I don’t see a lot of variety in these posts so I thought I’d mix it up a little. Been snowboarding since I was 12, picked up xcd skis in 2021 and tele the next year. Yes it would have made more sense and been way more practical to learn to alpine ski first, yes I chose tele because I need to feel like I’m special. It’s FUN tho. I’m outside to have FUN.

I'm looking for a first set of pin bindings and I'm wondering in is need to get the high din as I'm 188 cm 6'2" 82 kg 180 lbs i ride pretty hard but not doing throwing 3s of cliffs in the back country. I understand there is a difference and dins with pin bindings isn't a liner transition from alpine bindings when it comes to the din. And any recommendations. I plan on using a 104 mm underfoot ski to 110 underfoot. And ride in the canadian selkirks with atomic hawk 130 xtd boots.

For context: Last season, I wanted to get a lightweight tech setup like everyone recommend. I got a super light, basically ski-mo setup with Scarpa boots, long and light skis, and a super light black diamond helio 200 binding.

I am just finding I am not enjoying the downhill part of touring at this point, which kind of defeats the purpose. I am skiing bad -- in the backseat, and forcing stiff and clunky turns in stiff snow, scared to fall and not release properly, and my knees are sore afterwards.

I have considered giving up touring entirely for this reason but really don't want to. I am now thinking about building a hybrid resort / backcountry setup and just doing the backcountry I do on that with something like Shifts or Look Pivots with a freeride.

Is this insane (Giving up on tech stuff completely)? Does it ever feel better on the downhill?

If it doesn't improve, I can't really see continuing in the backcountry on tech stuff anymore. The skiing feels just too rough, bad, and sketchy for it to make sense.

I'm new to touring and am looking for a backpack (not looking for one that supports airbags) but my issue is that I have a short torso so most backpacks sit with the top like halfway up my head and get in the way of my head movement, especially with a helmet on. So far the only bag I've tried that sits correctly is the Dynafit Radical 30+ for women. The Ortovox Haute Route 30 S is pretty good too. Wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a 30-35L backpack that has a short back- I'm a skier so something that can do an A-frame and diagonal carry. TIA!

I'd like to get some new boots to replace my Cochise for touring to gain some ROM. I've a narrow foot so I'm interested in the new Scarpa Quattro and just ran across the Head Crux Pro that has a taller calf and narrow fit, which seems like it would also go well with my 36" inseam (91cm). Ski mag did a review on it and like it for narrow feet. The Head is more touring focused than the Scarpa Quattro and a bit lighter, but is still supposedly great on the down, so I'm hoping to hear more perspectives.

The Scarpa seems like the natural upgrade, and is probably safest but still a bit heavy. I mostly tour in powder in eastern cascades and occasionally meadow skip with my wife, but that's just from pillow talk. I tour for fresh turns and serenity. Some sled riding to get to farther out objectives, as well.

Skimag review link: https://www.skimag.com/gear/ski-boot-reviews/backcountry-ski-boots/best-backcountry-ski-boots/

What’s your opinion on a 100mm skin on a 104 ski? I feel like I’d be losing minimal grip and wouldn’t even need to trim.

Mostly asking because the 100s are on sale.

EDIT: 120s it is. I now see why the 100s are on sale lol. Thanks!

Winter & summer welcome

Hey everyone! In the market for a new set of BC skis. I’m an east coast skier so usually harder conditions but most of my touring takes place in the whites of NH. The three skis I’m looking at are the Blizzard G zero 95, Elan ripstick tour 94 and DPS pagoda tour 94. I have a pair of Dynafit Blacklight bindings that’ll go on them. Any opinions on these skis would be greatly appreciated.

Couldn't find any info on this in Google or Reddit, but does anyone know what the uphill rules are for the Niseko resorts? I'm bringing a brand new splitboard and want to test my setup on the snow before my scheduled guided backcountry tour dates. If I skin up the base (let's say a few hundred feet) and ride down right after the resort closes or before it opens in the morning do you think I would get in trouble with ski patrol?

If yes, does anyone have an alternate suggestion for a nearby spot that I could skin up casually? I'm staying near the base at Niseko Village and won't have a rental car.

TIA!

Alright y’all, I have over a half dozen backpacks and all of them my head/helmet hits the back when looking up when on 3/4th class terrain making it so I can’t look up very well. I get that alpine packs tends to be narrower/taller and skinny, but does anyone have any recs for backpacks that may work better with a helmet? My back measurement is 17”. Feature wise I like my mystery ranch packs the best and I get the S/M but I have to put them in the lowest adjustment which makes the pack stick up further.

Hey ski fam! I’m hoping to get some advice on a touring setup given the wealth of knowledge here.

I’m a 5’2, 125lb female who lives in the PNW. Been skiing since I was a kid, and I’d consider myself an advanced skier.

I just started getting into touring last year when I stuck a pair of shifts on some ripstick 94 blacks as a one ski quiver. Turns out backcountry is great, and I’d like to get into it more with a dedicated (read: lighter) touring setup.

