Decisions, decisions...

[lilcliffy]

Totally agree- a much as I love backcountry skiing in steep terrain- I wouldn't be without my gentle-terrain xcountry-backcountry cruising skis- which must include something lean, stiff, and fast for dense, consolidated snow. I have a pair of Atomic waxable touring skis that are a straight 46mm- super fast- perfect for the conditions you are describing.

[MikeK]

Oh I'm sure I could go skinnier and faster... but... these work pretty well and I can still take them through the woods with caution. The metal edges are probably not a necessity, in retrospect I think the country crown probably would have been a better option.

[lilcliffy]

My perspective is that the metal edges are always worth the weight- if you're truly skiing off-trail.

All you need is one rock or tree to seriously damage a non-metal edge.

The current E-series have the much improved waxless base. Not sure if the Country Crowns got the same upgrade.

[MikeK]

Guess it depends by what 'off-trail' means?

Ungroomed - yes. On deer paths through the woods - yes. Bushwacking - not so much with these skis.

I think the metal edge has certainly saved me in some tough conditions - and you may be right about the bases - the BC series are generally a better ski.

[Teleman]

Way back.....BTE "Before Tele Era" ....Threw out all downhill stuff and hit any skiing I could with CC stuff and had a ball.....Started with 220 Asnes cause they could straight line and were faster than any other ski...Pine tar and wicked wax....We had a "RUN"...bout 7 miles with almost NO uphill except the beginning where we skied up a quarry road to the top of Robinson (?) mountain and headed the sticks down...Turns, kidding me, that was for wussies...Mostly flat with about 1000 verts with some wonderful ancient road skiing....Long abandoned....I was the fastest!!!! Then Telewheels did something that kicked our collective you know what.....He got a set of super Rotta Telemark bindings and e99's....They killed the 220's, very fast and an escalation....Soon, and I mean less food for the children and wife I too had them....They could do everything....Cruise and shoot....Even parallel in late season hardpack with a dollop of powder on top....Those days we could get to our town in I think....23 minutes....World record.....There were chutes where you rode up the steep banks and often launched into oblivion....There was the Corkscrew where my Grandfather took granite down the narrow shoots with pulleys, rope chains and saved horses from death by runaway granite...To this day I love e99's some models better than others....TM