Randonee Gear Advice

[CT319]

Looking for assistance and advice:

I am thinking about investing in randonee skis and bindings. I read at the REI website that REI doesn't recommend randonee skiing with plastic boots like Koflach Degree (approximately $270) but suggests special randonee boots in the $400 range. I have done quite a bit of snowshoeing and winter hiking. I would like to graduate from the still fun glissade down the mountain, to some back country skiing. I don't think I am going to ski the Headwall of Tuckerman's Ravine, but I am thinking more along the lines of Carriage Road, Mooselauki. I have winter hiked in my leather boots - I am a warm hiker, but I am thinking of overnighting during the winter and was going to make the next purchase of plastic boots. I would like to be able to transition from snowshoes, to crampons to skis without having to change footgear. From what I could tell about randonee boots, they look stiffer and heavier than plastic boots for winter hiking. Many moons ago (14 years) when I was in SF, we did Alpine Movement training wearing Lowe plastic boots and randonee skis. We went to Stowe and Wildcat in these combinations and didn't have problems with the technology we had then. Appreciate any insight from the folks on this board and insight into any specific gear types/brands for bindings, skis and skins.

Thanks much
CT319

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I have Scarpa Denali's, which I like a lot. I had used some Koflachs before and just were too soft. The Denalis are light and comfy and I really can't say a bad thin about them. I don't think they still make them, but I'm certain they make something similar. Like any boot, the fit is what matters. Try on as many models as you can.

For bindings, I've been using Silveretta's. (I think they're called "Easy-go"). While they seem a little on the "Fragile" side, but they've held up well.

 

[TeleGrrrl]

Before I made the switch to telemark, I was using Scarpa Laser AT boots with Frtishi Diamir Titanal 2 bindings to get turns in the backcountry. The setup was sweet on the downhill. Good control with the boots, able to articulate turning quite nicely.

Black Diamond and G3 both make good climbing skins. Make sure whatever you pick, it has a tailclip.

 

[noreaster]

Maybe the most common setup is the Scarpa Denali AT boot and Fritschi Freeride AT bindings. I use regular downhill boots in the Fritschi Freeride AT bindings that works ok for me. I may break down and purchase Denali AT boots someday.

Note be careful with using Scarpa Denali AT boots in regular alpine downhill bindings. Although Salomon alpine downhill bindings toe piece is adjustable to accept Scarpa Denali and other AT ski boots, note that the rubber bottom on the AT ski boots change the din setting on the toe binding slightly. This is the reason AT bindings like the Fritschi Freeride have a moving plate under the toe of the rubber bottom AT boots.

With the right setup and wide skis, Alpine Touring (AT) equipment may replace your snowshoes.

Hint use powder cords in deep powder downhill runs. I know its a pain putting on the powder cords but its worth it.

Good luck

 

[JimG.]

I've been using Scarpa Lasers with Fritschi Freerides for my BC stuff for about 3 years and while I have nothing bad to say about this set-up, the boots are quite soft and I'm looking to get AT gear for everyday (inbounds too) skiing use. I'm going to take the Freerides off of the Black Diamond BC skis I've got and put them on a pair of Dynastar Candide twintips. My big purchase this year is going to be a pair of the Garmont Adrenalin AT boots. These boots are really like alpine downhill boots and they even come with an interchangeable sole to go from the rubber sole to a DIN compatible set-up. These boots have been discussed at length in the FTO forums and I've been convinced that this is the ticket for me. As far as skins go, MAKE SURE you get skins with tail clips!! Trying to scrape ice and snow from between your poorly seated skin and ski bottom in sub-freezing temps is no fun!

 

[jimme]

Am I the only person in the US that wears LOWA? The company might do better if they had more than one customer (me). :lol: In a review I read in Couloir Magazine a couple of years ago, LOWA Struktura's got high scores as being one of the most comfortable boots for AT on the uphill climb. Not the stiffest boot out there, but they work well for me. If your feet tend to be on the wide side, I understand the LOWA line tends to be somewhat wider than the other boots available. A boot-fitter recommended them to me even though he did not carry the line.

