Choosing my first off track skies

[lilcliffy]

@Jalla
Sorry- didn't mean to try and push you away from Telemark and towards AT.
I skied in the western mountains (Interior British Columbia) for a few years- me on Telemark kit- and my ski partner on AT (this was back in the 90s and my Telemark kit was MUCH lighter!)

In my opinion/experience- a modern Telemark setup (i.e. backcountry-downhill focused) is perfectly compatible with an AT setup.

The 75mm-3pin binding giving you the opportunity to use a soft BC-XC boot in non-mountainous terrain.

Last winter I started using my Kom- instead of my Hok- for bushwacking with my young son- with my Crispi Lofoten boot. This was an excellent setup for shuffling around in the dense bush on deep snow- just as good as the Hok. But with the Kom I can snap in my T4 boot and charge down a mountain!

What kind of ski are your AT ski partners using?

[lowangle al]

Hi

Thanks for your answer.

Are you saying i should not get a BC "telemark" type ski at all and go for rando?

i hate to miss the possibility to go cabin to cabin and hunting with the skies, but if that is a much better option then maybe rando it is

Hell no, we're Nordic skiers, we would never recommend that. If you want to ski with your AT friends it would be more appropriate to be on a plastic boot and alpine type ski. This way you can safely make it down with snowplow turns or P-turns if you know how. This set up would also work for a lot of hunting situations that I can think of.

[fisheater]

^^^^^
What Al said. I write better on a computer than my phone. Too many fragmented ideas in my initial response

[turnfarmer]

Alta Kom/end thread

[lowangle al]

Alta Kom/end thread

Perfect, I'm surprised they aren't more popular. What is the waist on them and what boot are you using?

[turnfarmer]

Pretty sure they are 98, will use a Garmont Guida, similar to a T4. Don't have yet, next on the to buy list.

Sorry, I was a little flip.

An Objectivr BC or Vector BC family would also end list.

But I think the Kom was designed to turn easier at slower speeds and tighter terrain than the the Voiles, given their Wasatch background. Kom also has a higher tip .

I think the key to wider skis, especially with lower boots, is to keep the waist width under the foot width. As average foot width is roughly 100mm in a 26, sub 100 is the magic number.

[lilcliffy]

I didn't know that the Kom was developed in the Wasatch- I don't think it was- perhaps I am wrong...

I thought it was developed by two BC ski designers- both of which worked for Karhu NA at one point (and designed developed the last-gen Karhu XCDs- now Eon/Epoch/Annum)- one is Washington State the other in Quebec...

The Kom is a fabulous downhill BC ski.
It is on the heavy side though.

It could well suit the OP.

I am still wondering what the terrain and snow is like that that the OP will be skiing on with the AT crew and what skis the "others" will be using...

[jyw5]

I agree with Conny and Al as well.

Group ski touring with incompatible gear (between skiers) is terrible and can even be dangerous in mountainous terrain.

AT/Randonne setups are designed to climb up and ski downhill.
Whether or not your tour partners are expert downhill skiers- you still want a setup that is compatible with your ski partners.

The "telemark" is a ski turn- one of many- and it is not the only or necessarily always the best turn.

If you are going skiing in the mountains- with tour partners that are on AT setups- you want a compatible setup.

If you want one setup for both of the contexts you describe- then 75mm bindings- and perhaps a 3-pin binding with removable cable- is the way to go- you can have two different boots:
1) one light comfy BC-XC boot for shuffing around on gentle terrain
2) one Telemark boot for skiing mountainous terrain (and I would go plastic to start)

Don't choose a setup that will get you to the top of a mountain that you cannot safely ski down!!!

As fas as skis- I personally lean towards upper 90s ~100mm underfoot for a "quiver of-one" downhill-focused backcountry ski (also ideal for shuffling around in the dense bush on very deep snow).
(I am personally not yet sold on mid 80s skis for BC downhill skiing- inbounds, yes.)
The recommendation of the Voile Vector/Ultravector- or similar ski- I second that recommendation.

Hi

Thanks for your answer.

Are you saying i should not get a BC "telemark" type ski at all and go for rando?

i hate to miss the possibility to go cabin to cabin and hunting with the skies, but if that is a much better option then maybe rando it is

If I can offer some advice... I think you are wanting the ski setup to do 2 completely different things. You will end up with a ski that doesn't excel at either.

A hunting ski setup should be comfortable, reliable, durable, and survive variable terrain. Also, depending on weather and duration of your trips, the boots should be warm and also comfortable to walk in when you click out. A possible ski for this is the out of stock Fischer S Bound 125 (waxless). If you can find it, it is a good wide, stable ski. I have used this on quite a few multiday mountain trips. This is the ski I would take for a climbing trip to Antarctica...not an Åsnes!! The Voile Ultravector BC (white) has similar geometry...slightly wider and is waxless.

A ski setup for touring in deep snow is personal preference. If you want plastic boots, go with 90mm+ underfoot, 3pin or go to the darkside and get an AT setup. If you want a light setup to make the uphill easier, go with a light ski like the Ingstad, FT62, or Nosi 76 with 75mm or NNN BC + leather boots.
Or get a similar setup to what your friends have.

if you had to choose one...the Ultravector BC with 75mm bindings and 2 pairs of boots (one leather, one plastic) is your best choice.

[Stephen]

if you had to choose one...the Ultravector BC with 75mm bindings and 2 pairs of boots (one leather, one plastic) is your best choice.

@jyw5, this is a way old thread, but curious why you spec’ed the Ultravector vs the V6?
Not questioning the validity of that, just curious what your thought process is.

[jyw5]

if you had to choose one...the Ultravector BC with 75mm bindings and 2 pairs of boots (one leather, one plastic) is your best choice.

@jyw5, this is a way old thread, but curious why you spec’ed the Ultravector vs the V6?
Not questioning the validity of that, just curious what your thought process is.

my understanding is that the Ultravector BC has more camber than the V6. I think the V6 will end up being like a large snowshoe with skins on. Whereas, the Ultravector BC, which is slightly narrower, with some stiffness will be better on flat terrain especially if there are long distance approaches...and also may do better when its gets icy. Both skis are good. I also like that there is a white version of the Ultravector BC.