New 22-Designs NTN Binding

(This season aside) I predominantly ski wild and fluffy stuff too, and the difference in control with NTN is very noticeable there too.  Not just on harder snow. 

YMMV. 

Agreed - the performance upgrade (for me) has been noticeable all around, both with the Freeride and the Freedom. I was coming from 7TM though, which was notoriously a bit on the sloppy side.

Yeah, but compare the lightest NTN boot from Scarpa to the lightest AT boot from Scarpa. 7lbs a pair vs 3lbs a pair.

Actually, Scarpa is still making the T4, a simple, two buckle touring boot. 1500gm. www.scarpa.net/en/t4.html

Actually, Scarpa is still making the T4, a simple, two buckle touring boot. 1500gm. www.scarpa.net/en/t4.html

I think that is the weight per boot.  6.5# for pair.

NTN has much better lateral stiffness than most 75mm cable bindings (e.g. HH)  This results in a much more precise feel, quicker engagement and better edge hold.  I liked the release feature of the NTN and have had several releases from it.   I didn't like the fact that I managed to rip-apart the sub-frame on day 10 after a hard landing in the terrain park.

The only comparable 75mm binding that I've skied was the Bishop/Bomber, which is amazingly rigid and precise.  After a long absence, the Bishop is being manufactured again www.bishopbindings.com/shop/the-bishop-20     Best paired with a burly boot like the T-Race.

I haven't skied the new version -- the only things I didn't like about the orginal Bishop was the weight and a little bit of toe-rise when skiing backwards.

The new 22-Designs offering looks promising and I would expect it should hold up to hard charging better than the Rottefella offerings.

It's too bad Scarpa stopped making the F1 and F1-Carbon -- those boots combined with the Telemark-Tech system were close to the weight and tourability of light dynafit setups.   The ankle rotation of the F1 boots in tour mode makes a suprisingly big difference in ease of travel.   It's too bad that Scarpa's NTN offerings don't even include a boot with as much ankle freedom as even the Mastrale/Rush, much less the Alien.

I am on TX Pros and Freedoms. For the most part it is an upgrade from the energy/01 setup I had before. With the big steps forward in non-duckbill boots, release, no rocker-launch and semi-stepin with brakes I do not see myself going back to 75mm. I will not consider the 22 designs bindings unless they release as that was a big selling point for NTN, I want the safety margin for avalanches or a nasty fall. The freedoms seem fine binding wise, not perfect but mostly good enough.
That said the boots need some updates, the TX line needs to get the tour mechanism from the Masestrale line. I also find the TX-Pros a bit lacking in the stiffness department, but wanted the Tech insert option for TTS. If Scarpa releases a new TX comp with inserts and a better tour mode, I will pay up, but I would not be interested in an alien like boot, it would be too soft for my needs.

Based on the responses, it looks like heavy "tele" is here to stay.