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March, 2024

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Question for all you BACKCOUNTRY TOURING people

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freshlyDIPPED
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 121
 im thinking im gonna mount my hellbents with some dynafits. i like riding switch and booters.

would it be a bitch to hike up? how much more difficult is it? is there a rockered twin that works better?
should i just go with a flat tail ski?
Mar 10 2011 4:14PM
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freshlyDIPPED
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 121
not dynafit.* diamir
Mar 10 2011 4:17PM
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thisisastickup
Posts: 597 - Karma: -24
hellbents skin like shit.
Mar 10 2011 4:21PM
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freshlyDIPPED
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 121
yeah. but they ski like sex.
just wondering if its at all reasonable.
Mar 10 2011 4:35PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Get Dukes, seriously. You'll regret getting Freerides, or break them, or both.

If you're strong then the weight won't be an issue on the up; I skin 2-3 hour stuff on Thugs with Dukes and have no problem keeping the pace my friends set on their super light setups. The full rocker will be a bit of a bitch on firm snow but if you are set on the Hellbent for the down then it's your decision if it's a worthwhile tradeoff. Something with a little camber underfoot will skin better, there's lots of options.
Mar 10 2011 4:59PM
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freshlyDIPPED
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 121
word dude^

+k
Mar 10 2011 5:10PM
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Austin69
Posts: 735 - Karma: 677
absolutely this
Mar 10 2011 5:11PM
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Austin69
Posts: 735 - Karma: 677
absolutely this
Mar 10 2011 5:11PM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
You ride switch and booter and you want to use AT bindings? nice joke man, get trekkers. And you can always get twintip cambered skis with only tip rocker or with not so much tail rocker, see On3p Viciks and Moment Belafontes.
Mar 10 2011 5:25PM
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ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
Trekkers are what I'm going to go with next season. Heavy yes but I won't have to sacrifice performance in my binding (or buy new ones either). And I don't care about weight because I'm a man with manly legs.
Mar 10 2011 5:44PM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
hahahahah love the last phrase
Mar 10 2011 5:46PM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,589
this im gettin trekkers next season
Mar 10 2011 6:52PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
I am also a man with manly legs, but if I am actually touring in the backcountry, there is no way in hell I am going to be throwing down. Skiing 10miles out with a broken (insert bone here) would suck balls. If you are just hot lapping resort access sidecountry/slackcountry/whatever you wanna call it, you should just walk, or get Dukes.
Mar 10 2011 7:03PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
also note: if you are wanting to actually do touring, there is still no substitute for a Dynafit/Tech binding.
Mar 10 2011 7:04PM
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PeteySkeety
Posts: 996 - Karma: 209
Think about the MFD Alltimes they look sick
Mar 10 2011 7:28PM
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-Tristan-
Posts: 915 - Karma: 19
You need to be a lot more specific about your definition of backcountry. Slackcountry/sidecountry or true backcountry? To give us an idea roughly how many kms would you say you'll be skinning uphill on an average tour?

Skis are also personal preference, I happen to think hellbents ski like shit but thats just me.
Mar 10 2011 8:37PM
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minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
Yea MFD Alltimes look like they would be a hell of alot more better then Dynafits. You would have to get new boots and a remount for dynafits. Your most likely not gonna make a tour more then 5k so a lil extra weight and 10 times strenth compared to dynafits would be well worth it. And with mfd alltimes you can still use your standard Alpine DIN boot
Mar 11 2011 2:20AM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
Um... what?

Have you ever skied a tech binding? They make some pretty damn bomber Dynafit/tech bindings. Most of them are almost 100% metal too.
Mar 11 2011 2:39AM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,861
any rockered ski with camber underfoot will be better than your hellbents, but they will be ok. don't get trekkers like those others were saying, they are garbage. dynafits will be good and light but not as burly as dukes, especially if you wanna go switch. i say get the dukes and get some leg muscle skinning with them.
Mar 11 2011 2:48AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Dukes really don't do the switch thing too well.

Hellbents suck for touring.
Mar 11 2011 3:11AM
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lrsn
Posts: 9 - Karma: 31
The Dukes work just fine switch for me, also switch landings. If you can´t ride them switch, it´s probably not the bindings, but your skills...

They are nice uphill also, but not as light as dynafit. If you prefer the skiing, and not the upward trip, go for the Dukes.

I´ve also have the Trekkers for my second skis. Trekkers are ok, but if the upward trip is challenging, you´ll have problem edging the ski. For short and easy trips they´re fine.
Mar 11 2011 8:15AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
I don't try to ski them switch, but a simple google search tells me that alot of the failures of the binding happen while skiing and landing switch.
Mar 11 2011 11:19AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
I pray you never have to sidehill above anything sketchy on those, I gained a new appreciation for life after my experiences with Trekkers this summer.
Mar 11 2011 4:09PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,090
I hate dynafits. they're for old men who don't huck or anything.
Mar 11 2011 4:14PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
I ain't that old...
Mar 11 2011 4:16PM
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Chompo.
Posts: 4952 - Karma: 88
i would suggest dukes with JJ's. Because it will be a bitch to skin and hellbents and you need a more manly binding like dukes..
Mar 11 2011 4:19PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Sounds like an opinion developed over many years of experience.
Mar 11 2011 5:18PM
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Skithedeep
Posts: 645 - Karma: 39
i skied and toured on some dynafit freerides. great for skinning up, but fuckin scary skiing down. im a pretty big guy, and that doesnt help, but there is no way i would wanna hit a booter on those flimsy things. trekkers would be a better option even though they kinda blow too.
Mar 11 2011 6:42PM
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LEATH
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 488
dukes or trekkers so you can ride how you want.  I had naxo's and decided instead of buying a duke I found a good deal on some trekkers. Now I can tour for like an hour and just clip into my binders and ski how I want.
Mar 11 2011 7:46PM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
I know a lot of people that had Fritschi's that fell apart. The Dukes would be better if your not going on long tours. As for the hellbent's they're a pain in the ass to tour with I would go for a stiffer ski
Mar 12 2011 1:58AM
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minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
Yea, Fritchi's and Dynafit. I was pretty ginger with the Fritchis and only went on 25 degree slopes. I broke a pair of Dynafits just fucking trekking up because it was my 3rd time ever skining up and tried to get above a root but my ski caught and broke one of the arms but thats was mainly caused from my own stupidity. Glad I got it from REI so I could get my money back from thats shit. I will never trust any touring binding. But touring bindings are well worth it if you dont ski like a crazy person compared to Trekers
Mar 12 2011 3:26AM
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