Newbie AT setup?

[freeskisquaw]

Hey everyone, I'm trying to get into AT this year, but I'm pretty clueless on what to buy. Can anyone give me some recommendations on what kind of skis/bindings/boots to buy?

I'm about 5'8", 125, and I ski Volkl Gotama 176's every day. I'm a pretty advanced skier, but a total newbie to AT. Can anyone recommend something?

[flip]

First, buy a beacon, a shovel, and a probe and either take an avy course, and practice searches with friends that are experienced in the BC. This is $400 (minimum) that is the cost of entry. No way around it.
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If you ski and like Gotamas, they make a great BC ski.

Buy some skins ($100-120) and a pair of Fritschis/Naxos (~$350) and you're good to go on your alpine boots, at least to get started. Both are good and durable and cost about the same. Another $450 that's pretty unavoidable.

If you decide you like it, then you can consider AT boots and a dedicated BC ski, and you'll have a much better idea of what kind of ski you would want for the BC terrain you prefer.

Spend any left over cash on creatine.

[pointedem]

I would buy: rossi squad 84 0r 89 and freerides,

but that is just me

[iggyskier]

I like my gotamas are touring skis.

I'm on the 183. Used to have FR, but just got Naxo Nx21. I'll post a review of the naxo when I get to ski them.

[Z]

Trekkers.

[wicked_sick]

Trekkers.

fuck that. snowshoes are where it's at.

[Z]

fuck that. snowshoes are where it's at.

fuck that. Flip-flops are the way to go.

[SkiDrew]

fuck that. Flip-flops are the way to go.

Pffffft. Shoes are for pussies.

[corn dog]

You might want to add a little bit about the sort of skiing you want to do. If you want to cover a lot of ground, bag peaks etc think dynafit. If you want to access stuff from the lift area then prolly naxo/freeride make more sense. There is some variety in terms of what the gear is targeted at.

[Core Shot]

.................If you want to ski agressively, p18's+trekkers.

your such a pussy

real men don't ski DIN less than 20

[corn dog]

Out of curiosity, have you actually skinned such a setup? How far?

.................If you want to ski agressively, p18's+trekkers.

[MOHSHSIHd]

I ditched my freerides....just not comfortable for random pre-release and random walkmode...

i mean sure, they are great if you just want to skin pow laps...


but if you huck bigger than say 6 inches fuck em...


im one of the many who has ditched the floprides and are going trekker...

[bakers_dozen]

I've heard a ton of bad things about trekkers, how they damage easily and whatnot, so AT bindings DIN settings are too low?

[Sphinx]

Lots of people on Trekkers, apparently. I would like to go on a tour with them.

Somehow the people on this board doing the coolest trips all seem to do OK with AT bindings. What a coincidence.

[flip]

but if you huck bigger than say 6 inches fuck em...

Mine seem to have held up to hucking just fine. Bought this pair in Spring 2002. Still using them. Had one li'l problem in that whole time and BD turned them around for free even though they were 3 years old...

[bakers_dozen]

Sure they break, I broke a heel clip part the other day. Need to carry parts just in case. Looking into some better bails/clips though.

If I'm going to hike something, I want my full alpine gear on the way down.

I guess that makes sense, I didn't realize AT bindings weren't as good as alpine bindings for the way down. I'll have to look into it

[upallnight]

Lots of people on Trekkers, apparently. I would like to go on a tour with them.

Somehow the people on this board doing the coolest trips all seem to do OK with AT bindings. What a coincidence.

Your sample may not be the best indicator of what people in the BC are doing.

It would be ridiculous to take alpine bindings and trekkers for remote ski mountaineering objectives. Fritschis are great bindings for tours and all but the hardest/biggest hucks (I ride mine inbounds at Jackson every day), but for the faraway (& very cool) stuff, you'll find the much lighter gear (yet still plenty burly) on the feet of the ski mountaineers.

My Fritschis have been on my descents of the Grand & peaks 17K and above in Alaska. I've used my Dynafits on plenty of stuff 50 degrees and up. Not much hucking going on there, but I was plenty comfortable with those bindings in situations where there would be no margin for error and serious consequences for a pre-release.

Trekkers are a great intro setup, but when you realize you like touring and can go soooo much farther (or take extra laps) due to the redux in weight, you might convert.

Also, if you do go the trekker route, keep in mind that if you DON'T enjoy the tour, it may not be a true indicator of whether you would enjoy TOURING with lighter gear.

If you are at all serious and have the cash, I'd suggest at least going with a Fritschi binding. If less cash and questioning whether you'll like it or how often you'll go, Trekkers are fine.

Have fun!

[kchri]

Excellent and realistic advise...