Moonlight's tele-rando binding

[gofor311]

http://www.moonlightmountaingear.com/tele-rando.html

Looks like it's coming in November for the hefty sum of 500+ pounds.

Here's the promo video on some low angle touring terrain. 1:28 is a pretty simple explanation with a too-brief shot of the mode change. Looks like a hook on a rod. Everything I've ever put weight on that is that shape has bent out, so I'd be curious how it fares with a tele binding. Pretty cool that it seems to have the "puck" built into the design.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftXSvJbSyBk

Overall? Too expensive for me, not in the USA.

[SPQR]

Wow, that's a pretty slick package. I think Mr. Dostie needs to get his hands on these for a review!

[Dostie]

Wow, that's a pretty slick package. I think Mr. Dostie needs to get his hands on these for a review!

Indeed. Once I skied Mark Lengel's TTS I knew the dream of a do everything binding was just around the corner and would be the configuration of the future for tele. Welcome to the future...

http://youtu.be/ftXSvJbSyBk

[dschane]

And I think it's Euros, not Pounds, so at least that means closer to $630 than $800. Still on the very high to highest end of the range. Also, that's the tele and rando combo binding. The pure tele version is around $450.

Hopefully, reviews this season of 22D's new NTN binding, M-Equipment's, and this one.

[gofor311]

And I think it's Euros, not Pounds, so at least that means closer to $630 than $800. Still on the very high to highest end of the range. Also, that's the tele and rando combo binding. The pure tele version is around $450.

Hopefully, reviews this season of 22D's new NTN binding, M-Equipment's, and this one.

Good catch on the price. Has anyone outside of JT and Moonlight seen a pair of these in the flesh? Dostie?

22D's is the one I'm most looking forward to. Hammerhead design style/durability coupled with the duckbutt sounds pretty intriguing.

[bergbryce]

Welcome to the future...
http://youtu.be/ftXSvJbSyBk

WANT!!! (where is the drooling emoticon??)

[freeheeln]

duckbills future seems bleak

[tele.skier]

If memory serves me correctly Jarlybart mounted a tech heel with an NTN freeride binding at least 3 years ago, making a "frankentele" which was either NTN telemark or NTN toe/dynaheel alpine... There were no parts to remove and stow away in your backpack when you switched back and forth either.. Personally, I don't see the point with the exception of having a smaller quiver of skis that work for both tele and alpine,... but I wouldn't do that. I would probably chose one or the other for the day...

...and yeah the duckbill looks bleak for heavy tele, because it doesn't lend itself to a "boot release" because of it's shape. It's less easy to kick steps in, and wear crampons on too. The NTN underfoot connection is also better for ski control than the duckbill in front of the boot connection.... Although I think the duckbill will be around for XCD, but there's always those NNN's undermining the duckbill from the lighterweight side of skiing too...

[yugi]

Good catch on the price. Has anyone outside of JT and Moonlight seen a pair of these in the flesh? Dostie?
...

Yes. They ski super nice. I have TTS too since years. Moonlights don't have the sudden stop that the TTS has 2/3's of the way through the stroke (which drives me crazy). Note also that in Feb even longer spring sets will be available. Very smart, simple and light engineering and smooth finish. I like, and friends riding them like very much.

If memory serves me correctly Jarlybart mounted a tech heel with an NTN freeride binding at least 3 years ago, making a "frankentele" which was either NTN telemark or NTN toe/dynaheel alpine... There were no parts to remove and stow away in your backpack when you switched back and forth either.. Personally, I don't see the point with the exception of having a smaller quiver of skis that work for both tele and alpine,... but I wouldn't do that. I would probably chose one or the other for the day...
...

Similar but far far lighter. You can, of course, engage the fixed heel once already engaged in tele mode. EG for skiing just a small kinda sketch section, if you ski in areas like that (which we do daily). Or, if you are spending the day skiing alpine, like if you were teaching or had bad knees and a heavy pack, take off the tele part to make life simpler.

