What would be better for hiking?

[Jake the Trog]

So i want to hike some backcountry shit this year and i am deciding if i should get snowshoes or xc skis with skins... what would be better you think?

[Leifless]

we need more info here. do you want to hike to ski?

how steep do you wanna climb? snowshoes will go steeper than skins, but skins will be faster on traverses.

[gooch]

skis are also a lot more fun going DOWNHILL

[Mr. Charles]

one of each.

[Jake the Trog]

I want to hike to snowboard. But snowshoes seem too slow...

[gooch]

Snowmobile?

[fenge]

I've done a couple smaller (5-6 hour) hikes in just my snowboard boots. I'm definately getting a pair of snowshoes this year!

It makes a huge difference on the steeps. Otherwise the guy in the lead is going to be getting real tired stomping holes in the snow.

[Leifless]

Originally posted by Jake the Trog
I want to hike to snowboard. But snowshoes seem too slow...

thats one of the drawbacks of snowboarding...your going to have to live with it. snowshoes will be better for you than dragging an extra pair of skis around. and if you do get snowshoes do yourself a favour and get some poles also...preferaable backcountry poles, caus their lenght can be adjusted.

[trout]

Get a splitboard. The board splits into nice wide skis with lots of traction for climbing with regular boots and bindings. You will expend a lot less energy climbing with skins than snowshoeing and not have to carry your board on your back.

[Battlecat]

snowshoes, or like gooch said a snow mobile

you can take alot of runs if you have a friend with you

[skifreak]

K2 used to have the snowshoes that worked with clicker bindings - so you clicked out of your board and clicked into the shoes... was uber cool - and nice to not mess around with the straps...

[Jake the Trog]

I said fuck it ill get both, so i got some atomic t8 skis with atomic bindings, and ill probably get some shoes soon

[patrolskid]

do the split board thing . there are some good set ups out there now . after fucking around with them for a while , you'll say to yourself " why the hell don't i just get some skis ? " problem solved . . . . .

seriously though , the manufacturers have got some good reliable product , good bindings and matching skins . there's nothing like slicing through uncut snow on the big fat plank . i have a buddy who can switch from climbing to riding , and vice versa , in less than two minutes .

[gooch]

split boards suck for goimg up hill from what i have heard

[Craz]

Originally posted by gooch
split boards suck
Yep.

[Taylor_P]

snow shoes

[skifreak]

Originally posted by Jake the Trog
I said fuck it ill get both, so i got some atomic t8 skis with atomic bindings, and ill probably get some shoes soon

where are you going to put the skis when you ride down the mountain - they're gonna hit ya from the tails catching on stuff... better to just use the shoes...

[umbullit]

I have a pair of these with som float tails. (http://www.msrcorp.com/snow/denali_evo_ascent.asp)

Work very well. makes it much easier to get arround in the snow. i would recomend them to anyone looking to find a way to ease their hiking in the snow.