Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

After lurking in these forums for a time and digging out some great info, I managed to put in enough miles the last few winters to feel like I can offer some insights into a setup that I've had a lot of success with -- mainly featuring XC skis with detachable skins and Dynafit toe pieces for bindings.

I did the ITI 350 in Alaska this Spring of 2025 and had a lot of people interested in the setup so I ended up making a video about the gear I use. I cover skis, boots, and bindings in the first 15 minutes or so, the rest is more about multi-day trips. Figured I might share it here and give back what little I can. I know that using only one kick wax will have some of you grinding your teeth, but hey whatever, and sorry in advance for not using the right names for boots and things, I'm a dumb.

here's the link:

I’ve got a set of Dynafit bindings, bindingless USGI’s, and some nicely broken in Scarpa F3’s, guess it wouldn’t cost anything to give it a try.

I like what's going on here, some really great gear philosophy. I'll play devils advocate, do you not lose kick and glide ability by being in free tour mode full time? Or am I missing something? Switchbacks for example, I would only have those in free pivot mode with full skins in deep snow and likely with significant incline and standing on heel lifts, otherwise I'd be in ski mode to take advantage of leverage on the tips for "kick"

Think stride n’ glide might be the way to go here.

i love suck it up tape, one roll lasts forever.

Nice video! The points of using plastic boots on multi-day tours seem valid. Especially the ease of drying inner shoes, but also a wide range of boots feels liberating for finding a good fit.

Old-school Finnish way is hiking and ski touring with rubber boots, e.g. Nokia Naali. Winter models have removable felt liners. Plastic or rubber boots, is it all the same skiing

How are the free pivots and boots, when skiing downhill? Do you ski alpine or tele turns with the setup?

There are no Telemark turns without flex at the BoF. The Alaskan guys have been doing this for years, at one time we had a poster that wrote about his experiences.
As far as comfort on a multi day trip, I still think an over size boot, with a modern thin liner would be the way to go.

Makes me wish Scott built a modern, tech toe version of their Excursion boots.

Then we could use those on TTS bindings, and get the best of both worlds for lightweight, comfortable touring, and downhill.

I'm guessing the lack of bumper is not as applicable for kick and glide feel in unconsolidated snow.

Another is the poster who previously talked about this if someone want to look up his old posts.

The 2017 Version




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