Leashes for AT, do you use them?

**PeachesNCream** · 01-29-2019, 11:44 AM

Got some Marker Kingpins mounted to some Noctas (125 underfoot). I've been out 3x this year with that setup and twice my ski has come off while skinning up. Yes, I have the toe locked but I think the combination of having wide skis and stomping them on an icy steep slope has caused them to come off twice. Luckily I have been able to grab my ski right away but in the chance that I wasn't able to, it would've shot down the hill possibly never to be seen again. So okay, I should get myself some leashes, did a little research heard a lot of complaints about them getting in the way or whack you in the head when you're tomahawking down the mountain or being avalanche anchors. So my question is, do you use leashes? I've heard of break-away leashes, thoughts on those? They don't seem to make them for kingpins though

**adrenalated** · 01-29-2019, 11:57 AM

Most of my tech bindings now have no brakes, so there are leashes. I never, ever use them midwinter due to the anchor in an avalanche problem.
I do use them for spring ski mountaineering lines. Basically, if I think the risk of prerelease would be more dangerous than the risk of being caught in an avalanche, then the leashes go on.

If you are kicking out of the toe when skinning you are doing something wrong.

**PNWbrit** · 01-29-2019, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

If you are kicking out of the toe when skinning you are doing something wrong.

^ This.

**DolphinSki** · 01-29-2019, 12:05 PM

Used to not use them. Always said just don't take your skis off at the top, or be good about clearing ice if you bootpack. Then one day I didn't do as good of a job clearing ice after a bootpack. Released a ski that took off like a rocket. Magically it only went about 400ft down a 2200ft face before spearing straight up. I was able to sideslip down to it and re-attach. Since then I always use leashes.

From what I understand, Dynafit and B&D leashes will both breakaway with the force of an avalanche.

**PeachesNCream** · 01-29-2019, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

If you are kicking out of the toe when skinning you are doing something wrong.

So if you're sidehilling on an icy steep slope, you don't stomp a little to create a ledge for your skin to grab on to? Honest question, relatively new to touring

**BCMtnHound** · 01-29-2019, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by brundo

So if you're sidehilling on an icy steep slope, you don't stomp a little to create a ledge for your skin to grab on to? Honest question, relatively new to touring

If you have to stomp hard enough that your binding is releasing, you might want to invest in some ski crampons.

Edit: looks like kingpin crampons only go to 120mm?

**PeachesNCream** · 01-29-2019, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by DolphinSki

Used to not use them. Always said just don't take your skis off at the top, or be good about clearing ice if you bootpack. Then one day I didn't do as good of a job clearing ice after a bootpack. Released a ski that took off like a rocket. Magically it only went about 400ft down a 2200ft face before spearing straight up. I was able to sideslip down to it and re-attach. Since then I always use leashes.

From what I understand, Dynafit and B&D leashes will both breakaway with the force of an avalanche.

Can I use Dynafit leashes for my kingpins? I'm assuming there's nothing special about them, just need to fit through binding attachment hole

**PeachesNCream** · 01-29-2019, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

If you have to stomp hard enough that your binding is releasing, you might want to invest in some ski crampons.

Edit: looks like kingpin crampons only go to 120mm?

Haha great. Any ideas on how to finagle around this?

**PNWbrit** · 01-29-2019, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by brundo

Can I use Dynafit leashes for my kingpins?

You're going to die.

Originally Posted by brundo

Honest question, relatively new to touring

^ No shit.

If this is happening on a frequent basis you are doing something wrong. Either not clearing snow properly or not latching fully in walk mode.

Since you're new I assume it isn't worn toe sockets... which It could possibly be.

Don't the people you're touring with point out what you're doing incorrectly.

**adrenalated** · 01-29-2019, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by brundo

So if you're sidehilling on an icy steep slope, you don't stomp a little to create a ledge for your skin to grab on to? Honest question, relatively new to touring

No. Roll your ankle downhill to get the skin flat on the snow.
If it's too icy for that get ski crampons or boot.
Even if you are stomping your ski shouldn't release unless you are doing something else wrong. Toe sockets not cleared, toe sockets worn, binding not fully locked, tried to lock the binding but your boot wasn't in properly so it didn't actually lock, etc.

**Spyderjon** · 01-29-2019, 02:17 PM

The Dynafit 130mm crampon will fit providing your bsl is 315mm and over.

**PeachesNCream** · 01-29-2019, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Spyderjon

The Dynafit 130mm crampon will fit providing your bsl is 315mm and over.

