TR2 ski binding by Trab requires a dedicated boot with special fittings.
Scarpa has partnered with Trab to enable their TR2 binding system. By now the TR2 has become somewhat legend, as Trab was displaying versions of the binding at trade shows more than four years ago, courting rumors and innuendo (and not a few jokes about vapor bindings). Apparently, retailing of the TR2 stalled out because the system required a dedicated boot as well as technical refinements. What is more, it could not have been easy for Trab, essentially a ski company, to enter the world of designing and producing ski bindings. That phase is over. A TR2 binding and boot system will be available this winter.
While TR2 appears to be a “tech” binding, make no mistake: This is not a tech compatible boot or binding. Though the boot fittings appear to be somewhat “tech” (especially the toe) they are specific to TR2. In other words, you can’t snap a regular tech binding compatible boot into a TR2 and ski downhill — you have to use a boot with TR2 fittings. (Note, thankfully you can snap a tech boot TOE into the binding and it’ll work in touring mode — in my view an essential safety factor if we end up having mixed groups of skiers using both tech and TR2 systems.)
Spirit RS TR2 boot has dedicated fittings for Trab binding, is essentially a Maestrale with Scarpa's new self-lubricating ultra-reliable lean lock (the eternal battle for a better lean lock?).
Scarpa will produce “Spirit RS TR2” and “Spirit TR2 model boots to go with the TR2 binding. Spirit is a basic 3 buckle touring boot, RS is a beefier 4-buckle configuration that probably does a better job of utilizing the solid power transmission and likely excellent elasticity and retention of the TR2 binding. The 3 buckle boot model will be available this winter along with the binding. Both boots will be retailed in 2014/15.
Perhaps the biggest part of seeing TR2 come to retail is that it’s the first binding/boot system to challenge the tech system since the Silvretta SL debacle of 1994. In my view, the tech binding industry may have blown it, as they had a golden opportunity over those 20 years to innovate and perhaps even official standardize a “tech 2.0” system that was backward compatible to itself. Instead, other than a few leaps of faith it’s been the same-old-same-old. Well, perhaps TR2 is the 2.0? Time will tell. It appears to be a solid system, perhaps with a few quirks. I especially like the heel jaw configuration. It’s wide, super stable. Check out more photos:
Heel of boot is held down by two steel prongs that pivot down when you click in similar to an alpine binding. What you get here is the wider hold-down I've been hinting over the years would make the tech system quite a bit more stable, especially with softer boots that twist when most of the binding holding action is at the toe.
Holding down the rear lever opens the binding heel unit.
The heel fitting is entirely different from normal tech bindings, but for some reason the Scarpa TR2 compatible boot includes the tech binding heel unit pocket, with a filler. That lean lock is the new Scarpa self-lubricating external enclosed super-duper lean lock that'll be on all appropriate boots for 2014/15 season.
Another view of the heel unit in alpine mode. It has good up-down elasticity. I'm mystified as to why it can't just be a plastic over-center pivot unit like nearly any alpine binding.
Boot in the TR2.
Another view from rear.
Binding has two heel lift heights, low and higher.
Higher lift position. The taller rear bar is the binding opening and closing lever. Yes fans, you can easily switch between all modes without exiting from the toe of the binding.
TR2 toe unit holds the boot in similar fashion to a tech binding by inserting two pins from the sides. There the similarity ends. A possible annoyance is that you enter the binding by pressing down and holding the front lever, similar to another binding released a few years ago that was roundly disliked for this exact type of entry system. Fortunately the TR2 toe is very easy to hold open in comparison, but still, I just can't see doing this in an awkward situation.
Pressing down this lever opens the toe wings so you can enter or exit the binding. There is no cocking action, instead you have to continuously hold down the lever, which could be annoying. The lever does have a lock mode, and the binding toe has safety release in touring mode.
Safety release at the toe is accomplished by the toe wings opening to the side in similar fashion to another new player just released.
Toe with one wing open as it would appear after a safety release.
Another view of the rig.
Factoids:
— Weight, 580 grams including what appears to be the standard >< 88mm ski brake.
-- Max release value: This season model goes from RV 5 to 11. Next season a 7/13 model will be available.
-- Not tech system compatible, is its own proprietary system that requires dedicated boots.
-- Available boot will be 3-buckle Scarpa Spirit TR2, about 475.00 euros.
-- Next season a stiffer boot will be on tap, 4-buckle Scarpa Spirit RS TR2, about 535.00 euros.
-- Boot length adjustment range: 23 mm.
-- Brake widths available this season: 88, 104, with 115 next season.
-- MSRP about 449.00 euros
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
