image: Fritschi - The Xenic alpine touring binding
Introduction
New for the 2019-20 ski season isthe Fritschi Xenic.
The Xenic builds on Fritschi’s pre-existingVipec EVO and Tecton bindingusing many of the same concepts and materials.
Xenic is an alpine touring bindings of the “Tech 2.0” variation.
The pincers engage directly from the side as opposed to hinging at their base.
That apparently is a more secure clamp
image: Lee Lau - Xenic heel in tour mode.
The heel unit rotates to provide release, with adjustable release/retention for horizontal and vertical RV.
The Fritschi Xenic is designed only for touring boots meeting DIN ISO 9523.
Lamentable speed nose boots (like the Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour) arenotcompatible.
It does however also use some carbon.
Oddly the screwhead is a posidrive 2 which is smaller than the normal Pozi.
The heel-toe touring delta is negligible meaning that the touring mode is pretty much flat.
The heel-toe skiing delta is a different story.
Image: Lee Lau - Fritschi Xenic crampon.
(Specifications - continued)
- Claimed weight of the Xenic is 280g - this is without brakes.
Actual weight is 296g without brakes and 346g with brakes.
- The Xenic toe piece is pretty minimalist.
Like the Tecton and Evo brakes they fit wide.
I fit a pair of 105 mm brakes on my 110 mm width skis without any bending.
Generally the recommendation is to size down and bend the arms out if need be.
This also means that you’ve got the option to go crazy with crampon widths .
Use and Performance
Touring bindings should be simple to use and by and large the Xenic fits that bill.
Of course the binding is light.
Having said that there are nits to pick.
Even experienced users hunt to match boot inserts to toepieces despite features such as the red alignment tab.
Moving from ski to tour can be done without taking off skis and even without bending over.
Use the pole to depress toe lever from tour to to ski.
Use the butt end of the pole to persuade the heel piece to rotate to ski position.
I note that the toe lever is still pretty stiff even after 20+ days of use.
Don’t be afraid to heave on it.
Simply press them in place with your hand.
The design also allows you to stomp the brakes down just using your feet.
To mitigate that blockage simply give the heel pad a few whacks with hand or pole.
image: Lee Lau - stowing brakes correctly.
My 20+ days have been split between inbounds and touring with some days on hardpack.
Retention-wise the Xenic is unnoticeable even when skiing on hardpack.
Even releasing on hardpack the brakes have deployed and arrested the skis.
My heel released as I came up short on a double and tomahawked.
While the brakes held the ski uphill on a powder pillow, I went downhill.
In those situations where I played gaper it’s nice to know they work.
