I am also a 75mm + cable tele skier or a NNN-BC skier, for downhill and exploratory nordic backcountry usage respectively.
The main financial reason I haven't tried Xplore is because of the cost - whenever I'm outfitting a new pair of skis it's because I'm already spending money in an arguably frivolous way (on skis), and is hard to justify a $250 binding, as well as getting new boots, while orphaning your other skis if you love the boot.
From what I hear others say about Xplore, I think if my use case was the type of skiing I dream about, such as long approaches to mellow downhills in the backcountry, I would buy into Xplore. Unfortunately I don't live in such location. I am either skiing mainly in a flat(ish) forrest or skiing down a mountain doing tele turns. So a damn good enough nordic striding binding (NNN BC) and damn good enough downhill tele binding (75mm Voile hardwires) work great for their respective uses.
Curious to hear from Xplore users, do you get stopped by ski patrol / lift attendants at resorts for skiing with a non-braked binding?
3 Pin vs. Rotte Xplore
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telerat
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:09 am
- Location: Middle of Norway
- Ski style: Telemark, backcountry nordic and cross country skiing.
- Favorite Skis: Any ski suitable for telemark or backcountry skiing, with some side-cut for turning.
- Favorite boots: Scarpa plastic telemark. Asolo and Alfa leather boots.
Re: 3 Pin vs. Rotte Xplore
You should always use leashes for resorts if you don't have stoppers on your binding/ski. Rottefella makes a specific leash for Xplore, but it has a separate bracket to be screwed to the ski instead of the leash attaching directly to the binding.
@timpete I would not worry about Xplore, as your gear sound well suited for your use. Its strength for skiing is with boots like Alfa Free or Crispi Futura XP Pro when used with the hard flex, and more support is desired than NNN-BC or a pure 3-pin binding can provide. A pair of Crispi Svartisen is a good alternative if it fits, for both NNN-BC and 75mm. A 3-pin cable binding should give similar performance to Xplore, albeit at a higher weight. And Voile hardwire should be more supportive with any suitable boot.
If one is buying both new skis and boots and want to use neither with other gear, one should consider Xplore as it has several advantages that I described in my previous post. I switched to Xplore when my old boots were worn out and I changed the binding on my one pair of skis from 75mm, as well as on my touring skates. It was also partly driven by 75mm not working well for me with the skates. (Regular NNN worked well for skating, but was scary for hiking if encountering ice.) I later added other another pair of boots and skis.
@timpete I would not worry about Xplore, as your gear sound well suited for your use. Its strength for skiing is with boots like Alfa Free or Crispi Futura XP Pro when used with the hard flex, and more support is desired than NNN-BC or a pure 3-pin binding can provide. A pair of Crispi Svartisen is a good alternative if it fits, for both NNN-BC and 75mm. A 3-pin cable binding should give similar performance to Xplore, albeit at a higher weight. And Voile hardwire should be more supportive with any suitable boot.
If one is buying both new skis and boots and want to use neither with other gear, one should consider Xplore as it has several advantages that I described in my previous post. I switched to Xplore when my old boots were worn out and I changed the binding on my one pair of skis from 75mm, as well as on my touring skates. It was also partly driven by 75mm not working well for me with the skates. (Regular NNN worked well for skating, but was scary for hiking if encountering ice.) I later added other another pair of boots and skis.