Naxo vs. Freerides

[fattwins]

Ok looking to buy one of these for touring. I am tired of my trekkers. The weight the height the general malfuctions that happen such as bolts popping out.

My take on them is that the naxos look strong but a bit weak in climbing mode, also harder to change settings when standing.

Freerides been aorund a while light easy to change in standing mode but look a bit weaker in the ski mode.

Anyone got some good info on them.

if this has been done sorry

[Foggy_Goggles]

Originally posted by fattwins


if this has been done sorry

Don't be sorry, use the search function instead.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Originally posted by fattwins

Freerides been aorund a while light easy to change in standing mode but look a bit weaker in the ski mode.

Anyone got some good info on them.

if this has been done sorry

it's been done many a time. i'm sorry you feel the fr is weaker in "ski mode", but you're the one that's gotta deal with a busted naxo while i'm content thrashing my freerides. use the search. most people agree.

[Lostinthetrees]

Simple answer. Here in CH the Freerides are chosen over NAXO. Techs that I deal with say that the NAXO's don't have enough successful years/km's on the bindings to make the shop switch from Free's. I don't even see them offered in their shops.

Agree, search. Lots of previous discussion.

litt

[verbier61]

Originally posted by Lostinthetrees
Simple answer. Here in CH the Freerides are chosen over NAXO. Techs that I deal with say that the NAXO's don't have enough successful years/km's on the bindings to make the shop switch from Free's. I don't even see them offered in their shops.

YEAH. Nothing more to say

[fattwins]

after the first post I spent an hour looking at all the posts and had no time to post back. Got the info I needed and then some.
I thought the naxos were young but they do come off looking strong and beefy.

Will buy freerides and regular fritches for the wife as she skis with style and not power. Thanks

[Hugh Jardon]

Yo, you cats need to check out www.wildsnow.com and look at the new improved Naxo. I have two pairs and last year had no issues. Where is CH?

[PNWbrit]

Originally posted by Hugh Jardon
Yo, you cats need to check out www.wildsnow.com and look at the new improved Naxo. I have two pairs and last year had no issues. Where is CH?

CH = Switzerland

I've got a set of the new models due to arrive as a warranty replacement for my old ones.

[Lostinthetrees]

Originally posted by Hugh Jardon
Yo, you cats need to check out www.wildsnow.com and look at the new improved Naxo. I have two pairs and last year had no issues. Where is CH?

When the tech shops start carrying them in CH, I will be checking them out. In the meantime...

litt

[mr_gyptian]

that is one of the most in depth gear reviews I've ever read.

he's pretty careful not to compare and contrast, though.

[Sphinx]

When locked down, pull straight up on the toepiece of the Naxo. It will leave the topsheet by more than a quarter inch. When I get thrown into the backseat I want my binding to pull me forward, not let me fall on my ass. The heel lock lever doesn't sqeeze the rail to the ski, like the Fritschi. I can only imagine more slop as a result. The Naxo has an extra pivot, if tolerances are comparable, then the Naxo will have twice the slop in the pivot compared to the fritschi. If you tour frequently, high heel lifts are GOOD. Naxo heel lifts are low, therefore BAD.

[Beavis]

NAXOS SUCK!!! FREERIDES RULE!!!!

[Buttthead]

Originally posted by Beavis
NAXOS SUCK!!! FREERIDES RULE!!!!

You suck Freerides. Naxos Rule!!!

[summit]

Originally posted by Sphinx
When locked down, pull straight up on the toepiece of the Naxo. It will leave the topsheet by more than a quarter inch. When I get thrown into the backseat I want my binding to pull me forward, not let me fall on my ass. The heel lock lever doesn't sqeeze the rail to the ski, like the Fritschi. I can only imagine more slop as a result. The Naxo has an extra pivot, if tolerances are comparable, then the Naxo will have twice the slop in the pivot compared to the fritschi.

Uh... HORSESHIT!

Seriosuly, WTF are you talking about? You sound like some JONG that only looked at a Naxo attatched to a plastic display plate in a shop. Leave the topsheet by a quarter inch... did you forget to screw the binding down to the ski?

Get some TP for your bunghole.

[Lostinthetrees]

Originally posted by Summit
Uh... HORSESHIT!

Seriosuly, WTF are you talking about? You sound like some JONG that only looked at a Naxo attatched to a plastic display plate in a shop. Leave the topsheet by a quarter inch... did you forget to screw the binding down to the ski?

