The do it all Tech binding...is it here yet ?

[icelanticskier]

I have no aliases, just jealous followers.

rog

[PNWbrit]

just jealous followers.

No doubt due to the CRV?

[wcf3]

For quite a few years now, I've messed around with the "one setup to do it all" problem, mostly because I didn't want to haul two pairs of boots along while travelling, and on almost all the trips that I do, I end up doing some mechanized stuff and some touring.

For quite a few years, this ended up being Dukes and alpine boots (Tecnica Icon race boots most of the time). Did a lot of big hikes with those and learned to more or less live with it, but as more alpine oriented AT boots became available, I decided to make a serious effort to go over to AT boots full time, using tech bindings on some skis and Dukes on others. After more than two full seasons of trying this, starting with BD Factors then Cochise 130's I got to the point where I thought that I was doing OK, but I had the feeling that my skiing ability was deteriorating. I figured that this was probably just age catching up with me, then this winter I went back to my old alpine boots in the early season. I was shocked at how good they felt.

It turns out that, at least for me and my preferred skiing style, good old alpine race boots allow me to ski (downhill) much better. As such, for me it isn't really a question of bindings as it is with boots. I doubt anyone is ever going to make what amounts to a plug boot with a tech-sole, which kind of rules out the B16, and Dukes and their like are never going to be competitive on the up with any tech binding.

[icelanticskier]

No doubt due to the CRV?

Hondas rool all others.

rog

[icelanticskier]

For quite a few years now, I've messed around with the "one setup to do it all" problem, mostly because I didn't want to haul two pairs of boots along while travelling, and on almost all the trips that I do, I end up doing some mechanized stuff and some touring.

For quite a few years, this ended up being Dukes and alpine boots (Tecnica Icon race boots most of the time). Did a lot of big hikes with those and learned to more or less live with it, but as more alpine oriented AT boots became available, I decided to make a serious effort to go over to AT boots full time, using tech bindings on some skis and Dukes on others. After more than two full seasons of trying this, starting with BD Factors then Cochise 130's I got to the point where I thought that I was doing OK, but I had the feeling that my skiing ability was deteriorating. I figured that this was probably just age catching up with me, then this winter I went back to my old alpine boots in the early season. I was shocked at how good they felt.

It turns out that, at least for me and my preferred skiing style, good old alpine race boots allow me to ski (downhill) much better. As such, for me it isn't really a question of bindings as it is with boots. I doubt anyone is ever going to make what amounts to a plug boot with a tech-sole, which kind of rules out the B16, and Dukes and their like are never going to be competitive on the up with any tech binding.

I used to tour in lange comp 120 lv with fritschi free ride plus. Never an issue on the up or down. The langes kick steps in steep hard snow way better than any AT boot due to their weight and hard plastic din sole. And ski better as well. Sure the binding was flexy but the boot made up for it. Plus if yer mostly skiing soft snow, who gives a fuck about a bit of flex?

My current boot is a bit softer but my binders are much less flexy. 6's really. I'd rawk langes (rs 130) for tour/lifts in a heartbeat once my current boots die.

rog

[NoPostholio]

Please, tell us more about the gear from last century. I saw those boots once -

In an antique shop

BTW, your current brain is a lot softer as well

[icelanticskier]

Please, tell us more about the gear from last century. I saw those boots once -

In an antique shop

BTW, your current brain is a lot softer as well

Speaking of jealous followers........

rog

[NoPostholio]

No doubt due to the CRV?

Constant Rambling Vitriol?

[1000-oaks]

Or wait for the marker tour thread that will most certainly go viral

Keep hearing about this but can't find anything online, got any spy shots to "leak"?

[dynamike]

There isn't. Case closed.

[jesski]

It turns out that, at least for me and my preferred skiing style, good old alpine race boots allow me to ski (downhill) much better. As such, for me it isn't really a question of bindings as it is with boots. I doubt anyone is ever going to make what amounts to a plug boot with a tech-sole, which kind of rules out the B16, and Dukes and their like are never going to be competitive on the up with any tech binding.

This has been my experience, as well.

[Lindahl]

^^^ CAST to the mf'in rescue. Its rediculous how much I like this system.

[icelanticskier]

^^^ CAST to the mf'in rescue. Its rediculous how much I like this system.

how much time on the system?

rog

[Lindahl]

A couple days.

[icelanticskier]

A couple days.

swapping easy/smooth?

rog

[DoWork]

So the answer is to the original question is still no. It's not there yet.

Obviously. To the OP, what has happened that would lead you to believe it would be a one-for-all kind of binding??? Literally nothing functionally has changed outside of the Vipec and Beast, and even those are incremental improvements and not game changers by any stretch. The only thing that's changing is public perception of what low tech is for. I've seen several huuuuuge gapers in the past year or two that could barely get out of a pizza wedge on DPS 112s and dynafits. At the resort. On groomers. Fiddling. And fiddling. And fiddling. And fiddling. It just cracks me up, because he would be better served by some PX12s but he wanted to be cool and so is actively shooting himself in the foot all day now just because. I mean, I wish I worked for commission at his local shop, that much I can say- but as for putting people on shit that will actually work for them... Total fail.

