What is the difference between the Salomon Icon 12 and Strive 12?

The Strive has an ultra-low-profile toe for a lower center of gravity and better snow feel. The Icon is more basic but cheaper. Both are DIN 4-12 with GripWalk.

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Salomon

Salomon ICON 12 GRIPWALK

$167.96$239.95

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Color: Race Blue / White / Safety Yellow

Size(mm): 75

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Description

The Salomon ICON 12 GripWalk is a race-club binding that puts Salomon's competition toe geometry into a GripWalk-compatible body. The V-shaped toe piece moves the mounting screws inward, under the boot — Salomon calls it Centralized Power Transfer — to put more power underfoot and let the tip and tail flex and rebound more freely. The low-profile chassis keeps your foot close to the ski for direct feedback, which is what you want on hardpack and ice. The heel is a flat, firm, zero-ramp race platform built for precision and quick movement over the ski, not the long elastic travel and shock absorption of a turntable heel. DIN range is 4–12, which covers lighter or more cautious adults at the low end up through strong intermediate-to-advanced skiers at the top — your actual setting is calculated from your weight, height, age, boot-sole length, and ability by a certified tech, not picked off a chart. It accepts GripWalk (ISO 23223) and Alpine (ISO 5355) boot soles only — no touring soles, no walk-mode soles, and no MNC/multinorm. Brake width is 75mm (B75) and that is the only width this binding comes in, which matches narrow-waisted race, SL, and GS carving skis.

This binding is for one kind of skier: a racer or hard-charging carver on a genuinely narrow ski who wants the most direct, low-profile platform Salomon makes at a 12-DIN ceiling. If that's you — junior racer, club competitor, or an aggressive adult on a narrow GS or SL ski with a waist around 75mm or under — it's a serious, fairly priced piece of kit. Here's who should not buy it. If your ski's waist is wider than about 75mm, the 75mm brake will sit too tight to clear the ski cleanly; step to the Salomon Strive 12 GW, which comes in 90, 100, and 115mm brakes (same 4–12 DIN, same GripWalk/Alpine compatibility) and fits all-mountain and wider carving skis. If you're a lighter beginner or a youth skier who needs a setting below DIN 4, this binding bottoms out above your number and won't release properly for you — look at a lower-DIN Salomon GripWalk binding instead. And if you ever want to ski it with a touring or walk-mode boot, this is the wrong binding entirely: the ICON 12 GW does not take touring soles or MNC, so you'd need a multinorm (MNC) or dedicated touring binding.

DIN	4-12
Weight	1,190g per binding
Stand Height	17mm
Brake Width	75mm
Sole Compatibility	Alpine + GripWalk
Construction	Glass-Fiber PA, V-shaped toe, centralized power transfer
Best For	Race/club skiers — low stand height for piste performance

Details

Type: Ski Bindings
Vendor: Salomon

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PTO GuideSki Bindings

Salomon Icon 12 GripWalk

Icon family · 25/26

DIN 4–12

35791113151821

Light / BeginnerHeavy / Expert

Brake Widths

Choose a brake equal to or slightly wider than your ski waist

Boot Sole

GripWalkAlpine

Salomon's budget binding with racing DNA. The V-shaped toe piece centralizes power transmission — Salomon claims 30% more power underfoot compared to a conventional design. Whether you feel that on groomers is debatable, but the binding is light, reliable, and cheap. It does the job.

No frills here. GripWalk compatible, DIN 4-12, single brake width. If you need a binding for a new ski and don't want to overthink it, the Icon 12 gets you on the mountain.

Best For

Budget-conscious intermediate skiers who need a simple, reliable GripWalk binding and don't want to spend more than necessary.

Not For

Skiers who want adjustability, multiple brake options, or a premium feel — step up to the Strive 12 or 14.

Common Questions

What is the difference between the Salomon Icon 12 and Strive 12?: The Strive has an ultra-low-profile toe for a lower center of gravity and better snow feel. The Icon is more basic but cheaper. Both are DIN 4-12 with GripWalk.