Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

The bellows on my Black Diamond Seekers has hardened and can barely be flexed. Someone told me it might help to heat it with a hair dryer. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

Gatvol wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2025 4:17 pm

The bellows on my Black Diamond Seekers has hardened and can barely be flexed. Someone told me it might help to heat it with a hair dryer. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

My guess would be the only approach that might have any benefit would be some kind of chemical treatment but my gut says they are probably just at end of life.

JohnSKepler wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:03 am

Gatvol wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2025 4:17 pm

The bellows on my Black Diamond Seekers has hardened and can barely be flexed. Someone told me it might help to heat it with a hair dryer. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

My guess would be the only approach that might have any benefit would be some kind of chemical treatment but my gut says they are probably just at end of life.

What would be a good replacement?

I believe John S is correct in his assumption. As far as new 75mm boots, you can choose between Scarpa and Crispi. Scarpa is a less voluminous fit, they say Crispi has more volume.
The Scarpa T2 has good reviews, I ski a T4 and an F1. Crispi makes an XP and an XR in 75 mm. The XP is 3 buckle, XR is 4 buckle. The 4 buckle is stiffer.
Now you know what I know.
I don’t know where and how you ski. While I like my T-4 two buckle boot. I think that is my limit for 75 mm. I know my TTS binding offers so much more precision than my 75 mm bindings. If I were buying a resort only set-up, I would probably order a Crispi Shiver NTN boot. If it fit, and I liked the flex I would order an Outlaw or Bandit binding. That would be resort only.
I like TTS, and I am quite comfortable with TTS for anything that isn’t lift served or better on XCD gear. If it’s rolling with challenging downhills, and tough snow it could go T-4/75 mm or TTS
Hope that helped
Yes, for serious terrain, I think NTN/TTS offers a more precise boot binding connection. I have not actually skied NTN, so maybe all the reviews are incorrect

I doubt it would help, but you could try dipping the boot toes in boiling water and flex them afterward and see if it makes any difference. If the boots are unusable, you can always try anything, but it sounds to me that you need new(er) boots.

I agree with Fisheater above. Scarpa T2 Eco or used T2x, and Crispi X-P seems the closest models to the Seekers, but I have only tried the T2x and that works for most wider alpine/telemark skis, both lift served and not, and I assume X-P would too. I think the T4 would be less supportive. Good luck.

Thanks for all the input. I talked to a local shop and they felt I may as well replace not only the boots but my 20 year old World Pistes and the Rot. cable bindings, with something more modern. It seems like a lot of sudden expense but I suppose the best bet would be used skis and bindings of recent vintage paired with a new pair of boots. Maybe Crispi XPs. Any ideas on that?

Should also mention that I'm not a very confident tele skier and still sometimes bail out of turns with a parallel turn. I ski almost exclusively on piste in the East. Sometimes, I go out to visit my daughter in Montana and ski Big Sky. But most of my skiing is in Ice Hampshire.

Almost any modern ski should be an upgrade. A not too stiff giant slalom ski is a good and fun solution for pure piste skiing, but there are several options that will perform well both on and off piste. 90+/-5 mm waist should be good.

If your old Rottefellas have a wire and are not Chili or Cobra with stiff rods, I agree with upgrading them. 22design Vice may be the best option, but Bishop BMF/3 is a good alternative with brakes and step in. Touring mode is a revolution if you go touring, but it does not sound so?

https://www.backcountrytalk.com/forum/b ... -bar-grill may be better place than here place to ask for telemark ski advice. Good luck.

Gatvol wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 05, 2025 10:02 am

Should also mention that I'm not a very confident tele skier and still sometimes bail out of turns with a parallel turn. I ski almost exclusively on piste in the East. Sometimes, I go out to visit my daughter in Montana and ski Big Sky. But most of my skiing is in Ice Hampshire.

Next time you are in Montana you should hit Bridger Bowl, nicest lit serviced skiing in the state and the vibe is much more laid back than the Vail-Associates vibe at BS. Re Lodge is top too!

randoskier wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 05, 2025 12:09 pm

Gatvol wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 05, 2025 10:02 am

Should also mention that I'm not a very confident tele skier and still sometimes bail out of turns with a parallel turn. I ski almost exclusively on piste in the East. Sometimes, I go out to visit my daughter in Montana and ski Big Sky. But most of my skiing is in Ice Hampshire.

Next time you are in Montana you should hit Bridger Bowl, nicest lit serviced skiing in the state and the vibe is much more laid back than the Vail-Associates vibe at BS. Re Lodge is top too!

Going in March. And we actually are skiing Bridger Bowl one day.