Review: Plum PEKYE Hardboot Toe-Tech
What we liked
Build Quality
Ease of use
What we didn’t
Lack of boot guide plate
Price
The Verdict
THE SHORT READ…
Plum know their shit, they’ve been making quality bindings in the Chamonix Valley since 2005, for both ski tourers and splitboarders.
That tried and tested ski binding knowledge has transferred directly into the Plum PEKYE Hardboot Toe-Tech, resulting in probably the best splitboard toe-tech out there (Our Andy scoffed at this, citing the Phantom’s guide plate as an advantage).
THE LONG READ …
If you’re a hardbooting splitboarder you’ll know what you need from your toe-tech, and that is 100% security!
There will be times on the mountain that you’ll be leaning hard into your boots, on an icy slope, when falling really isn’t an option, and at that point you’ll have enough on your plate not to be thinking about kit failure.
As Plum have been making excellent ski touring bindings since 2005, building a fantastic reputation across the Alps, you’ll know you’re in safe hands - well safe feet really.
For the weight obsessed the PEKYE Hardboot Toe-Tech come in at 234g for the pair, which is a lot lighter than the excellent Phantom GT Tech Toes 324g, and marginally lighter than the Spark R&D at 296g. But the lack of wieght is absolutly not a compromise on functionality or strength.
I dig the locking lever, which is metal rather than plastic which is commonly used on other splitboard toe-techs, it locks into place with ease and is easily unlocked with your pole tip. The only thing missing is the boot guide plate, which you get on the Phantom GT, but I found I was hitting the holes in my boots, with the two pins, more regularly than I did with the Spark R+D’s, I’ve no real idea why that was but it was the case.
The mounting system is simplistic, with an initial central screw mounted first (fully tightened) the Pekye easily slides into place, with the further two screws locking it securely into place. Like any binding screws, don’t forget to use loc-tite or they could work loose.
The firm underfoot springs snap the two pins into place with a reassuring certainty into your boots, you really do feel locked in, and I didn’t experience any problems when touring up or split-skiing (other than I hate split-skiing as I’m crap at it).
The the black and red colour scheme looked the bomb on my Stranda BIRU, but may look a little strange on other coloured boards.
The Plum SKSPLIT CRAMPONS (you’ll need to buy these as the other brands aren’t compatible) load vertically, rather than slide in, which is great with your skis off, but really difficult if like me you always leave it too late to put them on, findinging yourself on a terrifying icy slopes praying you don’t drop anything, while wobbling about like a pissed flamingo.
SUMMARY…
I used the PEKYE in 23/24 and I’m not thinking of using anything else anytime soon. There’s a nice synergy in my set up, as Tal who is co-founder of Key Equipment boots, which I use and love, is also Mr Split at Plum, he knows his stuff, I trust him, and I see no reason why you shouldn’t either.
My one caveat, is that I’m not sure of the final imported North American price for our brothers and sisters across the pond, but then you could always throw a little holiday to Chamonix into the mix.