WoW that was really interesting Tom! Your camera setup at the end was absolutely amazing! I would like to see a short video of your cam setup, the view was almost like a drone view, love it!
I agree, it is a very interesting perspective, and I like the idea of a future video showing some of the things I've learned using the Insta360 One X2 camera. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you are having a great ski season.
Love your videos, Tom. Nice, gentle, informative approach. Some day, I’d really like to see you try out the Altai Hok skis with 75-mm leather boot/binding system. Telemarking but even more so with the single pole technique. I live in eastern Canada (Ontario) with small hills, thick brush, and lots of short climbs and runs. With the single-pole technique and the integrated skins I’ve been able to ski steeper and tighter terrain than I ever could telemarking. It’s basically given me powder skiing that I never could access before. Hopefully the Altai people could set you up with the equipment for the exposure. Anyhoo, you keep doing you and I’ll keep following, but that’s what I would like.
Really interesting and great angles with the 360👏🔥. I' just ordered Åsnes rabb 68 with these boots. I'm excited, I really wanted randonee. But I think this option is better for walking to the top and getting down safely 🙏👏
How did you go about finding the mouting point for the xplores on these skis? Did you mount pin line on balance point or did you try and measure boot center for the standard reccomended mounting point?
I mounted the Xplore binding on these downhill focused skis using Voile's published boot center location. The boot center is 38 7/8 in from the tip on these 178 cm length Objectives. The Alfa Free boots do not have a boot center mark on the sole, so the one big unknown for this setup is where exactly is center of the boot? If you ask 3 different people on how to determine the boot center, you will end up with 3 different answers; measure from the pin line to the back of the sole, measure from the pin line to the back of the boot, measure from the toe of the boot to the back of the boot. For my boot size, the center location can vary by as much as 1/2 inch depending on which method you use. I set my boot center mark using the pin line and the back of the boot as my reference points. I really don't know which is the best method, but I'm happy with the way mine ski. I'm betting that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the three different mounting locations in actual use. As a side note, on my Cross country setups, I mount the Xplore binding with the pin line (as printed on the paper template) on the balance point on the ski. Using the boot center method tends to place the boot forward of where it would be if mounted using the balance point, but that is ski specific. Lots of telemark skiers prefer to ski with the boot center position slightly rearward of the recommended boot center position provided by ski manufacturers, the argument being that you steer the ski with the ball of the foot when telemark skiing and therefore the ball of the foot should be over the center of the ski. It would be interesting to ski the same ski on the same day with different mounting points, just to see if I could tell the difference. I do ski once in a while with another guy who has the same skis in the same length. I know his binding won't be in the same location as he has much larger boots so we may just have to do a little experiment.
Tom, great video...what other BC Voile skis with this binding and Boot combo would work with? I need a little longer Ski as I'm sure I weigh more than you. Thanks
I'm skiing the Objectives in the 178 cm length (longest length). Voile's big wide skis come in longer lengths (the Hyper V6's @ 188 and the Hyper V8's @ 193). The Alfa Free / Xplore works very well on the Objective's for the kind of snow and terrain shown in this video, but I wonder if they have enough support for a much larger, heavier, and fatter ski. My initial thought is maybe, especially for soft snow, but I'm betting that most would prefer a plastic boot and active binding on the V6's and V8's for difficult snow and terrain. I also ski the Voile Hyper V6's with the switchback X2 and Scarpa T2 plastic boot, and I pick that combo if the conditions are more challenging. Voile's skis are downhill skis with very little camber and the scales are going to drag (if you pick the bc version) no matter the length of ski and weight of skier, so if that is your concern, then I don't think a longer ski adds much to the party. Most people are skiing shorter downhill skis these days as they are more agile and tend to ski longer XC skis if the emphasis is on kick and glide speed.
How do you deal with the stiff sole? Does it affect your balance negatively? I tried a pair on in a store but could not flex the soles enough to get contact with the ball of foot. To me it felt like telemarking with AT boots in walk mode.
That is a great question. The soles on the Free are much harder to flex than the typical 75 mm or NNNBC soft leather boot. Check out the video that I posted last year discussing this issue. ua-cam.com/video/G5VNGvOm5K8/v-deo.html Also watch ua-cam.com/video/Ovx48kCVtzM/v-deo.html especially toward the end where I'm flexing the two different boots. It did take a little bit of adjustment, mostly mental, but I find that I can easily pressure and control the rear ski with the Frees. I did ski a set of T4's with a simple 3 pin binding for many years and I'm betting that my rear foot position was probably similar to how I'm skiing the Frees. It is possible to put enough pressure on the Frees when testing them out on the living room carpet to get the ball of the foot on the ski, but my ski style tends to put the ski further back than many skiers, and that makes it more difficult for me to keep the ball of the foot on the ski. Next time I'm out, I'll try and modify my style and make a conscious effort to ski with the ball planted on the rear ski and maybe I will put together a video with my thoughts. Stay tuned.
