22 Designs Lynx (NTN w/ tech toe!)

[jrredho]

I have skied Meidjos several days and love the way they feel too. But they are more expensive--if coming down a bit--and have some vulnerable plastic bits that are critical to the function of the binding, and require 13 holes to the Lynx 8. The Lynx feel strong and sturdy. I'll be surprised if I can break them.

I've only skied the Meidjo out of these two, and I agree with you that they ski great. And I also like the second-heel release idea. I had problems with icing on V1.0, but I haven't encountered this yet with V2.1.

Telemark-Pyrenees lists the Lynx as slightly more expensive than the Meidjo so those in Yurp don't even have the relative expense as an argument point, but I'm sure that this is anomaly. Finally, like you, I appreciate the idea of having 8 binding screws vs 13. (*Thirteen*. Sheesh!!)

But I do have one question on the Lynx: Does it accommodate a ski crampon?

Thanks!

cheers,
john

[Peruvian]

Supposedly crispi has a new tech toe ntn touring friendly boot in proto type stage. I haven’t put a crispi boot on my feet in years. The older versions crunched my toes.

[Danno]

Boulder hipsters will pay enough for the half century cruiser to finance a full kit!

That's my favorite bike! Beat up Schwinn cruiser with kick back shifting.

[Peruvian]

That's my favorite bike! Beat up Schwinn cruiser with kick back shifting.

Exactly why it will sell by Sunday and you will have a new kit by next weekend!

[bodywhomper]

Have you tried them?

[Peruvian]

Have you tried them?

No, and I don’t believe that they are actually a Crispi proto but were cobbled together in the Fey Brothers basement.

[bodywhomper]

No, and I don’t believe that they are actually a Crispi proto but were cobbled together in the Fey Brothers basement.

Interesting. I thought crispi left them with a pair for testing last spring

[jmedslc]

Now only if Scarpa would see that there are options for NTN skiers to use the heel insert beyond just Dynafit and reinstall them in the TX Pro.

it's hard to look at the heel of the TX Pro boot and see the mold marks for the former heel hardware. 'you'll get nothin!'

[Peruvian]

it's hard to look at the heel of the TX Pro boot and see the mold marks for the former heel hardware. 'you'll get nothin!'

Particularly having previously owned the original yellow/black TX Pro but worn them out and purchasing the blue/orange ones.

[viglio]

Got a set of Lynx on the way for the season, will post an update once I have them mounted up and get out on snow. Having fondled them at the shop, I can say I'm super excited for the build quality and weight; how they ski remains to be seen!

[telepariah]

But I do have one question on the Lynx: Does it accommodate a ski crampon?

Yes. 22Designs sells one.

[frorider]

Some Meidjo owners complain about snow accumulation under the plate. Would like to hear more from lynx owners esp in sticky pow.

And Yes the tele world deserves a modern boot design. Grilamid cuff etc.

[jrredho]

Some Meidjo owners complain about snow accumulation under the plate. .

Hopefully I'm not continuing on too much about the Meidjo, but the latest version has at least less of a problem with icing. There's a low pyramid attachment underneath the flexor (sp?) near the front for the binding.

As for boots, I vote Scarpa bring back something like the vanilla TX.

[bodywhomper]

I’ve read complaints about the claw of the lynx (part that grabs the duckbutt) not working well in warmer snow....

[telepariah]

They changed the claw for 2020. I have the 2019 claw and no problems so far. Temps have not been extremely cold but I haven't been out on a warm day yet.

The toe is improved with a stronger snap getting in. Supposed to be more like an ION toe now. Mine are no problem.

The flex plates are thicker and the pivot points have moved rearward by one position.

So far in ten days of skiing and some skinning I have no complaints with mine. I'll be touring the next four days in cold temps until a thaw on Monday. We'll see.

[gritter]

Hi all, For those that have skied them a bit, what is your take on liklihood of release from the Lynx in an avalanche?

I have been skiing a homebrew TTS for a few years which has the advantage that I'm pretty confident that it releases laterally at a torque that will leave my legs attached to my body and also I can take the cartridges off for long climbs which reduced the weight of the binding to something close to 200g / ski. That said, I often don't bother with this feature and the simplicity, step in and commercial availability of the Lynx seems attractive. The only hesitation that I have is that I don't want these things welded to my boots in the event of an avalanche.

Thoughts?

[telepariah]

The ones I tested two years ago pre-released. The ones I have now--2019 model--have not so far in a dozen or so days of mostly touring. I took a couple of falls on a dust on crust day and they stayed on while not locked. All I will say is release is possible.

[frorider]

Not sure if already posted, but this tech bulletin is helpful: https://www.twentytwodesigns.com/201...in_ep_142.html

[canadafornia]

Thanks for the link to the bulletin

I have spent 3 days on my 2019 Lynx and am having a hard time. (inbounds and backcountry on Scarpa TXPros)

I ski fairly aggressively on Vice/Axl. On my first day on the Lynx I tested them in bumps and pre-released twice. The second time my leash snapped and my ski WENT DOWN THE HILL. It was terrifying. I found the ski and it did not kill anyone, but for the rest of the time skiing them only skied locked out.