I bought into NTN with a bit of excitement that I could alpine again. In the 5 years or so since I think I've alpined about 5 times so I can safely say I don't need fixed heel. I do ski **** with some very exposed steep sketchy no-fall zones where a momentary heel lockdown would be a lifesaver. So I may spring for the full tele-rando version. My life is still worth and extra $200 bucks or so. Some tele friends with worn out knees and heavy packs who are guiding daily do tend to use alpine a lot, also depending on the groups they guide. For them it makes a whole lot of sense and simplifies the quiver when they travel far.

If you'd never use it (I'm close!) then the pure tele version is obviously a much better price. Those dynafiddle heel pieces ain't cheap either.

These bindings have been around for a bit (V1) and are well tested.

BTW their fat and light skis are simply amazing. Crazy light and they ski ice, crud and steep almost as well as a burly ski like original Zealots. (edit to add: very similar shape which I LOOOOOVE). I say "almost" because one can, of course, feel that they are superlight. Way out of my budget (I haven't paid more than $500 even for new skis like almost ever) but has got me jonesing for a pair. I do lots of pure skinning from my door and those babys on a powder day would be awesome. Dostie, you should try to test a pair. Stunning.

[Dostie]

Dostie, you should try to test a pair. Stunning.

I almost flew to Norway last year to do that very thing. Alas, the details didn't quite work out. Looking forward to the evolution of tele with tech toes and checking these out. I like how the cables come off so easily. A much improved version compared to what I saw a year ago. And like many here, I know several folks who've been dreaming of this combo for years, but haven't been willing to frankeneer their own garage band version.

[SPQR]

It's interesting to note that the cables look shorter than say a Switchback since they mount on the ski almost near what is the back end of the bellows of the boot. And the cartridges appear longer than say a G3 or Switchback. Or maybe that's just an illusion. But above Yugi seems to confirm that they have no dead spot when raising your heel and dropping a knee which was the first thing I thought about when watching the video and seeing the placement of the cables. I hope they do something about the color though.

[ts01]

Wow.

One question on the fixed heel mode. Scarpa makes this Dynafit adapter gizmo - http://www.bergsskishop.com/slide-dy...4402c3204.html - that slides into the Dynafit brake slot to put a block under the bootsole that prevents bellows flex. If I understand correctly, tele bellows flex could otherwise interfere with proper functioning of the tech heel, i.e. it would be prone to pop unpredictably (or at predictably bad moments!).

This would not have been an issue with Jarlybart's frankentele because it used an NTN toepiece.

With the Moonlight system, it looks as if the little mounting block to which the tele heelpiece rods connects serves the same purpose, i.e., it would line up under the forefoot where the Scarpa adapter block would sit if you were using Dynafits, so I'm guessing it serves the same purpose.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge to confirm or correct?

[RobRoyMeans]

It's interesting to note that the cables look shorter than say a Switchback since they mount on the ski almost near what is the back end of the bellows of the boot. And the cartridges appear longer than say a G3 or Switchback. Or maybe that's just an illusion. But above Yugi seems to confirm that they have no dead spot when raising your heel and dropping a knee which was the first thing I thought about when watching the video and seeing the placement of the cables. I hope they do something about the color though.

The Dead spot might still be there, but diminished. I wonder if a strain guage has been applied along the heel raising arc?

Here's a competing design that battles on the high price end of the fight but uses the duckbutt instead of the entire boot shell and seems to skip the Low-Tech heel piece (Which I suppose could be added on after-market and probably serve as an improvement over the pictured climbing wire at the same time):

[ts01]

The Dead spot might still be there, but diminished. I wonder if a strain guage has been applied along the heel raising arc?

Here's a competing design that battles on the high price end of the fight but uses the duckbutt instead of the entire boot shell and seems to skip the Low-Tech heel piece (Which I suppose could be added on after-market and probably serve as an improvement over the pictured climbing wire at the same time):

I want one of those too! (And a pony, world peace, and a flying car ... )

On the concept of adding a tech heelpiece to this: wouldn't there be issues with two release mechanisms, one on the duckbutt and one on the tech heelpiece?

[cesare]

I would think there already is a way to disengage the second heel to be in tour mode.