Great videos! Tom what’s your thoughts on the 22 designs Lynx or M Equipment Medjio NTN bindings? Fairly light weight offerings now for NTN to give a try.
I have not skied NTN. If there is a future for plastic telemark boots, it will probably be with NTN. Both the Medjio, 455 grams, and the Lynx, 522 grams, are lighter than the Voile Switchback X2, 727 grams, that I'm skiing. All that is needed for me to make the switch is a lighter weight, more uphill oriented boot, something equivalent to the Scarpa T2. The big question is whether the rumored boot that Scarpa is working on will be focused on resort or backcountry use. I'm betting it will be a resort boot and if so, I'll keep skiing my current setup (T2, Switchback X2, Hyper V6)
The Objective's are downhill skis and Voile has a recommended boot center location on their website. www.voile.com/Voile_Ski_Boot_Center_Chart.pdf The Alfa Free boots do not have a boot center mark, so I located the boot center using the pin line on the boot as the front and the heel as the back, dividing the boot in half. Take a peek at my Quiver Video and you can see them lined up next to my SBound 98's. The 98's have the pin line mounted on the balance point. The two skis are of similar length (179 for the 98's and 178 for the Objectives. ua-cam.com/video/6ThgXnPONms/v-deo.html
Tom I want to do some meadowskipping up the hoback canyon. I have a backcountry ski kit and voile v6 bc. My goal is remove as much fiddle faddle as possible but I can't tele ski (yet, I guess). Do you have any bindings you'd recommend that have a locking heal but also allow me to unlock the heal without getting out of my bindings like I currently have to do on my alpine touring bindings? The lighter the better... This xplore looks promising but no heel lock. I guess Ideally I'd just learn to tele!
I'm not aware of any modern bindings that can do that. There were a few from the distant past. Maybe someone reading this has a suggestion and I hope they will post.
I ski low angle terrain like this all the time either tele or Alpine style. Just stay centered on your ski and don't press the shin too much if at all. It gets difficult above 20 or 25 degrees. It's good to have some sense of tele moves to recover from the occasional bobble. Try skiing the tamer terrain at the resort without buckling the cuffs. It's not that hard, if you know how to unweight
Great videos. I'm not planning on switching over to the Xplore system, but you've provided so much practical info/data on this system, I don't need to ask any vendor about this system. Thanks so much for that! I'm curious to learn what the life span of the "pins" in the boots will be and whether they might get ground down a bit from constant use. I believe that in your earlier video going over the components, you determined that the pins are aluminum and that there's a hardened steel insert in the binding where the pins attach. Can you tell whether the "pins" could be replaced?
I may be wrong about the pin replacement. Rottefella recently posted this on their Facebook page, it sounds like they may have a method to replace the pins "We've had some cases where the pins in the shoe get wedged. This is due to a production deviation in the mechanism that makes a small number of shoes predisposed to this error. It is not due to freezing or icing, which can be easy to assume. If the problem has first happened to the shoe, it will probably happen again. We would strongly encourage anyone who has experienced that the pin in the shoe is wedged, experiences inertia in the pins, or is unsure before embarking on a long trip to contact us at: support@rottefella.no. Everyone will have the opportunity to ship their shoes free of charge to us. We have new upgraded parts that allow us to change the pins quickly and send the shoes out continuously again."
Thanks Tom for your lively and informative channel. Would you recommend the new Rottefellas as the best allrounder or not? (I.e. for shorter expeditions)
Yes, I think this is the future for Off Trail Cross Country Skiing on rolling and moderate terrain. It is pricier than NNNBC or 75 mm 3 pin, but if you are in the market for new skis and boots, then I think it is worth it. Most of the boot manufacturers have added Xplore boots this year, so there are more options, and you can either pick a boot with a sturdy upper for downhill control or a boot with a more flexible upper for long distance touring.
@@tomm9850 thanks! Did you ski up the road to the top? Looks like real nice terrain! I skied along the river a couple weeks ago to the ghost bridge. Love it back there in winter.
@@Hikebike365 I don't normally ski the road when there is adequate snow cover. Instead, I take a more direct route (similar to the summer hiking trails) to access the south and west slopes.
