BCX/backcountry touring skis and tech bindings

[lepistoir]

Wondering what to do with my Fischer S-bound 112s. They have Voilé3-pin clamps with removable cables and my boots are pretty burly for XC: Fischer BCX8.

I think I could just switch to a lighter boot and still get all the performance for rambling around that I need. Was wondering if I should just replace the bindings with light tech bindings and use my PDG boots. I've got the EZ skins so I would feel confident going into steeper terrain with that gear but then I wonder why I wouldn't just take my VTA88 setup. I've thought about NNN BC as well for the frictionless pivot but it sounds like you really suffer in skiability. Who is using a fish scale (or even waxed) ski with tech bindings?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[3PinGrin]

Wondering what to do with my Fischer S-bound 112s. They have Voilé3-pin clamps with removable cables and my boots are pretty burly for XC: Fischer BCX8.

I think I could just switch to a lighter boot and still get all the performance for rambling around that I need. Was wondering if I should just replace the bindings with light tech bindings and use my PDG boots. I've got the EZ skins so I would feel confident going into steeper terrain with that gear but then I wonder why I wouldn't just take my VTA88 setup. I've thought about NNN BC as well for the frictionless pivot but it sounds like you really suffer in skiability. Who is using a fish scale (or even waxed) ski with tech bindings?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's a 78 waist ski? I personally wouldn't go lighter than that with that ski if sticking with tele, in fact my personal preference would be a switchback or tele tech binding with a stiffer boot, like Excursion, T4, or even T2/Tx Pro. Tele turns with a softer boot than your BCX8 is going to suck in anything but good snow conditions, and even the BCX8 is under matched IMO. I think your PDG boot / tech binding would be a good match though.

[lepistoir]

That's a 78 waist ski? I personally wouldn't go lighter than that with that ski if sticking with tele, in fact my personal preference would be a switchback or tele tech binding with a stiffer boot, like Excursion, T4, or even T2/Tx Pro. Tele turns with a softer boot than your BCX8 is going to suck in anything but good snow conditions, and even the BCX8 is under matched IMO. I think your PDG boot / tech binding would be a good match though.

Yep. 78mm waist. I'm hoping to avoid any combination of steep and variable conditions with this setup. I am actually thinking of winter 14ers with long approaches like in the San Juans. 10 miles of snowmobile-packed road only needs a XC ski, after all. Then of course, the duckbill boots don't work that well in kicking steps, walking on scree, or climbing class 3/4 terrain. PDG boots are very nimble plastic boots that ski great (with my lightweight setup) and skinning with mohair isn't all that bad. I guess I'm still just wondering what the best deployment is for BCX gear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bodywhomper]

I guess I'm still just wondering what the best deployment is for BCX gear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve always called it “xcd.” I use it for having fun. Another option of something fun to do on snow.

[3PinGrin]

Yep. 78mm waist. I'm hoping to avoid any combination of steep and variable conditions with this setup. I am actually thinking of winter 14ers with long approaches like in the San Juans. 10 miles of snowmobile-packed road only needs a XC ski, after all. Then of course, the duckbill boots don't work that well in kicking steps, walking on scree, or climbing class 3/4 terrain. PDG boots are very nimble plastic boots that ski great (with my lightweight setup) and skinning with mohair isn't all that bad. I guess I'm still just wondering what the best deployment is for BCX gear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those aren't xc skis, but if just shuffling along the flats and not really concerned about turning the softer boot would be fine. But then there are better ski / boot combos for covering a lot of ground fast but that would necessitate an extra pair of boots in your case. The PDG boots and tech bindings would be a good choice. Are you saying you would also climb in the PDG boots? Seems like a win/win to me if so. You can also use regular skis and just kick wax if you are dealing with dry snow (not hovering around freezing, PNW, etc.).

I’ve always called it “xcd.” I use it for having fun. Another option of something fun to do on snow.

X2, although I finally grew to despise my Boundless Crowns and went back to kick waxing some 87 waisted Elans that I ended up selling. The Voile waxless skis sound like they offer a lot better grip/glide than the old Fischers though, wouldn't mind trying a pair of those sometime.

[lepistoir]

Those aren't xc skis, but if just shuffling along the flats and not really concerned about turning the softer boot would be fine. But then there are better ski / boot combos for covering a lot of ground fast but that would necessitate an extra pair of boots in your case. The PDG boots and tech bindings would be a good choice. Are you saying you would also climb in the PDG boots? Seems like a win/win to me if so. You can also use regular skis and just kick wax if you are dealing with dry snow (not hovering around freezing, PNW, etc.).

Yes, PDG would go all the way to the top. Of course, if I feel the need for a more technical boot , I'll use the 75mm setup to approach with other boots in pack until it's time to climb.

I'm sure it's been covered elsewhere but real quick: does kick wax get in skin glue?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lepistoir]

So I was out for a stretch in the building, but still shallow snowpack yesterday. I took my XCD setup not expecting much of a chance to turn. It was great getting to kick and glide along the trail but as soon as it got anywhere near 15-20 degrees, it got herky-jerky shit show. I was really dissapointed. Basically anywhere it was steep enough for the skis to slide down without pushing, I couldn't make any kind of turn except basically a staggered snowplow in a tele stance. Maybe that's my technique or maybe that is the technique. At any rate, I crossed paths with a fellow on V6 BCs/Dynafit/ZeroG setup and talking to him about the difference in our setups I became convinced that is definitely the way to go. Not sure anymore what the utility is for the Fischer Sbound type ski except convenient out-the-door backyard strolling. I'm on the fischscale AT wagon now.