Poster: A snowHead
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Just seen Fall Line Mag and note that the Fritschi Tecton is their back country binding of the year.
The Tecton is a revamped Vipec with a more downhill orientated heel as you can see.
I've used the 2nd Gen Vipec for two seasons now and I was looking for a touring binding to go with my more downhill orientated skis to replace my lost Scott Cascade (four failed attempts in the summer to find it) mounted with heavy Guardians.
So a few months ago I deduced that the Tecton could fit the bill as it were, though I had yet to decide on a ski, and went ahead and ordered up some 110 bindings.
Build quality is very good and the revamped / upgraded toe piece looks good and as someone who is use to the Vipec should be a piece of cake for me!
For the ski, in the end I went for Black Crows Altis
I tested these (all of two or three runs but that constitutes a test for many) last year and wrote this back then, or was it the year before?
With my appetite now whetted I took the Black Crows Atris 184 at 108 out and what a fun, but capable ski managing the icy hard pack on the piste before dropping off down into the untracked glades between the trees. If I was not so much into touring this could well be the ski for me!
And then
Last run of the day, and, ironically, I was back on my own Scott 110 Cascades as I'd be dropping back to my hotel and which I've been skiing on a fair bit all season. They're still great away from the piste though their light weight is a negative when comparing it to the hardpack handling of the Black Crows Atris.
So hopefully skis and bindings will be a great match and could well be the ski I'll be using the most this season, especially in Japan
Should add my boots are Salomon MTN Lab (Blue) which I skied pretty well all last season & much preferred to my Explorer's (White) which I skied the previous season.
And after a good few sessions using the binding in various snow pack and temps I'll post my thoughts as opposed to basing them on a few runs on a demo binding
Taken from Fall Line Online and the actual mag
The game-changer is the reliable toe release Fritschi have added, while not piling on too much weight. Here’s Martin (our backcountry editor)’s verdict: “There has been a battle raging for a while – to justify the extra weight of a pin-binding that has a reliable toe release. Fritschi have finally nailed it.
“In addition, the toe is trigger-sensitive so you can step in and out with the greatest ease and no longer faff to get in. Then there’s the heel. Rather than holding this on two spindly pins, you now get a proper stable grip of the ski and a super-responsive performance as a result.”
And Martin Chester review
I know what you're thinking " This si the third version of this binding abd still you get excited?"
Well Fritschi have now nailed it in the battle to justify the extra weight 9f a pin binding with a reliable toe release. We are not looking at much extra weight and these niggles we had with the original have been ironed out. This toe is trigger sensitive so you can step in and out with ease and no longer faff* to get in.
Then the real magic. The Marker KingPin led the way for a pin toe with a proper heel. This goes further. Instead of holding the heel on two spindly pins you get a stable grip abd responsove preformance.
We who value our knees can now nearly have it all and this binding is the one (for now).
*My OH at times could be a serious faffer using hers even though she's had them as long as me
So Clarky999 did you actually ski them ???
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 10-12-17 15:29; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hopefully this one has been developed and tested properly, and there won't be a recall in 2 months once the general public start abusing them.
The tech binding market in recent years has reminded me of the mountain bike market around 2000, where every other new component was the "best ever", only for major issues to emerge months later.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Weathercam, I haven't yet, but hoping to at some point soon! Martin (who wrote the review and tests most of the touring stuff) skied them a fair bit though and actually bought a pair.
Can probably drop him a line on his FB page if you want more details about them: https://www.facebook.com/MartinChesterGuide/
Personally I'm still using Kingpins - but I've seen some VERY interesting (leaked?) photos of a new Pindung style binding in development from one of the big names... Plus now Dulcarama is designing bindings for Dynafit I'm expecting something rad from them in the next few years too!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@PowderAdict, know what you mean!
Positive is that it's been a continual development from Fritschi and it's not totally new - and there is a new engineered Vipec as well with the rear pin bindings, so that's 4 Generation!!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Good choice. Atris plus pin binding is a really good all round combination and isn't really that heavy. Same as a light ski and a frame binding really.
Really interested to see how the Tecton pans out. Yes, there have clearly been some breakage issues with the Vipec but there doesn't appear to be a pattern to it. Some of the TGR lot appear to be thrashing them pretty hard without experiencing problems. I've also spoken to guides using them full time without problems so we will see. I like that I'll be able to take the Blacks off my skis at some point and drop in a Tecton without the need for new holes. Waiting for the price to drop a lot before then.
@clarky999, intriguing. I could not see what Camille Jaccoux has on his skis at 8.49 in the link below. Not something I recognised. That what you are referring to?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=529&v=VnKO70399rU
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@gorilla, can't tell from the video, there's some info dotted around various threads on TGR though. (e.g. https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/309114-Salomon-New-tech-alpine-binding)
I haven't heard anything official about, but the need for an AFD is interesting (to me anyway - I just don't like the feel on tech bindings outside powder)
[img]https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=215355&d=1509979755[/img]
Edit: can't make that image embed for some reason, but if you stick it in your address bar it should work
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@Weathercam, let's get these bad boyz mounted and give them a try
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Well have to say testing the bindings a la shop mode (on the rug in the lounge), stepping in was so sweet - just could not believe how easy it was, they certainly are now top of the class for ease of entry with a tech binding.
Going into walk mode also has a very cool simple touch, which will be advantageous on some long flat run outs / run ins, where I can switch quickly between downhill and walk mode letting me go into x-country ski mode and slide much faster than simply poling along. (is it two l's or one?) ********
The brakes also stay down in walk mode until you press down, another nice touch.
Will give them an outdoor stint tomorrow.
***** so I checked on Google the spelling and this was top of the list
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ski%20Poling
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@PowderAdict, Doooooohhhhh
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