Gear

75 mm 3-pin binding

75 mm binding on hunting skis (jaktski).

Classic, solid binding with three pins that lock the boot toe. Best control on slopes, less flex on the flat — particularly good with a cable (telemark binding).

The name comes from the width of the boot toe that fits the binding — 75 millimetres. 3-pin (also called 3-point) refers to the three pins in the binding that fit into three holes in the boot toe.

The boot is placed in the binding and a metal bail is clamped over the extended boot toe. The pins lock the boot in position under the bail.

75 mm ski boot toe with three holes for the binding's pins.
The three holes where the pins in the binding go in. Foto: Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen

With or without a cable

A cable (Norwegian vidje, also called kabel) is a fitting that clamps behind the heel of the ski boot in addition to the fitting at the front. It gives far better turn control when you ski downhill. 75 mm bindings with a cable are often called a telemark binding.

Advantages

  • Most solid of the common bindings — few moving parts
  • Best control when you travel off the trails and ski downhill
  • The telemark version gives unmatched turn control

Disadvantages

  • Less flex in the foot — heavier going on the flat than BC
  • An ever poorer selection of ski boots that fit this binding
  • An ageing technology that is losing prevalence

Next steps

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