Skinnier Bibby?

[Reformed]

First thing's first. This isn't another "what ski from a random list of 15 should I get?" thread. I know what I want, I'm just not sure which ski comes the closest. I'm hoping the collective can provide some input.
My main hill skis are 190 Bibby Pros. I love the overall combination of good times that they provide (I agree with almost everything that has been written here and elsewhere - playful but still able to charge pretty good. Stable at speed but easy to shut down and maneuver. Float in pow but still rip pretty good on hardpack.)

I want to find something a little more tourable which still provides a similar range of skills and abilities. Tourable in this instance means slightly narrower ~110 under foot, lighter and less of a twin.
Candidates being considered are:
ON3P Jeffry - not much lighter but looks like the right width, radius and rocker profile. Twin is maybe the only issue here. Haven't even been able to put them in hand let alone ski them. Any thoughts?
ON3P Vicik - tour is light, width, rocker etc look pretty good, but I'm not sure it will pivoty and playfull like the Bibby - might be closer to a narrower charger? Again, haven't put hand to these. Thoughts?
Moment Exit World - have considered putting plates or inserts into my bibbys and would go this route before getting such a similar ski for the minor weight savings
Moment Deathwish - looks good on paper apart from the tail and the square tips. How much jibbier is the 190 DW vs the 190 Bibby? Not light.
Moment PB&J - called a narrower Bibby, but I think it might be too narrow for the feel that I want in pow. Maybe I'm wrong?
RMU Apostle - different, I know, but curious how the elongated straight nose and tail make the ski work in pow - sounds stable and predictable at all turn sizes and shapes based on the limited reviews. Thoughts?
4FRNT Hoji - Totally different, but reviews make it sound really good in pow and are conflicted on hard snow performance. Not light either.
Prior Husume - ticks lots of boxes but isn't light unless you go carbon. Not sure how playful they will be either. Won't be able to ski or put in hand anytime soon. Lots of good reviews, but often from a touring point of view. Comparable to other skis in this list in terms of all around radness?

I intend to use this ski for the vast majority if not all of my touring days, so I am asking a lot of it. I know this, but my Bibbys have been so damn good in so many different conditions I think there must be something out there that can deliver. Current ski in this spot is a green 182 Zealot that doesn't really piss me off, but is heavy and not as much fun as the Bibby in pow and not really any better on hardpack. Overall width etc are it's strongest suites. In a perfect world I would like to gain some of the fun of the Bibby and hopefully dump some of the weight of the Zealot. Ride is more important than weight.

What say ye?

[SkiersLeft]

simple, put a tech binding on the exit world and be happy. the bibby's are pretty much my favorite ski ever, i've ridden them for the past 4 seasons (400+ days). the exit world is lighter (if not by much), a touch softer (some of which i feel is the slightly earlier tip rise) and a touch different in the tail. i only have 5 days touring/skiing on the exit world, so i need more time to tease out the differences. stoked to finally be on tech bindings, so the whole setup is new to me, but i love this ski for its intended purpose.

[Reformed]

Thanks for the input SL. I know the Exit Worlds make sense, but I really am looking for something a little narrower if I can get similar ski performance out of them. Think scoured alpine steeps on the way up and down. 110 underfoot > 118 underfoot in these conditions, and if it isn't a huge loss in pow it seems like a win/win. If the EW was significantly lighter I'd be looking more seriously at it. As it is I'd likely just put dynalook plates on the Bibbys and spend the savings on fuel and beer.
Somebody has to have skied some of the skis in my original post. On point or not?

[skuff]

Praxis MVP?

110 underfoot with slight camber and early rise tip and tails.

[kc_7777]

I've skiied the 182 PBJ, 184 Bibby, 184 Deathwish, and 187 Hoji from your list. Me 5'7" 175lbs.

Just packing up to ski Baker tomorrow.....opening day. So I will keep this short.

1 ski quiver you probably can't go wrong with the Exit World or Deathwish. PBJ floats fine but Deathwish is much better.

But I think you've almost answered your own question.....you want a lighter Bibby for backcountry then go Exit World.

