AT set up help...quite a few questions

[Velillen]

I've been browsing, looking around, comparing, and reading up on alpine touring set ups. Now that i actually have my tax rebate check it is time to get serious and get what i need. That means new skis and bindings as well as needing climbing skins.

But first a bit about me to (possibly) help you help me.
I am 5'10" and between 140-150.
I like to ski fast and aggressively all over. Don't do much for hucking off cliffs but 10-15 footers are a possibility on a good day. Though generally i stay attached to the snow.
My current set up is Salomon Foils (length 174 i think), Salomon 810ti bindings, and Salomon impact 10 boots (307mm BSL)
As for DIN settings i usually am around a 7-8 and occasionally go up to a 9 but that is pretty rare.

now for the gear.

Bindings - i want something with a more "alpine" feel to it so learning towards duke/baron, naxo, or Fritschi. From what i have read it seems like the dukes/barons are great for downhill but not as great for hill, the naxo's are kind of in the middle of both, and the Fritschi's are good uphill and the poorest of the three downhill though they still do great.

I am leaning towards the marker baron. The duke is probably more binding than i really need (via the higher DIN) so i might as well save some money and a few ounces of weight. Although i am open to opinions if people think a naxo would work better for me.

Ski

This is were i am kind of torn in i am not sure what to get. I have been leaning towards getting a ski off the PM Gear line. The lhasa 186 sounds like what i want. I like to ski fast and hard but also am at times stuck with an older crowd of people who are a bit slower so i am hoping to find a ski that does well both at high speed and at slower speeds. I have never been on a rockered ski before (i am used to my foil) but it sounds great. Going off eldereldo's comparison of the 196 vs 186 it really feels as though this is the ski i am looking for. Blast through crappy conditions, does well on groomers, good at high speed and lower speeds. I am open to other ski recommendations however.

I will be using my foil's still as a more rock ski or just general ski when i go with friends who, frankly, suck at skiing and i don't need a touring set up.

Skins-
here is where i really have no clue. i have looked and compared stores and can't really tell a difference between brands/types other than the tail/tip hooks. I really am open to any and all suggestions here as i haven't really found a good comparison of skins or anything.


Thanks for any help i do appreciate it.

[kidwoo]

After having skied everything but dukes, I'd say the most 'alpine' feeling binding is a dynafit or a naxo. Naxos have some pretty nasty slop sometimes but at least aren't flat.

My dynafit setup is definitely stiffer than either fritschis or naxos. If you're going to get AT boots, I'd get something with the dynafit inserts. There are some good options out there these days.

As far as dukes go.....I've seen just as many if not more of those things broken than other at options. Plus long days out just sound like torture with that much weight........then there's the whole climbing bar height thing.

Skins: just get some BD ascensions.

Skis: I'm definitely a fan of something rockered for bc

[schwerty]

Just get the 186 carbon Lhasa Pows...Naxos...stiff AT boots that fit your feet...and some BD ascensions.

[XXX-er]

I like to ski fast and hard but also am at times stuck with an older crowd of people who are a bit slower so i am hoping to find a ski that does well both at high speed and at slower speeds.

sometimes I get stuck skiing with a younger crowd who are a bit slower ... I either smoke more ganje or drink more beer at lunch

don't drink light beer cuz it won't slow you down enough

[smthgfshy]

duke
baron
naxo
fritchi
silvretta







.....and the answer is......























dynafit

[Velillen]

hmm about the skins. The BD ascensions seem to be the way to go. The only question i have is which version? There seems to be a standard, STS, custom STS, and clipfix. Seems liek a silly question but just curious if theres really a big difference between them or not.

i guess the other problem is the dynafit thing. That would definitely require new boots. At the time though i wasn't planning on grabbing new boots for awhile and was going to just use my impact 10's the rest of this season and hope to pick up AT boots next fall or at the end of this season.

choices, choices. wait for more money to get a dynafit boot or just go for a naxo/baron/duke set up.

[srsosbso]

If you can find a dynafit compatible boot that you are happy to ski, then dynafits, absolutely.

