New 22-Designs NTN Binding

I really welcome 22Designs to NTN because they have a proven record of getting it right and they are just a cool company. This is going sound like an overstatement, but the future of tele rests in hands of what 22D, Scarpa and Rotte decide to do.  A true step-in NTN binding with adjustable pivot locations (which is what 22D's proto version has) would be a nice improvement over current NTN. And, the Hammerheel lifter blows the NTN/TTS and all other tele ones out of the water. 

I really would prefer improvement/innovation in the TTS offerings. B&D has a tele tech adapter in beta now that I have been testing that is an improvement over current TTS because the pivot is adjustable on the fly (has a shift plate below) and it uses Voile hardwire cables so you can remove them on on the ascent.

Although I still ski 75mm about 90% of the time that I am skiing, I urge all telemarkers to stop putting off buying new stuff since their wouldn't be any innovation if we don't put our money where are mouths are (which contradicts Dan's post above). The closing of Marmot is another huge hit to tele in WA  since they were one of the only remaining shops in the PNW willing to carry a decent selection of tele boots (even though it did not make economic sense anymore). 

I like these thoughts.  It's important to invest in tele in order to keep it alive.  I'm very glad 22 designs has stepped in to NTN and are developing a tech tele binding!  Here are some quotes from a backcountry mag interview that made me happy:

BCM: What’s the timeline for a TwentyTwo NTN binding becoming available?
CC: Fall 2015 is the plan. There’s another binding that we’re working on with a tech-fitting toe for a true Dynafit-style tour mode.

BCM: So do you think NTN systems and tech systems are the future of what people will be telemarking on?

CC: Yea. I think 75mm will be around for a long time. We plan on selling the Axl and Vice for a long time. They’re great bindings, but the NTN offers additional features that you really can’t get with a 75mm binding like step-in, like releasability and like a tech-fitting-style tour binding.

BCM: And having more options available to the NTN skier can’t hurt either.

CC: Yea. We want to have the best bindings for both systems, so that’s the direction we’re heading.

Here's a link to the interview. 

backcountrymagazine.com/gear/future-tele...gns-new-ntn-binding/

Ok, here is my 1st prototype, which flexed ok until broke Back to the drawing board...

Kenji…

That is a work of art.

Where are you getting your carbon fiber?

Another question.

Is the back piece always engaging the duckbutt or is that somehow moveable?

It seems like you would need to step out of the ski from tour mode and then engage the duckbutt and then the tech toe to get into ski mode. … am I right?

The holding part slides on the carbon plate, a tricky part has been on how to apply some tension to keep it engaged, and still easy to disengage. For now I'm using some heavy elastic loop for that (not shown) to avoid use of any steel springs.

I've got a few pieces of carbon plate samples online, of course it's impossible to know how stiff the plates need to be...until I try. So far just try&error...mostly errors

The holding part slides on the carbon plate, a tricky part has been on how to apply some tension to keep it engaged, and still easy to disengage.  For now I'm using some heavy elastic loop for that (not shown) to avoid use of any steel springs.

Something like what 22 Designs is trying to do to engage and release the hook from the duckbutt would be good. In tour mode the 22 Designs hook, because of the step in feature, wouldn't allow for touring though.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I'm not convinced the Dynafit toe piece is the answer. I really like the lateral stability of the flex plate of the Freedom while cruising around in tour mode, espceially for side hilling. However if they do come out with this type of binding that uses the duckbutt I'm sure I'd buy 2. :