Voile Hardwire 3-Pin for touring/resort ?

[dnt_upton]

FWIW, Voile rates their performance/flex as "active," which is more than the Switchback's "moderate" but less than the X2's "aggressive."

Nothing can beat a good 'ole Rottefella Super Tele for pins. Neutral and the bales are perfect!

Entirely depends on the terrain you're skiing. So, in terms of absolutes, I have to disagree with this. You want to cruise mellow woods, 3 pins are great. Make it steep or crud or moguls, and I'd want a more powerful binding.

[lilcliffy]

Totally agree- the terrain and snow conditions get challenging enough- I want more power than a 3-pin binding.

What I don't agree with is a free-pivot binding for K&G touring. In order to get efficient grip during the kick phase- there must be some resistance in the binding. Free-pivot for climbing- no question- HUGE advantage.

I have never used this binding- I use the trad 3-pin with detachable cable. I use the cable when I need some extra downhill power- otherwise I tour and climb with the cable off.

Can you adjust the tension on this hardwire binding- to improve touring and climbing performance?

[Dirtbag]

I have some on my widest pow ski. Lock down the bails there basically a free pivot 3 pin. Use the hardwires as normal and you have a very powerful stable mount that can drive a big ski with ease. The simplest,lightest most functional binding out there IMHO. They would be a perfect K&G binding on like a BC 125 or Vector with no downhill comprimise.

[connyro]

I have some on my widest pow ski. Lock down the bails there basically a free pivot 3 pin. Use the hardwires as normal and you have a very powerful stable mount that can drive a big ski with ease. The simplest,lightest most functional binding out there IMHO. They would be a perfect K&G binding on like a BC 125 or Vector with no downhill comprimise.

With all due respect, I disagree. While I do agree that the 3-pin HW has plenty of power for bigger skis on the down, I think the main compromise with the 3-pin HW is that if you are doing laps, and you don't want the resistance of the hardwires when climbing, you must disengage the HW's, and clip them onto the back of the heel piece and then re-clip the HW to your boot when you go to descend, which I find to be a pain in the ass with all the stooping and twisting. With the SB, you just move a lever over and you are switched between modes. I also don't like the 3-pin HW for the simple fact that if you need to take your ski off for whatever reason (clumsy with skins, stream crossing, etc), the snow that gets packed into the pin holes makes for a pain in the ass when trying to put the ski back on.

Lock down the bails there basically a free pivot 3 pin.

When in 3-pin mode only, they are definitely NOT free pivot.

[dnt_upton]

What I don't agree with is a free-pivot binding for K&G touring.

I don't think anyone made a claim to the contrary, and if I did, chalk it up to poor writing.

There's no question that a free pivot binding is more efficient for climbing than a 3 pin binding. But the Hardwire binding is a fine compromise, losing some efficiency but saving a small amount in weight and price.

[Dirtbag]

I can hardly feel the difference between my 3pinHWs with the bails down and my Axls in tour mode. They are lighter and way cheaper. I'm not going to whine about 2 seconds of stooping to transition. Way better than trying to K&G in an Axl.

[connyro]

I can hardly feel the difference between my 3pinHWs with the bails down and my Axls in tour mode. They are lighter and way cheaper. I'm not going to whine about 2 seconds of stooping to transition. Way better than trying to K&G in an Axl.

Huh. Maybe your Axl pivots is broken or stiff because I can tell a big difference between them and 3-pins. Or you use very soft boots for 3-pins. The HW's ARE cheaper and way lighter, but I WILL whine about the 2 second transition. Our hills are only a few hundred vertical feet, so if I are doing a dozen laps, that's 24 times I would have to un-latch and re-latch the HW: plenty to whine about.

[lilcliffy]

Connyro- hadn't thought about it before- but what you are describing makes sense to me.

[Teleman]

Can't see getting anything but three pins for hill cruising....Cables just get in the way....At a downhill area they give "head" support but not necessary in my opinion....At least two kinds of skiers....Power and finesse....Power get the cable....Finesse get the pins....Ron swears by the Voile 3pc and I think he loves the Wire thinger....Will give a try this year to getting back to a downhill area or two and see if the 109's, Noodles, and or the Telepathic with 3pc works the best....In powder pins win hands down....and you know how we like to keep them up!!!!! We observe how slow the vectors and SB's are on the up....and my short 109's blow them away on the down.....BUT....you have to be in a tele stance for them to really go.....ride that rail!!! TM

[lilcliffy]

For most of my everyday skiing, 3-pin ,or NNN-BC, is all I need.

But, I have to say that I have been on many a steep slope that I appreciated the power of the cable...This may simply demonstrate my lack of skill?

I personally love the 3-pin-cable binding- yeah it is "old" technology- but it is so versatile- especially if you are a long-distance tourer- like me!