UKC

I'm finally convincing myself that I need to flash the cash
Considering my current setup is Atomic Beta 9.22s & Fritschi Diamir mk1s, then it's probably well beyond due for replacement, although I did get round to buying some Maestrale RSs last year (excellent)

So what's the best current one ski/binding combination that does everything?
Mostly lift served off-piste but also day tours, stuff like the Haute Route & even piste-bashing with the family

I'm currently wondering about the newest Atomic Drifters, Fritschi Vipecs & Colltex Whizz mixed
though maybe Fritschi Eagle 12s or Freeride Pros

Anyone got any experience/opinions of these, or other suggestions?
eg. Black Crow Orbs, Dynastar Cham HMs

I'm 5ft 10 (179cm) & 11st 2lbs (71 kgs) and have been looking round the excellent info here
http://www.alpine-guides.com/skiing/advice/ski-touring-equipment-advice.htm

Thanks for any opinions

In reply to Carless:

You should certainly have a look at Wildsnow - they're great fans of the Dynafit type bindings, of which more and more are coming onto the market. https://www.wildsnow.com/

In reply to Carless:

The Salomon Q-98's are a good ski for going off piste with the use of a lift and skiing on the groomed runs! I have them with a Alpine binding though. A ski like this might feel abit heavy on a tour! But if you are mostly going off piste from a lift I would go for something alittle wider like the Rossignol soul 7 or Armada tst, they are also quite light but still work on the piste. I liked the tst's when I used them last year even tough it was crusty!

I would also look at making sure you get a binding that wont kill your knees if you take a fall on the piste as most of the skis in this category are abit stiffer than the typical touring ski so there wont be as much flex to save you!

In reply to Carless:
Volk mantra skis and Hagan touring bindings for every day use, lighter than Free ride pro's and better for steep kick turns.
Volkl nanatuk and vipecs for longer tours, much safer for a number of reasons to other technical bindings.
I have the same boot as you.
Asking about skis is like asking males which car.......although I see that doesn't concern you...
Make sure you buy fromSport Conrad website, sometimes nearly half UK prices...some of the Decathalon skis are also good and if you are in France they allow you to try them out.

In reply to Carless:

As an ex-owner of the premier touring freeride ski of the 90s, the BetaRide with a Dynafit Speed set up, I updated last year to:

Salomom Freedom SL
Rossi Soul 7
Marker Tour 12

Wow! Good on piste, great off, fun, playful and overall easy. Not the lightest set up but light enough for me, the Tour 12s ski really well and make a world of difference around a resort compared to Dynafits.

It might be a slightly too freeride/resort based set up for you though.

In reply to Carless:

These are also quite good for deals http://www.glisshop.co.uk/?rt76=26-778&rt77=47455042222&gclid=CISsg...

You say you want something for lift served off piste but also the Haute route? Opposite ends of the spectrum, what will work for one wont be ideal for the other. I got a pair of Scott Fly'airs just before Christmas which I mounted vipec's on great for touring but not so good for free-riding.

In reply to Carless:

My Atomic Alibis are pretty badass in most conditions.

In reply to Carless:

Well i am just waiting for delivery of some new Cham HM 97 with Vipecs so will let you know, seems a pretty common setup, not sure about piste bashing though on the Vipecs, be good enough for an odd day.

In reply to Carless:

One ski to rule them all................ doesn't exist. Just accept you need lots!

I have Coombacks _+Freeride pro and Waybacks with Dynafit and K2 Annex piste ski and some old things for rockhopping.

In reply to Carless:
No need to consider piste performance unless you want to ski gates. If you're going off-piste your skiing level should be good enough to get sufficient performance out of your skis to entertain you on-piste if you're just cruising around.

I have Black Crows Camox Freebird with Dynafit TLT Speed Radical with leashes (not brakes). I'm very happy with them, I had quite a bit of fun skiing icy pistes last night, and they were awesome in powder last Sunday.

The only downside is that the tail piece of the binding sometimes accidentally rotates in to ski mode when going uphill. I've heard there's an adapter I can attach to prevent this and I'm awaiting a reply from the reliably poor customer service of dynafit.

In reply to Carless:

I've just bought some Scott Crusair's and Vipecs (from Bergzeit - very good deal on touring packages!!!). Not tried 'em yet but am going out in a couple of weeks on a family ski holiday - not what they are bought for though but should be a good test!

In reply to Carless:


I do all of that except multi day tours on Whitedot Preachers with Marker f10 bindings, Whitdot Rangers may be more versatile if including multi day tours

In reply to Gael Force:

I'm another that skis Volkl Nunataks, with G3 ions. It was my one ski quiver for sometime: light, but skied great in most conditions. I also like the ions a lot.
I use TLT6s.

