Quote:
-Question #5: Why is BCA selling a more durable binding than the Naxo that is sold in the rest of the world?
A careful study of Naxo failures in N. America versus the rest of the world confirmed our theory that the N. American market is tougher on AT bindings than in Europe. Naxo, therefore, has responded by providing a binding more suited to the needs of the market. It weighs slightly more, but it is also tougher.
In Europe, the sport of Alpine Touring is mature and sales are flat. The average age of someone purchasing AT bindings is in their forties and it is their second or third pair of AT bindings. The origins and development of the sport was geared toward touring on lightweight gear and it was an accepted compromise in the market to trade-off durability, ease-of-use and performance for weight.
The N. American market is different. Alpine touring is a growing market, still in its early stages. The average age of someone buying AT in N. America is in their mid-twenties and it’s usually their first AT bindings. They come directly from alpine skiing and have high expectations for performance, ease-of-use and durability.