2016-2017 22 Designs Outlaw

Downhill Performance

The #1 thing I immediately noticed about the Outlaw is that it restored the original feel of the old-school tele turn. When most of us switched over to NTN, the first comment we probably made was, “Dude, it’s so much more powerful and accurate.” (See my explantion on how NTN works here)

However, when the NTN system first hit the market, the general consensus seemed to be that the smoothness of the tele turn was compromised in order to bring to the binding releasability, better control, more torsional stability, and brakes. It’s not that the NTN system was more powerful than 22 Designs’ Hammerhead or Axl, but that it was way smarter, sexier, and more stable, efficient, and accurate.

Pringle says that the reason the Outlaw restores this original feel has to do with the pivot point placement. “The ramp on the toepiece and the main plate pivot location are where the engagement and feel of the binding come from,” he explains. “The spring (binding spring, not brake spring) has to be so large because the more active location of the pivot requires more travel. By contrast the Rottefella bindings have smaller springs (Power Tubes) and a very forward cable pivot location. They create power by clamping the boot toe up into the toe bar, which does engage the boot but doesn’t result in the smooth flex that we are used to.”

Robin Abeles reviews the 22 Designs Outlaw for Blister Gear Review.
Robin Abeles in the 22 Designs Outlaw, Thompson Pass, AK.

I’d agree. The feel of the Outlaw is much smoother, and brings the “authenticity” and consistency of tension from the old-school binding to the NTN — the Outlaw basically feels like the Axl, but with the extra accuracy, efficiency, and torsional stability of the reversed duck bill. My first turn on the Outlaw brought back my basic love of telemarking. There is no delay in the activation of tension once the heel comes off the ski, and the tension stays consistent throughout the entire turn. The Rottefella feel contains a very brief delay when initiating the turn before the tension engages, and that delay feels artificial (and incredibly annoying).

Touring

The Outlaw has delivered the best touring experience I’ve had on an NTN binding yet. Please note that I haven’t yet been on the M-Equipment Meidjo, but I do look forward to that comparison. That said, for a tele binding with no tech toe, the Outlaw is the way to go for touring. The small Outlaw (without brakes) is only 80 g heavier than the Rottefella Freedom (1500 g stated), but it really does have a true free pivot while the Freedom still has some tension in tour mode.

The Outlaw’s touring mechanism is the same one used on the Axl, and it is easy to release and engage with the tip of your ski pole. The heel piece only has one riser, but the solution is simple: change the ring if it’s the wrong height, and if you want two heights, get an old school G3 or Voile heel piece.
For touring, I would choose the Outlaw over the Freedom any day, thanks to its true free pivot walk mode.

Mounting

It is important to note that 22 Designs does not offer Rottefella’s versatility with plate mounting. There is no option with the Outlaw for “one binding / multiple skis,” as there is with the Freeride. Once you mount ‘em, they stay on, unless you are using a Quiver Killer setup. I am neutral on this matter because I think we were spoiled by this concept for six years, and it was a major selling point for Rottefella, but the Outlaw skis better than the Freeride, so I think it’s still worth the investment.

Durability

I ended up breaking both flex plates on the Outlaw while in Alaska, both in the same place on the lateral side of the plate. I’m not sure if this points to an issue with the brake tension underneath the flex plate or to weak metal, but they each broke within one day of each other. Either way, it ended the binding’s functionality for the trip, and I had to resort back to my DPS Wailer 112 + Freeride setup for the last two days of riding. Pringle at 22 Designs acknowledged this issue, and explained that he has “been working on the flex plate fatigue problem, we are going to make them a little shorter and thinner to stop the cracking problem for next production.” He also replaced my plates.

Robin Abeles reviews the 22 Designs Outlaw for Blister Gear Review.
Broken flex plate on the 22 designs Outlaw.

Bottom Line

The 22 Designs Outlaw is the confirmation by the broader telemark community that NTN is the new norm. It could use a few tweaks still to the brakes and the flex plates, but once 22 Designs gets those issues dialed, I’d predict that this binding is going to be around for a very long time.

If you are looking for a binding that offers the old-school tele-turn feel with the efficiency and accuracy of the reversed NTN duckbill, then this is your binding. And it happens to tour really, really well, too.

 

7 comments on “2016-2017 22 Designs Outlaw”

  1. Nice review! In deciding on Outlaws a couple months back I also spoke with 22 Designs tech department that said they have had bales break too (near the transition from the vertical to the horizontal plate that keeps the boot’s toe from moving upwards), and would be fixing this with heavier steel plates for the coming season. They promised free upgrades if needed.

  2. There is a tendency for snow to build up underfoot on the Freedom that I find can be resolved by putting duct tape on the ski underfoot. Did you notice any such problem on the Outlaw?

  3. I’ve been on Rottefella’s since the second year orange ones and I have a pair of the current freerides that are about 3 years old. I think I want to try the new kool aid and see if i like them. I know what you mean by the dead spot when you first flex the boot/binding. 22 designs recommend moving the mount point 2cm back from boot center for the smalls and 4cm back for large. Where did you mount yours?
    Thanks,
    Tim

  4. The one thing I’d change on the outlaw is to make it wider to put more leverage on the edge of the ski, what do you think?

    Also how is the release to prevent spiral fractures?

    Michael

  5. This binding is NOT SAFE. This binding has a major design flaw and will fail every time. hopefully your not going fast when this happens The block in front of the orange plastic step in device will slide backwards on the round bars and your boot will loose tension and fall out. its only a matter of time

Leave a Comment