AT bindings - school me.

[mr_fungle]

Old or New design?

http://www.backcountryfreeskier.com/...g-binding.html

[Oldfart]

Originally Posted by shirk

It's not about the transitions, it's about rolling terrain. Little ups and downs when you have your skins on. With FR you just reach back and lock in and you can glide down the slope with skins still on. No worries about auguring head first into the snow and potentially wrecking the toe pivot of your binding. With the Marker you need to remove the ski to do this.

The climbing bar on the Markers kinda sucks, I don't know anyone that likes it.

meh. Non issue. I skied tele for years and there ain't no heel hold down and I never augured in when going down a short slope with skins on. You just put one foot in front of the other a bit. Or sit back a bit. I don't bother with my Dynafits either.

[PaulB]

Originally Posted by Oldfart

meh. Non issue.

Tell that to the girl in this Cerise Creek TR from last year. To be fair, she was new to touring.

[XXX_er]

well of course YMMV but being a tele'er is not the same as being an At'er who forgets to or doesn't lock their heels down

I've read there is a way to release the heels on dynafits without releasing the toe and taking the boot out of the ski

[Tonestar]

Originally Posted by heckler

I need a binding for slacker country. Mostly skiing lifts, but occasionally dragging my but out of limits or up Cypress/Seymour. Most of my skiing is blacks and blues and I don't get nearly enough powder days (who does?). I know I'll never intentionally drop a cliff, or straight-line a chute.


I'm leaning towards Marker Touring F12's, as they're lighter than Baron's and Fritchi Freeride Pro's.

http://www.marker.de/en/product-guid...-bindings.html
http://www.backcountry.com/black-dia...-binding-108mm

In order of weight, it's Barons (2480 g), Freeride Pro (2190 g) then Touring F12's (1810 g). All have way more DIN than I need. Is there any reason not to get the Touring F12's?

Keep a proper alpine set up for your lift access days, none of the touring bindings ski that well, nothing close to a proper alpine set up anyways.

[winterbela]

"Nothing close to proper alpine set up" is a bit heavy handed. Lots of binding companies are putting out slack country bindings that perform on par with alpine bindings. The sacrifices are durability and weight, not function.

Stand in the line-up at Glacier on a deep day and look down. FAAAATTT skis and touring bindings.It's worked for me for 10 years.

[XXX_er]

Originally Posted by Tonestar

Keep a proper alpine set up for your lift access days, none of the touring bindings ski that well, nothing close to a proper alpine set up anyways.

I would agree with that statement,sure a one quiver AT setup will work BUT a high end alpine boot with no hike mode and a din sole just works a little better than an AT boot with a walk mode and a vibram sole (which BTW is a friction device) I know I get pre-release with an FR+ if I don't crank the heal an extra DIN

I've mounted the same ski with an alpine binding and a fr+ and while its not entirely a deal killer you do lose some performance

Also IMO there are those times when you push the limits that you want that extra % of binding or boot performance is why I run 2 setups

also my alpine bindings cost 1/2 of what my AT binding cost, my alpine boots were definatley less $ than my AT boots

[Tonestar]

Originally Posted by winterbela

"Nothing close to proper alpine set up" is a bit heavy handed. Lots of binding companies are putting out slack country bindings that perform on par with alpine bindings. The sacrifices are durability and weight, not function.

Stand in the line-up at Glacier on a deep day and look down. FAAAATTT skis and touring bindings.It's worked for me for 10 years.

I stand by my statement, all the touring bindings are a compromise when it comes to the "ski" mode, especially the lighter weight ones. Some, like the Marker, ski not bad, but the weight and position they put you in, is no where near what a "proper alpine binding" gives you.

I am not saying that you can't use these bindings, you have obviously found a compromise that you are willing to accept to have the free heal feature.

Issue is, the OP said he was going to be 90/10 lift to slack country. If that was me, I would have 2 set ups, or just get used to walking with my skis strapped to my pack, like we did in the old days (race boots and 207 GS race skis, and we liked it).

Don't get me started on fat rockered skis!!

[heckler]

I'm keeping my 90 mm Volkls DH skis for the shitty days. These skis will be for the powder days. I'm going with the FR+'s.

Good discussion here. Thanks!