Thanks Tom! I was wondering, (and I may be totally crazy here because I don't know a whole lot), but do you think this system would be powerful enough for a skilled skier to ski on greens or even blues at a groomed alpine resort? I know a resort that doesn't charge for uphill skiers, but don't think I want to make the investment in AT yet. Or would I just be much better off getting T2s or T4s and telemarking?
Hi Ben. I think the correct answer is it depends. I would be very comfortable skiing this system (Voile Objective / Xplore / Alfa Free) on green and blue slopes, especially under good snow conditions. A few XCD skiers have been doing this for years, skiing at local resorts in soft boots with NNNBC or 75 mm. It certainly can be a challenge, even on gentle slopes, so avoid steeper terrain and difficult snow. On hard ice, I would have more confidence skiing a plastic boot with an active binding, and that is the system I would go with if resort skiing was the primary intended use. If your primary use is freeheel backcountry skiing with light gear and resort skiing is secondary, mainly to improve your backcountry skills, then I think this equipment is the perfect choice. Keep in mind that most resorts will require a leash with the Xplore system, and it might be a good idea to pick up a set of the hard flexors. If you think you will eventually move away from telemark and end up going toward AT, it might just be best to bite the bullet and make the move to AT. A setup like I am skiing in this video (Voile Objective / Xplore / Alfa Free) is very expensive, so you need to be sure that you are willing to take on the challenge of skiing lightweight freeheel gear. Most of the people I come across in the backcountry are using AT gear, many of whom made the transition from telemark to AT.
I've been skiing the Voile Objective skis with the Voile Traverse binding for a few years. I remounted them with the new Xplore binding so that I could try out the Alfa Free boots with them. The Objectives are a downhill ski designed for backcountry Alpine Touring. So far I'm very happy with the combination for backcountry downhill skiing. The skis are very lightweight and offer plenty of float.
The Objectives in this video are the same ones that I've been skiing for a few years. I removed the Voile traverse binding and remounted them with the Xplore. What combination are you thinking about and which setup in your quiver would they replace?
@@tomm9850 I’m currently skiing a Rossignol BC 100 with NNN BC Alpina Alaskas. Ideally, I’d like to keep this setup whole (for more rolling terrain) and invest in another pair of skis with the XPLORE system for bigger hills. Would these two setups be too redundant?
@@Bcskier44 It sounds like you have a great setup. The Objectives with the Alfa Free boot are a great combination. The Objectives are a downhill ski by design, so as you might expect, they are great for turning, but lifeless on the flats when compared to an XC ski. They also won't track as straight because of their tip and tail rocker and lack of a center groove. That being said, they are very light and work well for breaking trail and skiing the type of terrain shown in this video. My Sbound 98's @ 179 weigh 5.56 lbs with the Xplore binding and my Objectives @ 178 weigh 5.92 lbs with the Xplore Binding. If I'm going on a "tour for turns" outing, my choice is the Objectives with the Alfa Free Boots. If I know that there will be lots of flat touring involved, I'll take the Sbound 98's. The Alfa Free is a much studier boot than the Alpina Alaska NNNBC, and I'm sure the Free would give you better downhill and telemark control. A plastic boot and an active binding (like my Scarpa T2 and Voile Switchback) gives a whole different level of downhill control, but it is a much heavier and more cumbersome setup, and I will only resort to that combination for very difficult terrain and conditions.
I live in Norway, UA-cam videos og the Xplore system beats and and all reviews in Norway! Keep it up :-) The noe thing about the Free boot that worries me is the Boa, if the brake in the backcountry….well then you´re in trouble. Experience and sisuens with the Boa system? Thanks for great reviews!
This is my first boot with the BOA system. I was reluctant at first, it just seemed like an unnecessary complication, but they have won me over now. From everything that I have read, they are very durable. I have not had any issues with mine and I really enjoy being able to adust the boot so quickly when I'm out skiing. I'm carrying 2 velcro cinch straps in my emergency kit just in case I have a boa failure and I posted a video on that subject a few months ago. ua-cam.com/video/n1356GdlCnI/v-deo.html Thanks for tuning in and I hope you had a great ski season.
Hi Tom! Love the videos and insight you provide. I have been thinking of making some similar videos, as I am often alone in the mountains similar to you I have lots of thoughts and ideas that cross my mind as I tour. If you don't mind me asking what part of Wyoming are you in? I'm based out of Salt Lake City and ski the Wasatch. Cheers from another Voile skier!
