K2 Paybacks with NTN bindings.
During the 2009-10 ski season, I was disappointed to discover that none of the boot companies were making a women’s NTN boot. See blog post. As promised, in 2010 Garmont released a women’s specific NTN boot called the Priestess, which accommodates sizes 23-27.5.
After watching my husband ski the NTN’s and work out some of the kinks (details below) last season, I garnered my new K2 Paybacks, NTN bindings, and Garmont’s Priestess NTN boot size 25.0 and hit the slopes this year with a whole new setup. Previously I was on the K2 Dawn Patrols with Karhu’s 7tm Power bindings and Garmont’s Elektra women’s boot size 24.5.
Garmont's Priestess.
I’m using the green power tubes in the NTN bindings with the tension set between 1 and 2 depending on the snow conditions (1 for powder and 2 for hard pack). As expected, the fit of this Garmont boot is narrower than their traditional telemark boot. After some boot tweaking: thermo-molding the liners and some ankle padding to fill in the volume added by the bigger size, I was surprised how easily I adjusted to the new system. I find the NTN system very responsive and the Priestess boot was easy to flex right out of the box. I’m also a ski patroller and NTN provides a greater level of stability while pulling a toboggan. In short, these bindings and the Priestess rock!
One main kink: the NTN bindings may accumulate ice and snow underfoot.
~ Amy Bauer (K2 Women’s SW Regional Alliance Member)
