All purpose backcountry/bushwack ski

[ddg]

I decided on nice wide ones, BC125s. They arrived today. Man, are they light! I think they'll be perfect for my purposes of back country touring off trail through tight bush and great for those down hill runs. I'm pairing them up with Voile 3-pin cables. Wow, there's lots of info on binding location out there. Sounds to me like a reasonable location is on chord centre. For these BC125s that's just a 1/4 inch forward of the balance point. I doubt I'll notice a big difference anyway. Just add a bit off wood glue to the holes.

Boots are another story - Scarpa T4s. I'm size 9.5-10 so ordered the Mondo 28. My foot actually measured Mono 27.5. Since Scarpa shells are the same for 27.5 and 28 I figured I was safe. However, they fit a little tight. They do fit but I'm not sure I'd want to spend all day in them, although maybe that's the plastic talking. In any case, it's either keep them or return for refund since MEC doesn't have any 28.5 or 29 left. As others here mentioned already they are rather stiff. And I have a feeling they will be less than comfortable after many hours up and down the hills. Maybe not. My only experience with plastic ski boots is alpine where you get carried to the top every time.

I'm really tossed about what to do with the boots. I am considering moving down to something like the Fischer BCX 675 or comparable. Opinions are more then welcome!

I was hoping to get out a few times before the snow leaves but without the boots...

[MikeK]

My thought would be stick with something stiff for those skis, especially if you are going to be doing dh runs mostly.

First off - what are you wearing in them? My wife wears her plastic boots even in 0°F days with just an ultra-thin sock. You could probably get away with just a bike sock, or a special ski sock (basically a sock liner).

You could go leather but I think if you were to order the same size Scott Excursion you'd find a more comfortable, and flexible fit.

Kind of expensive, but if you're dying for boots NOW, this is an option:

http://nextadventure.net/scott-excursio ... oCl-bw_wcB

The other option is get a thermo-moldable liner and go see a boot fitter. They'll always tell you use a tight boot and they can stretch it out in the tight spots. As long as it's not too short overall they can fix it... but it will cost you. I'd be prepared to spend another $300+ for a liner and labor. If you can find a boot that fits better out of the box, it will be cheaper in the long run.

From what I'm reading from other member the BCX675 might be a little weak for those skis. Seems like there are some flaws with that boot that will probably not be great with a wide ski like that.

You might want to go a little forward of chord for those skis, maybe 1-2cm. Is there a boot center mark? For some reason I though Rossi's had boot centers marked on them, but maybe that was not the BC series.

Anyway pin line 2cm forward of chord is where a comparable ski like the Annum would recommend mounting for your boot size. It will make a difference with pins and soft boots. You can't weight the front of the ski like you can in Alpine, so mounting forward will help them turn. Balance is useless IMO for a ski like that. A nicely designed ski, like the Fischer S Bounds, has the balance a cm forward of chord, but I don't know that it matters much... you're not skiing in a track.

[connyro]

I agree with MikeK on the Scott Excursions. Those boots pair up well with BC125s/3-pins. You most likely won't need the cable.

[ddg]

Thanks guys. Those 2 boots look so similar, at least from pictures. Are they really that much different? Is the excursion a lot more comfortable and do they have a bit more give? FWIW, I am returning the T4s (Mondo 28). They are simply too tight. I know I will not be comfortable in them. If MEC had them I'd just exchange for a 28.5. Assuming I move to the Excursion - what size? I assume the 28.5 would fit in the T4s since the 28 are just a bit tight. Does anyone know what that correlates to in the Excursion? I have been bitten numerous times with online ordering size issues. I guess it's simply the nature of sizing variation.

You most likely won't need the cable.

Why not? Do you mean the cables are only really needed for a less powerful boot? Haven't done it yet(!) but I thought telemarking made good use of those cables.

Thanks again!

[MikeK]

Man I wish I knew what size Scarpa my wife was wearing because I could give you a point of reference.

On the Excursion I believe 28 and the 28.5 would be the same shell, just different inserts. So I'd order the 28 and get a custom insert (fairly cheap) if it feels too tight.

My wife says they are night and day. She has a 25.5 I believe, and tried a 26. She said initially the 25.5 felt a bit too tight to her but the 26 was way too sloppy, so I told her stick with the tighter one, and use a thin sock until the liner packs out a bit. She's had no comfort or warmth issues using a light sock.

[bgregoire]

Hi DDG,

I'd say the answers you got up to now regarding the boots are spot on! either a thermo moldable liner or an Excursion boot, or even both: Excursion boot + thermomoldable liner!

I have wide feet and T4's are seriously painful. Excursions have a wider last, a softer plastics and no locking downhill mode as do the T4s. The things about the generic liners thought is that they are pretty crappy now (they used to come thermomoldable years ago) as they probably trying to keep the boot at a decently low price point white making the mosts profit. The liner itself is actually quite narrower and not as long as it could be for the shell! For me and my wide feet, even the generic liner was not wide enough so i moved to a intuition liner and boy o boy it now fits like a dream.

If you have time, try to scout out a used pair of Garmont Excursions, size 28 or 28.5 (same shell). You can find them on ebay or elsewhere for less than a 100$. They have been made without mich mod. the the shells for a very long time. You can then spend the savings you made on an intuition liner. The Pro-Tour would be the best! I would go a 29 liner size for sure and YES you can do a very good job of molding it itself at home in a convection oven: free!

Otherwize, YETI (montréal) usually sell the Scott Excursion and they ship via mail. 28.5 would be your best bet if you are not planning to swap the liners.

Keep in mind a thermomoldable liner will keep you much warmer if you go out for full days. Only the thin lining insides absorbs humidity, the foam itself is closed cell so it will not absorb your sweat and loose its insulating power.

As for bindings, I agree that the voile HD mountaineer or Rottefella Super Telemark would add up to great XCD trio. If the hill inclination is right, no need to stop and add skins going up, and them stop again to take em off, add the cables and mess around with the boot's walk mode uphill. juste fluid up and down fun.

[connyro]

IME, the Excursions are a good fit for my wide feet. I wear US size 10 wide shoes and boots and I am pretty comfortable in the 28 Excursions. The liners are OK but not great like the Intuitions. The ProTour might be a bit tall for that shell though...

I said that you most likely won't need the cable for the 3-pin cable bindings, it's because the cable is more trouble/fiddle than they are worth. It does not really add any stability or power IMO. The cables may be useful as a backup to carry in your pack in case the pins/boots fail somehow.

[ddg]

Thanks for the clarification on the cables.
On size... my feet are not particularly wide so sounds like a straight 28 with the basic liners will fit, at least for the excursions. 28.5 for the T4s. Looking on online - there are a number of sales if you have very small feet.

[ddg]

Otherwize, YETI (montréal) usually sell the Scott Excursion

Yes, this is where I got my skis, poles, and some wax. A great deal and very good service so far. I would have gotten boots there but they're all out (I even emailed them to be sure). They are not expecting the excursions until next Oct/Nov "if they are not late again".

[bgregoire]

The ProTour might be a bit tall for that shell though...

They are taller than the shells yes but I did all my research homework and can speak from experience, There is no better intuition liner for the Excursion given the freedom of movement that liner provides when walking when you are looking for an XCD setup (you need a tongued liner +some freedom of movement while walking). Plus, in the end, there really is no inconvenience about having a liner that goes above the shell, as long as you can fit it under your ski pants. On the + side, the taller liner will keep your lower legs warmer!