Gear Review: Meidjo 2.1 Telemark Binding from The M-Equipment Co.
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: All Over The Cascades
Duration of Test: A Full Year!
Product Name: Meidjo 2.1 Telemark Binding
Product Brand: The M-Equipment Co.
Best Use: Telemark Ski Touring & Mountaineering
Comes in Small and Large
840 grams /pair (Large)
2 Heel Riser Levels
EasyStepIn Technology
Adjustable Twist-Release/Ejection Settings
5 Adjustable Spring Tension Settings
4 additional Springs for added customization
Optional Brake
The Full Review:
The Meidjo 2.1 Telemark Tech Binding by The M-Equipment Co is a game changer binding for any telemark skier looking to move light and fast in the mountains.
Just like modern alpine touring bindings with pin-tech style systems, these bindings allow for a more efficient uphill touring experience. It offers more range of motion and virtually zero resistance while pivoting, along with keeping the pivot point as close to the ski, and your toes as possible. Using a pin-tech style tour mode is often more efficient than other systems because the skier is not lifting the whole binding with each step uphill, and although that may seem insignificant, it adds up over a long day touring!
It also has easy guides to help anyone who is new to pin-tech bindings get locked in, which I found useful (especially since I am a telemark skier through and through, so I have never skied any silly AT tech bindings). When switching from tour mode to ski mode (which CAN definitely be done without taking off the ski!!) all one has to do is flip the toe lever from lock mode to ski mode (allowing the binding to release in the event of a crash) and flip a little lever in the back with a glove and step down! Additionally, with the optional brake, one could have a true step in system during some types of transitions.
On the descent, this binding can be as stiff or as soft as the rider wants! It comes with several springs that can be added for heavier or more aggressive riders, and then the 2 spring cartridges can be adjusted on a 1-5 scale too. I like a stiff binding for very aggressive skiing and the Meidjo 2.1 has not disappointed! Although, I do wish there were stiffer boots on the market!
The Good
The light and efficiency for the uphill. This is ten-fold better then any telemark binding (with tour mode or not) I've ever used! Its lateral stability is also way better than any binding on the market. And it's power through downhill turns is comparable if not better then most bindings on the market. Plus, with its adjustable spring tension, you can adjust the stiffness based on snow conditions!
The Bad:
The second heel riser can take some getting used to. It doesn't always stick up as easily as I liked, so I just popped it out (no tools required) and didn't look back. Maybe most people would like to keep it, but I prefer to keep things as simple as possible, that way I don't have to change back and forth between moderate and steep terrain.
The Bottom Line:
A must-have binding for any telemark skier who wants to move light and fast in the mountains while still being able to make all their AT skiing friends wicked-jealous on the downhill while you're ripping beautiful telemark turns all the way down!
The Full Review:
The Meidjo 2.1 Telemark Tech Binding by The M-Equipment Co is a game changer binding for any telemark skier looking to move light and fast in the mountains.
Just like modern alpine touring bindings with pin-tech style systems, these bindings allow for a more efficient uphill touring experience. It offers more range of motion and virtually zero resistance while pivoting, along with keeping the pivot point as close to the ski, and your toes as possible. Using a pin-tech style tour mode is often more efficient than other systems because the skier is not lifting the whole binding with each step uphill, and although that may seem insignificant, it adds up over a long day touring!
It also has easy guides to help anyone who is new to pin-tech bindings get locked in, which I found useful (especially since I am a telemark skier through and through, so I have never skied any silly AT tech bindings). When switching from tour mode to ski mode (which CAN definitely be done without taking off the ski!!) all one has to do is flip the toe lever from lock mode to ski mode (allowing the binding to release in the event of a crash) and flip a little lever in the back with a glove and step down! Additionally, with the optional brake, one could have a true step in system during some types of transitions.
On the descent, this binding can be as stiff or as soft as the rider wants! It comes with several springs that can be added for heavier or more aggressive riders, and then the 2 spring cartridges can be adjusted on a 1-5 scale too. I like a stiff binding for very aggressive skiing and the Meidjo 2.1 has not disappointed! Although, I do wish there were stiffer boots on the market!
The Good
The light and efficiency for the uphill. This is ten-fold better then any telemark binding (with tour mode or not) I've ever used! Its lateral stability is also way better than any binding on the market. And it's power through downhill turns is comparable if not better then most bindings on the market. Plus, with its adjustable spring tension, you can adjust the stiffness based on snow conditions!
The Bad:
The second heel riser can take some getting used to. It doesn't always stick up as easily as I liked, so I just popped it out (no tools required) and didn't look back. Maybe most people would like to keep it, but I prefer to keep things as simple as possible, that way I don't have to change back and forth between moderate and steep terrain.
The Bottom Line:
A must-have binding for any telemark skier who wants to move light and fast in the mountains while still being able to make all their AT skiing friends wicked-jealous on the downhill while you're ripping beautiful telemark turns all the way down!