What's new in the Backcountry Gear Guide 2014

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

Not much in skis or tele stuff but seems like lots new in AT boots & bindings?

On the tele front, it was good to see the Bishop tele binding advertised again- and interesting to see that Scott bought Garmont (but why they stuck with the no-instep buckle Prophet design I don't know- musta run out of time for this season)

[dschane]

Not much in skis or tele stuff but seems like lots new in AT boots & bindings?

The number of AT bindings out there is impressive, perhaps now at the supersaturation point (or perhaps that mark was already passed). There also are a lot of uber-light skis in the 80-88mm waist range: Movement Response X, Ski Trab Maestro and Magico, and Dynaftit Cho Oyu and Nanga Parbat. Not that I "need" anything new this year . . . at least not until the spring.

[Dostn8r]

Frankly I was stunned that BC Mag made the TTS Editor's Choice for a tele binding. I love it, and do agree it is the tele platform of the future, but have come to recognize that with telemark there is NOT one binding that works for all people although the Axl and Enzo come pretty darn close because of their adjustability. Nonetheless, there is too much variation in style to recommend a single tele binding for all. Better to know whether you like a lot or a little cable tension, stand tall or drive deep, and step FORWARD or BACK to initiate a turn.

Must echo the sentiments of many from TTIPs that the combination of features in Rottefella's NTN Freedom is hard to pass up, unless you absolutely insist on a free pivot (as I do). It really skis beautifully for tele.

[Old Pete]

Unless I missed it ,I didn't see any talk about the questionable tech fittings in the Garmont/Scott boots (Wild Snow articles)

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

Frankly I was stunned that BC Mag made the TTS Editor's Choice for a tele binding. I love it, and do agree it is the tele platform of the future, but have come to recognize that with telemark there is NOT one binding that works for all people although the Axl and Enzo come pretty darn close because of their adjustability. Nonetheless, there is too much variation in style to recommend a single tele binding for all. Better to know whether you like a lot or a little cable tension, stand tall or drive deep, and step FORWARD or BACK to initiate a turn.

Must echo the sentiments of many from TTIPs that the combination of features in Rottefella's NTN Freedom is hard to pass up, unless you absolutely insist on a free pivot (as I do). It really skis beautifully for tele.

well, the TTS is the only "new" tele binding so . . .

[rip]

Speaking of NTN...any changes for the Freedom or Freeride this year?

[Dostn8r]

Speaking of NTN...any changes for the Freedom or Freeride this year?

colors...

[rip]

Jah Mon. That is impressively ugly.

[Ziggy]

It's to go with your new fluoro pants ;-)

[Tomahawk]

Ordered a pair of Voile's new V8 ski. Looking forward to it, and I really want to mount them with TTS, but I recall some folks mentioning that if you ski low they might not provide the ROM you need. I've got a 29.5 boot and I'm wondering if they will accomodate a deep knee. Any advice from those who are familiar with them?

[Dostie]

Tomahawk,

There are a couple things that TTS favors/demands. You can get fairly low IFF you keep a tight stance with your knees close together. No knee-to-ski, feet widely spaced apart tele though. It just won't let you since there isn't enough travel in the springs. That will change, but probably not this year.

The other is the springs engage really fast. If you tend to step forward into a tele the tip pressure on your rear foot will engage WAY faster than you are used to. On the other hand, if you step back into your turn, the fast engagement helps you direct pressure and control in the turn much, much sooner.

I've blah, blahed about that pretty endlessly.

TTS v2.0

Verdict on Telemark Tech System

Woodi's BoF Pressure in a Deep (low) Tele

All things TTS at EarnYourTurns (click on the TTS link in the tag cloud). There's about 8-10 posts worth.

Your 29.5 boot size is not an advantage with the current system. You might need to be willing to do some serious modification like what Ben Arlett did using Axl springs. Even Nurse Ben did some homebrewed stuff with Axl springs, but not as elegant as Mantis. There was another great post by a guy on TTips about that, but that was lost in the chaos even before the site went down. I searched for an hour once and couldn't find it.

[Tomahawk]

Thanks Dostie. I think I'll give it another year--I don't need another project at this point.

[Nurse Ben]

Geez Dostie, I was a year ahead of the other Ben on my TTS axl, and all I get is a casual mention, thanks.

http://www.earnyourturns.com/7135/tinkering-w-tts/

Anyway, the reason TTS was chosen probably has more to do with it's potential than it's market penetration, so maybe by picking TTS this will get folks attention and help spread the word.

TTS is a great idea that needs some work, it's the only binding I ski, going on three years...

@ Tomahawk: You buy a set, if you don't like em, send me a pm, and I'll take them off your hands.

[Dostn8r]

Geez Dostie, I was a year ahead of the other Ben on my TTS axl, and all I get is a casual mention, thanks.

http://www.earnyourturns.com/7135/tinkering-w-tts/

The only reason I did not link to your post was I failed to tag it properly so it didn't come up quickly in the search like it should have and....

It IS properly tagged now, but I just hadn't gotten to it when I first responded. Anyway, thanks for finishing the job.

[Nurse Ben]

No worries, just givin ya grief. I like what you've done with the place