NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
- Johnny
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- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
I used to have a fleet of NNN boots for XCd skiing... For tracks, BC and skating...
Then one day ALFA came out with the Guard GTX. Game changing? No, much more than this... life changing.
I sold all my NNN boots. All my XCelerators bindings are lost in a closet. The Alfa Guards make NNN completely obsolete. Why the hell bother with 500g floppy and crappy 500$ NNN racing boots when you can have the Guards at only 725g and have all the control you will ever need for just a few more grams...?
Personally, NNN died the day the Alfa Guards came out. All my super-skinnies are now NNN-BC, including the MR48... Of course I'm not racing and never will... But for me, NNN is now pointless* for recreational use...
* That said, Xcelerators are THE most awesome bindings on the market for so many reasons. The world absolutely needs a XCL-BC binding instead of all those crappy ideas flying around...
Then one day ALFA came out with the Guard GTX. Game changing? No, much more than this... life changing.
I sold all my NNN boots. All my XCelerators bindings are lost in a closet. The Alfa Guards make NNN completely obsolete. Why the hell bother with 500g floppy and crappy 500$ NNN racing boots when you can have the Guards at only 725g and have all the control you will ever need for just a few more grams...?
Personally, NNN died the day the Alfa Guards came out. All my super-skinnies are now NNN-BC, including the MR48... Of course I'm not racing and never will... But for me, NNN is now pointless* for recreational use...
* That said, Xcelerators are THE most awesome bindings on the market for so many reasons. The world absolutely needs a XCL-BC binding instead of all those crappy ideas flying around...
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
- NordicWilly
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
You’ve done it now Johnny. I was thinking about replacing my crappy Fischer OTC 5 boot with Alfas based on one of your reviews, but now I’m definitely doing it for the sake of the skinnies!
- Danylewich
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
Where do folks buy Alfa Guards in Canada? For a 44 Alpina Alaska NNNBC, how would this translate to the Alfa Guard?
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- Nitram Tocrut
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
I know the Alfa Guards are available from La Cordée in Québec.Danylewich wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 11:04 amWhere do folks buy Alfa Guards in Canada? For a 44 Alpina Alaska NNNBC, how would this translate to the Alfa Guard?
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For your question about sizing, have you looked in this thread? viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2155&sid=53dfb3e87 ... 5da5666ba6
- Johnny
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:11 pm
- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska XP, Alfa Guards, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
Coooooool.... You will LOVE them...NordicWilly wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 5:55 pmYou’ve done it now Johnny. I was thinking about replacing my crappy Fischer OTC 5 boot with Alfas based on one of your reviews, but now I’m definitely doing it for the sake of the skinnies!
"Doing it for the sake of the skinnies!", my new favorite quote!
PLEASE do not encourage these fucking thieves.Nitram Tocrut wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:24 pmI know the Alfa Guards are available from La Cordée in Québec.
Corrupted people still buying from them are just as guilty...
Just buy them directly from the ALFA website in Norway... It's the best, fastest and most ethical way to get them. They will be at your door in 5-6 days...Danylewich wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 11:04 amWhere do folks buy Alfa Guards in Canada? For a 44 Alpina Alaska NNNBC, how would this translate to the Alfa Guard?
My 43 Alaska BCs are perfect. My 42s are a bit too small and my 44s are too big. My 43 Guards definitely feel bigger than the same size Alaskas, but not too big though... I just use a slightly thicker sock... Not sure if that helps...?
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
- Stephen
- Posts: 1485
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6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo
Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
On sizing, I tried on a lot of different boots in size 47.
The Alaskas felt like nice boots, but in reality, too narrow to be really comfortable, long term.
I bought the Alfa Guards in 47 and, for me, they feel great.
Seem about the same “size” (length) as the Alaskas, but a better heel pocket, a bit wider in ball of foot, and fuller toe box.
I really like them so far, just wearing them around, but have not skied in them yet.
I had a good experience buying from Varuste, in Finland.
I paid no import duty to the US, but I think the import duty situation in Canada might be different, and less generous.
FWIW.
The Alaskas felt like nice boots, but in reality, too narrow to be really comfortable, long term.
I bought the Alfa Guards in 47 and, for me, they feel great.
Seem about the same “size” (length) as the Alaskas, but a better heel pocket, a bit wider in ball of foot, and fuller toe box.
I really like them so far, just wearing them around, but have not skied in them yet.
I had a good experience buying from Varuste, in Finland.
I paid no import duty to the US, but I think the import duty situation in Canada might be different, and less generous.
FWIW.
- Danylewich
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:49 am
- Location: Toronto, ON
- Ski style: XC, BC, XCD, Alpine Touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes FT62
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska
- Occupation: Vice-President at a Non-Profit
- Website: http://www.righttoplay.com
Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
Thanks for the tips, appreciate it.
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
I just bought the mt51 and I have a pair of magnums laying around...will they fit or do I have to get the regular nnn bc?
- fisheater
- Posts: 2601
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
They may hang over a little, but it is the same template. When I mounted my Gamme 54 I had to buy another pair of NNN-BC bindings so I ordered the standard variety. Magnums are probably easier to open with gloved hands, but my fingers probably aren’t right from rough framing during winters. I used to laugh that I could hold a nail with one finger, because the frost held it. It doesn’t drop much below -15 F around here, so if I need to bare hand things for a minute I’ll be okay.
For you and your magnums, the template is the same, they’ll just hang over a bit. Not nearly as much as 75 mm. You can truly proclaim you did it from easier handling with gloves or mittens!
For you and your magnums, the template is the same, they’ll just hang over a bit. Not nearly as much as 75 mm. You can truly proclaim you did it from easier handling with gloves or mittens!
- Woodserson
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Re: NNN vs NNN-BC on 50ish waisted XC touring skis
I have MT 51 with NNN-BC bindings and they only reason they don't have Magnums is because I found the non-Magnum for cheaper, otherwise I always go with Magnums. If I had Magnum at the time laying around, I would have put that on. Again, the boot completely covers the "wings". Do you want me to take compare/contrast pictures for you?
Great ski BTW! I love mine!