LDN toe geometry, a three-part metal heel, and a 5-14 DIN range come together in the Salomon Strive 14 GW to make one of the most complete all-mountain bindings out there. This is the GripWalk-certified version of Salomon's flagship freeride-leaning binding, built for advanced and expert skiers who want serious power transmission and rock-solid hold without giving up modern boot compatibility. It pairs naturally with all-mountain and freeride skis from the high-eighties up through 115mm underfoot.

Why we like it:

The geometry of the LDN toe is what gives this binding its character. By lowering the boot's center of gravity and widening the contact patch under the toe, Salomon engineered out a lot of the slop and lateral wobble that bindings with conventional toe designs can develop under hard input. The three-part metal heel finishes the job by holding the boot down with the consistency you only get from metal construction.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert all-mountain skiers running skis in the 90-115mm waist range who want real binding performance and GripWalk compatibility for their boots. The 5-14 DIN range is well-suited to adult skiers who push hard but aren't necessarily in the highest weight or release-value category.

Highlights:

Salomon's LDN (Low Driving Neutral) toe piece is the defining feature of the Strive line, and it works through geometry rather than gimmickry. The wider pedal supports the boot sole across a bigger contact area, the lower center of gravity reduces the leverage of lateral input, and the neutral stance keeps the boot from feeling tilted or pre-loaded in any direction. The three-part metal heel handles the rear retention duties with the kind of consistency you only get from metal construction. Stack height is 19.6mm, and the 30mm boot sole adjustment range gives shops the flexibility to mount the binding cleanly on a range of boot sizes. Brake widths come in D90, D100, and D115 to handle modern all-mountain and freeride ski widths. Certification covers ISO 5355 alpine soles plus GripWalk, with TÜV approval included.

Things to consider:

This is the alpine and GripWalk-certified version of the Strive 14, not the multinorm. If you're swapping between alpine and touring boots, the MN variant is the right call. The 115mm brake max sets the upper limit on practical ski widths.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Brake width should match the ski's waist with a small amount of clearance: D90 for skis through the high-eighties, D100 for skis in the 90-100mm range, D115 for skis from 100 to about 115mm. DIN settings should always be calculated and confirmed by a certified shop technician.