[winterbela]

Jez Tonestar. You had some validity until you mentioned hiking. Not sure where you ski, but where I ski hiking is not an option. I guess if I was kicking steps into the side of Blue Mountain, but slack country means dedicated touring. Even when we had 210s (my girlfriend skied 207).


For 90/10 resort to slack country alpine trekkers might be a good option. One of BC's top free skiers uses them on huge day tours in Revelstoke. Or just get Dukes or Barons and be done with it.

XXX_er - I'm not sure what your post means? The only place where I'm puckered and counting on my gear is in the backcountry. I want the best performance for the best conditions. Unless there are pistons involved, I think marker at bindings, a stiff at boot and a fat 105+ ski is the best set-up for accessing the best skiing. 2-3 hours in bounds then when it's punched - duck the rope.

That said - I do have two set-ups and pick the right ski boot binding combo for what I want to accomplish for the day - ski the lift with the rug rats and wife, rip the hill with buds and drink beer at lunch, get a free ride to 2300 and tour. Depends on the day.

[Rat]

i found my freerides fine for inbound days, a bit sloppy but not a big deal. you will be fine in them sven.

how big a ski do you want?

[XXX_er]

Originally Posted by winterbela

Jez Tonestar. You had some validity until you mentioned hiking. Not sure where you ski, but where I ski hiking is not an option. I guess if I was kicking steps into the side of Blue Mountain, but slack country means dedicated touring. Even when we had 210s (my girlfriend skied 207).


For 90/10 resort to slack country alpine trekkers might be a good option. One of BC's top free skiers uses them on huge day tours in Revelstoke. Or just get Dukes or Barons and be done with it.

XXX_er - I'm not sure what your post means? The only place where I'm puckered and counting on my gear is in the backcountry. I want the best performance for the best conditions. Unless there are pistons involved, I think marker at bindings, a stiff at boot and a fat 105+ ski is the best set-up for accessing the best skiing. 2-3 hours in bounds then when it's punched - duck the rope.

That said - I do have two set-ups and pick the right ski boot binding combo for what I want to accomplish for the day - ski the lift with the rug rats and wife, rip the hill with buds and drink beer at lunch, get a free ride to 2300 and tour. Depends on the day.

I took the deadbolts off my JJ's and mounted some FR+ , that touring binding which cost double what the alpines cost did affected the ride enough to where I can feel the difference it's JUST a little vague with FR+ but I can use either boot(don't forget to readjust BSL!) and I can tour them so I compromise cuz getting home from the BC is key for me

BUT at the hill don't kid yerself ... every run is a race with yer buddy

and its been like that since we were all 10yrs old which is where I want the best equipment I can get, IME there are always times I was glad a ski released when it should have and didn't release when it should not, I ski harder front/side country than in the BC, I push the limits to where I am more likely to fall from fatigue or taking a chance or need the extra performance of THE best alpine gear to beat or keep up to whomever I am skiing with and if I do fuck up them guys with the crosses will pick me up whereas no crosses in the BC so I will slow down & live with the compromise

or lots of days I ski alone cuz everyone is at work & I want to feel the best performance I can get out of my gear?

why would "one of BC's top free skiers" use alpine trekkers ... because AT just doesn't work quite as well for where he wants to ski?

[heckler]

Originally Posted by Rat

how big a ski do you want?

I've had a pair of new old stock Movement Baggies in the basement since last year. Just barely acceptable in the Peak line at 102 mm wide and already a few years old.

[Tonestar]

Originally Posted by winterbela

Jez Tonestar. You had some validity until you mentioned hiking. Not sure where you ski, but where I ski hiking is not an option. I guess if I was kicking steps into the side of Blue Mountain, but slack country means dedicated touring. Even when we had 210s (my girlfriend skied 207).

I always took slack country to mean the 10 to 20 minute hike after ducking the rope. That is not really touring, it is really just a short hike, obviously it would be quicker with a free heal, so long as you don't need to take skins on and off.

Maybe my understanding of slack country is incorrect.

[Rat]

Originally Posted by Tonestar

I always took slack country to mean the 10 to 20 minute hike after ducking the rope. That is not really touring, it is really just a short hike, obviously it would be quicker with a free heal, so long as you don't need to take skins on and off.

Maybe my understanding of slack country is incorrect.

afternoon tours of oboe and decker are what I think Heckler is after in his reference to slackcountry.

rocking 3-4 inbound pow runs then dropping out for a couple laps in the afternoon is my fav way to ski whistler