New Hammerhead w/ Tour mode ~ The AXL

[mn_teleswede]

New 22 designs hammerhead with tour mode (The AXL)
limited to 200 beta models available for purchase.

[teleposeur]

damn but thats an ugly ugly tele binder

[sfotex]

Hmmm $310 to beta test something. Seems fair.

[XXX-er]

Hmmm $310 to beta test something. Seems fair.

folks will get a fully updated production version ,they did with the original HH.I don't think they will have any problems finding beta testers ,NTN is still not working as planned ,and there are still lots of 75mm boots out there

[counterfeitfake]

Way to fail to provide a link.

http://www.twentytwodesigns.com/axl/

[RootSkier]

Sweet, another tele binding that doesn't release.

[BCgee]

Saw this thread a few months back and saved it so I could post a review post-use of the beta model.

Binding: AXL beta model, spring 09
Manufacturer: 22 Designs
Type: telemark
Mounted on: BD Voodoo 185
Skier: young dumb tele guy from VT living in MT (laughs appropriate now)

Got these late spring, probably about the same time as everyone else. Mid April. Mounted these 1.5cm back from suggested mounting line for 185 BD Voodoos. I bought the beta model because I was/am frustrated with the 01s downhill performance, so as a long-time Rainey/22Designs user I shelled out the bread for the beta test.

Use: 1 tour up Blackmore, 3 skins up Saddle Peak, 1 bc tour around Big Sky, 2 tours up Telluride, and 1 skin up the Ophir CO trail.

Conditions: everything from thigh-deep pow to shin-deep Sierra Cement

Aesthetics: Looks like something from the Terminator movies. Burly looking except for the plastic underfoot and at the tour lever cup.

Pros: Burly. No breakage on multi-hour tours and nasty variable conditions. Roughly the same responses as the traditional HHs. Easy to switch cable tension, but only 1-4 options instead of the traditional 1-5. The switch roughly translates to a 1.5 jump to every "1" on the old HHs. The actual touring mechanism works primo. No issues. Felt great to finally have a decent flex on the downhill vs. the shitty responsiveness of the 01s.

Cons: The wetter the snow, the more likely you will have to chip out the stuff under your foot to engage the downhill mechanism/stop the touring mode. I would assume 22 Designs will encapsulate the touring rod and mechanism fully before winter '10 general release. Otherwise bomber and responsive with the traditional HH feel.

I put these on my light-weight mountaineering/touring set-up and have been very impressed. Aside from chipping out packed snow to stop the touring mode, the AXL has stood up and outperformed my expectations in everything from 20deg groomers to 55deg no fall chutes.

If dropping your knee in freshies far from the beaten path is your bag, and you weren't impressed by the BD or Voile offerings, try the AXL next season.

[SiSt]

Redesigned version. The mode change looks a bit more durable then the protos...

From here.

[GeezerSteve]

I put these on my light-weight mountaineering/touring set-up. . .

thus rendering it a non-lightweight setup.

[PB]

Redesigned version. The mode change looks a bit more durable then the protos...

From here.

That they do - I'm encouraged!

A little disconcerting, however, that there's been neither formal announcement from 22 Designs, nor website update.

[PaSucks]

Does this have the 5 way adjustable pivot points of the hammerhead? If not, then fail.

[LightRanger]

Does this have the 5 way adjustable pivot points of the hammerhead? If not, then fail.

I think it's four, not five. And, yes.

[tuco]

Does this have the 5 way adjustable pivot points of the hammerhead? If not, then fail.

[QUOTE=BCgee;2383560]

Pros: Burly. No breakage on multi-hour tours and nasty variable conditions. Roughly the same responses as the traditional HHs. Easy to switch cable tension, but only 1-4 options instead of the traditional 1-5. The switch roughly translates to a 1.5 jump to every "1" on the old HHs. The actual touring mechanism works primo. No issues. Felt great to finally have a decent flex on the downhill vs. the shitty responsiveness of the 01s.



Your answer, four posts up.

[b dubya]

i think i read somewhere on TTips that there is now only 3 pivots? or is that 3 + pivot removed?

[Alexander1310]

It was mentioned (rumored) on TTips that Black Diamond is taking legal action on 22 designs for a patent infringment on the Axl. Bad news astthat would cause a delay in the delivery of these bindings.

I think it's funny that BD would claim patent infringement on 22 Designs for a product in a niche market (after they have had numerous patent infringement cases for headlamps slapped on them by Petzl, which is not a niche market).