Help a boarder jong with AT bindings.

Just trying to help out a buddy on getting him setup for touring this winter with us. He is strapped for cash pretty badly, so he can only afford bindings and skins(he already has purchased some Seths for his skis). That said, that nixes the dynafits because he can't afford to buy the special boot for them.

He is a pretty hard charging skier. Will probably do small hucks(probably no more than 20ft)and ride some of the nastier stuff in the wasatch with his setup. That said, I'm a bit worried about recommending the fritschi freerides because I have heard plenty of horror stories about them going auto-tele. I've also heard about them breaking pretty easily too.

So considering he is riding pretty hard, and the AT binding has to work with a regular ski boot(killing the dynafit option), what do you guys think are his best options?

edit: I did search, thats how I came up with the fritschi freeride issues...got lazy after awhile and decided to just post.

nx01, nx21, or Freeride plus are probably all fine in his situation. I'd go with whatever his wallet can bear.

On second thought, prolly better to start him out on some trekkers and cheaper-ish alpine bindings if he's strapped for loot.

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Originally Posted by shmoesmith

That said, I'm a bit worried about recommending the fritschi freerides because I have heard plenty of horror stories about them going auto-tele. I've also heard about them breaking pretty easily too.

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This is a bit of an exageration. The horror stories seem to come from heavy guys in the wrong (too soft for their weight) skis. Not even an issue with the new Freeride Plus that locks the heel release.

I've seen plenty of more Naxo breaking (specifically NX01) than Freerides.

likely cheapest route = trekkers
but, if the plan is to do "decently long" tours, AT binders will quickly be worth their price.
nx01 issues were abundant in the first gen version. They made significant durability improvements in the 2nd gen version...and I have heard of no more issues with the 2nd gen version than freerides. They can be found for pretty cheap, since naxo came out with 3 new naxo models (+ the nx21), and thus discontinued the nx01. Dawson's site details how you can tell the difference on the 1st gen vs. 2nd gen...IIRC 2nd gen had a longer DIN spring in the heel, and "VRS" was stamped next to nx01 near the toe and heel (the 1st gen only had "nx01")

That being said, the nx21 is beefier/more torsionally rigid. I skied nx01's for about 2 years...I really only noticed it (less torsional rigidity) when I was on pretty firm/hardpack conditions...which wasn't often while in the bc.

Last years (05/06) freerides were bomber, and everything I've heard so far says that the new FR+ is that and more. Insta-tele is only, as mentioned, with big people on too soft of skis. Now the seth is a pretty soft ski, but the tail is much stiffer than the tip, so he would be fine with just a regular pair of freerides. What most people don't know is that the Fritschi Freeride has been around for most of a decade in various iterations, and although it may have started out rough, the binding has been so tweaked and refined that by last season, they were absolutely bomber for 99.9% of people.

I would say have him try to find a pair of last years freerides, as they will be pretty cheap and plenty bomber. If he wants new bindings, go either the FR+ or NX21.

I've spent the last year researching which AT binding I wanted to get. As much as I would love to have a "quiver" I just can't afford it so I needed one binding to do everything. So, I picked up a pair of 06/07 naxo 21's and have skied on them 8 times this year. So far, I think these bindings are bomber. I skied really hard on them early this year atop VERY crusty and icy conditions and they rocked. Took them through 18" of powder and they felt great. Took them out for a couple of small 5 mile tours and thought they toured very well (a damn sight more comfortable and efficient than trekkers). Had a wild crash this last weekend when my ski took a nose dive and I popped out of the binding just as I would have wanted. I'm 6'2" 185lbs and the din is at 9.5. I highly recommend these bindings. Naxo's fucking rock!!!

the 06/07 Naxo 21 also has a "downhill lock" that eliminates any possibility of "insta-tele".

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Originally Posted by kellen

Last years (05/06) freerides were bomber...they were absolutely bomber for 99.9% of people.

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Um, that's just your number, right? While I wouldn't make a claim that they're worse than naxos...I'm pretty sure the breakage rate is still more than 1/1000.

It seems to me that there are peeps that brake touring binders and then there are peeps that don't. Most of those that brake stuff are either big or go really big, and then complain why the binder broke. Well guess what, touring binders are not P18's or 920's. If you wanna go that big, rent a fucking helicopter to get to the top and use those 920's or P18's on the way down.[/end rant]

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Originally Posted by hemas

It seems to me that there are peeps that brake touring binders and then there are peeps that don't. Most of those that brake stuff are either big or go really big, and then complain why the binder broke. Well guess what, touring binders are not P18's or 920's. If you wanna go that big, rent a fucking helicopter to get to the top and use those 920's or P18's on the way down.[/end rant]

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Very true. If your lookin for big hucks than stay with a solid binder. I've done some small (10') hucks with the N21's and they can handle it no prob. But if I were going "Big" than i'd def use some 920's and trekkers.

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Originally Posted by AsheanMT

But if I were going "Big" than i'd def use some 920's and trekkers.

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and note that that is what most people who are going big do (such as marshal)

jong question semi off topic... what exactly constitutes "big" weight wise? That being said, how can one tell if a ski will be too soft for a "big" skier?

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Originally Posted by kellen

Last years (05/06) freerides were bomber, and everything I've heard so far says that the new FR+ is that and more. Insta-tele is only, as mentioned, with big people on too soft of skis. Now the seth is a pretty soft ski, but the tail is much stiffer than the tip, so he would be fine with just a regular pair of freerides.

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Hmm, the seths looked pretty fat. I would have assumed they would be a stiff freeride ski. Shows what a snowboarder jong like me knows. :)