Back in August, 2011 it was hinted that there were three new bindings to be introduced in the winter of 2012. Well it’s Winter 2012 and Rottefella’s Freedom is old news. A second binding I was referring to was the TTS binding, which, theoretically will have enough modifications to it to make it “new” from the standpoint of revised components and improved adjustability.

The one nobody caught wind of until after Christmas was Enzo, G3’s return to the tele market. On first look Enzo appears to be a synthesis of numerous bindings already on the market.

The most obvious is the duplication of 22 Design’s cable configuration. There are a few noticeable differences like a different spring housing, regular compression springs instead of flat-wire springs, and a yoke of solid wire around the heel instead of braided cable, but that’s window dressing on the same basic design.

Then there is the toe plate which is reminiscent of the wrap-around design Voile uses with their Switchback — it’s rather immune to snow packing underneath. The same concept is also found in the Burnt Mountain Designs Tele Bulldog and Lite Dogz.

The mode switch is a combination of Black Diamond’s simple push-button switch that you toggle for touring or turning with a ski pole. At the back of the toe-plate, two prongs extend from inside a sealed toe riser to hold down a rear spreader bar, just like Voile’s Switchback.

With all those ingredients G3’s Enzo has a lot to like about it. Easy mode switching, adjustable power and lots of it, plus leagues of theoretical improvement over the Targa Icent to prevent icing up.

And what’s with the name? There’s always a story behind G3’s product names. Does the Enzo merely signify the end of new ideas for 75mm telemark, where the only changes possible are a rearrangement of the pieces? Or does it have something to do with Lorenzo? It will be interesting to see the marketing story on that one. 😉

© 2012
 

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Full review of Enzo