 Poster: A snowHead
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I've been saying it for years but this year I'm definitely going dynafit so it's new boots, bindings, skins and skis.
Go touring on the weekends (here in Austria) and love powder but more often than not experience 'real world european conditions' i.e. crud, mashed potatoes, re-frozen stuff etc. I'm 5'7" and around 74 kg. Normally go for a 170 cm ski. Also do multiday tours so don't want to go above 3500 g per pair of touring skis. Was thinking 80 to 95mm waisted skis.
Short listed the following skis ....
1. Volkl Inuk 11/12 model
2. K2 Backup 11/12 model with rocker
3. K2 Wayback (is there any performance diff' between this and last years models?)
4. Kästle TX87 11/12 model
Any others to consider?
Heard K2's are sized differently should I go for 167 or 174cm?
Are rockered touring skis really a big advantage in Europe?
Bindings probably TLT Radical ST.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Going dynafit is expensive.
Though ebay.de can be a good source of second hand TLTs for £80.
Conrad has some great deals too - especially on K2.
Getting decent boots is the expensive part.
Add the K2 Hardside / Coomback and Movement Couloir / Jackal to your shopping list.
To be honest there is a whole load of other good skis to pick from too...
For ski touring dynafit is a genuine game changer.
The weight saving might seem small - however it is lifted weight from every stride your eliminating (something that has to be experienced).
| Quote: |
| Are rockered touring skis really a big advantage in Europe? |
The rocker on the K2s is so subtle you only notice it when the skis are physically pressed together.
Its basically marketting lingo for big tip shovel. You wont notice it when skinning.
However moving the contact point back does make wider skis a bit more versatile in almost every snow condition.
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| Heard K2's are sized differently |
Yup - they measure long.
K2 use effective edge / running length.
Other manufacturers use length of the ski before tip and tails are pressed up.
Dont worry about it too much!
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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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Gotta be worth taking a look at the DPS and Pm Gear websites.
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Also the Black Diamond skis are worth a look in as well something like their Drift model sounds about right.
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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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Thanks for the replys.
Haggis_Trap - want to go for the new dynafits and will probably go for a ski, skin and binding combined purchase to keep the costs down. Anybody used the new dynafit radical bindings?
K2 Hardsides = circa 2kg per ski = too heavy for multiday tours
K2 Coomback as above. Looked at Movement logic and bond but their hardsnow performance was well below average.
I'm light, a 90mm ski will float me as much as an 100mm wide ski will a heavier person. Of the reports I have read, edge grip and hard snow performance dropped off a lot for the 100mm+ wide skis.
clarky999,
Looked at DPS and PM Gear in the past - delivery times, cost and that were generally wider skis have put me off until now. I'll have another look.
meh,
Looked at the Drift - reports said it was super in powder but not an allrounder.
Favourite at the moment is last years K2 Wayback at €280. Great in the powder & good on piste. Not so good on really hard ice although when conditions are that bad I'd be pulling out my older thinner skis anyway.
Need to sort out boots now .....
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DB, there are some Euro sellers of DPS now - not sure if they are any in Austria
have you looked at the Scott Crusair or Powdair?
the Kaestle's look nice. if they are good enough for Chris Davenport to get extreme, they'll probably be good enough for the rest of us!
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| Arno wrote: |
DB, there are some Euro sellers of DPS now - not sure if they are any in Austria
have you looked at the Scott Crusair or Powdair?
the Kaestle's look nice. if they are good enough for Chris Davenport to get extreme, they'll probably be good enough for the rest of us! |
Looked at the DPS web site they have distributors in many countries inc. Italy, France and Switerland but no one as yet in Austria.
In a recent test the Scott Crusair gave a very similar but slightly worse performance than the K2 Wayback. The Crusair was also slightly heavier. When you also take into account that it's €280 v €700, it's a no brainer.
The Kästle TX 87 recently won a test against 13 other 80mm+ touring skis. A real all rounder @ €580, great on and off piste even though it doesn't have a rocker.
http://www.testberichte.de/a/ski/magazin/alpin-11-2011/291459.html
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I'd put the Mythic Light on the shortlist as well. Not used it but I loved the way the Legend 8800 skied and toured - I just wanted a lighter version of it. Looks to be 1500g per ski or thereabouts.
I don't think rocker is essential on a touring ski.
My set up is 4200g on the skis and bindings, which means I'm ok with a heavier, stiffer boot. I tend to think that's a better place to carry weight if you do need a more solid piece of gear in the set up.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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For what it's worth - I have two touring ski setups - K2 Mount Baker plus Dynafit TLT - Mount Bakers few years old now - but together with Dynafit very light set up.
Other rig is Scott Mission and Barons
The K2 I use on hut to hut or long day tours - the Missions are for day tours, or with mates that are not that fit 
The setup I'd ideally wish for would have the lightness of climbing of the Bakers / Dynafit with the downhill attitude of the Missions and Barons - which smash their way through the crud you might encounter at lower levels.
