Big guy touring set-up

[rod9301]

I’m about your size and have the v-werks Katana and have been really happy with it. It handles all conditions from ice to pow really well. Is by far my best ~110mm ski in pow I’ve been on (floats as well as my fatter skis) and it great in all kinds of variable conditions.

It’s not the lightest on the up, but at my size, I’ll never be the fastest. I’ve been really happy with the performance of this ski. Really the only drawback is the price.

Yeah, great skis, and with mtn bindings, a good combination, no pre releases.

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[jsnfschr]

hands down the zero g wins. The plum guides are bomber. They share a dynafit pattern. They have a high Delta angle though so depending on what you are used to, that may be a issue you run into. I like the delta of the guides though so it’s all personal preference and physiology.

Ended up getting the G Zero's and Plum's. Hopefully getting them mounted up this weekend. Now it just needs to snow out here...

[flatland]

Anyone have a proper big guy comparison on ATK Freeraiders/Moment Voyagers vs. CAST? Obviously very, very different setups but I'm intrigued by the idea of having at least one lighter touring ski with ATK's as opposed to running my current multiple skis with CAST.

I've been generally happy with CAST after coming from dukes (bad at everything) and shifts (pre-release issues), but would love to get away from the CAST changeover faff, brakes popping down, carrying toe pieces, etc. - particularly on longer days without a lift or sled assist.

I'm looking specifically for any experiences from bigger guys skiing more aggressively and/or hucking. I'm ~215lbs and a typical day of touring does usually include a few consequential pillow lines and/or a few 20'-30' hucks (albeit with soft landings). I've run pivots on DIN 12 for a decade plus with zero issues but it's not like I need to run 16+, so I'm well aware that I'm not that rad. Am I going to be sorely disappointed going to ATKs, pre-release everywhere, and brake my shit in a season or do I just need to accept that I'm slowly wearing down and don't actually need pivots everywhere?

[Jason4]

I think your description of how you ski when you tour is the case study for CAST, I was going to say that tech bindings get used on the gnarliest of steep skiing in Cham and it's the easiest place to lose some weight and simplify your transitions but probably not if you're sending 30 footers regularly. I come from a snowboard background and so a bit of ski guiding. When I'm riding lifts and it's easy to limp to the car with a sprained ankle I'll send it pretty hard (relative to my age) but I don't like seeing the majority of my clients with a lot of air under their feet mostly because I don't want to have to dig into the repair kit to get someone out of the backcountry.

On the bib - pants topic, I'm a big believer in bibs but hate bibs that have tall waterproof chest panels. I'm a fan of low top bibs and bibs that have softshell material up top, mostly for the seamless integration between upper and lower halves. I've found bibs (and onesies when I'm on the sled) regulate temperature between upper and lower halves better. I also like the utility of having a chest pocket that doesn't flop around too much. If I got to avoid wet storm days I'd probably be in something like the OR Ascentshell bibs but if I'm working then I'm working in all weather. Last year I was in 686 goretex pro bibs which were bomber but a bit on the heavy side. This year I'll pick up a pair of the 686 ATV bibs for touring and keep the rhino suit for chairlifts and sled days.

As far as boots go, I tried to pick skiing back up a little more seriously five years ago in Backland Carbons. It was a poor experience and not good for learning but now that I'm more comfortable on skis I appreciate what it takes to ski a light setup well. I'll prioritize uphill range of motion over weight and like a progressive flex. The Backland Carbons felt like a brick wall that would fold when pushed too far. Lately I've been touring in Hawx XTDs and this year I'll try Backland XTDs. I'll keep my Backland Experts for splitboarding. FWIW, I'm 5'8" and currently at 210 and I tend to carry a heavy pack on work days.

[Jason4]

*system error, double post!*

[auvgeek]

I think the FR would be fine. It won’t have the elasticity of a P15/18 and you probably won’t be as confident in it, but I do honestly think it will hold up to the abuse.

I’ve only had one pre-release issue with my FR14, and that was when I didn’t properly clear my boot heel tech fitting. The FR is so easy to step into, which is great in pow, but you have to be sure your boot is clear of snow or it won’t fully engage.

Disclaimer: I’m not a big guy, but I ski fairly aggressively. Run Pivots and FR 14 at a DIN/RV of 13.

[jsnfschr]

Well, I'm officially set-up for the season! 188 Blizzard G-Zero 105's w/ Plum Guide 12's and Dynafit Radical Pro's.

Hopefully we can keep this thread going to with updates on how gear is holding up, if there are things that do/don't work and if there tips/tricks to making touring a little better for the bigger folks!

[PeachesNCream]

I like this thread. 6'4 210 and always wondered how much I need to account for size difference when looking at gear reviews and such.

If you're looking for pow touring sticks, I've been really happy with the 192cm bent chetler 120s. Pretty stout for how light they are. Great for noodling around. Trying out the death wish tours as my main touring skis this winter, will report back how they go but have a good feeling about them.

Moment voyagers have been great touring bindings. Shifts were prereleasing way too much for me.

Boot wise, I run the atomic hawx 130 xtds and have outflexed them on rare occasion, otherwise pretty happy with them and they've been getting more stout since I got them in '21. Also demoed the radical pros and really liked them despite most reviews being pretty lukewarm about them.

6’3, 200 nekked. Funny, touring setup is deathwish tours, shifts, and atomic xtds. Very happy with the deathwishs, even taken them to the resort a couple times, like them so much I got some dw104s for the resort. Had the same pre release issues with the shifts and bought some alpinists to replace them, although the DWs have 2 sets of shift holes. Debating putting a 3rd set of holes in the DWs or trying something else, mainly for the hell of it. Considering vision108s with alpinists for something lighter (tour with some people who are fitter than me).


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[BeHuWe]

Anyone have a proper big guy comparison on ATK Freeraiders/Moment Voyagers vs. CAST? Obviously very, very different setups but I'm intrigued by the idea of having at least one lighter touring ski with ATK's as opposed to running my current multiple skis with CAST.

I've been generally happy with CAST after coming from dukes (bad at everything) and shifts (pre-release issues), but would love to get away from the CAST changeover faff, brakes popping down, carrying toe pieces, etc. - particularly on longer days without a lift or sled assist.

I'm looking specifically for any experiences from bigger guys skiing more aggressively and/or hucking. I'm ~215lbs and a typical day of touring does usually include a few consequential pillow lines and/or a few 20'-30' hucks (albeit with soft landings). I've run pivots on DIN 12 for a decade plus with zero issues but it's not like I need to run 16+, so I'm well aware that I'm not that rad. Am I going to be sorely disappointed going to ATKs, pre-release everywhere, and brake my shit in a season or do I just need to accept that I'm slowly wearing down and don't actually need pivots everywhere?

I’m at 210 and switched from cast/cast converted Lange RS’s for a real touring rig this past season. I was hesitant with my tech binding experiences I’ve had in the past but I can say I’m pretty psyched on these.

I do like to send cliffs and spin in the BC and this past year i switched to a ATK FR14 with a maestrale xt. I have been stoked on the weight savings and it’s ski-ability. No pre releases yet or anything funky and they ski really really well for a tech binding.

I’ll definitely keep a cast setup for sled skiing but if your doing human powered tours I can’t see many shortcomings of some of the new tech binding offerings


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[smooth operator]

If any of you big guys need a beefy tech binding, I have an ATK FR16 new in box, 120mm stoppers.
This aging tiny dude has come to the realization that he’s not skiing as hard as he used to, and this binding is way overkill for me.
Shoot me a msg if interested. Sorry for the spam.