connyro wrote:
I agree with both these points Canna. However, if I HAD to choose between the two, for the type of skiing that I do, I would take the 3-pins hands-down. Boots are better, pressure on the ski during a turn is better, lateral control is better. If the 3-pins have cables, you have a backup for breakage while skiing too! IF I toured more and turned less, I would go with NNN-BC every time.
In all fairness have you skied both systems with the same boots and same skis?
I think very few here can actually make that claim.
I'd actually contest every one of your statements when it's an A to A comparison.
Boots are better - Actually, I find quite the opposite when you look at what is available in leather these days.
Pressure on the ski during a turn is better - don't feel any difference actually when I adjust for the pivot difference. Better is perhaps subjective to someone who wants a certain feel and learned to ski that way.
Lateral control is better - this I am adamantly in disagreement with. The vertical ridges in the center of the sole on NNN provide just as much lateral support as the wings on the 3 pin. I've neither been able to feel or measure a noticeable difference while skiing or testing the boots on a bench. I think this is just a myth that keeps on spreading for no reason. I would very much agree that the lateral control between a plastic shell boot and a leather, molded sole boot is different, but that has nothing to do with the binding.
I think what you really meant to say was this, and it's the only thing that I can say really holds true: You can buy and ski plastic shell boots with the 3 pin.