BUT....in soft snow = Hojis way more fun than the Bibby, I just ski faster on the Hojis. Less work, more speed, more fluidy, more fun?

I skiied 50+ days at Baker where you are able to switch skis a lot during a day cause you can park right beside the lift. Often I grabbed the Hoji over the Bibby when in packed powder or deeper conditions. Or I went out on the Bibby first but then ripped back to the truck and got the Hojis caused they felt so much fun. And once I got the Deathwish, I found it just that much nimbler than the Bibbys. SO the Bibbys stayed in the truck. I think liking the 112mm waisted DW and 112mm waisted Hoji speaks to your point of a 112mm or so waisted ski being nimbler than 118+. 112mm still floats fine, actually can be funner as you porpoise more in the deep.

And for what it is worth, most of my quiver is rockered now (Scimitar 98mm, Hoji 112mm, Ren 122mm, Royale 122mm). And my Deathwishes are for up for sale (as I have decided on the Hoji in that waist width. Only limit I see with the Hoji is you cannot ski backwards on Hojis (no upturned tail).

Couple of mounting tips:

Go - 1 from rec (-6 from true center) if DW.

Measure the Hoji arrow mount point....you want to be 87cm from tail (-5.5 from true center, which on the 2013 Hoji was +2 from arrow.

Go Hoji....you have done the Bibby thing. And Hojis have great resale if you don't like them!


K

[hick]

I had the same debate as the OP, I opted to just size down to the 184 Bibby (last years, 115 underfoot), and cut a little off the tail to flatten it up. I also narrowed up the tip a little with a palm sander to make them more skin friendly. Done, found my touring ski.

[D(C)]

The 190 Bibby is a great ski. If you like the stability of the 190 Bibby, I can tell you that the answer is NOT the 184 Bibby nor the 188 PB&J (I've tried both). The best I've come up with to replicate the ski in a smaller version is the 182 Garbones. I would bet that the Belafontes and Jag Sharks would make me happy as well (both are lighter than Bibbys).

[auvgeek]

I haven't skied them, but the answer *might* be the 190 Praxis BC in a med/stiff construction.

[NWskibum]

^agreed
I was looking for something to complement my Bibbys for a tech/primary touring option and was torn between the Vicik Tour and the Praxis BC. Ended up going with the BC in the stock (medium) flex and think it'll be perfect for what I'm wanting it to do. I'll report back after I get a few days on it.

[Wasquatch]

playful but still able to charge pretty good. Stable at speed but easy to shut down and maneuver. Float in pow but still rip pretty good on hardpack.)

190 Deathwish. 112 underfoot, not heavy, skis EVERYTHING (but skis pow best). I wouldn't call it "jibby" to be honest. It's not quite as much ski as the Bibby, but it's plenty of ski for most people I'd say. The only problem (going by your preferences) is that it's pretty twinned.

PB&J is great but you won't get the float you want, I don't think.

[SupreChicken]

Praxis MVP?

110 underfoot with slight camber and early rise tip and tails.

This ^^^^

Also a big GPO fan

[Reformed]

This ^^^^

Also a big GPO fan

MVP ticks lots of the boxes for sure. Anyone skied them and the Jeffrey? Similar? I can likely put the Jeffrey in hand locally, so it will at least give me a frame of reference. I'm thinking the Jeffrey would be heavier and maybe a little softer/jibbier, but probably not much.
Thanks for the input so far!

[Reformed]

Go Hoji....you have done the Bibby thing. And Hojis have great resale if you don't like them!
K

I'd love to give these a rip. My only concern is that they aren't going to be all that confident/versatile in alpine sastrugi or firm refrozen conditions in the spring. I need these skis to deal at least reasonably well with any and all conditions I might encounter in the backcountry. What do you think? Can the Hojis hold an edge when you need them to?

[ak_powder_monkey]

playful but still able to charge pretty good. Stable at speed but easy to shut down and maneuver. Float in pow but still rip pretty good on hardpack.

Sounds like the perfect BC ski to me? am I missing something?

