Hard-charging skiers on all-mountain or freeride skis who don't want to compromise on binding performance usually end up looking at something like the Strive 14 GW. It's the flagship of Salomon's GripWalk-certified all-mountain binding line, built around a wide-pedal LDN toe, three-part metal heel, and a 5-14 DIN range that covers the bulk of advanced and expert adult skiers. Power transmission, edge-to-edge confidence, and modern boot compatibility all come standard.

Why we like it:

What makes this binding work is how the toe and heel function as a unit. The LDN toe keeps lateral input feeding straight into the edge rather than absorbing it through flex, and the metal heel anchors the rear of the boot with no give. The result is a binding that feels rock-solid through hard turns, choppy snow, and landings, which is exactly where freeride-leaning bindings need to prove their worth.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert skiers on all-mountain or freeride skis from about 90mm to 115mm underfoot who want a binding that performs like its higher-output siblings without stepping up to a multinorm release. The 5-14 DIN covers most adult skiers in this performance bracket.

Highlights:

Where to start? The architecture across the Strive 14 GW is shared with the higher Strive 16 MN: same LDN (Low Driving Neutral) toe piece sitting low and wide to maximize lateral power transmission, same three-part metal heel resisting deformation and holding tight through repeated hard turns. The differences from the MN version come down to certification: this GW model is built for ISO 5355 alpine soles and GripWalk soles, with TÜV approval. Stack height is 19.6mm, weight per binding lands at 980 grams, and the 30mm BSL adjustment range gives shops mounting flexibility. Brake widths run D90, D100, and D115 to fit the all-mountain and freeride waist widths most skiers in this category are riding. It's the kind of binding you can mount and forget about, with the performance ceiling to match aggressive skiers and the everyday reliability to handle high-volume use.

Things to consider:

GW certification means alpine and GripWalk soles only. Skiers running touring soles or planning to swap between alpine and hybrid boots should look at the Strive 14 MN instead. The 115mm brake also defines the upper waist-width range this binding handles cleanly.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Pick the brake to fit your ski with appropriate clearance: D90 covers skis through the high-eighties, D100 covers the 90-100mm range, D115 is the call for freeride skis up to about 115mm. DIN should be calculated based on weight, height, age, ability, and boot sole length, and set by a certified shop technician.