I live in Star Valley Wyoming, within a few miles of the Wyoming/Idaho border. Most of my skiing is within a 100 mile radius. Voile makes some amazing skis and are pretty much the only ticket in town if you want a downhill ski with a traction pattern. I appreciate the feedback and let me know if you post some videos.
You may get be more interested in their Kom skis. I just like that it’s a small, personal company run by un Quebecois and a Washingtonian with experience with Karhu.
Tom, T4s are not an option for you and most other humans, myself included. Don’t know why Scarpa continues to make blister factories like the T4s. Thanks for the candid review.
I suffered through many years with several different sizes and 2 different generations of the T4's. Some people have no issues and I always told myself that if they came out with a new generation and different design, I'd give them another chance. For some reason, I don't have any blister issues with the T2's. Thanks for tuning in and for the positive feedback. I hope you have a great ski season.
Every time the discussion about downhill performance of the boot/binding combo comes up in these videos, I can’t help but think of the Vintage Telemark video here: ua-cam.com/video/CUxS9B0IjUQ/v-deo.html. At any rate, thanks for the informative video. I inquired in another how these bindings might perform with the Altai Hoks or Koms and Altai said the Koms would overpower this setup. However, they do sell adapter plates for the NNN BC bindings for the Hoks. Would be interesting to see someone try them on either ski.With that said,those Voile Objectives look fairly wide.
I'm skiing the 178 cm long Objectives. The sidecut is 117-84-102 and the weight per pair with the Xplore binding is 5.92 lbs (2.69 kg). I've never skied the Koms, but according to their website, the 174 cm length is 124/98/120 and the unmounted weight is 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg.) While I haven't skied a ski as wide as the Koms with the Xplore/Free I did ski an S-Bound 125 with a leather boot and 3 pins for many years and it worked just fine in soft snow on moderate slopes. The S-Bound 125 is 125-95-120 which is similar in width to the Koms. Here is a video from 2019 where I'm skiing this combination ua-cam.com/video/Bpf_BOsRQsY/v-deo.html . The Alfa Free / Xplore combination offers more support and control than the 75 mm leather setup I'm skiing in this video, so by extrapolation, I'm sure I'd be happy skiing the Koms with the Xplore. I also skied the S-Bound 125's with a Scarpa T4 when I needed more support and control, but I mostly skied them with leathers. I think that the big issue for most people in regard to the Xplore verses the 75 mm debate is that you do not have an option for a cable, hardwire or plastic boot with the Xplore system. In my case, I found that I rarely used the cable, hardwire, or plastic boot option when I skied my 75 mm Objective setup. I would pick my V6/Switchback X2/ T2 option when the conditions warranted. It was for that reason I chose to remount my Objectives with the Xplore binding. The Xplore/Free combo offered better all-round performance than the 3 pin binding and leathers I had been skiing for many years. Just for reference, a set of Xplore bindings and Alfa Free boots weigh around 4.6 lbs (2.09 kg) and a set of Voile 3 pin hardwire bindings and Scarpa T4 boots weigh around 8.8 lbs (3.97 kg). That is such a huge difference and I'll always opt for the lightest setup I can safely ski, mainly because most of the time (measured in hours) is spent on the flats and on the uphill for just a few minutes of downhill.
I have no experience on this subject (thankfully), but it makes sense to me to leave your skis on and to try and pull yourself out of the hole using the sharp tips of the ski poles like an ice pick. Removing the skis would be the last resort, and only if I couldn't maneuver the skis out of the hole.
@@tomm9850 We were taught to do it the way you described it, but I studied the subject a bit more, and in the army they seem to teach you to get rid of the skis first. So maybe it doesn't matter as long as you have a plan you are ready to execute.
Nice & really instructional vid Tom. Good job... Nice environnement too...
Glad you liked it and I appreciate the feedback. :)
That camera angle was really awesome! This video was a good one!
Glad you liked it!
I like the magic skis!
Still waiting for the “Baywatch” outfit.
:-)
WoW that was really interesting Tom! Your camera setup at the end was absolutely amazing! I would like to see a short video of your cam setup, the view was almost like a drone view, love it!
I agree, it is a very interesting perspective, and I like the idea of a future video showing some of the things I've learned using the Insta360 One X2 camera. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you are having a great ski season.
@@tomm9850 Yeah season pretty good now and temperature gonna be little bit warmer now. I will be looking forward to see your next videos! thx again
Love your videos, Tom. Nice, gentle, informative approach.