Anyway, the liberty single helix is a really nice ski, I'm considering a pair to put dynafits on as an ultralight(ish) expedition ski.

[mtskier]

^^^helix + dynafit is just about the lightest setup you can get.

I love mine. super versatile ski.

[ClarkleberryFinn]

188 Down CD 7 could be an option. Skies pow acceptably well for the width. Lighter and better edge grip than my 190 Bibbys.

[Pillard]

Reviving of thread If you would like to go even skinnier than the original post? 100mm or less. What skis would be best then? For me PB&J feels optimum but the lighter skis for this year makes me a little nervous...

[Reformed]

Reviving of thread If you would like to go even skinnier than the original post? 100mm or less. What skis would be best then? For me PB&J feels optimum but the lighter skis for this year makes me a little nervous...

I saw your post in the PB&J thread as well. My skinny Bibby answer is currently 0N3P Steeple 108s for mid-winter touring.

It turns out that we are currently looking for similar skis towards the narrower end of the spectrum.

I see that you tried the Navis Freebird and found it too soft. I am currently looking at that ski as a spring/low snow/longer day touring option. I have other skis for powder/mid-winter conditions. What length Navis were you on and how tall/heavy are you? I'm looking at the 179s for weight/maneuverability/general ease, but don't want to end up on a noodle that won't support me. I'm not looking to charge too hard/fast on these - more picking my way down technical steeps and taking them for long walks in the mountains. Any thoughts?

[Pillard]

I saw your post in the PB&J thread as well. My skinny Bibby answer is currently 0N3P Steeple 108s for mid-winter touring.

It turns out that we are currently looking for similar skis towards the narrower end of the spectrum.

I see that you tried the Navis Freebird and found it too soft. I am currently looking at that ski as a spring/low snow/longer day touring option. I have other skis for powder/mid-winter conditions. What length Navis were you on and how tall/heavy are you? I'm looking at the 179s for weight/maneuverability/general ease, but don't want to end up on a noodle that won't support me. I'm not looking to charge too hard/fast on these - more picking my way down technical steeps and taking them for long walks in the mountains. Any thoughts?

108 is way to wide for me. Im at Enforcer 93 today as complement to 118 Bibbys. Even the 101mm PB&J is at the wider end of the spectrum for me

The Navis Freebird is a great ski. For me it worked well on groomers and even cut up snow. But of course its a carbon feel to everything. If you are a balanced skier with sensitive feet it works really well in pow as well. My problem with it was the ”ghost” of Bibby. Im not really a schooled skier and for me it becomes a problem with softer skis since an uneven flexing of soft skis make them turn unevenly. So I went for more substance and bought the Enforcers instead. But even they are to soft for me (maybe good to know as a reference)

[eskido]

Skinny Quixotes /thread

FWIW I didn’t read any of this shit, if a Wildcat 108 isn’t a skinny Bibby enough for you, you’re probably in the wrong thread

[Pillard]

Its a skinnier Bibby, but still way too fat...

[eskido]

Sorry, was whiskey talking. Since I inserted myself where I probably shouldn’t have, I think it would be worth taking a look at the Praxis Piste Jib. Built with the Heavy hitter core and customize the flex and I think you could pretty much dial in exactly what you’re looking for, and obviously this is the sale month so it’s a certainty a good time to buy.

[TahoeJ]

if a Wildcat 108 isn’t a skinny Bibby enough for you, you’re probably in the wrong thread

This. I mean, it is literally a skinnier Bibby. Thread solved.

[Pillard]

Ok, whiskey often says the best things . The Praxises looks kind of interesting actually

[Reformed]

This. I mean, it is literally a skinnier Bibby. Thread solved.

Thread pre-dates Wildcat 108 by five years. If the WC 108 was around when I posed the initial question I would have purchased it and likely would still be skiing it. I still want Moment to make this ski with the tail from the Commander series. They could call it the "Casinoman" in response to ON3P's Woodsman...
I'd say the recent bump could have been a new thread called something like "100 mm waisted Bibby?", to which the obvious answer is the PB&J, which is being discussed in the PB&J thread.