The Vipec performs well in a variety of difficult terrain. In testing, I was initially concerned with the plastic pieces of the binding, however they held up well and remained in one piece. Overall the bindings felt secure and locked in to my every move and after additional testing, they exceeded my expectations for durability. However, other skiers who have used the bindings have reported issues with the heel lifters taking a beating and giving in.

The Vipec’s toe piece is very difficult to get into. Many of Fritschi’s competitors have easy step-in compatibility with their toe pieces, but the Vipec falls short in this area. In testing, I found myself fiddling for several minutes until I finally had to utilize my pole tip (to get my toe inserts lined up) to snap it into place. However, flipping the levers from one level to the next for steeper skinning was easy and on par with the other bindings in this test.

Fritschi’s experienced engineering is clear in the lateral release toe units and the sliding heel piece (used to maintain consistent pressure when the ski flexes). This is the kind of detail we expect from a brand like Fritschi and while the Vipec may not be perfect, it is a good, solid start for Fritschi’s entry into the binding market.