In reply to all

Many thanks for the feedback
As I suspected, it hasn't made my decisions any easier

Agree with the comments saying what I'm asking for doesn't exist, but can't really justify the more than 1 pair ideas
Will have to retire to the mountains & spend the pension on skis

In reply to Carless:



That is a good source of info but a little out of date, for example the Black Diamond Factor used to be available with 110 flex (which I have, excellent boots) and 130 flex, it is now only available in 130 flex which may be considered less versatile for many skiers. Also the Marker touring bindings have been completely redesigned and are now much more durable and no longer justify the warnings cited in the link. The site recommends the shop Backcountry UK who now stock Whitedot skis so you will be able to check out my recommendation of the Preacher and Ranger

In reply to galpinos:
Did you mean Scarpa Freedon SL? If so great boot, I use mine for piste, back country and touring. They are great.

In reply to David Bennett:

I did.

In reply to MischaHY:


Yep, I love mine - they can ski everything from ice to deep powder, but need driving pretty aggressively. I've got them mounted with Marker Dukes for the burly fun stuff, and at the other end of the spectrum I have Movement Response X with Dynafit bindings.

J.

In reply to Carless:

For me, Dynastar Chams are simply fantastic skis. A joy on piste, amazing off. You can float on power, stay stable and smooth on crud, carve on the groomers. Superb.

In reply to Carless:


Some of the more heavier tech binders are a good bet with Maesterales.

As for the ski, 100-110 in the waist, moderate tip rocker, camber in the middle and perhaps some rocker in the back. 180 to 185 for true length of the ski.

In reply to James Jackson:

I've got Marker Jesters mounted on mine. Great bindings.

In reply to Carless:

Stockli Stormrider light + dynafit tlt speed radical - perfect for me both on long and short tours
Stockli Stormrider light + Voile Switchback for tele touring. Fantastic all round ski.

In reply to HeMa:

Man you love those big skis, your replies to ski threads are predictable if nothing else

In reply to Carless:

My girlfriend just bought a pair of K2 backout's with scout bindings. Shes has used them on-piste and they seem fine, although shes a bit lighter than you (~55kg). off-piste they are great. Just get whatever is cheap on sport-conrad or sportler. after you have skied over a few rocks, strapped then to the roof of the car or had the baggage handlers at the airport do there worst, they all work then same

In reply to cloudsrule9:


Are you sure you picked the right skis off the baggage carousel? If the handlers changed the size and shape of your skis then you've probably got an insurance claim.

In reply to Dark-Cloud:


They're not big... 70 kg plus clothes and avygear in a rucksack... well, the OP is going to be more closer to 90kg. Heck the boots already weight almost 4 kg.

This is something that people always seem to forget. The skis will however feel every gram on them. And with that added bulk, even 190s would be ok skiing vise. The rule of thumb is your skiing weight rounded in to 10 kg and add a meter for the ski. So 70kg weight in ski gear -> 170cm skis.

In reply to Carless:

"One ski to rule them all"...
and in the darkness, bindings.

Sorry.

In reply to HeMa:

This is all very true. Folk also seem to over-estimate what the 'effective edge' is when you ski a fatter ski with some rocker on piste.

To the OP ...as someone else mentioned have a look at Whitedot Rangers. I have Ranger Pros - was surprised how well they ski on hard snow (for above reason). They're really well put together, sidewall construction etc. Better quality than the cheaper K2 type stuff, but depends what you want to spend.

In reply to Carless:

Boots- Dynafit Vulcans
Skis- DPS Wailer 112
Bindings- Plum Yak

In reply to JuneBob:



Yeah, there's small piece that Lou reviewed here: https://www.wildsnow.com/13852/anti-twist-dynafit-speed-radical/

I put it on my skis at the beginning of the season, works great. Downside is that race transitions are a bit more fiddly as you need to rotate the heel back 270 degrees. However, if you race using the Radicals, then probably this additional second lost is of no importance....

As you say, it's a compromise.

One thing to think about is that fat skis are quite a lot less confidence inspiring on steep icy ground, and this is worse (when skinning) if they have a lot of side cut. So if you expect to be dropping into a lot of couloirs, or doing a decent amount of touring, I reckon 75-85 at the waist might be a decent compromise, and not too waisted. Sure 100 underfoot is sweet in powder, but it would be truly terrifying traversing a steep early morning slope above a bergschrund or cliff (even with harschheisen, as they're pretty crap on fat skis).

