NNN/SNS and/or NNN-BC/SNS-BC Boot/Binding Failure Poll

[HBS]

Hoping to do an informal reddit poll on binding and boot failures. I often hear 3-pin (NN) advocates citing the reliability of the old system. Personally I feel the NNN/SNS stuff kicks a lot better and don't know of anyone that's had a failure.
So, please post if you've had a NNN/SNS and/or NNN-BC/SNS-BC binding or boot related failure and include:

-Brand of boot and binding

-Approximate age/level of use of the boot and binding

-Situation in which the failure(s) occurred


If you've never had a failure then please post:

-List of your equipment and it's age/use

-Amount of skiing you typically do per year

-Number of years skiing on NNN/SNS and NNN-BC/SNS-BC systems

Thanks!

[MikeK]

I've never had a failure with either system, but I'll be glad to contribute.



-List of your equipment and it's age/use
1 pair manual NNN-BC, only 10-20 hrs of use
1 pair of magnum NNN-BC, ~100 hrs of use

1 pair Crispi Svartisen BC boots, less than 10hrs of use
1 pair Alpina Alaska NNN, over 150 hrs of use

-Amount of skiing you typically do per year
20 to 30 days, 2-5 hrs a day

-Number of years skiing on NNN/SNS and NNN-BC/SNS-BC systems
3rd year

[tnevins530]

I had the sole rip off my whitewoods nnn bc boots after 8 years of skiing. They probably lasted 500-1000 miles. The bindings did great. Never a problem.

Those boots were probably only $60 when I got them.

[lilcliffy]

Old NNN failures:

1) Old NNN (Rossignol 1991) track touring boots with approximately 10 years of high-mileage XC classic track skiing. Failure: sole separation.

Current NNN:
1) Rossignol X5 boot; no idea the mileage- but skied on weekly on track since 2006ish. No failures.
2) Atomic Motion 46 Wax ski; mounted with NNN Touring Auto not sure about the mileage- skied on weekly for three seasons.

No failures to date with NNNBC:

-List of your equipment and it's age/use:

1) Boots:
a) Rossignol BCX6: approximately 5000kms of backcountry-offtrack XC and light-duty downhill skiing.
b) Fischer BCX6: approximately 2000kms of the same.
c) Alpina Alaska: over 3000kms of the same.

2) Skis-bindings:
a) Madshus Eon with NNNBC-manual: could be as much as 8-9,000kms on these things...not completely sure. Pretty sure I bought them in October 2007.
b) Madshus Annum with NNNBC-Magnum: no idea on the mileage- only ski them in deep pow since November 2013.
c) A range of BC-XC skis mounted with NNNBC-Magnum/Manual, with various mileage on them: Madshus Epoch, Madshus Eon Wax, Asnes Combat USGI, Altai Hok, Fischer E-99 Crown/Tour, Fischer E-109 Crown/Tour, Asnes Combat Nato.

-Amount of skiing you typically do per year
My ski season typically last from mid-November to late April. I backcountry tour in the hills approx. 1000kms per season. Ski on the groomed track in town during the work week from December through late March- unknown distance. Ski most everyday- even if I have to go out with a headlamp.

-Number of years skiing on NNN/SNS and NNN-BC/SNS-BC systems
1) NNN: 27 years (first kit in 1989- pretty sure)
2) NNNBC: 11 years.

[HBS]

Thanks guys! Definitely evidence for my suspicion that the skepticism about NNN-BC reliability is largely unfounded.

[satsuma]

SNS (not BC) approx 7 days/yr from 2001 to 2011, then less
NNN-BC auto 7-14 days/yr 2012, 25 days 2015-2016, less in between
NNN (not BC) approx 1 day/week since 2014 6-9 months/yr (on roller skis)

No failures.
The only problem I have had is with reentry into NNN-BC bindings after skiing through snow. This is alleviated by lubricating the bindings with things like bicycle lubricant or silicone spray.

The only failures I have had were structural failures on roller skis. My weight (205-215) is a contributing factor.

[lilcliffy]

Hey Satsuma,

Is the problem with snow build up in the binding specific to the NNNBC-auto binding?

[Cannatonic]

Thanks guys! Definitely evidence for my suspicion that the skepticism about NNN-BC reliability is largely unfounded.

Never any failure with years of NNNBC. One incident of freezing up only after being submerged in water.

I did have a boot rip off the sole once, but that can happen with any glued-on hiking or XC boot sole. One reason why welted boots might be more reliable for serious trips.

[MikeK]

Slight concern with one of my bindings: The lever took an abnormal amount of force to open and seemed to persist throughout the day. Hoping it's a lubrication issue and something hasn't been bent in the closing linkage. Was concerned I might break it with the amount of force it was requiring.

This was on a new-style (current production) Manual.