Some day, I’d really like to see you try out the Altai Hok skis with 75-mm leather boot/binding system. Telemarking but even more so with the single pole technique. I live in eastern Canada (Ontario) with small hills, thick brush, and lots of short climbs and runs. With the single-pole technique and the integrated skins I’ve been able to ski steeper and tighter terrain than I ever could telemarking. It’s basically given me powder skiing that I never could access before.
Hopefully the Altai people could set you up with the equipment for the exposure.
Anyhoo, you keep doing you and I’ll keep following, but that’s what I would like.
The factory inserts for bindings on the Hoks aren't compatible with the Xplore binding, at this point.
@@eugenemcgloin6780 It would be fun to give them a try. Maybe next year.
Oh good. You’ve answered your own question, because I’m afraid I didn’t know.
Really interesting and great angles with the 360👏🔥. I' just ordered Åsnes rabb 68 with these boots. I'm excited, I really wanted randonee. But I think this option is better for walking to the top and getting down safely 🙏👏
The Rabb 68 and the Alfa Free will be a great combination. Thanks for tuning. Be safe and have fun.
@@tomm9850 thanks, you also 🙏👏🦋
How did you go about finding the mouting point for the xplores on these skis? Did you mount pin line on balance point or did you try and measure boot center for the standard reccomended mounting point?
I mounted the Xplore binding on these downhill focused skis using Voile's published boot center location. The boot center is 38 7/8 in from the tip on these 178 cm length Objectives. The Alfa Free boots do not have a boot center mark on the sole, so the one big unknown for this setup is where exactly is center of the boot? If you ask 3 different people on how to determine the boot center, you will end up with 3 different answers; measure from the pin line to the back of the sole, measure from the pin line to the back of the boot, measure from the toe of the boot to the back of the boot. For my boot size, the center location can vary by as much as 1/2 inch depending on which method you use. I set my boot center mark using the pin line and the back of the boot as my reference points. I really don't know which is the best method, but I'm happy with the way mine ski. I'm betting that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the three different mounting locations in actual use. As a side note, on my Cross country setups, I mount the Xplore binding with the pin line (as printed on the paper template) on the balance point on the ski. Using the boot center method tends to place the boot forward of where it would be if mounted using the balance point, but that is ski specific. Lots of telemark skiers prefer to ski with the boot center position slightly rearward of the recommended boot center position provided by ski manufacturers, the argument being that you steer the ski with the ball of the foot when telemark skiing and therefore the ball of the foot should be over the center of the ski. It would be interesting to ski the same ski on the same day with different mounting points, just to see if I could tell the difference. I do ski once in a while with another guy who has the same skis in the same length. I know his binding won't be in the same location as he has much larger boots so we may just have to do a little experiment.
Tom, great video...what other BC Voile skis with this binding and Boot combo would work with?
I need a little longer Ski as I'm sure I weigh more than you.
Thanks
I'm skiing the Objectives in the 178 cm length (longest length). Voile's big wide skis come in longer lengths (the Hyper V6's @ 188 and the Hyper V8's @ 193). The Alfa Free / Xplore works very well on the Objective's for the kind of snow and terrain shown in this video, but I wonder if they have enough support for a much larger, heavier, and fatter ski. My initial thought is maybe, especially for soft snow, but I'm betting that most would prefer a plastic boot and active binding on the V6's and V8's for difficult snow and terrain. I also ski the Voile Hyper V6's with the switchback X2 and Scarpa T2 plastic boot, and I pick that combo if the conditions are more challenging. Voile's skis are downhill skis with very little camber and the scales are going to drag (if you pick the bc version) no matter the length of ski and weight of skier, so if that is your concern, then I don't think a longer ski adds much to the party. Most people are skiing shorter downhill skis these days as they are more agile and tend to ski longer XC skis if the emphasis is on kick and glide speed.
How do you deal with the stiff sole? Does it affect your balance negatively? I tried a pair on in a store but could not flex the soles enough to get contact with the ball of foot. To me it felt like telemarking with AT boots in walk mode.
That is a great question. The soles on the Free are much harder to flex than the typical 75 mm or NNNBC soft leather boot. Check out the video that I posted last year discussing this issue. ua-cam.com/video/G5VNGvOm5K8/v-deo.html Also watch ua-cam.com/video/Ovx48kCVtzM/v-deo.html especially toward the end where I'm flexing the two different boots. It did take a little bit of adjustment, mostly mental, but I find that I can easily pressure and control the rear ski with the Frees. I did ski a set of T4's with a simple 3 pin binding for many years and I'm betting that my rear foot position was probably similar to how I'm skiing the Frees. It is possible to put enough pressure on the Frees when testing them out on the living room carpet to get the ball of the foot on the ski, but my ski style tends to put the ski further back than many skiers, and that makes it more difficult for me to keep the ball of the foot on the ski. Next time I'm out, I'll try and modify my style and make a conscious effort to ski with the ball planted on the rear ski and maybe I will put together a video with my thoughts. Stay tuned.
