After reading the Tips for Choosing the Right Skinbased Ski blogpost and studying the comparison chart, you’ve chosen the model of Skinbased ski that best suits your adventures. Now, it’s time to consider what binding you will use. For most folks, the supreme versatility and ease-of-use of the EA 2.0 Universal binding will make it the optimal choice. Yet, if you are one of those who already has a dedicated pair of ski boots and hopes to get even more performance out of their binding, or are simply curious what other options exist, then read on.
Like a well-matched wine with dinner, your binding should pair well with your Skinbased ski and complement the type of skiing you plan to do. Below is an comprehensive list of other bindings styles that are compatible with Skinbased skis, along with a brief description and pros and cons of each.
NNN BC: The most robust platform of modern XC ski bindings, the NNN BC is a good choice for adventurers who are seeking a lighter weight alternative in a ski binding/boot combo. Perfect for long days of sliding across gradual to moderate terrain. With many manufacturers producing NNN BC boots, there are a plethora of boots available to fit a wide range of different feet and specific user groups.
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Pros: Lightweight, low profile, many boots to choose from.
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Cons: Does not provide much additional downhill support.
- Pairs well with: XCD GT 160, XCD GT 137, flat and gradual terrain, long distances.
Xplore: The newest binding platform discussed in this article is the Xplore. Designed specifically with XCD (cross-country downhill) skiing as its focus, it sits right in the middle of NNN BC and 75 mm telemark bindings in terms of skiability and weight. The Xplore provides a moderate level of support for those looking to drop knees while downhill skiing and still maintains a lightweight quality for longer approaches. So, what’s not to like? The biggest pitfall of the Xplore is the limited range of available ski boots. You will want to be sure to find a boot that fits both your foot and your skiing style before committing to this system.
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Pros: Lightweight yet supportive, XCD ski-specific design.
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Cons: Limited boot options, cost.
- Pairs well with: KAR 149, XCD GT 160, XCD BC 160, meadow skipping.
75 mm 3-pin: The classic “rat trap” telemark binding is still a very valid choice for Skinbased skiing. The simplest binding on offer, its robust, time-tested design is compatible with a wide range of boots from low-cuff leather tourers to modern plastic telemark boots. With many 3-pin bindings it is also possible to add an optional heel cable, bringing even more edge control to steeper descents or on hardpacked snow.
- Pros: Simple, durable, suitable with a wide variety of boots for different objectives.
- Cons: Boots make the set up quite heavy, not the most efficient touring binding.
- Pairs well with: WAP 129, KAR 149, XCD GT 137, XCD GT 160, XCD BC 160, basic Skinbased tours with an emphasis on downhill exploration.
75 mm cable binding: If skiing down from the open fell tops and lapping fast powder in the forest are your motivations for skiing, then a 75 mm cable binding might be the top pick for you. Downhill focused, what these partially metal bindings and plastic boots lose in lightweight feel, they make up for with downhill control.
- Pros: Edging capabilities, maximum downhill control.
- Cons: Heavy, poor range of motion, overkill for simple touring.
- Pairs well with: XCD GT 160, XCD BC 160, skiing hardpack snow and steeper lines.
AT tech bindings: While we personally feel that Skinbased skis are best served by a binding that does not require transitioning between uphill and downhill modes, if you are feeling like locking the heel down, we got you! Skinbased skis can also be mounted with AT tech bindings for those locked-heel descents.
- Pros: Downhill performance on steep terrain/hardpack snow.
- Cons: Requires a transition between uphill and downhill movement, cost.
- Pairs well with: XCD GT 160, XCD BC 160, steep lines, hardpack/icy conditions.
We hope this helps you choose between the many suitable bindings just which one will be the best match for your Skinbased skiing adventures. For more information on mounting bindings to your Skinbased skis, see our Binding Mounting Guidelines here!
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