Yes, it absolutely matters—especially for touring. Weight on your feet has roughly three times the perceived effort of weight in your pack, so shaving grams off your bindings pays real dividends on long ascents. Touring bindings generally fall into three weight classes: under 600g per pair (ultralight race models), 600–900g (lightweight touring), and 900–1400g (standard touring). Most backcountry skiers land somewhere in that middle range for a good balance of uphill efficiency and downhill performance.
The tradeoff is that lighter bindings typically offer less retention and fewer features—think simpler heel towers, no brakes, and limited elasticity. If you're skiing aggressive, steep descents or charging in variable snow, going too light can mean unexpected pre-releases. Hybrid bindings that tour like pin-tech but ski like alpine usually sit around 1200–1800g.
The right choice depends on your priorities. For big vert days and mellow descents, go lighter. If the downhill is the main event, a bit more weight is worth the confidence.