Great videos! Tom what’s your thoughts on the 22 designs Lynx or M Equipment Medjio NTN bindings? Fairly light weight offerings now for NTN to give a try.
I have not skied NTN. If there is a future for plastic telemark boots, it will probably be with NTN. Both the Medjio, 455 grams, and the Lynx, 522 grams, are lighter than the Voile Switchback X2, 727 grams, that I'm skiing. All that is needed for me to make the switch is a lighter weight, more uphill oriented boot, something equivalent to the Scarpa T2. The big question is whether the rumored boot that Scarpa is working on will be focused on resort or backcountry use. I'm betting it will be a resort boot and if so, I'll keep skiing my current setup (T2, Switchback X2, Hyper V6)
Hi Tom, I am looking to mimic your set up. Where did you mount your Xplore bindings on the Objective? matched up with the BP?
The Objective's are downhill skis and Voile has a recommended boot center location on their website. www.voile.com/Voile_Ski_Boot_Center_Chart.pdf The Alfa Free boots do not have a boot center mark, so I located the boot center using the pin line on the boot as the front and the heel as the back, dividing the boot in half. Take a peek at my Quiver Video and you can see them lined up next to my SBound 98's. The 98's have the pin line mounted on the balance point. The two skis are of similar length (179 for the 98's and 178 for the Objectives. ua-cam.com/video/6ThgXnPONms/v-deo.html
Tom I want to do some meadowskipping up the hoback canyon. I have a backcountry ski kit and voile v6 bc. My goal is remove as much fiddle faddle as possible but I can't tele ski (yet, I guess). Do you have any bindings you'd recommend that have a locking heal but also allow me to unlock the heal without getting out of my bindings like I currently have to do on my alpine touring bindings? The lighter the better...
This xplore looks promising but no heel lock. I guess Ideally I'd just learn to tele!
I'm not aware of any modern bindings that can do that. There were a few from the distant past. Maybe someone reading this has a suggestion and I hope they will post.
I ski low angle terrain like this all the time either tele or Alpine style. Just stay centered on your ski and don't press the shin too much if at all. It gets difficult above 20 or 25 degrees. It's good to have some sense of tele moves to recover from the occasional bobble. Try skiing the tamer terrain at the resort without buckling the cuffs. It's not that hard, if you know how to unweight
Great videos. I'm not planning on switching over to the Xplore system, but you've provided so much practical info/data on this system, I don't need to ask any vendor about this system. Thanks so much for that! I'm curious to learn what the life span of the "pins" in the boots will be and whether they might get ground down a bit from constant use. I believe that in your earlier video going over the components, you determined that the pins are aluminum and that there's a hardened steel insert in the binding where the pins attach. Can you tell whether the "pins" could be replaced?
I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. I don't think that the pins can be replaced, at least I don't see any obvious way.
I may be wrong about the pin replacement. Rottefella recently posted this on their Facebook page, it sounds like they may have a method to replace the pins
"We've had some cases where the pins in the shoe get wedged. This is due to a production deviation in the mechanism that makes a small number of shoes predisposed to this error. It is not due to freezing or icing, which can be easy to assume. If the problem has first happened to the shoe, it will probably happen again.
We would strongly encourage anyone who has experienced that the pin in the shoe is wedged, experiences inertia in the pins, or is unsure before embarking on a long trip to contact us at: support@rottefella.no. Everyone will have the opportunity to ship their shoes free of charge to us. We have new upgraded parts that allow us to change the pins quickly and send the shoes out continuously again."
Interesting. Thanks for that update,@@tomm9850!
Thanks Tom for your lively and informative channel. Would you recommend the new Rottefellas as the best allrounder or not? (I.e. for shorter expeditions)
Yes, I think this is the future for Off Trail Cross Country Skiing on rolling and moderate terrain. It is pricier than NNNBC or 75 mm 3 pin, but if you are in the market for new skis and boots, then I think it is worth it. Most of the boot manufacturers have added Xplore boots this year, so there are more options, and you can either pick a boot with a sturdy upper for downhill control or a boot with a more flexible upper for long distance touring.
Hi Tom, thanks for the review. Where is the area your skiing?
