 Poster: A snowHead
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Just seeking a bit of gear advice as I am off to Japan in January and while I am an experienced on piste skier I only have a couple of weeks doing mostly off piste which means going off the side and a bit of back country with an instructor. I'm planning to ski with my more experienced free ride friends who have been to Japan a lot.
My gear question is about skis and bindings. Last season I used a few sets of skis from a ridiculous set of sick day skis that were the width of snow boards to twin tips with 85cm waists off piste. The skis I liked the most were Elan Spectrum 95 Alu and I've decided to buy a set of Elan Spectrum 105 Alu for Japan. I'm going to be on piste a 30% of the time but I am anticipating a lot of snow so a wider waisted ski seems wise...the alternatives widths are 110 and 115.
My question is about bindings. I'm 6'5" and 105kg (16.5 stone in U.K. Terms). I can get a package with bindings included which will save me a few valuable pennies but I'm not very knowledgeable about bindings and the options being offered are:
TYROLIA ATTACK 11 BLK/ORA BRAKE 115 2015
ATOMIC FFG 12 BLACK/WHITE 2016
MARKER GRIFFON 13 BLACK/POWDER BLUE/WHITE 2016
ATOMIC STH2 WTR 13 BLUE/ORANGE 2016
I'd be interested in any views on the best bindings for my height, weight?
Thanks, Rob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get some Look Pivots. Very easy to get back into them in powder and you may appreciate it in Japan.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Talk to Spiderjon, maybe get a pair of whitedots with vist bindings, they are easy to get on when in the powder, avoid the marker as it's a pig to get on.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Bigrobski, The Elan Spectrum 105 Alu has a very wide range of reviews, mainly placing it in the all mountain category. For your size/weight I would go wider. I didn't think that Line Sick Day's went wider than 110mm, which certainly isn't wide in the world of deep powder skis.
You mention that you will be skiing with experienced free riders who have been to Japan before. I would ask them what they will be skiing on, in terms of width, otherwise you might be left behind in deep snow. You also mention instructor lead backcountry, if that involves skinning you will need a binding with touring ability.
Just for comparison I'm 6ft and 68kg, and my 'narrow' powder skis are 184cm with 112mm waist.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| PowderAdict wrote: |
| Just for comparison I'm 6ft and 68kg, and my 'narrow' powder skis are 184cm with 112mm waist. |
I've got to try skiing somewhere that 112 is the narrow pair!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@balernoStu, My 'fat' powder skis are 190cm with 148mm waist. So 112mm is narrow 
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Get a frame touring binding like the Marker Baron or Salomon Guardian. At some point you will want to walk somewhere to access something. Maybe not this year but possibly next year or the year after that.
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I'd defo go for a binding with touring capability as gorilla says. Some people have had problems (usually from clamping down with ice build up under frame) but we have been running 3 pairs of Guardian / Atomic Tracker bindings for a few seasons with no problem. A little heavy but a very solid feel for skiing and great for tours of up to 2 - 3 hours. I did get mine quite cheap though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@never summer,
GREAT call on the Look TT's........... Best binding out there, hands down. Easiest as well to attach a powder ribbon (cord) to, as well...............
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| never summer wrote: |
| Get some Look Pivots. Very easy to get back into them in powder and you may appreciate it in Japan. |
I have these bindings on a pair of DPS Cassiar 95a and they are indeed easier to get on in powder than the Marker Jester Pros (similar design to the Griffon) that I run on my Whitesot Preachers.
That said, I really like the Jester - it feels utterly bulletproof. But for alpine bindings, either design will do just fine!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd go for frame binding, so Salomon Guardian etc, especially for Japan. A lot of the best stuff is a short skin and boot packing is rare as the snow is so soft / deep.
I used 106mm last year in Japan (I'm 74kgs) and wouldn't hesitate to say go wider.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Dashed, I have two of those Guardian / Tracker bindings in my quiver and love them. Feel totally like an Alpine going down and I've done 3 hr tours on them. You can pick them up quite cheap if you search round.
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BTW, I ski 120mm in Austria on good snow fall days (76kg) and don't feel compromised.
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