Ten years later NTN still worth the wait

Backcountry Magazine

September 2007

by Adam Howard & Craig Dostie

Bound for glory?
Talk about market dominance. The duckbill toe on telemark boots has dominated the scene for more than 100 years. Not any more. 2007 marks the beginning of the New Telemark Norm, and for us it's bye-bye bill.

Well not completely. NTN is here. But will freeheelers buy in to this new concept that produces greater performance, but at a serious price? What we found was at once inspiring for the sport and daunting, when considering the marketplace for such a progressive product.

Backcountry Editor Adam Howard and Couloir Editor Craig Dostie spent the better part of the winter--more time than any other media--on the new Rottefella NTN Binding paired with Scarpa and Crispi boots, and had the following conversation about how this system performed for telemark and backcountry utility. If the bottom line with the NTN is about tradeoffs, we thought it fitting to trade a few jabs about the merits of this potentially groundbreaking innovation. (For a look at profiles on Howard and Dostie check page 63.)

Ergonomics:
Dostie: After years of bending over to latch a heel lever on my boot I had accepted that step-in-step-out convenience was over rated. While NTN isn't quite as easy as an alpine binding to get into, not having to bend over to get in or out is a forgotten pleasure, with which you can become easily spoiled. In fact, for anyone who has spent more than three days on the NTN, it's the tipping point. No one wants to go back to bending over. Amen.

Howie: But it's not a true step-in. I found there can be headaches with lining up the rear clasp of the binding with the boot. Not all the time, but often enough. What was really nice, was that the brakes actually kept the ski from moving when putting them on. There again, the brake is actuated by the sole of the boot and I had a little trouble getting it caught up in the mountaineering sole, especially on the T-X.

DH Performance:
Dostie: Anyone who's spent more than a few days on the NTN was universally convinced it is a solid improvement over existing cable bindings, especially in edging power due to the binding having a solid grip on the entire area between the toe and second heel of the boot. By comparison, lateral control with 75mm systems is limited to the length of the sidewalls of the toe plate, and how strongly the springs of the cable keep the boot wedged in. The classic flex associated with telemark boots is shifted in the NTN, from the plane of the sole to the components of the boot shell above the sole, i.e., the bellows, tongue and ankle pivot. This allows the sole to remain relatively rigid, delivering more lateral control and solid power to your ski edges.

Howie: Every cable binding depends on the same mechanism to hold the boot into the binding as it does to control the activeness of flex. Big guys or power skiers who have always skied a way more active binding in order to avoid pre-releaseing, rejoice. The NTN is the first binding that retains the boot regardless of spring tension allowing the big man a little nuance.

Dostie: True. Also, edging power is largely independent of forward flex resistance. Thus, while NTN still uses cables and compression springs to augment flex resistance, the need for stiffer springs may become an outdated indicator of downhill performance. Even so, Rottefella will offer four different levels of spring cartridges delivering power in the 2.5 to 4 plus range (using the Hammerhead scale). The beauty o the NTN system is that you can have a smooth, softer flex, which is better for soft snow, while simultaneously having superior edging on hard snow. Ironically, this will probably benefit ladies more than men, though the first generation of boots will fit very few women.

Howie: And the snow feel from this set-up is superior to anything out there.

Release:
Dostie: One of my key hopes for future NTN bindings is release-ability. At this time, it remains a possibility. The basic ingredients are there t allow for release. But Rottefella isn't even touting this. I'll admit it is possible, but at least with the demo version, it was unlikely. Changes are planned for the release wings that hold the second heel on the sides, but don't expect a certified release for at least another year.

Howie: There is release here. I've spoken to a few people who have come out, and interestingly, they came out when they wanted to. But the flip side is that I never released from NTN, and I've come out of every other telemark binding designed since 1989.

Touring Function:
Dostie: The touring mode isn't frictionless, like many of the current generation of 75mm touring bindings, but the resistance is so low you can't even feel it while striding. It's enough to prevent your tips from floating to the surface while breaking trail in super-light fluff, but also has the benefit of being strong enough to draw your ski to your feet when side stepping on a traverse. The range of motion is only 40 degrees. Adequate in most conditions, but it can be reduced easily with snow buildup and that is a literal drag.

Howie: I spent a week touring in these daily and found the touring function adequate, but nothing compared to the true free-pivot bindings on the market. And with only 40 degrees of range backcountry skiers in places like the Wasatch, where tracks get laid in straight up the fall line, will be wanting for more. But on moderate tracks they're competent.

AT Function:
Dostie: The NTN borrows the exact sole dimensions, or footprint, of ISO Ski Mountaineering soles found on all Alpine Touring boots. The only difference is the second heel that engages the NTN binding. Lots of folks wish they had a telemark system that allowed them to lock the heel occasionally. While the current NTN binding doesn't offer this option, with future NTN boots you can lock your heel by using an dAT binding instead of tele for the day.

Howie: For anyone who switches it up, this is the most compelling part of the NTN concept. I can ski a monster tele ski inbounds one day and go light and fast on a Dynafit or Silvretta the next. And kicking steps without the duck bill or rock scrambling with a softer bellows, let alone simply walking, is really convenient. The T-X could be the best Ski Mountaineering boot out there. Even over AT.

Bottom Line:
Dostie: For backcountry purists who consider weight and release-ability paramount, waiting for the next generation of NTN boots and bindings will be prudent. But if you spend most of your time in-bounds, prefer big boots, are tired of bending over, and don't usually log big vertical out of bounds, the NTN system is the best answer to what you're looking for.

Howie: For all it is, there is a lot that the NTN is not. Not releasable. Not step in. That said, I'm impressed so far with the reliability of the system, and unlike the 75mm platform, the NTN could offer the basis for these needed changes But most importantly, the NTN system is an undeniable step up in downhill performance from all other bindings. Then again, a lot of great concepts have been unsuccessful.