The ski and talk portion of this video was recorded on the South Slope of Signal Mountain, Teton National Park 43.84594111110749, -110.5823019610502
@@tomm9850 thanks! Did you ski up the road to the top? Looks like real nice terrain! I skied along the river a couple weeks ago to the ghost bridge. Love it back there in winter.
@@Hikebike365 I don't normally ski the road when there is adequate snow cover. Instead, I take a more direct route (similar to the summer hiking trails) to access the south and west slopes.
Thanks Tom! I was wondering, (and I may be totally crazy here because I don't know a whole lot), but do you think this system would be powerful enough for a skilled skier to ski on greens or even blues at a groomed alpine resort? I know a resort that doesn't charge for uphill skiers, but don't think I want to make the investment in AT yet. Or would I just be much better off getting T2s or T4s and telemarking?
Hi Ben. I think the correct answer is it depends. I would be very comfortable skiing this system (Voile Objective / Xplore / Alfa Free) on green and blue slopes, especially under good snow conditions. A few XCD skiers have been doing this for years, skiing at local resorts in soft boots with NNNBC or 75 mm. It certainly can be a challenge, even on gentle slopes, so avoid steeper terrain and difficult snow. On hard ice, I would have more confidence skiing a plastic boot with an active binding, and that is the system I would go with if resort skiing was the primary intended use. If your primary use is freeheel backcountry skiing with light gear and resort skiing is secondary, mainly to improve your backcountry skills, then I think this equipment is the perfect choice. Keep in mind that most resorts will require a leash with the Xplore system, and it might be a good idea to pick up a set of the hard flexors. If you think you will eventually move away from telemark and end up going toward AT, it might just be best to bite the bullet and make the move to AT. A setup like I am skiing in this video (Voile Objective / Xplore / Alfa Free) is very expensive, so you need to be sure that you are willing to take on the challenge of skiing lightweight freeheel gear. Most of the people I come across in the backcountry are using AT gear, many of whom made the transition from telemark to AT.
@@tomm9850 Thanks for the advice!
Lots of info…what made you install those bindings on alpine skis?
I've been skiing the Voile Objective skis with the Voile Traverse binding for a few years. I remounted them with the new Xplore binding so that I could try out the Alfa Free boots with them. The Objectives are a downhill ski designed for backcountry Alpine Touring. So far I'm very happy with the combination for backcountry downhill skiing. The skis are very lightweight and offer plenty of float.
Damn it Tom, now I absolutely have to go invest in this setup. Maybe my wife won’t notice the new set of skis (news flash - she will)…
The Objectives in this video are the same ones that I've been skiing for a few years. I removed the Voile traverse binding and remounted them with the Xplore. What combination are you thinking about and which setup in your quiver would they replace?
@@tomm9850 I’m currently skiing a Rossignol BC 100 with NNN BC Alpina Alaskas. Ideally, I’d like to keep this setup whole (for more rolling terrain) and invest in another pair of skis with the XPLORE system for bigger hills. Would these two setups be too redundant?
@@Bcskier44 It sounds like you have a great setup. The Objectives with the Alfa Free boot are a great combination. The Objectives are a downhill ski by design, so as you might expect, they are great for turning, but lifeless on the flats when compared to an XC ski. They also won't track as straight because of their tip and tail rocker and lack of a center groove. That being said, they are very light and work well for breaking trail and skiing the type of terrain shown in this video. My Sbound 98's @ 179 weigh 5.56 lbs with the Xplore binding and my Objectives @ 178 weigh 5.92 lbs with the Xplore Binding. If I'm going on a "tour for turns" outing, my choice is the Objectives with the Alfa Free Boots. If I know that there will be lots of flat touring involved, I'll take the Sbound 98's. The Alfa Free is a much studier boot than the Alpina Alaska NNNBC, and I'm sure the Free would give you better downhill and telemark control. A plastic boot and an active binding (like my Scarpa T2 and Voile Switchback) gives a whole different level of downhill control, but it is a much heavier and more cumbersome setup, and I will only resort to that combination for very difficult terrain and conditions.
I live in Norway, UA-cam videos og the Xplore system beats and and all reviews in Norway! Keep it up :-)
The noe thing about the Free boot that worries me is the Boa, if the brake in the backcountry….well then you´re in trouble.
Experience and sisuens with the Boa system?
Thanks for great reviews!