Get some TP for your bunghole.

Alright! Let it rip and start a fire! Maybe we can get some pre-season sparks here.

btw. Luv the Bev and Butt commentary.

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by Summit
Uh... HORSESHIT!

Seriosuly, WTF are you talking about? You sound like some JONG that only looked at a Naxo attatched to a plastic display plate in a shop. Leave the topsheet by a quarter inch... did you forget to screw the binding down to the ski?

Get some TP for your bunghole.

Nope, sorry, I looked at a Naxo mounted on a pair of skis.

Am I missing something? You have two straight bars of metal connected by a pivoting joint. The front is held into place by a pin joint, the back is free to slide back and forth, but is held down to the topsheet. If you pull up on the assembly, there is no moment exterted anywhere on the assembly to counteract upward movement of the toepiece. This is inherent in the design of the binding.

Did I look at an incorrectly mounted pair of bindings? Do me a favor, and try this on your naxos (by the vehemence of your response I'm guessing you have a pair and love them). Pull straight up on the toepiece with a decent amount of force. I'd be very curious to know if there is no movement whatsoever.

[AltaPowderDaze]

just in case, i check my oldest and most beat up set of freerides. sorry guys no movement.

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by AltaPowderDaze
just in case, i check my oldest and most beat up set of freerides. sorry guys no movement.

Any binding that moves when I push on it by hand won't be skied by me. Sorry Naxo. Hello Fritschi/Dynafit!

[Bzzzt]

My take on them is that the naxos look strong but a bit weak in climbing mode

I skied one week on Naxos (until the front pivot broke) and then on Freerides, as no shops had Naxos. There's a big difference. Naxos feel spongy and soft if you have wide skis (I skied on Gotamas), and they flex so much it's hard to keep the ski on edge on hardpack og ice. Freerides are also a bit soft (compared to non-touring binders), but WAY stiffer and responsive than Naxos.

If you have your mind set on Naxos, I recommend you at least take the time to compare them with Freerides.

I know which ones you'll want after that

[pollard]

wanna sell your trekkers?

[summit]

Naxos feel spongy and soft if you have wide skis (I skied on Gotamas), and they flex so much it's hard to keep the ski on edge on hardpack og ice.

Yea my naxo-gotama setup sucked ass on hardpack/ice or for sidestepping. this was partially due to the naxo and partially due to the super wide sandwich construction of the gotama (durable (or it should/will be) but not tortionally rigid). then again, why would one want/expect spectacular hardpac performance out of a 105mm AT setup? they tour like a dream and they take hucks wonderfully, but i am considering a freeride/havoc setup as my non-deep AT setup.

[Bzzzt]

[...] why would one want/expect spectacular hardpac performance out of a 105mm AT setup?

My point was that the Freerides are a lot stiffer and felt more solid. I think the ideal set-up would be Naxos for the climbing and Freerides for the skiing

[Hugh Jardon]

Alright, I just pulled up on my Naxo's and had no movement whatsoever, it sounds like something is funky with that pair mentioned above. As far as spongy, here's my take: the naxo is supposed to be able to flex fore and aft so it doesn't create a dead spot in the ski like other AT bindings. I've skied on pretty much every AT binding out there and these are my favorite so far, especially for touring, but I don't huck like you youngsters.

[PrankMonkey]

Ok so freerides snap into touring mode randomly, and 04' naxos are sloppy and fall apart faster than an african democracy. I've also heard more than several cases where the FR's decided not to release, at considerable detriment to the users lower leg bones and or knees.

A) has Damir addressed these problems in the '05 model?

B) Who has any first hand experience (staring at them in the shop or regurgitating the wildsnow.com article doesn't count) w/ the '05 NAXO. I know that the plastic is supposed to be 100% stronger and that other stuff has been beefed up, blah, blah, blah. How does all this translate into the actual durability?

Looking to buy one or the other, should I buy this year or wait or stick with treckers or, or ....(now I've confused myself, help would be appreciated)

[Kellie]

If you tour frequently, high heel lifts are GOOD. Naxo heel lifts are low, therefore BAD.

That alone is reason enough to stick to freerides - heel lifts are such a lifesaver! I'll take whatever advantage I can get
(plus, it's just about the only time I wear heels! )