Category: Bindings

Bindings for backcountry skiing and snowboarding

Review: 7tm Power Tour (2010-11)

Considering what it was developed for, backcountry skiing, the 7tm is hard to beat for its feature rich set of options.

Modifying NTN for better touring

Update (13nov11): Finally managed to get this revision out on snow. See the very end for the results.. First, I would like to thank Jay (tainted meat) and Andrew (Andrew L) and Mike (MD2020) for donating NTN parts for this experiment. It saved me from destroying my own working bindings as the prototypes were made …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Black Diamond’s O1 (2011)

To say that Black Diamond’s O1 is the most popular telemark binding in America for earning turns is to acknowledge reality. There are several reasons for that popularity, not the least of which is the fact that the O1 was the first telemark binding with a free pivot that also, finally, delivered enough power to …

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Review: 22 Designs Axl (beta version 2009)

Ever since I first skied it, all I ever wanted in a telemark binding – the mythical Tele Grail be damned – was a free pivoting Hammerhead. It took almost a decade, but 22 Designs has finally delivered one. Axl’s debut couldn’t have waited much longer. In the intervening years every other extant telemark binding company has managed to offer a touring model. However, none of them ski like a HammerHead. Axl does.

News: Salomon/Atomic AT binding comin’

Received a very interesting package today. It came through the back door marked with a pair of I’s for insider intel. It’s a new touring binding for young hucksters hunting freshies from……shhhhhhhhh…..Salomon and Atomic. The pictures tell most of the story, but leave a few questions. Looks like a beefy adaptation of the Silvretta chassis. …

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Review: Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pro

Few pieces of equipment can claim to have propelled the popularity of backcountry skiing like Fritschi’s Freeride binding. It was the first alpine touring binding that appealed to the mindset of the relatively untapped market of American alpine skiers lusting for untracked powder, but unwilling to let go of their reliance on beefy alpine bindings.

Dynafit goes bi-sensual! Can you believe it?

You won’t believe it! The concept behind Mark Lengel’s Telemark Tech System binding is so simple it’s a wonder no one tried it before. Perhaps there was a quack or two out there who did and didn’t even believe it themselves, or they thought no one else would, so they abandoned it (after all, they’re …

Keep making backcountry turns