The truth about NTN: My take on it...
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:17 am
So I've been skiing on NTN for about 5 years now. Not exclusively of course, I ski on a lot of other different bindings too. In the end, it will always be a matter of taste, but let's take a look at the facts:
Cons:
1- Heavy (The heaviest binding on the market)
2- Expensive (The most expensive binding on the market)
3- Easy to break (The most fragile binding on the market)
4- Only a few boots are compatible (The most limited choice on the market)
5- Catastrophic only release
6- Boots are expensive too
7- Release settings is inversely proportional of binding stiffness
8- Not really a true step-in binding
Pros:
1- Best edge control ever, and that's it.
So honestly, is it really worth paying 400$ for a pair of bindings with only one real advantage over the others? And knowing that you will have to spend another 700$ for another pair of boots that only fits this binding? My answer is yes, absolutely. There is nothing like NTN for carving like a king. Whether it's world cup racing at eye-watering speeds or kicking short radius turns. For hard pack on-piste skiing, it's the best binding ever.
Now, does that mean that you should throw away everything else? Absolutely not. NTN bindings are like carrots. I like carrots, I really do. When really fresh, it's probably my favorite vegetable. But would I be willing to eat only carrots and nothing else for every single day of year? Definitely not. I would be really sad to do so. Just like I would be really sad to ski only on NTN.
While it's the best binding for what it does, I do believe that it really shouldn't be your only choice. Granted, everyone should own a pair of Freerides at some point. But seriously, if you are skiing exclusively on NTN, you are missing A LOT of fun. They offer the best control over edging, but that doesn't mean you can't do it with other bindings too. Just because you own NTN bindings doesn't make you a better skier. It's quite the opposite actually. You have to deserve it. You have to prove that you deserve the NTN "upgrade". As they say, "If you can't rip on pins, you ain't s**t"...
NTN is getting more and more popular, and for a good reason, but 75mm nordic norm is here to stay. So in the end, it's not really just a matter of taste, it's a matter of using the proper tools for the proper job. The truth? Yours to discover, there's a different truth for everyone of us.
Cons:
1- Heavy (The heaviest binding on the market)
2- Expensive (The most expensive binding on the market)
3- Easy to break (The most fragile binding on the market)
4- Only a few boots are compatible (The most limited choice on the market)
5- Catastrophic only release
6- Boots are expensive too
7- Release settings is inversely proportional of binding stiffness
8- Not really a true step-in binding
Pros:
1- Best edge control ever, and that's it.
So honestly, is it really worth paying 400$ for a pair of bindings with only one real advantage over the others? And knowing that you will have to spend another 700$ for another pair of boots that only fits this binding? My answer is yes, absolutely. There is nothing like NTN for carving like a king. Whether it's world cup racing at eye-watering speeds or kicking short radius turns. For hard pack on-piste skiing, it's the best binding ever.
Now, does that mean that you should throw away everything else? Absolutely not. NTN bindings are like carrots. I like carrots, I really do. When really fresh, it's probably my favorite vegetable. But would I be willing to eat only carrots and nothing else for every single day of year? Definitely not. I would be really sad to do so. Just like I would be really sad to ski only on NTN.
While it's the best binding for what it does, I do believe that it really shouldn't be your only choice. Granted, everyone should own a pair of Freerides at some point. But seriously, if you are skiing exclusively on NTN, you are missing A LOT of fun. They offer the best control over edging, but that doesn't mean you can't do it with other bindings too. Just because you own NTN bindings doesn't make you a better skier. It's quite the opposite actually. You have to deserve it. You have to prove that you deserve the NTN "upgrade". As they say, "If you can't rip on pins, you ain't s**t"...
NTN is getting more and more popular, and for a good reason, but 75mm nordic norm is here to stay. So in the end, it's not really just a matter of taste, it's a matter of using the proper tools for the proper job. The truth? Yours to discover, there's a different truth for everyone of us.