I have 2 setups, and will always take the B2s (76 underfoot) over the Scott's (92 underfoot iirc) if I'm doing any hut to hut or if there's not a lot of powder around. If I had to live with one setup, it'd be something with the B2 dimensions but perhaps a little less side cut. Yes, it's not as fun (or forgiving) on powder days, but it's still workable, it won't kill me on the icy and steep days, and it's a damn sight nicer to skin with.

In reply to mtom91:

how are you getting on with the Wailer 112s as an all mountain ski? I'm out in Utah soon and was thinking of getting some with Alpine bindings/Quiver Killers so I can also mount my Beasts on them. Would be for "side country". Everything I read about them looks great and I chatted to some folks using them in Jackson Hole last year and they were full of praise - but they were using them pretty much entirely for powder

OP: I'm using Maestrale/Dynafit Beast/Trab Volare which is a nice, reasonably light, single set up, just slightly lacking in all mountain oomph but well up for hut to hut, powder and a bit of piste

Beware of a potential problem with the Dynafit ST in combo with the Maestrale, especially if you're tall: the heel to toe drop of the ST, particularly with the lean of the Maestrale, can lead to you prolapsing forward over the top of your boot leaving you in a permanent thigh burning half squat. Many have got round this by having a shim inserted to raise the toe piece off the ski and reduce the angle and this works perfectly well. I changed over to the Beasts which also sorts it.

I skied Fritschis Freerides for years but once you've gone uphill on Dynafits I don't understand how anyone could go back...

P

In reply to mtom91:

Or the 99 for the true all arounder. I've got the 112 pure and it's wonderful but it's big for the narrows and wide for very pack. Turns on a dime though in most conditions.

In reply to Paul Atkinson:

Get fitter...

In reply to london_huddy:

First time I have used 'like' on UKC! hehe

In reply to london_huddy:


Having skied both the 99 & the 112 over a period of time, think after a lot of consideration & deliberation, even though it pains me to say this as I love the 112's, a pair of the 99's would be the way to go for the single ski quiver.

In reply to Gael Force:

Well I'm certainly no Kilian Jornet, but have finished 100/276 in the Lakeland 100 and back squatted my own weight on the bar despite being 6'5" so I don't thing basic fitness and conditioning are major issues holding me back. The Maestrale (and others)/ ST combo drop issue and many people's need for a shim to achieve a decent stance are well documented elsewhere online and I know the excellent Piste Office has done plenty of these fixes, including for various guides.
My mind is saying the 99sbur my heart want the 112s, even if they are only going to really sing on day in 5 or so. Choices choices....
I haven't actually yet cchecked my assumption that DGHs Skis will cost me less in SLC where they're made than i would pay here!

P

In reply to Carless:

I have scott crusair's (90mm) with dynafit st and atomic bent chetlers (123mm) with marker barons. I started out thinking the crusair's would be fine for everything but haven't used them since I did the haute route a few years ago. Since then it's been the chetlers in lift-serviced on/off piste and the odd day tour. I wouldn't go back to anything skinny now unless it was a multi-day tour. One change I might make is to swap the dynafits over to the BC's for an even lighter setup.

In reply to Siderunner:



This was on my mind during a trip to La Grave with the Bent Chetlers. We did a lot few steep icy couloirs with narrow entrances and I was surprised how comfortable they were and how well they held an edge.

In reply to Morgan Woods:

I think the problem may be partly the excessive side cut on my Scott Crusades (w Dynafit ST). To be honest I noticed it most when skinning across steep stuff with Harscheisen. At time it felt like only the front and back of the ski were touching the slope, with the Harscheisen hanging in space. This made traversing very slow, and a kick turn unthinkable at times.

In reply to Siderunner:



Sidecut ist nicht gut for steeps...

Which is why I prefer turn radii to be greater than 25m, preferably in mid 30s.

In reply to HeMa:

What would you recommend that has low sidecut, minimal rocker, wide, but still light for touring? Does such a ski exist?

In reply to craigloon:
http://www.whitedotskis.com/store/ranger-carbonlite

In reply to craigloon:

There are numerous such skis. Dynafit Denali comes to mind (184cm has turn radii of 23m, not optimal).

Voile Charger, pRaxis BC and numerous other BC oriented skis are also clockin' around 23 to 25m turn radiis in ~180cm lenght.

And if you can muster a tad heavier ski (which you should), numerous freeride skis have 25-30m turn radiis.

In reply to ed woods:

I'm liking that a lot!

In reply to HeMa:

Thanks HeMa!