Adding Third Ski to Quiver - Falketind Xplore 62 or Fischer 98

[wabene]

Winter of 2020/21 I skied with @Tom M quite a bit, him always on waxless and me on wax.
He often had an easier time on the way up, and I would usually out glide him on the way down.
Where it got more nuanced was on the way down, with some ups and downs.
He often did better on those.
Some days wax was clearly the winner, and other days I would be VERY envious of his waxless skis!
Me having the Asnes X-Skins helped, but that was not as seamless as his waxless.

Tom has nothing against wax, and skied that for decades.

I think waxless is a very practical solution.
I think it comes down to what compromises one wants to make.
Do you want something that just works in a broad range of situations, with the known limitations?
Or, do you want something that works really well sometimes, with the tradeoff being that it works less well other times, and sometimes takes some fiddling around to get right?

I bet the answer says something about one’s personality type…

I WANT BOTH!

[snow-mark]

Winter of 2020/21 I skied with @Tom M quite a bit, him always on waxless and me on wax.
He often had an easier time on the way up, and I would usually out glide him on the way down.
Where it got more nuanced was on the way down, with some ups and downs.
He often did better on those.
Some days wax was clearly the winner, and other days I would be VERY envious of his waxless skis!
Me having the Asnes X-Skins helped, but that was not as seamless as his waxless.

Tom has nothing against wax, and skied that for decades.

I think waxless is a very practical solution.
I think it comes down to what compromises one wants to make.
Do you want something that just works in a broad range of situations, with the known limitations?
Or, do you want something that works really well sometimes, with the tradeoff being that it works less well other times, and sometimes takes some fiddling around to get right?

I bet the answer says something about one’s personality type…

Where was this? I tend to think that in places where cold, dry, powdery snow conditions predominate (mountain west) wax is better. In places with more variable conditions, or where high moisture snow predominates (New England, Sierra), waxless is probably best. Of course, if one can, having both options is ideal!

[Woodserson]

There's a significant amount of overlap between the 88 and 98. I also think they are kind of "meh" and have largely stopped skiing them. If need a waxless I go for my E99 or T78s, which are both really nice. The 88 is like a bigger 78 and also great if I didn't have the 78. The 98 is just a more sidecutty 88 but doesn't turn as nice as either the Rabb68 or FT. It's a good ski but it's not, oooh wow compared to the 88 which you already have.

I would strike out and do something different and broaden your experience horizons. If the snow is challenging for wax throw on the skins.

[Stephen]

Where was this? I tend to think that in places where cold, dry, powdery snow conditions predominate (mountain west) wax is better. In places with more variable conditions, or where high moisture snow predominates (New England, Sierra), waxless is probably best. Of course, if one can, having both options is ideal!

Western Wyoming.
I skied near Steamboat a long time ago and would say the conditions are fairly similar to Colorado.

[snow-mark]

Where was this? I tend to think that in places where cold, dry, powdery snow conditions predominate (mountain west) wax is better. In places with more variable conditions, or where high moisture snow predominates (New England, Sierra), waxless is probably best. Of course, if one can, having both options is ideal!

Western Wyoming.
I skied near Steamboat a long time ago and would say the conditions are fairly similar to Colorado.

Yup, I agree, pretty similar. I would default to wax in Wyoming, but would use waxless sometimes (as I do here).

[lilcliffy]

I should follow Tom M's lead on going waxless....as he stated in one of his YouTube videos that he will not be going back to wax as the waxless is better at handling variable snow conditions.

Consider a skier's personal skiing context- including local climate.
For example- although I have "variable snow conditions"- waxless scales rarely work on their own- even with my widest Altai Kom. I have take to hard-grip-waxing my Kom and am much happier with it.
Waxless scales only work in "variable conditions" when those variables fall within their ideal range...
Tom's variable conditions may be ideal for scales- they are not in mine.

[Stephen]

@lilcliffy, really good point.

[YooperXC]

Great feedback!

A quiver of three should probably be a quiver of six, a combo of waxless and wax. TN66/Gamme, E88/Combat Nato, Sbound 98/FTX 62 or Rabb 68!

If you are happy with the Excursion 88's traction pattern (off trail grip and glide performance) you will be happy with the S-Bound 98. They are very similar and have the same advantages and disadvantages.

I am thrilled with the scales on both the TN66 and E88. The Sbound 98 is a very attractive option to round my quiver of 3. Really four considering that I have the E99 tour WB.

There's a significant amount of overlap between the 88 and 98. I also think they are kind of "meh" and have largely stopped skiing them. If need a waxless I go for my E99 or T78s, which are both really nice. The 88 is like a bigger 78 and also great if I didn't have the 78. The 98 is just a more sidecutty 88 but doesn't turn as nice as either the Rabb68 or FT. It's a good ski but it's not, oooh wow compared to the 88 which you already have

I would probably make the same choices for selecting my preferred waxless skis... in order, TN66, E88 then the S98. Having only skied on the E88 three times and never skiing on the S98 I cannot say which would be the preferred after the TN66.

I would strike out and do something different and broaden your experience horizons. If the snow is challenging for wax throw on the skins.

Hell ya! Why not! I will use the TN66 and E88's when conditions are not favorable for the FTX 62's. The likely scenario is the TN 66/E99 combo will get used the most (is the Gamme in my future?), then the E88 or FTX 62 depending on snow conditions.

Should I not consider the Rabb 68? The Rabb appears to be more downhill oriented while the FTX 62 will be great for XCD and provide decent K&G in the BC. Is there another ski that I am overlooking?

Now for size of the FTX 62, Asnes says 180 cm for my height of 177cm. I do not what a short slow ski but control in dense forest would be great! I am leaning towards the 188 cm for good float in deeper snow.

I would select the 189 cm for the SBound 98 if I went waxless.

Fully dressed with boots I weigh around 178 lbs - 184 lbs, no pack.


Thanks again.

[fisheater]

I weigh about 190 with clothes. I am 5’ 9”. I ski my FT X at 196 cm.
The other two skis in my quiver are a Gamme at 210 cm. I also own a Tindan 86 at 187 cm.

I think that represents a broad use quiver.
Don’t discount the FT X downhill

[YooperXC]

Based on all the info on TT I will likely end up gettng the FTX for both downhill as well as xc in rolling hills. So now the question is 180 cm, 188 cm or 196 cm. The 180 seems like they will be short. The 188 cm will probably be a very good fit for me, but 196 cm will provide better float but may lose grip and control on the downhill.

I will be using the NNN BC as the xplore bindings and boot combo are $$$$$$.