The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

[Johnny]

I have a simple question, if the pins are more forward mounted on the boot, would the pin line than be forward of say BP on a more traditional ski?

Not sure I understand...?
For most people in most XCd situations, the pin line / pivot point of a boot will always be the best at the ski's balance point... No matter where the pivot is located on the boots...?

[lilcliffy]

Alfa's Xplore line up on the Norwegian site: https://www.alfa.no/pages/search-results-page?q=xplore

[Nitram Tocrut]

Did you not just get the most awesome pair of 75mm leathers ever, the rarer than a dodo eggs' Zenith? Why then this sudden switch to NNN. Have you been struck by lighting or contracted yet another forn of GAS?

Good one Benjamin . I am not getting ride of all my 75mm binding and certainly not my Zenith . I just took the opportunity to buy the NNN-BC Alaska as the 75mm keeps breaking and I love those boots I will use NNN for my narrower skis…. for now

What size Zenith did you get

Hey Woods! They are either 121/2 or 13…. I can’t read the label… Bougth them from @Cannatonic so maybe he will recall.

[Butterfield]

I’ve been searching for these since November hit with no luck. Has anyone seen some available from U.S. retailers?

[Tom M]

It looks like we have longer to wait. The initial target date of Nov 1 on https://rottefella.no/xplore has passed. Alfa has updated their preorder page for the boot I'm most interested in showing "after December 1" https://www.alfa.no/products/free-a-p-s-gtx-m-black Alpina doesn't even show the new Alaska XP boot on their web page. https://www.alpinasports.com/us/nordic/backcountry. It will be sad if the bindings and boots show up in the stores after all the skis have been sold. The skis seem to be selling out quickly and most of the country doesn't even have skiable snow yet.

[brwilkinson]

So do you think the boots /bindings will be sold separately?

It seems strange to get boots from ALFA, without the bindings?

I was assuming the advertised 599 was just for the boots? (although that seems like more of a fair price, If the binding were included).

[Tom M]

So do you think the boots /bindings will be sold separately?

It seems strange to get boots from ALFA, without the bindings?

I was assuming the advertised 599 was just for the boots? (although that seems like more of a fair price, If the binding were included).

I expect that the boots and bindings will be sold separately and yes, they are very expensive when compared to NNNBC and 3 pin soft boot options. Alfa has posted its prices for their Xplore boots, but I don't know what the retail price will be for Alpina's Alaska XP boot. Hopefully they will be more reasonable than Alfa's offerings. There may be some retailers offering a package deal of boots, bindings and skis, but only time will tell.

[telerat]

I'm sure the boots and bindings will also be sold separately, at least here in Norway, but there might be package deals some places. If supply is limited, then things might change. The Alfa prices are list prices for just the boots, which we are often able to get some discount on, like in a package with bindings and skis or if you're a member in various organizations that get discounts in specific shops, and also at the end of year sales.

The Alfa Free APS boot is quite expensive. The reinforced cuff looks interesting, but the rest of it looks made for fast/short tours, spring skiing and tour ice skating. The other boots have almost the same price as the corresponding NNN-BC versions. I'm (luckily for once) most interested in the cheapest model so I plan on buying the Alfa Skaget and test that.

The binding is quite a bit more expensive than NNN-BC, which is bummer as I want to get 3 of them for my Åsnes Ousland, old Fischer E109 and tour ice skates. The construction doesn't seem much more advanced than NNN-BC, but I assume Rottefella also wants to recover some of the development cost and charges a premium for the Xplore. I hope it replaces NNN-BC eventually if it performs as I expect, but it will anyway take quite a while if it works like NTN and 75mm. Hopefully the market will stay strong (unlike telemark) and we'll get many options for boots. I do wish we could get competing bindings, and that the sole/shoes had the possibility of a heel wire.

I'm waiting for an Xplore review in Fri Flyt on 11th of November (a Norwegian skiing magazine - part of the conglomerate that also has utemagasinet.no). Hopefully more/new info will come out then and not just a rehash of the earlier review. I'll report back as soon as I know more.

[brwilkinson]

I expect that the boots and bindings will be sold separately and yes, they are very expensive when compared to NNNBC and 3 pin soft boot options.

I'm sure the boots and bindings will also be sold separately.

I'm (luckily for once) most interested in the cheapest model so I plan on buying the Alfa Skaget and test that.

I'm waiting for an Xplore review in Fri Flyt on 11th of November (a Norwegian skiing magazine - part of the conglomerate that also has utemagasinet.no). Hopefully more/new info will come out then and not just a rehash of the earlier review. I'll report back as soon as I know more.

Thank you for the replies Tom M and telerat...

Confirming they will be sold separately.

Yes, I think we are all looking forward to any reviews that come about. So far Tom has the only reviews or preview that I have seen Tom, I guess you had to send that Alpina Alaska that you demo'd back to the supplier then?

That Alfa Skaget model looks like a nice solid leather boot with a nice high top, definitely looks good for colder temps.

I found out that one of our largest outdoor stores here in the US "REI" is supposed to take some stock of the Boots/Bindings. However they are not listed on the site, until they actually get some stock. I am also looking for some "Asnes Rabb 68" to pair with them. However this year I think I will need a few backup plans, just in case stocks are short. I know I will snap up the first pair I see.

[Butterfield]

I contacted Rottefella and was told the last part of December for the xplore. Bummer.