Pairing the xplore - remount NATOS?

[MannyAllegro]

Hi there folks -

First thank you to lil cliffy and Johnny for all the words that I’ve read and re read over the years that I’ve been , well reading - this forum . It’s awesome .

This is my first post on the eve of going to the XPLORE system .

Current skis : combat nato with the Rainey super loop binding , been using a double leather boot by kastinger ( old heirloom boot from uncle Fred ) also ps Fischer e99

Rainey super loop : solid 90s era tele binding

Looking for input on this conundrum pls ! I bought the rossignal xp12 boot and xplore binding ( full review incoming ) and I really don’t want to Swiss cheese my beloved NATOs only to find that my fear of being disappointed with DHcontrol using the x plore and rossi xp 12 boots is a reality !

Of course , you may be thinking well dude just go get some new skis …. Like the sverdrup or Gamme . I know right !? But my wife is gonna kill me if I do that lol

I’m the financial guy at home eh … so I have to respect that unfortunately .

So - option a is pull off the Rainey super loops and remount with the XPLORE , I can re use two holes as the mm on centre is only .5 mm out on the left right dimension .

Would I find that I should have stuck to 75 mm for the DH fun !? I’d appreciate your best intuitions dear reader

Best and happy December

Manny

Bragg creek AB

[Sidney Dunkin]

Good luck with your new boots and bindings Manny. I'm sure I'm not the only one interested to see how the Explore system compares to your old 75mm stuff on the same set of skis. Please let us know what you find.

[Kneedle Drop]

This might sound like a slightly odd suggestion, but it might be something worth thinking about.

Did you have your old bindings mounted at balance point or a little bit behind balance point (I have read on this forum that some skiers prefer to mount behind balance point if the ski will be downhill focused)? The Xplore bindings could be mounted slightly fore or aft of the old mounting point. If they were mounted at balance point, go aft. If they were mounted behind balance point, go to balance point. This playing around with mounting position is not something I have a ton of experience with, so seeking additional advice on this point could be worth your while.

If you are unhappy with the Xplore setup, you could remount your old bindings using the original holes and Binding Freedom inserts (Perhaps the old holes can be reused. I don't know about that. Others on this forum should know). That is sort of what I did on my Hoks. They were already set up with inserts for Voile 3-pin bindings. I was able to use two of the existing inserts for the Xplores, and then mounted Binding Freedom inserts for the other mounting points. Now I can switch back to 75mm if I decide I am unhappy with Xplore on the Hoks.

[Kneedle Drop]

Oh, one more thing to add and ask. I have read that the Natos have a titanal plate where the bindings are mounted. I don't know if this affects mounting with inserts. Does anyone else know? I am strongly considering picking up the Natos myself and would like to use inserts so that I can switch my Xplores between skis.

[Lhartley]

Hi there folks -

First thank you to lil cliffy and Johnny for all the words that I’ve read and re read over the years that I’ve been , well reading - this forum . It’s awesome .

This is my first post on the eve of going to the XPLORE system .

Current skis : combat nato with the Rainey super loop binding , been using a double leather boot by kastinger ( old heirloom boot from uncle Fred ) also ps Fischer e99

Rainey super loop : solid 90s era tele binding

Looking for input on this conundrum pls ! I bought the rossignal xp12 boot and xplore binding ( full review incoming ) and I really don’t want to Swiss cheese my beloved NATOs only to find that my fear of being disappointed with DHcontrol using the x plore and rossi xp 12 boots is a reality !

Of course , you may be thinking well dude just go get some new skis …. Like the sverdrup or Gamme . I know right !? But my wife is gonna kill me if I do that lol

I’m the financial guy at home eh … so I have to respect that unfortunately .

So - option a is pull off the Rainey super loops and remount with the XPLORE , I can re use two holes as the mm on centre is only .5 mm out on the left right dimension .

Would I find that I should have stuck to 75 mm for the DH fun !? I’d appreciate your best intuitions dear reader

Best and happy December

Manny

Bragg creek AB

I have some 185 tua wilderness (74/60/64) I'm ready to pass on if you just want to mount the xplores up on something to try out. I'm in Calgary and often pass through Bragg Creek. Not looking for money, paid 20 bucks and got a riva out of them

[fisheater]

I would be absolutely shocked, mind blown, if you were to find the downhill control of the Superloop, with your Xplore combo.
However you may find you have adequate downhill control, and much better XC performance with Xplore.
I have mounted a few pair of Asnes skis, I have found balance point was a good place to place the pins or bar. I’m a Euro 45, perhaps if you had bigger feet you may want to mount back a little. My experience has been that chord center and balance point are pretty close on the Asnes skis I have mounted (6 pairs of Asnes skis)In the old days, pins on chord center was the downhill mounting, and pins on balance point was the cross country mounting. I certainly don’t think your skis are going to be quicker edge to edge mounting aft of BP.

[lilcliffy]

Hello and WELCOME @MannyAllegro

You are an experienced skier-

What do you think about the Rossi XP12 vs your Kastinger double 75?

I think that is the key comparison to make→ between the two boots.

I have examined and tried on the Rossi XP12 in my local shop- (as stated in the Review forum @fledersau )- this boot was more stable and supportive than I expected...
I certainly think the XP12 is enough boot to drive the Combat NATO.

The Xplore boot-binding interface is definitely more rigid and more responsive than any of the old 75mm-NN binding designs. I am very impressed and pleased so far.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you make out with this!
Gareth

[Telemarkpete]

Hi Manny,

Nice To see a fellow Bragg Creeker on the forum! Interested to hear about your experiences too. I have a pair of falketind 62’s mounted with Voile three pins with wires that I was thinking of converting to Xplore’s too.