The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.
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Stephen
Posts: 1487
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 12:49 am
Location: PNW USA
Ski style: Aspirational
Favorite Skis: Armada Tracer 118 (195), Gamme (210), Ingstad (205), Objective BC (178)
Favorite boots: Alfa Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Pro
Occupation: Beyond
6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by Stephen » Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:56 pm

Tom M wrote:
Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:55 am
orangeviking wrote:
Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:01 am
So I got my hands on all the necessary equipment. With some help of friends in Norway.
Looks like you have a sweet setup.
.
.
Alfa still hasn't shipped the boots I preordered several months ago.
So for me the wait is on.

I’m available for concierge delivery service direct from Norway to your doorstep with only pass-through costs…
:lol: :lol: :lol:

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Tom M
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:01 pm
Location: Northwest Wyoming USA
Ski style: Skate on Groomed, XCD Off, Backcountry Tele
Favorite Skis: Fischer S-Bound 98 Off Trail, Voile V6 BC for Tele
Favorite boots: Currently skiing Alfa Vista, Alfa Free, Scarpa T2
Occupation: Retired
Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCam0VG ... shelf_id=1

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by Tom M » Sat Dec 18, 2021 5:29 pm

Stephen wrote:
Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:56 pm
I’m available for concierge delivery service direct from Norway to your doorstep with only pass-through costs…
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Sneak peek. Testing is underway. All I need now is a binding to mount on the 98's.
PRO_VID_20211218_140658_00_008_2021-12-18_15-23-28_screenshot.jpg



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telerat
Posts: 269
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Location: Middle of Norway
Ski style: Telemark, backcountry nordic and cross country skiing.
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Favorite boots: Scarpa plastic telemark. Asolo and Alfa leather boots.

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by telerat » Sun Dec 19, 2021 4:45 am

Nice Tom. Looking forward to hearing your impressions on Alfa Free, and compared to Alpina Alaska XP. I still think Skaget is the better boot for me, but interested in how other boots are. Edit: I originally mistook the Free for Skaget.
Last edited by telerat on Sun Dec 19, 2021 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4157
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Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
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Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by lilcliffy » Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:28 am

@Tom M

Is that the Alfa Free boot?
Gareth
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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Tom M
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:01 pm
Location: Northwest Wyoming USA
Ski style: Skate on Groomed, XCD Off, Backcountry Tele
Favorite Skis: Fischer S-Bound 98 Off Trail, Voile V6 BC for Tele
Favorite boots: Currently skiing Alfa Vista, Alfa Free, Scarpa T2
Occupation: Retired
Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCam0VG ... shelf_id=1

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by Tom M » Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:54 am

lilcliffy wrote:
Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:28 am
@Tom M
Is that the Alfa Free boot?
Gareth
Yes - Johnny started a new thread for the Alfa Free https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4512



User avatar
Stephen
Posts: 1487
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 12:49 am
Location: PNW USA
Ski style: Aspirational
Favorite Skis: Armada Tracer 118 (195), Gamme (210), Ingstad (205), Objective BC (178)
Favorite boots: Alfa Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Pro
Occupation: Beyond
6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by Stephen » Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:25 am

Tom M wrote:
Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:55 am
.
.
So for me the wait is on. I'm hoping that REI will have them by mid winter.
@Tom M, did you just recently get the Xplore binding in your recent YouTube video, or did you already have a set?
I missed the details on this.

You must have a lot more snow up high by now?



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telerat
Posts: 269
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:09 am
Location: Middle of Norway
Ski style: Telemark, backcountry nordic and cross country skiing.
Favorite Skis: Any ski suitable for telemark or backcountry skiing, with some side-cut for turning.
Favorite boots: Scarpa plastic telemark. Asolo and Alfa leather boots.

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by telerat » Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:41 am

My preliminary comments on the system after testing the Alfa Skaget and Xplore on touring skates:
* It's easy to get the shoe into and out of the binding. I started skating once without noticing that the shoes where not seated properly in the binding and I have also failed a few more times during testing at home.
* The flex engages immediately and the skates are held in place and returns quickly, which is much nicer than the dangling of 75mm. I'll buy both the free pivot plate and the strong flex and test. The all round flex is very nice and may suit most, but with steeper and continuous ascents I'd like the free pivot and I'd like to test the hard flex.
* Durability remains to be seen, but it gives a good impression. The only exception so far is toe/front of the boot which doesn't have the same rubber as the sole. It is part of the midsole, and seems to both have less friction and durability. The spring-pin doesn't look easily replaceable. It will also be interesting to see how it copes with being dipped in water and used in freezing temperatures, which is quite possible when used for touring skates.
* It's interesting to see that the release is activated by pushing down on the front white plastic tab which rotates the rods which are connected to the arms which pushes the spring-pins into the shoe. I'd prefer if the tab was a bit wider as I see no reason to make it smaller and harder to hit than necessary.
* The tab for releasing the flexor is more difficult to push than it has to be.
* The boot/binding interface has been completely silent so far :-)

I'm looking forward to testing it on skis/snow during Christmas. I have attached a picture of the boots and bindings on touring skates.
Alfa_Skaget_touring_skates.jpg



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orangeviking
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Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by orangeviking » Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:54 am

@telerat are those Lundhags T-skates? Great idea to have the Xplore binding on skates. Might have to copy this idea! Any other skates that would fit the Xplore binding?



User avatar
telerat
Posts: 269
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:09 am
Location: Middle of Norway
Ski style: Telemark, backcountry nordic and cross country skiing.
Favorite Skis: Any ski suitable for telemark or backcountry skiing, with some side-cut for turning.
Favorite boots: Scarpa plastic telemark. Asolo and Alfa leather boots.

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by telerat » Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:53 am

They are indeed Lundhags T-skates, but I have to warn that I had to drill and make new mounting holes and thread the ones in the center for the Xplore binding. 75mm binding and boots works on skates if you go slow and have a more upright posture, but it didn't work properly for me. I thus had NNN bindings mounted on them earlier, but hated the plasticky soles and thought Xplore might be the solution in addition to added insulation. Alfa Skaget has more support than the NNN combi boots I were using and the Xplore binding seems to work well for the touring skates after a short test.

I saw an earlier video posted here where Alfa Free and Xplore was used on OAC Prophet ice skates. No idea if any modifications was needed for mounting:

Late edit: Xplore and Alfa Skaget has worked well for Nordic/touring skating, as well as hiking to and from the lakes. Zandstra Nordic and skates with similar mounting/construction would likely be much easier to mount Xplore on. They would also allow more flexibility in binding position and possibly adjustment than those on Lundhags and Isvidda skates.
Last edited by telerat on Thu Oct 17, 2024 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.



User avatar
Tom M
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:01 pm
Location: Northwest Wyoming USA
Ski style: Skate on Groomed, XCD Off, Backcountry Tele
Favorite Skis: Fischer S-Bound 98 Off Trail, Voile V6 BC for Tele
Favorite boots: Currently skiing Alfa Vista, Alfa Free, Scarpa T2
Occupation: Retired
Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCam0VG ... shelf_id=1

Re: The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding System Review

Post by Tom M » Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:01 pm

REI now has the binding in stock
https://www.rei.com/product/203137/rott ... i-bindings

No boots yet, hopefully they have stock on order.



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