ceestan
Certified Ski Diva
Hello everybody! Pretty excited because the season has come for me to try backcountry skiing. This was a goal I set a couple seasons ago after finally getting back into skiing as an adult (learned as a kid but didn't have the resources to do it more than once every few years).
I'm currently building my AT setup and so far I've got: Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 115 boots, Faction Agent 3x skis.
Right now I'm trying to decide on bindings and having a really hard time deciding between: Dynafit ST Rotation 10, and Salomon Shift 10 bindings.
My top priority in binding choice is safety and skiing a binding that will have a more reliable and safety-rated release. Based on my research, that sort of puts me in the range of heavier bindings and I'm mostly okay with that. However, both my boots and skis are on the heavier end of touring equipment, so I'm taking into consideration that I should try to save a little weight somewhere. The Dynafits are about 600 grams each, and the Shifts are about 870 grams each.
Some of the problem with deciding between the two is that I'm not entirely sure what kind of backcountry skier I will be. My best guess is that I will be doing both mid-winter and spring tours, on more popular routes in the PNW with not a huge amount of vert to climb. I won't be trying to set any speed records, and I also think I'll be the type of backcountry skier who wants to maximize their downhill experience, thus the heavier/wider skis I chose.
The upside to the Shifts are that I'd be able to use them inbounds if I really wanted to, and they'd be more versatile. The upside to the Dynafits are that they save me some weight. Anything else I should know about each of these bindings?
Finally, I really wish I knew how the Factions are going to ski before mounting a binding on them. If I really enjoy skiing them and not just in a "these are pretty good for a touring ski, I guess" kind of way, then it might make sense to do the Shifts for days when I only want to bring one ski on a trip where I may be skiing both resort and backcountry (is that even realistically a thing?) However, if I ski them and they're clearly not as fun to ski as my Santa Anas (I have both the 93 and 110 Free and really enjoy their damp ride quality and some of the energy they give me popping out of turns, which I don't think I'll get out of the Factions), then I think it makes sense to save the weight and set them up with a binding that makes them a dedicated touring ski.
Help!! I cannot decide. Appreciate any insights.
I'm currently building my AT setup and so far I've got: Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 115 boots, Faction Agent 3x skis.
Right now I'm trying to decide on bindings and having a really hard time deciding between: Dynafit ST Rotation 10, and Salomon Shift 10 bindings.
My top priority in binding choice is safety and skiing a binding that will have a more reliable and safety-rated release. Based on my research, that sort of puts me in the range of heavier bindings and I'm mostly okay with that. However, both my boots and skis are on the heavier end of touring equipment, so I'm taking into consideration that I should try to save a little weight somewhere. The Dynafits are about 600 grams each, and the Shifts are about 870 grams each.
Some of the problem with deciding between the two is that I'm not entirely sure what kind of backcountry skier I will be. My best guess is that I will be doing both mid-winter and spring tours, on more popular routes in the PNW with not a huge amount of vert to climb. I won't be trying to set any speed records, and I also think I'll be the type of backcountry skier who wants to maximize their downhill experience, thus the heavier/wider skis I chose.
The upside to the Shifts are that I'd be able to use them inbounds if I really wanted to, and they'd be more versatile. The upside to the Dynafits are that they save me some weight. Anything else I should know about each of these bindings?
Finally, I really wish I knew how the Factions are going to ski before mounting a binding on them. If I really enjoy skiing them and not just in a "these are pretty good for a touring ski, I guess" kind of way, then it might make sense to do the Shifts for days when I only want to bring one ski on a trip where I may be skiing both resort and backcountry (is that even realistically a thing?) However, if I ski them and they're clearly not as fun to ski as my Santa Anas (I have both the 93 and 110 Free and really enjoy their damp ride quality and some of the energy they give me popping out of turns, which I don't think I'll get out of the Factions), then I think it makes sense to save the weight and set them up with a binding that makes them a dedicated touring ski.
Help!! I cannot decide. Appreciate any insights.
I got the Fritschi Vipec Evo 12. We'll see how this goes! I am signed up for a Rippin Chix camp in BC in January, and it has an Intro to Backcountry component to it, so that will be my first foray into BC.