This is my first boot with the BOA system. I was reluctant at first, it just seemed like an unnecessary complication, but they have won me over now. From everything that I have read, they are very durable. I have not had any issues with mine and I really enjoy being able to adust the boot so quickly when I'm out skiing. I'm carrying 2 velcro cinch straps in my emergency kit just in case I have a boa failure and I posted a video on that subject a few months ago.
ua-cam.com/video/n1356GdlCnI/v-deo.html Thanks for tuning in and I hope you had a great ski season.
Hi Tom! Love the videos and insight you provide. I have been thinking of making some similar videos, as I am often alone in the mountains similar to you I have lots of thoughts and ideas that cross my mind as I tour. If you don't mind me asking what part of Wyoming are you in? I'm based out of Salt Lake City and ski the Wasatch. Cheers from another Voile skier!
I live in Star Valley Wyoming, within a few miles of the Wyoming/Idaho border. Most of my skiing is within a 100 mile radius. Voile makes some amazing skis and are pretty much the only ticket in town if you want a downhill ski with a traction pattern. I appreciate the feedback and let me know if you post some videos.
Here’s a good clip of how they work:
ua-cam.com/video/I49vTK1yywA/v-deo.html
You may get be more interested in their Kom skis. I just like that it’s a small, personal company run by un Quebecois and a Washingtonian with experience with Karhu.
Tom, T4s are not an option for you and most other humans, myself included. Don’t know why Scarpa continues to make blister factories like the T4s. Thanks for the candid review.
I suffered through many years with several different sizes and 2 different generations of the T4's. Some people have no issues and I always told myself that if they came out with a new generation and different design, I'd give them another chance. For some reason, I don't have any blister issues with the T2's. Thanks for tuning in and for the positive feedback. I hope you have a great ski season.
Every time the discussion about downhill performance of the boot/binding combo comes up in these videos, I can’t help but think of the Vintage Telemark video here: ua-cam.com/video/CUxS9B0IjUQ/v-deo.html.
At any rate, thanks for the informative video. I inquired in another how these bindings might perform with the Altai Hoks or Koms and Altai said the Koms would overpower this setup. However, they do sell adapter plates for the NNN BC bindings for the Hoks. Would be interesting to see someone try them on either ski.With that said,those Voile Objectives look fairly wide.
I'm skiing the 178 cm long Objectives. The sidecut is 117-84-102 and the weight per pair with the Xplore binding is 5.92 lbs (2.69 kg). I've never skied the Koms, but according to their website, the 174 cm length is 124/98/120 and the unmounted weight is 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg.) While I haven't skied a ski as wide as the Koms with the Xplore/Free I did ski an S-Bound 125 with a leather boot and 3 pins for many years and it worked just fine in soft snow on moderate slopes. The S-Bound 125 is 125-95-120 which is similar in width to the Koms. Here is a video from 2019 where I'm skiing this combination ua-cam.com/video/Bpf_BOsRQsY/v-deo.html . The Alfa Free / Xplore combination offers more support and control than the 75 mm leather setup I'm skiing in this video, so by extrapolation, I'm sure I'd be happy skiing the Koms with the Xplore. I also skied the S-Bound 125's with a Scarpa T4 when I needed more support and control, but I mostly skied them with leathers. I think that the big issue for most people in regard to the Xplore verses the 75 mm debate is that you do not have an option for a cable, hardwire or plastic boot with the Xplore system. In my case, I found that I rarely used the cable, hardwire, or plastic boot option when I skied my 75 mm Objective setup. I would pick my V6/Switchback X2/ T2 option when the conditions warranted. It was for that reason I chose to remount my Objectives with the Xplore binding. The Xplore/Free combo offered better all-round performance than the 3 pin binding and leathers I had been skiing for many years. Just for reference, a set of Xplore bindings and Alfa Free boots weigh around 4.6 lbs (2.09 kg) and a set of Voile 3 pin hardwire bindings and Scarpa T4 boots weigh around 8.8 lbs (3.97 kg). That is such a huge difference and I'll always opt for the lightest setup I can safely ski, mainly because most of the time (measured in hours) is spent on the flats and on the uphill for just a few minutes of downhill.
If you fall through ice on a lake, you don't take your skis off.
I have no experience on this subject (thankfully), but it makes sense to me to leave your skis on and to try and pull yourself out of the hole using the sharp tips of the ski poles like an ice pick. Removing the skis would be the last resort, and only if I couldn't maneuver the skis out of the hole.
@@tomm9850 We were taught to do it the way you described it, but I studied the subject a bit more, and in the army they seem to teach you to get rid of the skis first. So maybe it doesn't matter as long as you have a plan you are ready to execute.