I bought the bindings with the hope of release in extreme situations.

I also found the transition from Axl to NTN/Lnyx to be extreme. The bindings are so stiff and the bend feels from the bellows only. It slowed my skiing down really a lot.

Touring I had the binding accidentally click into ski mode twice, which means fully removing the ski.

So touring=problems, downhill=released, skiing=I have to learn to ski upright more I guess

Ironically: on my 4th day I went back to my Axl setup and Voodoos and had to adjust to how loose and soft and wiggly they were! lol. Now I am f--ed.

Any input from others on this binding would be appreciated.

[frorider]

Skied pretty hard on the current Lynx today at the Alpenglow demo day at Alpine Meadows on chattery hardback. Quite impressed. The active feel (that pin adjustment was in the Middle set of holes) and overall edge control was fully equivalent to the Rotte Freedom w/ blue springs. No prereleases and i was skiing a pair of moments pretty aggressively.

For full on resort blasting and cliff dropping on heavy duty skis, the Evo World Cup / NTN Freeride remains the benchmark, but I can totally see getting a Lynx setup on a pair of resort/BC skis (or on a BC only set of skis).....once a tech toe NTN boot that’s suitably stiff (the TX Pro is uselessly soft for me) and doesn’t crunch my toes (Scott voodoo) hits the market.

Speaking of which, the Scarpa rep was very candid: he has laid hands on the stiff shell/tech toe fittings proto Scarpa so many have been waiting for and speculating about. Of course he can’t guarantee the release date but I am stoked to hear that Scarpa is taking our requests seriously here.

The Lynx skied so well (at least for anyone accustomed to an NTN setup) that I’m trying to identify anything negative at all to say. The duck butt lever on one ski was a bit iced up which meant that ski needed manual help—wasn’t step in. But silicon grease would’ve probably prevented that issue. And skiing in some loose snow (imagine a 5” deep section of shavings next to a hardback run) I felt some snow accumulate under the binding plate until i stomped hard and kicked it loose.

[dschane]

I have a handful of days on the 2020 Lynx, so here are some more thoughts:

- The weak toes of the first version have been vastly improved. I skied the 2019s in lock mode because the clasp was weak (and one toe had to be replaced because, even in lock mode, I was pop out while touring). That situation seems totally resolved.

- To the extent that Dynafit toes in non-lock mode will release in an avy, Lynx should be the same. And once you're out of the toes, you'll come totally out quickly.

- The tech toe tele set up holds down the heel incredibly well. Once you drop, it's smooth. But there's zero dead spot off the deck compared to 75mm bindings where your heel will lift an inch or two before the springs/resistance engage.

- I'm totally sold on the Lynx and appreciate that it shares the same holes as the Outlaw.

[TeleBeaver]

I have a number of days on my 2020 Lynx and they are phenomenal. I am skiing them with a scarpa f1 that I modified with the 3D printed duckbutts from the EYT forum. After a bit of trimming of rubber sole and duckbutt material they have been 100% reliable. I am finding that they have a different sensation than outlaws. I ski outlaws with the red stiff springs inbounds and am running the lynx with no preload spacers and the slic pin in the most forward (least active) position. Even setup like this they are still very stiff for the soft F1s. There is a lot of resistance to initiate a turn so that motion has become a lot more deliberate for me. Very different from an outlaw which has some vertical play and way different from 75mm which has inches of vertical play. All in all I have been loving the light weight, have been making great turns and think they will prove to be more reliable than my meidjos. (Though the meidjos haven't given me a single issue yet).

[bodywhomper]

I kinda wanted to go to that demo at alpine meadows, but I dread the traffic for the drive home....

What are current thoughts on durability for the lynx? Would this be a binding to work in at the ski hill.

I dread the idea of having two sets of tele boots, one for touring and one for non-touring, but I like big boots and I cannot lie.

I dread the idea of time and expense of transitioning my quiver to ntn.

[viglio]

Got mine rocking this past week, absolutely love them. Touring blows away every other tele option I've used, transitions are super quick and smooth, and the skiability is pretty phenomenal too. I'm a lighter skier (145) so that may have something to do with it, but I find the flex and power of the binding to be more suited to me than the outlaw is, and felt right at home with it. I've put about 35k of touring vert on them the past 8 days and have not had any issues or complaints. Noticeable lighter on the uphill than my outlaws, and ski like a dream for me on the down - most intuitive new tele binding I've tried in years.

[jrredho]

Any input from others on this binding would be appreciated.

From the looks of things it sounds like their input is to update to the 2020 edition. Maybe you can communicate with 22-Designs for a price break on that.

Good luck!

cheers,
john