9 year old question

**fatman** · 03-04-2008, 08:01 PM

I was skiing with my son today and at lunch at friend of mine called him a "pinhead", so I explained how the old tele bindings worked and showed him the pin holes in the bottom of our boots. He then asked if anyone still used pin bindings, and I said no. He then looked at me and said " then why do they keep making boots with pin holes?" Surely no one is going to be using modern boots with 3 pins, so why do we still have the holes?

**3pin** · 03-04-2008, 08:12 PM

There are a couple of bindings out there currently that have pins (Voile 3-Pin Hardwire and the Tele Bulldog). I'd think the holes are a function of Vibram making the soles with pin-holes, not the boot-maker. But with less need, I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 4-buckle tele boots move away from pins before long.

**Tunco** · 03-04-2008, 08:17 PM

**funkendrenchman** · 03-04-2008, 10:48 PM

It took you 9 years to ask that question?

**slim** · 03-05-2008, 12:05 AM

Greydon Clark skis exclusively on 3-pins.

**fatman** · 03-05-2008, 05:58 AM

I forgot about the Voile's and I don't think I have ever seen the tele bulldogs without a boot in them, so I guess I stand corrected.

**Tye 1on** · 03-05-2008, 09:23 AM

Just got my first day in on a pair of telebulldogs. Bomber binders, as far as i can tell. Yep, they indeed use pins. Interestingly, they also have a couple holes on the top, on each corner of the flat horizontal piece that holds the toe down. They supply instructions on how to screw small round-head screws into the top of the duckbill, which then fit into those holes in the binding, locking it in even more. Not sure if i'm gonna do that, but it sure is nice just stepping in to them!

**MakersTeleMark** · 03-05-2008, 01:08 PM

BD big boots will come sans pin holes. I think it is retarded to have a duckbill boot without holes for pins. Ditch the holes when the duckbill goes away. By not having them, you are limiting your binding choice for no reason (they say it's a wear issue, bs, my scarpas with a bazillion days on them are holding up fine). FWIW, 3pinHW still is a great, versatile binding that holds its own even today. The bulldog is another great option for light conscious tourers, or even work duty.

**hose-man** · 03-07-2008, 06:02 AM

The Crispi XR is produced without pin holes.

The 3-pin CRB is my favorite Duckbilled Tele binding out there.

Not only is some tele gear rid of the pin holes, they're rid of the duckbill altogether. The NTN system is great IMHO.