I know I’ll get a pair of ATK bindings, but would love advice on what to start with if I get a single touring ski. I’ve heard good things about atomic backland 98, BD helio carbon 95, and dps pagodas as well as some mixed things about black crows. Has anyone here tested these (or other) skis that you recommend for a smaller lady like me? Thank you in advance!

For people with experience, what have you found as the best set-up for overnight tours (single- and multi-night)? I've only done overnights in the late spring when my 3-season tent has sorta worked.

My goals this year include multi-night ski traverses around NW Montana and single-night pushes for bigger objectives (Mt. Stimson, etc). With groups of three or more, I imagine it's worth bringing a mid for a cook/hang-out shelter, but would I need one for solo or partner trips?

I'm looking at the Samaya 2.5 (I have pro-deals to help with that price tag), and potentially the Black Diamond Mega Snow as a mid. Could I get away with just one or the other, or is it nice to be able to bring both for comfort/space?

Both my tecton 13 and Vipec 12 (tecton are way worse) brakes will engage while skinning up with the risers engaged - I'm sure it's happening when I don't have the risers down but i don't notice cause they go back up the next step. Typically happens when on steep/awkward terrain with in a few steps of making a kick turn. I take the ski off and make sure there is no build up of snow or ice. Depress the brake by hand to prove it's fully engaged and then 5 steps later it will fail. Is there anything I can do beside just buying ATK raiders?

Looking for some inspiration to get my creative juices flowing and motivate me to take off my gloves and get the camera out. Can anyone recommend some ski photographers to check out, or better yet, link to some of their work? Could be pros or non-pros. I'd also love to see online articles with some great photography. Thanks.

Hi everyone, I'm interested in buying the BCA Float E2 25L.

It is available in size S/M or M/L. My torso is 47cm (18.5in), my chest is 92cm (36.5in) and I'm 170cm (5'7") tall.

I feel that I am in the middle of both sizes. So, based on your experience with backpacks or BCA, which size would you suggest me?

It would also be helpful to know what features on the backpack change from size to size.

Thanks

*The picture is for reference

https://preview.redd.it/pz9f84mctazd1.jpg?width=549&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd7316c5ef841223951b68fb4eac6a4f565fc137

I am wondering about the downhill capabilitites of the Scarpa 4-Quattro XT skiboot. It is being fronted and marketed as an allmountain skiboot that is good both on and off-piste. I am going to do strictly off-piste touring, and a light skiboot is a bonus, but how much downhill performance am i losing choosing this over Scarpa F1, K2 Dispatch, K2 Mindbender 120 Boa and other more heavier and burlier boots, and is the boot fragile or colder than most other boots? My main focus is on the downhill so i am curious about what more experienced skiers think about this. Thank you in advance.

I like to take a ski backpacking trip a couple times per winter / spring. I typically use my big backpack for day skiing out of base camp but it's annoyingly big (70 L) and not fun to ski with. Any suggestions for packable and light packs that can still carry skis and an ice axe in the 20 to 30 liter range? I recently got a Camp Rapid pack which is a little heavier than I'd like (550 grams) and doesn't pack down well as the back pad isn't removable.

Decided to jump in and get a dedicated touring setup. Heard decent reviews on these from some local CO guides and honestly hard to argue with the discounted price on Skimo.

Now, what bindings to go with? I am currently running the tecnica cochise 120. Not a total touring boot… but, it’s what I got for now.

Any good mellow touring spots near breck have enough snow for this weekend?

Ghetto set up but here I am at 12,000 feet! :)

Hello! I am headed to Hakuba Valley from Feb 9 - 13 with my significant other who does not ski. I would like to ski backcountry, but don’t want to go solo in unfamiliar terrain. In that case I’ll be sticking to the resort.

I have reached out to a few guiding companies, but I am struggling to find one in which someone solo can slot in with an existing group for guided BC.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone happen to need a partner or another person to join a BC group?

2. Does anyone know of a guiding company in the valley that might “mix and match” a group for a guided day in the BC?

Happy to provide details as needed, but have my level 1 and BC experience, including in Japan from a previous trip.

Okay so the local resort that I ski at joined the ikon pass this year so I figured it was time for me to try backcountry skiing. I still plan on skiing resort during weekdays and often work weekends anyways so this setup will probably only be used a few times a year.

That being said, I bought an old pair of 2014 Moment Sierras with frame bindings for $100. I took them into the shop and they were immediately warning me not to ski with the bindings that were on the ski because they are 15-20 years old. Lovely!

I'm only planning on doing very casual and light touring for now, just for something to do to escape crowds and get outside on the weekend since I live in Tahoe. I'm young, scrappy, athletic, and trying to get into the backcountry for cheap. Someone locally is selling a pair of 2019 Barron frame bindings for $100 and I can get them mounted for free. Someone else is selling Shifts for $200 but they seem too fancy for these old skis i'm using?

Please feel free to weigh in and talk me in (or out) of this purchase! I love to ski, get about 50 days in every year, but always buy secondhand and have been neglecting to learn anything about bindings so I could definitely use some advice. thanks!