, 100, 110 or 120 mm ski brakes. Shift ski crampons are made in 100 and 120 mm widths.

These improvements are sure to make an already very popular binding even more popular.
While still pretty heavy for use for touring only, the Shift² is ideal for skiers wanting one pair of skis that allows them to both tour and ski, with the same level of release security as alpine bindings.