skinning?

[riverc0il]

ok so no problem using the freerides with traditional alpine boots and you were to get in 3 laps in 4 hrs this morning. i'm sold ... i did have some questions. are they heavier than traditional alpine bindings. also i was reading that some folks have a problem with the ramp angle or delta. lastly, what skis do you have them mounted on. thanks.

you would have to be skinning a very low vertical run to get 3 laps in four hours :lol: i normally leave myself 1 hour per 1000 verts counting breaks and change over time. it certainly isn't any faster (probably less due to weight) than normal fair weather hiking, but it is definitely faster than post holing in winter snow. if i get two top to bottom runs in a day, i am happy.

there is most definitely an odd ramp angle issue with the freerides. solutions have been documented on TGR, but i have not taken apart my binding to remove the shim. it was weird getting used to at first. i generally ski "more centered" on my AT rig compared to my regular alpine setup on which i have an aggresive forward lean.

regarding weight, really depends. there are many different AT and alpine bindings. compared to most modern system binding, most ATs are less weight, about the same as non-system bindings if you compare to the freerides. of course you could go dynafit if you are worried about weight... but if you are just skinning ski areas pre/post season, you are probably not concerned with weight.

bare in mind if you use an alpine boot, only certain AT bindings will allow alpine boots, so check that out. i prefer having an AT boot for skinning up, but i used an alpine boot for a full season and it wasn't a huge issue. if downhill performance is your most important issue, alpine boots are fine. if uphill comfort is required, AT boots are the way to go.

www.wildsnow.com is a good place to start and check out www.earnyourturns.com as well.

 

[Birdman829]

You could also try using BCA Trekkers so you don't have to have dedicated skis with AT bindings on them. You just pop these into regular bindings (NOTE: I don't believe they fit in Look PX bindings)

http://www.bcaccess.com/bca_products/alpine_trekker.php

They're only 180 bones compared to 300+ for Fritches or Naxos.

 

[JD]

I meant forward lean, not cant, my bad. Alpine touring boots tend to have less forward lean, as RC mentioned.

Three laps today, but we almost always stop 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down at Stowe. Vert today was prolly around 4500-5000. Breaks? Who takes breaks?
Nose dive down to National. National down to Nosedive, Then one from the top of the Quad to the lot.

Alpine trekkers are a good way to go if you're only gonna be skinning early and late season. They suck for any real touring. I used them in the Chic-Chocs and had some sketchy moments traversing a very firm slope of 40 degrees 1500 feet above the valley floor. Really hard to get edge pressure. But for lapping the area early or late season they are the cheapest way to go at around 120 bucks. Cost is the reason I would suggest skipping the AT boots. If you find yourself as much in love with the climbing as the descending you could buy some, but at that point you should really just learn to tele. In true BC situations, tele gear is the way to go for many reasons, IMHO.

 

[molecan]

. i did have some questions. are they heavier than traditional alpine bindings.

No, typically lighter.

also i was reading that some folks have a problem with the ramp angle or delta. lastly, what skis do you have them mounted on. thanks.

Never having used AT bindings, I can't opine on that, but they do tend to 'lift' you up off the ski a lot more than a traditional alpine binding, at least one w/o racing style risers.

I'd put em on a lighter, medium stiff ski, w/a decently large waist for off-piste.

 

[Birdman829]

Alpine trekkers are a good way to go if you're only gonna be skinning early and late season. They suck for any real touring. I used them in the Chic-Chocs and had some sketchy moments traversing a very firm slope of 40 degrees 1500 feet above the valley floor. Really hard to get edge pressure. But for lapping the area early or late season they are the cheapest way to go at around 120 bucks.

Yeah that was kinda why I suggested them. Buy em cheap to get into the game, then if you get more serious about skinning/touring get a more serious setup.

 

[JD]

Then you can pawn the trekkers off on another lift served convert.

 

[bigbog]

.....

I'm in the same boat....alpine boots are such a great fit...thinking about trekkers in Solly Z12s on a powder ski...have a binding system on my Heads (@72mm). I'm still interested in the possibility of hitching snowshoes over my boots...may sound crazy, but will try it asap...