Wide-pedal toe geometry and a true metal heel architecture used to be reserved for the high-DIN end of Salomon's binding lineup. The Strive 10 GW changes that, packaging the same Strive-line toe and heel design into a 3-10 DIN range and GripWalk-certified format. It's a binding that gives lighter skiers, women, and progressing intermediates access to performance that used to require sizing up into a release range they didn't need.

Why we like it:

The metal heel is the detail that separates this binding from the rest of its DIN class. Most bindings in the 3-10 range save weight and cost with plastic heel construction, which works fine for the lighter skier but never quite matches the precision or longevity of a metal build. Pair that with the LDN toe's lower stance and wider pedal and you get a binding that feels closer to its higher-DIN siblings than its price or release range would suggest.

Who it's for:

Built for skiers whose release values land in the 3-10 zone but who want binding performance that doesn't scale down with the DIN range. That covers a wide audience: progressing intermediates, advancing women, smaller-framed advanced skiers, and adult-DIN-graduating juniors. If you've ever felt like your binding was the weak link in your setup, this is the entry point to fixing that.

Highlights:

Start with the toe: the LDN (Low Driving Neutral) piece anchors the binding's identity. The pedal is wider than a conventional toe, the boot sits lower to the ski, and the geometry is built to keep lateral input traveling straight through to the edge rather than getting absorbed by toe-wing flex. The three-part metal heel on the back end is the second defining piece of the binding, holding the boot down through hard turns without the squish or gradual wear of plastic builds. Spec-wise, the 19.6mm stack height keeps the ride low, weight per binding lands at 920 grams, and the 30mm BSL adjustment range covers a wide range of boot sole lengths. Brake widths run L80, L90, and L100 for everything from narrow trail builds to mid-eighties all-mountain skis. Certification covers ISO 5355 alpine soles and GripWalk soles, with TÜV approval included for the shops and customers who track it.

Things to consider:

The DIN ceiling at 10 is the obvious limiter. Heavier or harder-charging skiers should step up to the Strive 12 GW or Strive 14 GW where the release range opens up. The 100mm brake max is also a real constraint for skiers eyeing wider freeride skis, since wider waists put the brake outside the binding's intended fit.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Brake width follows the ski's waist with a small clearance buffer: pick L80 for sub-80 trail builds, L90 for mid-eighties all-mountain, and L100 for the 90-100mm zone. As always, DIN should be calculated and confirmed by a certified shop tech using the binding indicator tables, your weight and height, and your boot sole length.