3 pin cable

I love the 3 pin cable binding. If you telemark ski, you have probably noticed all the gear options these days converging toward the "New Telemark Norm" (quote by Craig Dostie of Couloir Magazine). With respect to bindings, the NTN is super-complicated, sometimes-releasable, and always-expensive. To my knowledge, nobody makes the simple, time-tested three-pin binding + cable anymore, except for Voile.

The main appeal of the 3-pin is its redundancy. If you're 50 miles into the backcountry and you lose a cable, you still have the pins. If you manage to break the pins, you still have the cable. For touring, you can carry the cables in your pocket and put them on when the skins come off for some turns.

I have been pretty unsatisfied with the "loop" bindings. Your boots can expand or contract with temperature. Twice I have popped out of loops on rental/demo gear. Once, the ski broke out of a leash and continued 1000' down the mountain. Lovely.

Some people will argue that this binding or that binding gives more torsional rigidity. If you want torsional rigidity, get a pair of randonee skis!

I have an old (5 years) pair of these, and I believe they were a bit light-duty for hard-core resort skiing. They're bent and warped, but still hold together. The newer versions of this binding, and the one I'm reviewing, seem to be made of much beefier steel.

After 8 years of Tele, i still swear by these babies. the previous review sums up the many biggest advantages, but neglects to mention the option of the release plate, and choice between leash and OR brake systems.



These choices are personal but I prefer to have a release even if it's cranked tight. Call me chicken...