ESTC - handbook

The Edinburgh Ski Touring Club

Boots and Bindings

Traditional Nordic Leather

The boot illustrated below is typical of a traditional Nordic boot. It has a Vibram sole and has three pin holes for the standard 75mm binding. This is a comfortable boot for touring in flat and rolling terrain. In this form it is matched with a simple three pin binding shown below. Some manufacturers have added buckles and ankle flex to adapt the leather boot to the requirements for a stiffer boot brought about by cable bindings and touring in more extreme terrain.

The traditional three pin Nordic binding

This example is from Voile and is a classic example.

The welt of the toe of the boot sits on three pins in the toe piece and the front plate is clipped down into a spring loaded clip and this prevents the boot from detaching from the pins. This type of binding provides good flexibility and is light and the conventional choice for low level Nordic touring. There is no provision for quick release but this is less of a problem because this style of setup is not usually used for faster descents where there are real risks from falling.

New Nordic Norm (NNN)

In addition to the traditional 3 pin 75 mm Nordic binding, there is now a new Nordic binding system which replaces the traditional three pin attachment with a bar on the boot which clips into the binding.

This boot and binding combination comes in several variations including track and back country. See www.skinnyskis.com/bootsandbindings.aspx for details. These bindings are used on cambered Nordic skis.

Specialised Touring Plastic Boots

The Garmont Excursion and the Scarpa T4 shown below are light plastic boots designed specifically for use with the three pin cable bindings in touring applications. The light weight and relatively low height of the cuffs and the flex in the toes are designed to make them comfortable for all day touring. Both come with 18mm soles and three pinholes to enable them to be used with either three pin or cable bindings. These are increasingly seen as the most versatile boot for backcountry work. They provide greater rigidity and match well the characteristics of the newer generation of more waisted skis designed to encourage downhill performance. Telemarkers seeking higher levels of control and wanting to ski telemark on and off piste may graduate to stiffer and higher boots and bindings which are raised higher from the ski to allow more edging on steep terrain before the boot catches the snow.

 

The three pin binding with cable

A classic example from Voile. Here the front three pin binding gains a spring-loaded and adjustable cable which holds the back of the boot and creates a more rigid attachment to the ski. This binding also comes with a separate quick release mechanism which allows the binding and boot to break away from the ski under extreme pressures. The Voile quick release and cable binding has been a standard telemark binding for some time and is a reliable standard. It is not the easiest of bindings to put on and off and remounting the binding after the safety binding has released is a little tedious. The cable is detachable and the binding can be used as a simple three pin binding for ascents if the greater flexibility is wanted.

The cable binding

The Rottafella Chili binding is a good example of a cable binding which has done away with the three pin front and captures the front toe welt under a simple bar at the front. The cable/springs are activated by a heal lever which rigidly locks the boot into the toe piece (bail). The cables are easily adjustable to ensure the boot is firmly held into the bail.

Telemark Boots

As Telemark skiing has become more popular there are increasing numbers of backcountry skiers who are interested in telemarking steeper slopes and who want equipment designed for extreme conditions. Boots for these activities are stiffer, higher and generally more expensive than boots for more general purpose backcountry touring. These boots often allow the shell to be locked for greater rigidity in downhill mode and unlocked for easier walking.

It is possible to buy lightweight thermoform-able liners for plastic boots; these are heat-formed from moldable foam to increase the support to the foot and calf and to ensure a more comfortable fit.

Garmont and Scarpa are the most easily available makes of boots in the UK but there are other manufacturers, Crispi and Black Diamond for example.

Step in one piece quick release bindings.

The 7TM is rapidly becoming the binding of choice for telemark touring where a release binding is appropriate. It comes in a number of versions. The Tour allows for the incorporation of a ski crampon.

New Telemark Norm (NTN)

 © Tory Bowman

A new telemark binding standard has emerged in recent years. The duckbill toe of all Nordic boots has been replaced by a rounded toe for use in a step in, partly releasable, free heel binding

Alpine Touring Boots and Bindings

A very wide range of Alpine ski touring boots are now manufactured with some firms offering several models. This is a long way from the day, not so long ago, when all ski mountaineers used the same brand in the same colour. These new boots come in a range of weights and flexes. All have Vibram souls and are considerably lighter than piste boots. They are usually used with a step in plate binding which unlocks the heel for ascents.

  

Skins

Skins used to come with straight sides and could be interchanged between skis. With waisted skis it is preferable to buy skis designed to be cut to the skis shape. Care should be taken to ensure the skins are clear of the metal edges of the ski.

Ski Crampons

Most binding systems for telemarking and Alpine touring come with some form of ski crampons or harscheisen.

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