[Hugh Conway]

Obviously. To the OP, what has happened that would lead you to believe it would be a one-for-all kind of binding??? Literally nothing functionally has changed outside of the Vipec and Beast, and even those are incremental improvements and not game changers by any stretch. The only thing that's changing is public perception of what low tech is for. I've seen several huuuuuge gapers in the past year or two that could barely get out of a pizza wedge on DPS 112s and dynafits. At the resort. On groomers. Fiddling. And fiddling. And fiddling. And fiddling. It just cracks me up, because he would be better served by some PX12s but he wanted to be cool and so is actively shooting himself in the foot all day now just because. I mean, I wish I worked for commission at his local shop, that much I can say- but as for putting people on shit that will actually work for them... Total fail.

$20 says gaper reads TGR.

[userA]

true posers like me get one of each and simply flail till a system falls into place. finished last season on a dynafit/dps set but began this one on a fritschi/praxis pairing. i guess it's easier for me to fiddle in the spring and clamp during winter.
b

[Lindahl]

swapping easy/smooth?

Yeah, swapping was pretty easy. We had perfect conditions for icing up and it was easily cleared with the tab at the end of the Dynafit toe lever (perfect size - almost like the track was designed with that in mind). Overall, the transition is a tad slower than Dukes, maybe 60-90 seconds? Astronomically better than Dukes when going uphill, of course. Big win. My fitness sucks right now from injuries, but I was whooping everyone but the full Dynafit dudes who are in better shape. Not only was I faster, but I was very noticably less fatigued. I could see myself getting more dialed in my transitions as I spend more time using CAST. When iced up, I could see the time difference drop down to around 30 seconds longer. FWIW, I tend to be faster and more efficient on transitions than my partners, and my Duke transitions are pretty dialed, so there's a definite bias going on.

A longer toe plate for the Dynafit toes would be ideal, as it would likely eliminate the icing issue completely. Silicone spray might do the trick too - haven't bothered yet. A slightly longer rubber band for the brakes would be nice, too. I have STHs, so my guess is that the rubber bands were designed for less bulky heelpieces. I'm guessing this will get easier as the rubber gets worn in. There's probably 10-15 seconds lost there.

The couple tours I've done have had many different pitches, from stupid steep to long mellow rises and having one riser height wasn't a problem at all, and it was really easy to use - definitely easier than Markers.

I plan on writing a more comprehensive review once I've been able to get more days on it. Unfortunately, things have been getting warm, so the zones where I use CAST (or Dukes) haven't really been that desirable. I've been doing a lot more long distance mellow touring at higher elevations with my lighter full Dynafit setup.

[jesski]

I guess my take on this is:

Do I ever want to ski inbounds in a boot that tours well? No, not really.
Do I ever want to tour in a race boot? No, not really....

Therefore, two sets of boots and bindings for me. Thank goodness for swap plates.

[DoWork]

$20 says gaper reads TGR.

Could be. Epic too though. He looked to be more accountant than dentist.

[icelanticskier]

Yeah, swapping was pretty easy. We had perfect conditions for icing up and it was easily cleared with the tab at the end of the Dynafit toe lever (perfect size - almost like the track was designed with that in mind). Overall, the transition is a tad slower than Dukes, maybe 60-90 seconds? Astronomically better than Dukes when going uphill, of course. Big win. My fitness sucks right now from injuries, but I was whooping everyone but the full Dynafit dudes who are in better shape. Not only was I faster, but I was very noticably less fatigued. I could see myself getting more dialed in my transitions as I spend more time using CAST. When iced up, I could see the time difference drop down to around 30 seconds longer. FWIW, I tend to be faster and more efficient on transitions than my partners, and my Duke transitions are pretty dialed, so there's a definite bias going on.

A longer toe plate for the Dynafit toes would be ideal, as it would likely eliminate the icing issue completely. Silicone spray might do the trick too - haven't bothered yet. A slightly longer rubber band for the brakes would be nice, too. I have STHs, so my guess is that the rubber bands were designed for less bulky heelpieces. I'm guessing this will get easier as the rubber gets worn in. There's probably 10-15 seconds lost there.

The couple tours I've done have had many different pitches, from stupid steep to long mellow rises and having one riser height wasn't a problem at all, and it was really easy to use - definitely easier than Markers.

I plan on writing a more comprehensive review once I've been able to get more days on it. Unfortunately, things have been getting warm, so the zones where I use CAST (or Dukes) haven't really been that desirable. I've been doing a lot more long distance mellow touring at higher elevations with my lighter full Dynafit setup.

good deal

rog