European Naxo?

[manderson]

According to the BCA website the American version of the Naxo is stronger and heavier than the European version. I'm curious if anybody knows how much the difference is. I think I would prefer a lighter version of the Naxo but I don't want something that's going to fall apart. If this has already been covered please point me in the right direction. I did a search but didn't find anything.

Here's the link
http://www.bcaccess.com/documents/NaxoFAQ10_04.pdf

Here's the info I'm talking about.

-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.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Cliff notes:

Americans are KFC-eating slobs and Europeans are skinny fucking pussies.

Makes perfect sense to me.

[Toby]

Sounds like marketing bullshit to me. Unless they're trying to say the NX21 is the American model vs. the NX01 European, which is also bullshit because the NX21 is just as available in Europe.

[burny]

im so happy to be european …

[verbier61]

heh... it's absolutely true that the median age of people I saw this year on the haute route was mid-40

[salx]

fwiw
as of next season (?) the naxo will be available as dynastars early tram freeride bindings.
thought it´s the 21 with a different paint job. however the website says its the nx01.

http://shop.sport65.de/Sportsshop/Sk...Tram::204.html

anyways, have the nx21 and couldnt be happier.

[3pin]

Sounds like marketing bullshit to me. Unless they're trying to say the NX21 is the American model vs. the NX01 European, which is also bullshit because the NX21 is just as available in Europe.

It's sort of out-dated, but no, it's not marketing bullshit. After the first season of the NX01 (with its breakage issues in North America), Naxo modified a version of the NX01 for NA. They beefed up a couple parts that had been breaking, while continuing to make the original NX01 for Europe, where they hadn't seen the durability problems. Then they introduced the NX21, which is burlier than either version of the NX01.

As for Dynastar, the Legend Early Tram binding will only be available as a package with the Dynastar Legend skis (Legend, 8800, and Pro). And that website's wrong, it's a rebadged NX21.

[manderson]

So if I bought a NX01 from this place would it be weaker and lighter than the current American version?

[Toby]

3pin, is it the VRS-printed-on-toe model you're talking about that was available in North America but not Europe?

Personally, if I were getting one I'd get the NX21 anyway.

[Hugh Jardon]

I got a pair of the Nx01's from Marmot and a pair from Switzerland. The Euro pair is lighter and only goes to DIN 10. The Marmot pair (US) is heavier and goes to DIN 12. I got the Nx21 this year but mainly ski it at the area. I have it set at 10 but it looks like it goes to 13.