Bindings: NNN BC vs 3 Pin for good turns?

[Tiefschnee]

I've skied for years on NNN BC bindings and I can do a respectable tele turn on 185 cm Epochs, as long as the snow is decent and the slope isn't too steep. I do backcountry Nordic touring, but like to put a few turns on any slope that presents itself. I'd like to have a bit more power and control for the downhill and I'm wondering if I should switch to 3 pin, the next time I need to buy boots? Anybody have experience with both types of bindings and insights to share? Thanks!

[fisheater]

On Equal boots I don’t see much of a difference. For instance I own Alaska BC and Alaska 75 boots. Turning and kick and glide performance is about the same, pretty close anyway. The difference is I can even ski a plastic boot in the 75 mm binding. Despite all that, I still prefer NNN-BC for certain skis

[Axamer]

@Tiefschnee I have already owned an Époch from Madhus that I used to ski with a Garmont Excursion. Same thing with my Eon. I am literally sold on this boot with the 75mm binding. I really have a big attraction for telemark turns. I'm more of an off-piste telemark skier who does Nordic skiing than the other way around. So when I switch from a Scarpa T2 to a Garmont Excursion I lighten my equipment and in addition I am very comfortable in the Garmont Excursion because I never freeze my feet and I have optimal lateral control. Maybe in your place I will wait for the new Xplore system to arrive on the market and which will perhaps offer us the best of both worlds ...

[greatgt]

Super Rottafella three pin....even on the up they help when you start to slide back those wing nuts help....Far more turnability.....And they are simple and hard to destroy....Leathers love them!!!! TM

[CwmRaider]

Hi @Tiefschnee ,
I switched from NNN-BC to 3-pin early last year, after my 6 year old NNN-BC boots (Crispi Stetind) were starting to get a bit long in the tooth. I mounted Voile 3 pin cables to my Åsnes Nansens in replacement of NNN-BC Magnum.

I first bought cheap Alico Ski March which offered lots more control than probably the best NNN-BC setup, however these needed repairs after the very first outing and were misaligned to boot, so I was not so happy (and highly skeptical of using them for longer trips).

Then I got a pair of Crispi Bre 75mm which are very nice touring boots, I would say more comfortable than the Stetind I had before.
Turning with them with an intermediate skill level is maybe a bit better than NNN-BC. The difference in support without cables is not enormous. Adding cables makes a big difference downhill but, I do not like them for kick & glide, so for shorter downhills I do not bother.

I also have a pair of Scarpa T4 . These are (so far for me after just a few tours) a bit less comfortable for touring but make a world of difference in terms of downhill control. No more torquing of the boot soles when edging or carving.

Since switching over I also got a pair of Åsnes FT62 and Åsnes Combat NATO skis, both of these are mounted with Rottefella Super Telemark Cable bindings.
FWIW I much prefer the Rottefella Super Telemark over the Voile; they seem to clamp down on the boots better.

So the main benefits seem to me to be the possibility of using heavy duty boots to get proper downhill power, plus that I find the boots more comfortable. Unfortunately now the Scott Excursion is out of production, and the Scarpa T4 is the only real heavy duty option in production.

What I don't like about the 75mm bindings?
- less easy to find good boot options
- slight lateral heel wiggle compared to the NNN-BC boots, which literally sit on a rail

[connyro]

Super Rottafella three pin....even on the up they help when you start to slide back those wing nuts help....Far more turnability.....And they are simple and hard to destroy....Leathers love them!!!! TM

Have you ever skied nnnbc boots and bindings? Just curious how you came to such a strong conclusion about 'turnability' of one binding system over the other. Also what are 'wingnuts' and how do they keep you from sliding backwards?

[dhdaines]

I'm at about the same point as you, a backcountry XC skier who has recently moved out of survival and into fun mode on the downhills. Maybe because I have skied so much on NNN-BC bindings with soft boots (Wyomings, not even Alaskas), and I learned how to turn on them, I like them a bit better. Because of the "heel wiggle" on 3-pin, especially with Voilé bindings, I feel like I have less control, even with stiffer boots. It feels like I'm constantly in danger of losing a ski unless I put the cables on, but I don't like the cables as they make it harder to weight the ball of my back foot and get low enough (they do seem to help with parallel turns though). This is probably a defect in my technique, of course.

Also the Rottefella 75mm bindings really do hold the boots better - the pins are longer and the bindings are narrower so the sole fits precisely in them.

In any case I think the skis and the boots make a much bigger difference to turnability than the bindings. 3-pin gives you the option of adding a leash, and to use plastic boots. XPlore seems like it will be better than both of them, so maybe save your $$$ and wait for that

[Tiefschnee]

Thanks for your insights! They really help to clarify my thinking. Now I've gotta go look up the Xplore system. Never heard of it before!

[Tiefschnee]

Xplore sounds really interesting. https://www.blog.aventurenordique.com/r ... -nordique/ Bummer is I can't use the boots I already have, but I'm definitely interested in "plus de plaisir en Backcountry!"

[greatgt]

Connie have tried over the years many different bindings but the one that did all I wanted, was the Rotta Super Telemark. Cruise, up, down....Not interested in any kind of plastic boot....Telepole found a Asolo Snowfield 2 in a box in an Antique store....Never worn!!!!! They blew out instantly and needed some glue...Wingnuts are the sidewall of the RST.....It can give you the tiny edge for not sliding back....Found over the decades how tough they are...Have destroyed a couple but did I ever have to do wicked bad stuff to do it.....Boys get pissed when I bring that boarder girl up at Tuckermans Ravine....but it was Rottafella ST....215 (210?)...e99's.....and some (any leather boot...Merrill?)....Won't say it cause the boys will slap me up side the head....but it was wonderful corn!!!!!!! and view!!!!!!!!TM