My mate has gone for a one ski setup this year of Blizzard Bonafides along with the latest Dynafits - very sweet !
Bonafides have been getting rave reviews - couple here http://stormdaysales.com/blizzard-skis-3/ski-review/2012-blizzard-skis-bonafide-review/ and http://www.epicski.com/t/102157/2012-blizzard-bonafide
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Blizzard Bonafides look good too but also heavy at around 4kg per pair.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I picked up on this thread because i too am considering what skis to buy as i move to Dynafit style bindings.
I had the Movement Logic on my list but then read the comment above about their performance on hard snow not being good which has rather put me off.
I'm 5'4", weigh about 60kg and ski off piste maybe 40 days a year, with about 15-20 being day tours or very occasional hut to hut tours. Touring seems to be becoming an increasing element of my skiing though so want to choose a touring ski. I also have K2 Nancys and Salomon 10-80s (!) both kitted out with Diamir bindings. I'm a pretty experienced woman skier in my 50s so legs not quite as strong as once they were - lightweight kit would be a great advantage - but i walk up to get the descent and do not want to prejudice my enjoyment of the downhill by choosing the wrong ski.
Any suggestions
* other skis i should consider
* whether the Logic is suitable
* how to make the decision??
Thanks everyone!
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Oh dear - this is the risk isn't it? - now i have an even longer list of skis to look at!!
If i am climbing more than a couple of hours i would tend to use my 10-80s as they are lighter but for short climbs and for deeper show i do tend to choose my K2 Nancy's - can't stand the graphics but love the skis! I took the 10-80s to Greenland earlier this year and we climbed an average of 3 hours a day, not sure i could have coped on the Nancy's - mine was the heaviest combination anyway as i was the only skier with Fritschis ....
I'm not paranoid about hard snow performance but ice remains my bug-bear so don't want to choose a ski that is known to be poor on hard stuff ... the movement website says they have good grip on hard snow - it is only the comment by DB above that made me query it.
Of course one option i do have is to just put some Dynafit bindings on my 10-80s (they have only been used for one season, having been sitting around waiting for the last pair to give up the ghost!)
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cran
cran
Guest
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My GF has Movement Logic-X and does proper touring and stays in huts etc.
I have Movement Source, but my idea of touring is finding some off piste near a lift... 
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Poster: A snowHead
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How is your GF doing with the Logic X? - as far as i can make out from the movement website they are the same shape as the Logic but lighter due to secret construction ... Does she find them grippy on hard snow do you know?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think the advent of carbon skis makes it really hard to consider anything else - you get so much more performance to weight, and it makes a one ski quiver easier. You don't even have to make the dual sacrifice of Dukes now with inserts or plates too, though the faff and price does go up
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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I can't argue with the tests as all those other skis might well have been better on their day but don't dismiss them for price as Crusairs become available for sub £300 from time to time. They're also a very versatile ski that I've used with Dynafit bindings for about 40 days of mixed conditions since April last year in resort and well away from it, and they've been plenty capable enough for Scottish steeps, frozen morning Alpine groomers, deep mid-winter Swiss powder, Moffat heather and snow, lush Spring sugar and slush surfing on Easter Austrian afternoons.
£160 inc VAT & delivery ! That's a stunning deal.
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moffatross,
Wasn't saying the Crusair was by any means a bad set of skis, just that at €700 (circa 560 GBP) the K2 Waybacks were a much better deal at €280 with similar performance.
If the Xplor'air were available at the time for sub 300 GBP it would have been a whole different story.
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Best to think of the Crusair/Powd'air as lightweight 'freeride' ski as opposed to an overweight touring ski. The 100mm waisted Powd'air has plenty of edge grip. High torsional stiffness and sidewall construction helps in that respect.
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Going back to the original post - I ended up with the Kästle TX87's in the end.
Here's a touring ski test from last year that wildsnow had translated from German into English.
http://www.wildsnow.com/6180/2011-12-alpin-ski-review/
The Movement Random and Bond were also in the test and they suffered from poor edging as did the Scott skis (unlike in previous years Scotts) whereas the Movement Logic was described as sluggish (don't shoot the messenger). K2 skis came out very well.
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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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DB, Sharkymark, I agree with your comments about the Scott Skis, personally I've found Explor'airs to be much more versatile for touring than the Cruisairs, despite the Cruisairs hype when they first came out. I'd also add support for Mythic Light's, a great ski, and I nearly bought them, but then I discovered that Atomic Aspects were almost identical, and much cheaper, so I bought those with dynafits. They're very light, versatile, precise, and have been great for touring, but they do let me down slightly when charging on piste, with quite a lot of rattle, and it's sometimes difficult to hold an edge at speed on chopped up piste because of the light weight. So much so that I've now bought another, heavier ski with Fritschis for family holidays. But for touring, it's lightweight every time.
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FAQ
