Years ago I asked backcountry skiers on the internet when is it safe to not carry avy gear? Beacon probe shovel. I was scolded that I would even consider doing that. But low angle Oregon conditions it’s quite common to go without. Other places it’s an absolute must always apparently. How is with thi...

I have to add, I got some Fischer SBound 112s a couple years ago, and went with switchbacks. It was dicey though. Was thinking 3 pin or 3 pin cable maybe too. It’s turned out fine, but in free pivot mode I am limited to sketchy parallel turns. In locked mode, the kick and glide is pretty limited but...

Ooh zombie thread! I do think the word is tele turns evolved out of Sondre Nordheim’s experiments. Didn’t 19th century skiing generally involve big wide long wooden skis, touring across mountains, and not much turning? They used to have ski tournaments of just bombing straight down hills. AFAIK. Why...

I’m vaguely considering TX pro, Voile TTS, and some V6 BC…….
Kinda spendy.

Another option is if you could just get extremely soft springs in the TTS, coupled with the more forward pivot point. Just the right uphill/ downhill compromise flex? Or…. Blame the boots? I’ve heard the theory that if the bellows were soft enough, you could just ski on the free pivots, not so much ...

That’s a good point, the VERY neutral flex of bindings like 3 pin, G3 Targa or original Hardwire was kind of nice in that you could do everything from kick and guide to link tele turns without a mode change. Not quite ideal for everything though, a little inefficient flex resistance along and uphill...

I've got Madshus Panorama 78's and Alpina Alaskas in a 3 pin binding. I started this way at the urging of people around me that are into Tele, and it was a cheap start for me-- I paid less than $400 for the entire setup, with skins. I just feel like I'm making things unnecessarily difficult on myse...

With nordic or telemark gear I very often do parallel turns because they’re easier but very often do telemark turns because they become necessary if the snow is deep or grabby or a sharp turn at slow speeds or on low slopes angles. And telemark turns are cool. I used to telemark more at ski lifts bu...

Don't you think that the increased leverage from plastic boots would crack the sides of the Xplore binding that hold the pins? I think there must be a technical reason or plastic would already be here. The only reason I can see for the Xplor, rather than just go with a tech toe, is to have a place ...

Resurrecting old post. I have the Sbound 98 with Xplore bindings and Fischer Traverse boots. I really like the ski but when I try doing turns on softer deep snow they submarine and I get the faceplant feeling. Would the 112 offer much more float and can my binding combo/boots handle that width? I’m...