[smmokan]

You didn't say, but if you're not going to do long tours, you should look into the Duke/Baron. Sure, its heavier, but its a bomber binding if you're used to alpine bindings (I went from a Salomon 912 to a Baron and couldn't tell the difference, skiing 12" of pow). Plus, you'll be able to ski them inbounds without a problem. I'm not an expert, but from reviews and advice I've read, I wouldn't get Naxos or Freerides if you're considering skiing them inbounds at all.

As for skis, the Lhasa is probably your best bet... but also look at some of Praxis' offerings. They have some great rockered skis and they're absolutely bullet-proof in construction.

[corn dog]

The goliath sluff is another ski to keep an eye out for. Very versatile and fairly light for being a real ski.

And where are you and what do you intend doing for a day (or however long) of touring?

[Velillen]

i am pretty much sold on the lhasa 186 carbons. Last thing left is really picking out the bindings. I probably will use the lhasa and bindings in bounds and side country. As for touring single day is pretty much all i am looking for. So multiday tours or anything like that need not be considered. I am from the seattle area so that should give an idea of what will normally be ski'd (snow wise) but it also most likely be the only ski if i go on vacation elsewhere.

with that in mind (somethign i hadn't though of before) the marker baron might be the best bet just cause if i do travel it will probably see more days in bounds than i had originally thought

[Chowda]

I'd say go barons unless you will be touring with this setup >60% of the time. If you decide to go FR+/Naxo, I'd recommend the Freeride, unless lack of ramp angle is a huge factor for you (and then I'd probably just recommend you shim them), over the naxo. The Naxo is a sloppy skier.

You probably want Standard STS skins, Custom are for BD skis (pre-cut), and most people don't like the clip-fix tail.

[harpo-the-skier]

Bindings: Many people love their Dukes/Barons, but if you keep up with the threads, you will find they have failed many people too. I warrantied mine after about 10 days and sold the new ones I got back. Plus they suck for touring.

Go with one of the new stiff Dynafit compatible boots and Dyna bindings. Stepping in my be a bit harder, and they aren't damp so you will get feedback on super icy days, but if you are doing any touring at all, they are the only way to go.

I like my G3 Alpinist skins. More glide than the BD offerings, just as good grip. Clipfix works on some skis, they suck on others; in either case they are more trouble than they are worth. Make sure you skins have some sort of tail attachment.

[sfotex]

Just stay the hell away from BCA skins....

[yodaottis]

Barons: Uphill they kinda suck.
Downhill they're great. People have had issues w/ them breaking as others have pointed out but so far I've been lucky.
Freerides are much better for touring so unless you're just doing inbounds + sidecountry I'd suggest those if you're only looking at those two bindings.
STS tail attachment has never let me down.

[AsheanMT]

After having skied everything but dukes, I'd say the most 'alpine' feeling binding is a dynafit or a naxo. Naxos have some pretty nasty slop sometimes but at least aren't flat.

My dynafit setup is definitely stiffer than either fritschis or naxos. If you're going to get AT boots, I'd get something with the dynafit inserts. There are some good options out there these days.

As far as dukes go.....I've seen just as many if not more of those things broken than other at options. Plus long days out just sound like torture with that much weight........then there's the whole climbing bar height thing.

Skins: just get some BD ascensions.

Skis: I'm definitely a fan of something rockered for bc

I skied the Naxo21 for two seasons and loved them. I gave them to my my wife's family so that they have a touring setup and got the Naxo22 this season on my fat BRO's. The naxo22 is very similar BUT definitely burlier. The VRS arms are stiffer and they have added another spot below the heel that makes more contact with the ski making it much less sloppy.

I can charge anything with my Naxo setup with confidence.

That being said, I also have a dynafit setup on 179 BRO's. By far the best way to "tour".

I disagree with rockered skis for BC simply for the fact of having to deal with funky ass snow. I prefer to find myself on big nasty wind slabs and sun/ice crusts on something that makes complete and constant contact with the snow (i.e. very little sidecut and no/some camber)

Rockered skis for a slackountry/powder only use IMO.

