Female Touring set-up

[Chris I]

Want to get my girl a touring set-up. I dont ski so know nothing about it.
Can you use your ski boots? And any suggestions to an affordable binding would be appreciated.

I'd do my own research but my computer is too slowwwwwww.

 

[riverc0il]

My recommendation is get a gift card and let her decide. My significant other knows perfectly well that gift giving of winter sports equipment is strictly off limits. I don't even like people gifting me soft goods in the winter sports sector because my needs are so specified and change so frequently. It is hard enough to figure out what touring setup you want to get yourself, I highly doubt someone else could even come close to my wants and desires without me telling it to them straight up.

Can you use alpine boots in touring bindings? Depends on the binding. Affordable touring bindings don't really exist. Maybe you can get last year's model on clearance during the summer, deals will be sparse currently unless you look at used (often coming with a ski attached on eBay). Tele or Alpine? AT boot or not? If AT boot, with or without tech inserts? Maybe she will want to go tech down the road and getting her a non-tech binding will cost a LOT more money long term having to buy an entirely new setup (I know about that from experience!). Too many questions. Let her answer them for herself.

 

[Marc]

Yeah, good advice Steve-o. Touring equipment is something that the user needs to buy, because every setup is a compromise to some extent. And the person using the gear needs to decide on what to compromise.