For such a niche sport telemark has a profusion of bindings with no less than four different binding systems. For newcomers this can be confusing, so we hope this article explains the characteristics of each, their strengths and constraints. Different bindings require different boots, so it’s important to know which you need.
75mm 3-Pin Bindings
The 1st telemark bindings were made for boots where the toe of the boot sole extended forward as a wedge. These classic bindings use three metal pins that clamp into a 75mm-wide duckbill toe on compatible boots, secured by a bail for a simple, lightweight setup ideal for varied terrain.
This binding design is now 99 years old.
A Norwegian mechanical engineer, Bror With developed the Rottefella 3-pin binding in 1927 after becoming dissatisfied with existing designs.
He crafted it from an old bicycle seat and straps, inspired by rat traps seen in a hardware store. Bror With jokingly called his invention "rat traps" after the store items that sparked the idea, leading to the patented brand name "Rottefella" which means "rat trap" in Norwegian, referring to the binding's trap-like mechanism with pins that grip the boot toe.
Rottefella still produces the Super Telemark 3-pin binding. Voile USA also produce two 3-pin models, the Heavy Duty Mountaineer & the 3-pin binding for the Alpina Alaska
75mm Cable Bindings
An evolution of 3-pin bindings, these add a cable loop around the boot heel to enhance lateral control and power transmission during turns, while maintaining the free-heel motion.
Some models combine the 3-pin toe units with a cable, while others forgo for pins and use the toe unit without pins for easier entry and exit.
These bindings provide more downhill stability than basic pins, making them suitable for steeper terrain. They use the same 75 mm boot design.
Most models use cables or rods that pass on each side of the boots, connecting with a clip to the boot heel, while the 7tm bindings use a strap that passes under the boots. While most skiers use the more modern bindings we’ll see later in this article, these bindings are a good choice for light nordic touring equipment and for telemark touring.
NTN Bindings
Introduced by Rottefella & Scarpa in 2007, the New Telemark Norm (NTN) was a completely new boot and binding design. The boot connects to the bindings both at the toe and with a lug that connects to the midsole of specialized NTN boots, ditching the 75mm duckbill for better power transfer, edge control, and step-in ease.
For many years the only NTN bindings were the Rottefella Freeride (resort) and Freedom (touring) bindings, now joined by two models from 22 Designs. The Outlaw X is a mixed resort/touring binding while the Bandit is a resort only binding.
NTN bindings offer a much stiffer platform than the 75 mm design, with more power transfer to the ski, and rapidly became the bindings of choice for many skiers and racers.
While the Rottefella models offer less forward flex and do not always suit skiers with a low stance, the Outlaw X and Bandit offer a long progressive flex.
NTN Boots Have Inserts…
While the NTN system offers many advantages over the 75mm design these bindings were heavy and still have limitations, especially for touring.
When designing the NTN boots, Scarpa must have wanted to cover all bases, adding “tech” inserts at the boot toe and heel so that these boots could eventually be re-purposed for use with alpine touring bindings in the event that NTN didn’t take off. Luckily NTN was a success and while Scarpa never had to look for alternative uses for these boots, many skiers were wondering how to make use of these inserts, leading to the development of two new binding standards, 2-Pin NTN and Telemark Tech TTS, which are now by far the most popular systems.
(see our Scarpa TX Pro Test Report for more details on the history of the development of these bindings)
Telemark Tech TTS Bindings
TTS (Telemark Tech System) bindings combine an alpine touring style tech toe unit with a 75mm-like cable system, offering a balance between NTN power and precision and the classic flexible telemark sensation of the 75 mm systems. Popular bindings for gram counting free heel purists who remove the cables for efficient uphill travel, these bindings also appeal to minimalist skiers looking for bindings with a lot of forward flex.
There are currently two bindings available, the Voile TTS and, brand new this winter, the Inwild SIMPLL.
2-Pin NTN or NTN Tech Bindings
In 2015 Pierre Moyade produced the groundbreaking Inwild Meidjo. These bindings have a lightweight tech toe that is linked to the “2nd heel” of the NTN design. Weighing under a kilo per pair, featuring lateral release and step-in, these bindings offer both efficient touring and powerful downhill performance. The Meidjo remains the world’s most advanced telemark binding and one of only two bindings with lateral release, the Meidjo offered a step increase in overall binding performance and 22 Designs soon produced the Lynx, using the same tech toe or 2-Pin-NTN design.
Telemark Release Bindings
Most telemark bindings do not have a release function, and many free heel skiers consider that there is less risk of injury when telemarking compared to alpine skiing. Accidents do happen however, and for skiers who prefer using a release binding there are two options.
For skiers using the 75 mm system, the 7tm Power XR & Power Tour XR offer reliable lateral release. These bindings have a metal toe unit that clips into a release housing plate on the ski. In the event of a fall, the toe unit releases from the base plate and stays on the boot. It’s a simple yet effective design that has proved its worth over the years.
The only modern telemark binding with a release function is the Inwild Meidjo. These bindings have small spring-activated cams at each side of the rear of the springbox lug that connects with the boot’s NTN 2nd heel.
Spring tension can be adjusted to provide more or less tension on the cams, and the binding does release reliably in most events involving lateral stress on the boots, without any problems of pre-release. Should release capability be important for you, then we recommend using the Meidjo 3 SR bindings - the SR refers to the “Safety Release” anti-friction plate built into the heel unit to assist lateral release.
Telemark Bindings - Locked Heel mode?
While most telemark skiers never want to lock the heel down (“heresy!!”), some would prefer to be able to change to “alpine mode” when tired, or if the terrain or snow conditions are challenging.
For these skiers there are a couple of possibilities.
Inwild produces an Alpine Heel option for the Meidjo. A lightweight heel unit that sits just behind the heel plate, the Alpine Heel is designed for occasional use.
ATK also produces a heel unit, marketed under the name TKS LT. A lightweight aluminium heel unit, the TKS LT is compatible with the 22 Designs Lynx, Inwild Meidjo and Simpll and Voile TTS Transit.
Both these heel units have the “U” spring design used by lightweight alpine touring bindings. To use these you will need telemark boots with tech heel fittings. The latest generation Scarpa boots have only toe inserts so cannot be used with these alpine heel units.
The Crispi NTN boots have both toe and heel fittings so can be used with these alpine heels.
What’s Next?!
Telemark binding design has advanced in leaps and bounds in the last 10 years and we look forward to further upcoming improvements. We understand that several manufacturers expect to unveil new bindings in the next year or so.
ATK has announced a telemark binding for next winter that we look forward to testing later this winter….we’ll tell you more as soon as possible.
Telemark Bindings by category:
Telemark 75 mm 3-pin bindings
Rottefella Super Telemark
Voile Heavy Duty Mountaineer
Voile 3-pin binding for the Alpina Alaska
Telemark 75 mm Cable Bindings
7tm Power
7tm Power Tour
Rottefella Super Telemark Cable
22 Designs Axl
22 Designs Vice
Voile 3-pin Cable
Voile 3-pin Cable Traverse
Voile 3-pin Hardwire
Voile Switchback
Voile Switchback X2
Telemark NTN Bindings
Rottefella Freeride
Rottefella Freedom
22 Designs Outlaw X
22 Designs Bandit
Telemark Tech TTS Bindings
Voile TTS Transit
Inwild Simpll
Telemark 2-pin NTN Bindings
Inwild Meidjo 3 SR
22 Designs Lynx
Telemark Release Bindings
7tm Power XR
7tm Power Tour XR
Inwild Meidjo 3 SR