Good to know, thank you

**Meadow Skipper** · 01-29-2019, 04:19 PM

I just use/like brakes.

Someone had to say that

**galibier_numero_un** · 01-29-2019, 06:08 PM

I'm still trying to make peace with trusting breakaway leashes (B&D) - strong enough to hold and weak enough to break free when required.

So, I'm running both on occasion (a long term study). My problem is that the last time I released was maybe 4 years ago, so how do I test without turning myself i to a crash test dummy ;-)

... Thom

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

**sierra_cement** · 01-29-2019, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

I just use/like brakes.

Someone had to say that

Here's another: What's all this about icy skin tracks? I only tour for powder.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**BFD** · 01-29-2019, 06:19 PM

I turned myself into a crash test dummy and a cotton shoelace will break.

**mall walker** · 01-29-2019, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

No. Roll your ankle downhill to get the skin flat on the snow.
If it's too icy for that get ski crampons or boot.
Even if you are stomping your ski shouldn't release unless you are doing something else wrong. Toe sockets not cleared, toe sockets worn, binding not fully locked, tried to lock the binding but your boot wasn't in properly so it didn't actually lock, etc.

^ This...

(or else it's a feature unique to Marker bindings

)

**PNWbrit** · 01-29-2019, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by sierra_cement

I only tour for powder.

I only tour on 125 underfoot skis when there's not going to be an icy skin track.

Or bring ski crampons.

And know how to lock tech toes.

**3PinGrin** · 01-29-2019, 08:33 PM

B&D breakaway leashes. Great product/company.

**Jacolac** · 01-29-2019, 09:02 PM

For what it's worth, a friend of mine was just in a size 2 avalanche a few weeks ago. Didnt get buried but had a hell of a time to extracate himself from the snow because his skis were buried and he was attached via leashes that obviously didn't break. These were G3 Ion LT bindings. I ski the same bindings with leashes and now I'm reconsidering going with brakes instead...

**rod9301** · 01-29-2019, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

No. Roll your ankle downhill to get the skin flat on the snow.
If it's too icy for that get ski crampons or boot.
Even if you are stomping your ski shouldn't release unless you are doing something else wrong. Toe sockets not cleared, toe sockets worn, binding not fully locked, tried to lock the binding but your boot wasn't in properly so it didn't actually lock, etc.

Or using kingpins

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

**HHTELE** · 01-29-2019, 09:44 PM

No more leashes.
Burying a ski and going head first into light fluffy snow with one foot tied uphill has been pretty awkward a few times. And then there were the stitches. Just two, but still..

So, vipecs with brakes.

**hutash** · 01-29-2019, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by galibier_numero_un

I'm still trying to make peace with trusting breakaway leashes (B&D) - strong enough to hold and weak enough to break free when required.

So, I'm running both on occasion (a long term study). My problem is that the last time I released was maybe 4 years ago, so how do I test without turning myself i to a crash test dummy ;-)

... Thom

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

Loan them to a friend, but crank the DIN way down.

Best if it's not a good friend.

**galibier_numero_un** · 01-29-2019, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by hutash

Loan them to a friend, but crank the DIN way down.

Best if it's not a good friend.

I've seen more good sig. lines today than I have in the past month.

Originally Posted by Jacolac

For what it's worth, a friend of mine was just in a size 2 avalanche a few weeks ago. Didnt get buried but had a hell of a time to extracate himself from the snow because his skis were buried and he was attached via leashes that obviously didn't break. These were G3 Ion LT bindings. I ski the same bindings with leashes and now I'm reconsidering going with brakes instead...

Fused leashes?
... Thom

**skifishbum** · 01-30-2019, 08:12 AM

back around the turn of the century i was just gonna learn to tele or accept the alpine day wreckers elevated slog of suck
or learn to ski on 10 din dynawhomper with the shitty boot selection available then
the damirs came to town
brakes were a +$50
being a cheap ski bum i ran a biner off the heel to 15-20' of para cord in a goggle bag round my ankle/calf
worked great for 1/2 a season, couple of times i ejected the cord deployed and i reeled the ski in
hucked off a cat track front seat over the handle bars ski ejected cord partly deployed
ski came up cracked me in the back of the head and cracked the never wore one before helmet mom bought me 3 days prior
worn one of them skull protectors ever since went down to bd and bought brakes that afternoon and wont ever strap a ski to my body in or outta avvy terrain again .
them front brakes on them atk free raiders are pretty minimalistic and dont always stop the ski
but it sure is nice that when my toe leaves the binder they always deploy