Is this a ski? The Sporten Free Walk

[randoskier]

To ski or not to ski is this a ski? That is the question.

120cm 138-138-88

[telerat]

Even wider than OAC: https://skinbased.fi/products/oac-skinb ... al-binding
but OAC also have a longer version: https://skinbased.fi/products/oac-skinb ... al-binding

Altai Hok is similar, but slightly narrower and comes in both 125 and 145 cm lengths: https://us-store.altaiskis.com/product/ ... g-package/

Such skis seem interesting and might be a good alternative to snowshoes. Both seems like a nice alternative to longer and narrower skis in dense forests and terrain with much up and down, but I have tried none of them.

[Krummholz]

It’s a Skishoe. https://skishoeing.com I have the 145 Altai Hok, good in deep powder, some glide on packed snow. I have taken them through the woods, willows, and across meadows of deep fluffy powder. Up/down 30 deg slopes, hiking trails, farther and faster than the Showshoe’rs. Even did Uphilling at a ski area, just don’t try to traverse, you won’t be able to hold an edge wearing leather boots. If you have 3 pin or NNNBC boots, forget the straps / “universal binding” and put some real bindings on them. From checking out the Free Walk the skin is minimal for the area of the ski. The skin on the Hoks is edge to edge and are at least 1/2 the area of the ski.

[ieism]

I build ascend skis for powder conditions myself. I tried Altai skis, but for what I'm doing they are too heavy.

A carbon / flax ecoresin version is under 1000gram including binding. That's less than a third of the weight compared to off the shelf skis, and mine have a full length climbing skin.


We are also working on a foldable production version specific for snowsurfers under the Lope Snow Gear brand. But that is a completely different shape with a 3d base. There will be a kickstarter campaign pretty soon, you can keep an eye on Instagram.

[randoskier]

Even wider than OAC: https://skinbased.fi/products/oac-skinb ... al-binding
but OAC also have a longer version: https://skinbased.fi/products/oac-skinb ... al-binding

Altai Hok is similar, but slightly narrower and comes in both 125 and 145 cm lengths: https://us-store.altaiskis.com/product/ ... g-package/

Such skis seem interesting and might be a good alternative to snowshoes. Both seems like a nice alternative to longer and narrower skis in dense forests and terrain with much up and down, but I have tried none of them.

Why do I have visons of out of control snowshoers in the throes of manic descent?

Maybe it will give the Finns an alternative to those 280cm Forest skis they strap universal bindings on and ski with Wellies for boots?

[Bohemian]

The Sporten Freewalk is very similar to the one from Decathlon: Inovik BC500.

[lilcliffy]

It's definitely a ski-
which one will quickly discover if you point them down a steep grade.

While I get the desire to promote them as "skishoes" (ie snowshow replacements) for non-skiers-

I actually think it is false advertising and perhaps a bit dangerous.

One can easily climb up hills/mountains on "skishoes" and almost kill oneself on the way down if one does not know how to ski!

[Inspiredcapers]

“One can easily climb up hills/mountains on "skishoes" and almost kill oneself on the way down if one does not know how to ski!“

Gareth just described my skiing 🤣