Skins: definitely the ascensions
Ski: Definitely something from the PMGear lineup.IMO

[jtran10]

I'm about your size and have never really had a problem with the Fritschis. I do ski them at a bit of a higher din then my alpine bindings, but they still release when they're supposed to without prereleasing.

[harpo-the-skier]

I disagree with rockered skis for BC simply for the fact of having to deal with funky ass snow. I prefer to find myself on big nasty wind slabs and sun/ice crusts on something that makes complete and constant contact with the snow (i.e. very little sidecut and no/some camber)

Skis with rockered or progressive tips, a little camber, and minimal but some traditional sidecut like the DPS Wailer 105 (from experience) and the Brocker (from reputation) are much more versataile than full rocker/reverse sidecut skis and are great in the backcountry.

[El Chupacabra]

If you decide to go with Dukes/ Barons, search, and read the thread on "care and feeding of your Dukes."

I have 4 BC days on my Dukes. I think they tour better than the Freerides (pivot seems to be in a better location for smoother stride), but not as well as Naxos. They ski downhill far better than Freerides or Naxos. The ramp angle issue doesn't seem to bother me. I mounted them myself (hand tighten the screws, don't mount with a drill), and no problems at all so far.

I would like a higher climbing bar for the Duke, and they are a bit finicky to switch back into ski mode (make sure all ice is cleared from the binding plates). They're only ~ 3/4 to 1 lb heavier than Freerides or Naxos, and to me, the benefit of the way they ski downhill is totally worth it.

I've never skied a Dynafit binding so can't offer any comparison there.

[i'm_the_dude]

i've skied fritschis, naxos, and dynafits but no marker BC products. i couldn't be happier with my current dynafit setup, both skis and bindings. they feel much more natural than the others when touring, are super solid on the down, and the weight difference is amazing. if you plan longer days, i would definitely go dynafit for the weight savings alone but also for the other factors i listed on any day. wish i would have gone that way from the start, but i guess we all wander a bit along the way to where we're going.

[Pierre LeCouloir]

I'm not adding much, but the fundamental question (other than the mandatory beacon, probe, shovel and the knowledge to avoid ever having to use them) really is about clamps:

The Duke/Baron rides exactly like any alpine binding. Solid step in and retention . . . above average power transmission. They are also heavy as fuck, and apparently prone to breaking. Dynafits ski and tour great, but took me a while to learn to trust. They are not a resort binder though. I have not tried Fritschis or Naxos, but I know people who ski them in and out of bounds and who climb 50 times faster than I do.

As between Dukes and Dynafit, the question is simple, but fundamental since you either need Dynafit compatible boots or you don't: if you're going to climb alot (you can, to some extent, forget about how long in duration the trip is; what matters most is the elevation change), get Dynafits and dedicate that rig to your BC days.

Skis: get something versatile that's on the light side. The Lhasa is a winner.
Boots: get something that's stiff but light (an incompatibility that ultimately ends in something of a compromise between the two) that fits your foot.
Skins: whatever. I personally like the Ascensions with STS tails.

[SILENCER]

Just get the 186 carbon Lhasa Pows...Naxos...stiff AT boots that fit your feet...and some BD ascensions.

Seconded

[pappag]

Just be sure to drop $1700 on an AT setup since that seems to be the only way to enjoy it.

[Dromond]

Dynafits = worth it


I just thought that they should be mentioned again.

[Kai]

I own Dynafits and Dukes. For days involving true backcountry skiing, I'm on my Dynafit rig 90% of the time. Great uphill and downhill performance. Dukes are a good resort/slackcountry binding, but I have a hard time putting up with the extra weight on days where I'm logging significant uphill.

If I was in your position, I would be buying Dynafit bindings and Garmont Radium boots. Match those with a reasonably light, all-purpose ski like the Carbon Lhassa Pow, the Dynafit Manaslu, Goode BC 95 or 105, DPS Wailer 105, and you're set.

As for skins, if you get G3 or BD, you will probably be happy. I've used both, and honestly can't tell much of a difference between them.

[jrosendahl]

Just to add, the bro 179 is a hell of a touring ski.