CAST boot conversion

[Swandog]

Want to make the switch to touring setup for the 20% that I’m skinning and leaning towards a pair of Shifts. Only problem is that I have a pair of alpine boots (with “walk mode”) that I don’t want to give up on yet.

I’ve seen a few posts on CAST’s conversion inserts for $200, but nothing definitive. Has anybody done this? What’s the readout? Is touring with Alpine bindings generally a shitty idea?

[XXX-er]

there are already about 60 pages of posts on the CAST binding system and 20 pages on CAST Iron skillets

[madriverfreeride]

A lot of the big thread is more concentrated on the binding system than the boot conversion. I have a pair of alpine boots that are converted, but I also have a pair of hawx xtds to tour in most days. The converted boot skis just like it did before, it tours okay, better than an alpine boot in a frame binding, not as good as a touring boot obviously. For less than an hour uphills I’d say the converted boot does the job, or for side country laps where your also skiing in bounds in the same day.

I really wouldn’t recommend doing big days on a converted alpine boot.

Also you are going to have to source all future replacement soles for your boot from cast, the stock ones will no longer fit. I also believe that they only do alpine soles, not gripwalk or walk to ride, but that may have changed since I did mine. Additionally some specific boots with hollow toe lugs I believe are mot compatible but I don’t recall which ones those are.

And one last thing, the converted tech toe is for uphill use only, so no using it in kingpins and tectons and such.

[smooth operator]

Want to make the switch to touring setup for the 20% that I’m skinning and leaning towards a pair of Shifts. Only problem is that I have a pair of alpine boots (with “walk mode”) that I don’t want to give up on yet.

I’ve seen a few posts on CAST’s conversion inserts for $200, but nothing definitive. Has anybody done this? What’s the readout? Is touring with Alpine bindings generally a shitty idea?

THe $200 is a bit hefty to put into old(er) boots I feel. Especially since touring boots have progressed so much over the last few years, I'd consider putting in a bit more and getting a modern boot with pins. But that is just me. And it depends on your current boot of course. But to me the conversion only makes sense for those that badly want to ski on a plug boot.

[S.B.]

I'd also read the last few pages of the shift thread before committing to them. Lots of weird problems

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[cydwhit]

I had a CAST toed Atomic Hawx Ultra (not the XTD) that I skied some with CAST but mostly with Shift. HUGE fan of that for anyone planning on doing less than 30% of their skiing uphill.

I think most people talking about how much skinning in alpine boots sucks were also using frame bindings at the same time. And it turns out that frame bindings suck way more than not having a walk mode. Pulling that pivot in to the toe makes most day tours for a lot of folks totally doable on alpine boots (as long as they're not stupid heavy).

I did a few days of back-to-back testing with Hawx XTD's, Hawx Ultra (with CAST toe) and a pair of Bibby Tours with pins, and a pair of Bibby Pros with frames. Takeaway: XTD with Pins is the best (duh) but you don't lose that much with XTD's and CAST toe. Frame bindings with either boot sucked, the walk mode didn't help much, and I hated my life. Ended up doing a fair number of pretty big days on inbounds boots with Cast or Shift last year. Never regretted it, especially when it came time to go downhill.

So decide how long you're going to be skiing those alpine boots, and if you plan on touring more and more in future years. If you love your boots and plan to be in them for the next five years, and want to do mostly slackcountry laps and short tours, just drop the $200 on the inserts and walk your happy ass uphill.

[east or bust]

I’ve had no issues touring in my non walk mode alpine boots, had the converted toe since the first year cast was a thing... 6-7 years ago?

YRMV

[grinch]

Im guessing if you toured in an actual touring boot for a while you'd hate touring in an alpine boot. Used to think my alpine boots, or my nordica tr9's for that matter, in my emery or 404's were the most amazing ez travel things. No way i could use them now for more than 100ft, especially with modern boots. I think my tr9 after the liners were fully saturated weighed more than my alpina alpine boots and , despite being plastic, flexed like a leather hiking boot. Both my lupo and vulcans are as stiff or near as stiff as my alpina'a and have 3x the rom of my tr9's. Pretty sure a peeson could find a decent used touring boot for not much more than getting your alpine boot casted, especially when you factor in shipping

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