I use AT almost exclusively now. Black Diamond Crossbow (163) skis, Diamir Fritchi Titanal II bindings, LOWA Struktura boots and Life-Link poles. What works for me, might not for you. There's a lot of good equipment out there and you should be able to demo some of it before you have to part with your cash.

Jimme

 

[JimG.]

I have a buddy who skis the Lowa Strukturas and he loves them; I've taken a good look at them but have settled on the Garmonts. I have a wide foot and the Lowas might fit me better right out of the box, but the Garmonts address the width issue with a thermoform liner. Once my bootfitter is done fitting the liners and dropping custom footbeds in, I'm gonna be rippin'!

 

[CT319]

To All Who Replied -

Thank you all for your advice, recommendations and experience. Your replies are most helpful to my purchase decisions.

Thanks again

CT319

 

[gwags]

I know many have a randonee setup with Pocket rockets. Any negative comments on this setup? Anyone have any experience with a randonee setup on Volkl Gotamas?

 

[NHpowderhound]

gwags wrote

I know many have a randonee setup with Pocket rockets. Any negative comments on this setup?

The only complaint I have with my Pocket Rocket/Fritschi Diamir Titanal 3 combo was I diddnt do it sooner!
((*
*))NHPH

 

[riverc0il]

i've seen many a freefide mounted on pocket rockets so it certainly seems like a popular setup. PR's are foam core which is something to consider depending on your preference of ski. a lot lighter than wood core which is good for touring, but i really like the performance of wood core skis better.

 

[riverc0il]

whoa, the gotama sidecut is 130-105-122 where as the pocket rockets is a more reasonable 122/90/115. i think the gotamas would be serious overkill if you are looking to ski B/C in the east, seems like more of a western big powder ski. i think ~90mm under foot is ideal for eastern B/C skiing which is what my B/C ski is (dynastar intuitiv big a.k.a the previous year's legend 8800).

 

[skintowin]

I have a pair of Garmont G-Ride boots that I think are great. Scarpa and Lowa also make great boots, but you just have to try all the brands to find the best fit.

As far as bindings go, if you're not going to be hammering it too hard, you would save a lot of weight with Dynafit bindings. They weigh about a third of what the newer "alpine touring" bindings do and most reports I've heard say that they are quite durable for casual downhill skiing. They do require special boots, however. Garmont makes a G-fit model that's adapted for them, and Dynafit has a whole line of their own boots. The Dynafit boots are not as tall or stiff as the Garmonts and Scarpas - they are designed to be more effective as general mountaineering boots.

With all the weight you save on your boots and especially bindings, you can afford to mount up a more stout ski. A lot of the models that are marketed for randonee skiing sacrifice a lot of cojones in the name of weight savings. I own a pair of K2 Shuksans that make me nervous in bad conditions. I think Black Diamond has a better reputation for building a sturdy ski that is still reasonably light.

Whatever you do, stay away from Naxo bindings. They are heavy, clumsy, and they break. If you are looking for an alpine style binding, check out the Fritschi line. The Freeride is the best of its kind out there, and they have a few other models which are lighter but hold up extremely well for skiers under 185 pounds.

Be ready for a shock, though. The strong Euro has driven the price of most Rando gear through the roof. (A good reason to look into Canadian made Karhu skis!)

 

[riverc0il]

Whatever you do, stay away from Naxo bindings. They are heavy, clumsy, and they break.

are you saying this from experience with the Nx01? the reputation for naxo's original offering was not very good; however, i have yet to hear any complaints from the 04-05 model and the 02 version coming out next year looks promising. i ride the freerides because i was wary of naxo, but i suspect the innitial issues with breakage have been addressed with newer versions of the binder from reports i have read.