skimo capable ski bindings with good release

Looking for a pair of touring skiis for the girlfriend that would primarily be used for resort skiing but she is hoping to break into some backcountry and easy skimo.

She is a newer skier so having a good release for safety is a priority.

Any recommendations for bindings that would be safe enough for a newish skier while still alloweing for some light skimo in the future. 

Skimo and resort are two very opposite ends IMO. For someone newer I'd go with vipecs. It's not skimo light but anything below that you are looking at less consistent release. A total beginner won't notice the extra 400g but the savings over something like frame bindings will be extremely noticable. These still aren't alpine bindings but they are as close to a one binding quiver you'd find for a beginner

Yes, looking for something good for resort and skimo is like looking for a vehicle that's good for off-roading and for the race track. Personally if you think it will be primarily used for resort skiing then having a safe reliable release binding should be the priority, and skimo capability should be a much more minor concern. Agreed with above, the Vipec is a pretty decent compromise, for me it is the lightest touring binding that I would still be fine using regularly in the resort, due to it's ability to release from the toe. Shift bindings have basically the full capability of an resort binding and can still tour.

Get a good resort set up with reliable bindings.

When she gets better as a skier, then consider a skimo set up.

I agree with  Brian. The best solution is to get a beater resort setup and a used touring setup. Depending on location, there are plenty of gear swaps from people that try touring and don't end up liking it.  Still sticking with vipecs as the best compromise, but it's just that, a compromise

Shifts are a worse compromise to me. They are better than frames but they are a cluster in use. Beginners have enough to screw up without help from finicky gear. I'd probably steer clear unless you are keeping tours short, slow, and you all are both patient dealing with them. That said, I've got NIB shifts for sale if you ultimately decide to go that route 

Skimo can get spendy. I never owned downhill setup and learned on old school fritshi bindings. These dayzzzz, the dynfit speed radical gets used at the resort, as well as backcountry. I'm not hucking off cliffs, but do take the steeps and they are great. They even get used on playground features, and have never released prematurely. 

I think she is best off with 2 set ups as noted above (resort set ups are relatively cheap on the used market), or this is a good use for frame bindings. If you're only going to try touring a bit a frame binding will get it done and has all the safety of standard alpine release. The reality is that boots for skimo are also way different than for alpine. A light tech binding on it's own is a step up, but a real touring boot is nearly as big an upgrade. But I really don't enjoy skiing pins or lightweight touring boots on the frontside. If you have to go tech, one of the Fritschi options like Tectons or Vipecs is probably better than a traditional style tech toe (although I haven't personally used them).

I worked at a shop for ten years selling AT gear. People would come in and say ‘I blew out my knee and don’t trust a tech binding.” My response was “if you’re being honest, would you have blown out your knee if you had been skiing an alpine binding?” Response 100% of the time was “I was skiing on an alpine binding.” I’ve hucked cliffs, half pipe, rails, jumps and moguls on a tech binding. I’d say get one like the G3 or similar with elasticity in the heel or the Vipec options as stated above. If you go with an alpine binding but want to use the same boot, make sure the alpine binding is compatible with the boot you get.