Rottefella  NNN BC Magnum Backcountry Ski Bindings

For 5 years & multiple sets of skis these have held up to everything imaginable. They're light & simple; no frills. Several friends have auto entry NNNs. Both designs are finicky when there's ice on the boot or in the binding after stepping out; I think that's unavoidable. Otherwise, the auto entries are more convenient, especially when you have a heavy pack on & don't want to bend over. Some reviews say these are more dependable, & since they're wider than the autos they're more stable. I support that theory.

These are good bindings, the NNN magnum is a step up in stability and aggression from the traditional NNN touring ski system. Easy to mount on your skis, durable. Getting in and out is convenient with the manual toe binding. They give excellent control and power transfer when staying in the track or breaking your own trail. These do well in rough terrain in the backcountry.

I mounted these bindings on a pair of Madshus Epochs and use with Alpina BC 2550 boots (these boots are not great). I replaced the mushy stock rubber flexors with firm flexors (NNN BC Binding Flexor). With this setup it is no problem to tele down some steeper terrain (think of your easier blue terrain at a downhill area). This capability would be even better if the binding was doubled in height. The firm flexors do take away somewhat from the kick and glide as the rear ski picks up earlier than normal. I may try out the medium flexors to see if that balance is better. It is a pretty great setup for breaking trail in the woods as well as taking some swift descents. Opening and closing the binding is easy enough with gloves and it is made well enough to feel confident in not getting stranded way out there. The bottom line on this is it's a well made, easy to operate binding but there is room for increased height for better downhill performance.

I’ve read reviews and warning about auto bindings because of clogging due to snow and ice. Thankfully, I haven’t experienced those issues. These have been convenient for a newer skier who has a number of uses for XC skis — from backcountry to groomed trails in the city. I try to clear the binding and my boots before stepping in, so I’m sure that helps with the reliability of a secure clip-in. Stepping out also hasn’t been an issue, thankfully. I’m using these with the Aplina Alaska BC NNN boots, which are also great.

These bindings were recommended by REI to go with Rossignol skis for my daughter with Fischer junior sized boots. When they were installed on the skis, the boots didn't fit over the center rib. The bindings had to be removed and replaced with a much cheaper type. There was no information given beforehand that these bindings had limitations on what boots would work. They look like a decent choice for adults though - I'm disappointed at the outcome.