G3 Onyx - any changes in next year's model?

[ts01]

I'm looking at G3 Onyx bindings for an AT setup and wonder if there are any changes coming up in next year's model. If not, it seems like time to find one of last year's at summer pricing. (I know G3 is putting out new telemark bindings but don't recall anything on the AT side.)

PS - pretty set on G3 rather than Dynafit, Plum, etc. -- I'm mostly a tele skier so for me the bigger difference would be between AT and tele, and the weight and other advantages of Dynafit vs. G3 would be wasted on me. Also if I understand several threads and reviews that I've read correctly, (1) the G3 adapts to a wider range of boots so could be more useful as a loaner, and (2) G3 might be better as a hardpack resort binding than Dynafit (so I could get rid of some alpine gear that's getting very little use these days anyway).

[Jonathan S.]

Yeah, mostly a tele skier, that's what they all say at first (along with all the other things you said at first about AT gear, heh heh).

So fore/aft adjustment range in mm:
G3 = 33
Radical = 25
Vertical = 26
Plum = 30
The Onyx/Ruby range though is achieved by movement at both the toe and heel, so keeps the boot position more centered across larger bsl changes.

Suitability for hardpack resort use, all of those bindings have the boot heel suspended in mid air on the pins, so universal longer-term drawback for that application among all Tech bindings (except perhaps for the new Plum models with the supportive post underneath the heel).
Toe spring pressure was supposed to be higher for the Onyx, but they've backed off it since then. And meanwhile the Vertical FT has the strong springs in the version that comes with 110mm brake.
So overall, hard to say...

[PNWbrit]

I think the market place has spoken about the Onyx.

Are you sure they're even going to be still making them?

IT sounds like you might be better off with a frame AT binding of some sort if you're not worried about weight, loaner status, inbounds, mostly tele.

[XXX-er]

There are 2 kinds of BC skiers, people who are on dynafits and people who are not YET on dynafits

there is wallet shock when forking out for dynafits the 1st time but in the end its cheaper, if I had bought dynafits 5 yrs ago I wouldn't be shelling out for them right now in addition to what I spent on non-dynafit boots & bindings

if you really need that much adjustment you can get dynafits with a rental heel piece

[lepistoir]

Bsl adjustment is only an issue if everyone had tech-compatible boots.

I rode a pair of STs for three years as a 50/50 resort/BC setup with at least 25 days inbounds. I wore out the toe fittings on one boot and it rattled in the binding. New boots fixed that and I still ski that pair of bindings (6 years now).

Onyx is very small weight penalty for significant $ savings and also gives option to buy $60 mounting plates so you only buy the binding one time and move it around the skis. I think the onyx/Dynafit question is like the aluminum/carbon question for bicycles: light and strong versus lighter and more expensive. One thing tho: take the $200 price difference and spread it over a 7+ year binding life and you have a pretty small difference to get the higher performance and you have to lift that extra weight up the hill over and over and over during that time.
If you are doing the loan/inbounds/sometimes-tour thing with this setup, just admit you are going to need an UN-specialized setup and accept the concomitant weight penalty. I have a pair of vol bridge with Tour F10 that will work add a loaner if a friend doesn't have pow skis and I have skins that work. It tours like a monster-truck on a race track, but if you have the race car, it really doesn't work that well anywhere off the pavement.

[ts01]

So big surprise, between this thread and ttips, and Jonathan's proselytizing, I'm slowly dropping the Onyx concept and thinking more about Dynafit verts if the right deal materializes. (Seen some good offers on the web but phone calls and emails still unreturned.)

But I'm still not all the way there so I'm wondering if anyone knows what's up with next year's Onyx? PNWBrit, are you saying G3 is dropping it entirely? That would surprise me - and I'd think it would no longer be on their website.

Lepistoir - interesting analogy - I've ridden steel and aluminum only, no carbon yet. I've never been dropped by a carbon bike - only by stronger bikers who happened to be on carbon bikes - and I've dropped plenty of weaker bikers on carbon, titanium, what have you. If it's that type of difference I'd probably be just fine with G3s -- conditioning and skills will hold me back far more than the extra weight.

[XXX-er]

So big surprise, between this thread and ttips, and Jonathan's proselytizing, I'm slowly dropping the Onyx concept and thinking more about Dynafit verts if the right deal materializes. (Seen some good offers on the web but phone calls and emails still unreturned.)
.

telemarkpyrennes.com had pretty good discounts on verts last spring, if one does the gear buying menage a trois with some friends they can split the shipping

might as well get the right sized brakes and crampons at the same time

[GeezerSteve]

I recently got three pairs of my old favorite TLT Speeds from telemark-pyrennes

[XXX-er]

I have dealt with TP twice and they get the nod, what kind of $ did you save Big Steve

the verts were well discounted compared to the rads and I think I saved 30-40%

I got the binding deal at TP but I will pay whatever the price is at the local store for boots