Opinions on Releasable Bindings

That heel-throw is the worst part of an otherwise great design, I think -- I actually replaced mine with G3 throws and they work far better...

That heel-throw is the worst part of an otherwise great design, I think -- I actually replaced mine with G3 throws and they work far better...

That's fine thinking - I may try that.

I could add that the toe on my T1's barely squeezed into the toe bail on my first pair, and only after a concerted effort. I don't have similar issues with the newer pair.

I use 7tm Power Tour bindings on my K2 Super Stinx. What makes the installation tricky is that the K2's have pre-drilled screw holes with threaded inserts. Karhu in all its wisdom decided not to make the 7tm's mounting screws align with any of these holes. If you try to mount the 7tm's directly onto the skis, you'll rip out the inserts and ruin your sticks. 

I made a video of the installation with the K2 adapter plates. The tutorial shows you exactly what you need and how it works works.

" Karhu 7tm Binding Installation on K2 Skis "

Explains and demonstrates the installation of the Karhu-Garmont 7TM Power Tour telemark boot binding on K2 Super Stinx skis with pre-drilled holes.

I have used the Voile releasable plates for almost 20 years with pretty good luck. Maybe pre released a hand full of times. These were all mounted on alpine skis and I was either using stine comps or Terminators... I always turn the springs back so they are not under pressure before putting them away for the season. I have heard that they can loose their strength over time. Maybe this causes pre release over time? The new NTN system is supposed to be releasable as well?

I was pressured by friends and family into getting releasable bindings when I bought my Havocs three years ago. I find the 7TMs to be more difficult to get into than my older G3 bindings. The two times that they have released were on very steep slopes, with deep snow conditions, which made reattachment extremely awkward. The toe bar broke recently, but Garmont sent me a new set-up for both skis free of charge. I don't think that I'll get releasable bindings on the new skis that I plan to buy this month.

After blowing an ACL, I only ski on releasable bindings.

The CRB's were always trouble for me. Even with the extra heavy springs, set to the max,I would release at the most unexpected times. Part of the problem may have been that snow and Ice tended to ball up under foot and lever the binding out.

I just replace my TRP/ G3 set up with 7TM Power Tours. The Power Tours are definitely a more active binding. Switching to pivot (tour) mode is a little clumsy. I have released only once on the 7TM pt, and very happy it did.

All in all, I like this set up much better that the trp / g3.