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April, 2025

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Using race boots in pin tech bindings?

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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
Anyone modify standard ski boots to fit pin tech bindings? I'd like to have 1 pair of boots. +K for help.
10 years ago
33 11
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
They guys at CAST can modify your boots and put tech inserts in the toe for touring up (not for skiing down) but you still have one big problem- no walk mode on your race boot. Trying to tour without a walk mode will lead to some serious blisters and discomfort...
10 years ago
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
onenerdykidThey guys at CAST can modify your boots and put tech inserts in the toe for touring up (not for skiing down) but you still have one big problem- no walk mode on your race boot. Trying to tour without a walk mode will lead to some serious blisters and discomfort...


My boots have a walk mode, just no pin tech toe. +K
10 years ago
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
No. Even if you got the toes done by the CAST guys (or whoever does it for them), they are not for skiing down (like what was said above me) and that doesn't solve the issue of how to adapt the heel of your boots to TLT bindings.

Get some proper tech boots. There are plenty on the used market.
10 years ago
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
Dirty.Harry.No. Even if you got the toes done by the CAST guys (or whoever does it for them), they are not for skiing down (like what was said above me) and that doesn't solve the issue of how to adapt the heel of your boots to TLT bindings.

Get some proper tech boots. There are plenty on the used market.


I don't need to buy used boots. I just think it's weird to have two pairs of boots for skiing and that it would be a good idea to have a boot that could easily function with both types of bindings.
10 years ago
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
elcornholioI don't need to buy used boots. I just think it's weird to have two pairs of boots for skiing and that it would be a good idea to have a boot that could easily function with both types of bindings.


Lot's of options. Cochise 130 or pinnacle 130 ect ect....
10 years ago
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
onenerdykidTrying to tour without a walk mode will lead to some serious blisters and discomfort...


Not true.

And Plake has been skiing Dalbello plugs with DIY toe and heel fittings in Plums for a while. Source the fittings at your own leisure, try at your own risk.
10 years ago
6 4
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
BoaxNot true.

And Plake has been skiing Dalbello plugs with DIY toe and heel fittings in Plums for a while. Source the fittings at your own leisure, try at your own risk.


Regardless of what a superhuman like Plake is capable of, I have seen many people's heels wrecked from touring without a walkmode because in order to gain mobility the foot is forced to move inside the boot as opposed to a boot with a walk mode where the foot moves with the boot. Your mileage may vary, but I think you would agree the potential for discomfort is quite high when compared to a boot with a proper walk mode. Without knowing the person's pain threshold and their experience in the touring world nor seeing what their fit is like, it's hard to say it would be a good thing for them to do.
10 years ago
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Meh. I wouldn't call myself "superhuman" and toured a lot of big stuff for three years without a walk mode. I use good touring boots now but they're far from essential and are a considerable investment for most skiers.
10 years ago
4 1
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nosnowsnakes
Posts: 301 - Karma: 133
BoaxNot true.

And Plake has been skiing Dalbello plugs with DIY toe and heel fittings in Plums for a while. Source the fittings at your own leisure, try at your own risk.



Are you sure it's DIY? I'm pretty positive Dalbello has been making a touring boot designed by Plake since sometime around 2009 or 2010.


I think your best bet for a one boot quiver is to get something like the Technica Cochise, K2 Pinnacle or Scarpa Freedom that comes with separate toe and heel blocks that you can swap out for tech bindings. I've been skiing the Cochise for a couple years now and coming from a race background and a preference for a race boot fit I would say the performance is pretty good, but I did not opt to buy the interchangeable soles and I still lug around a separate pair for resort days.

DIY sounds like a good way to risk ruining a perfectly good pair of boots, but definitely post pics if you go for it!
10 years ago
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
Dirty.Harry.No. Even if you got the toes done by the CAST guys (or whoever does it for them), they are not for skiing down (like what was said above me) and that doesn't solve the issue of how to adapt the heel of your boots to TLT bindings.

Get some proper tech boots. There are plenty on the used market.


True, plus they only do toes. CAST doesn't have any need to tech heels.
10 years ago
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
Ok I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere. If someone were to have their boots modified by the guys at CAST, and used the Marker KingPin, which has a traditional heel, would I be able to use my Dalbello Lupo's (last years, so they dont have tech inserts). They have a walk mode though. +K thanks
10 years ago
1 0
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
elcornholioOk I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere. If someone were to have their boots modified by the guys at CAST, and used the Marker KingPin, which has a traditional heel, would I be able to use my Dalbello Lupo's (last years, so they dont have tech inserts). They have a walk mode though. +K thanks


Your Dalbello Lupo is constructed around the Alpine Norm. The Marker Kingpin is constructed around the Touring Norm. These boot norms have different geometries (most notably with toe height) and as such, if CAST puts a tech insert into the toe and you click into the Kingpin, it could be the case that the heel of the boot sits a little off in the heel of the binding.

You might be fine, but you should check in with anyone who has skied the K2 Pinnacle 130 in a Kingpin and see if they had any issues with boot/binding compatibility. This would be a very similar, almost identical, set up to what you are asking about.
10 years ago
3 0
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
elcornholioIf someone were to have their boots modified by the guys at CAST, and used the Marker KingPin, which has a traditional heel, would I be able to use my Dalbello Lupo's (last years, so they dont have tech inserts).


Toe inserts might hold, or they might not. It's your call whether to try it or not.
10 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
elcornholioI don't need to buy used boots. I just think it's weird to have two pairs of boots for skiing and that it would be a good idea to have a boot that could easily function with both types of bindings.


would you want to use the same ski for touring and park skiing? get two boots.

If you really only want one, the tecnica cochise or scarpa freedom are the best.
10 years ago
0 0
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,698
onenerdykidYour Dalbello Lupo is constructed around the Alpine Norm. The Marker Kingpin is constructed around the Touring Norm. These boot norms have different geometries (most notably with toe height) and as such, if CAST puts a tech insert into the toe and you click into the Kingpin, it could be the case that the heel of the boot sits a little off in the heel of the binding.

You might be fine, but you should check in with anyone who has skied the K2 Pinnacle 130 in a Kingpin and see if they had any issues with boot/binding compatibility. This would be a very similar, almost identical, set up to what you are asking about.

I used the pinnacle 130 with kingpins a few time last season. There were no heel issues it stayed planted fine. There were some toe hold issues but they have supposedly been fixed by k2.
10 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
Two boots is just what happens when you start wanting to walk more. It sucks. It's stupid. I get it. And plenty of people tour without walk modes, or tough it out with any number of setups that seems absurd to me now.

But if you want to walk, do the thing properly. Or don't. But you'll understand in a few years when you buy a real touring boot and get what all the fuss was about.
10 years ago
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cydwhit
Posts: 5078 - Karma: 43,070
LiteratureTwo boots is just what happens when you start wanting to walk more. It sucks. It's stupid. I get it. And plenty of people tour without walk modes, or tough it out with any number of setups that seems absurd to me now.

But if you want to walk, do the thing properly. Or don't. But you'll understand in a few years when you buy a real touring boot and get what all the fuss was about.


A certain older and wiser skier once told me this, I didn't really believe him, now after 4 days on a real tech boot and binder I heartily concur. You don't know what you're missing.
10 years ago
0 0
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
cydwhitA certain older and wiser skier once told me this, I didn't really believe him, now after 4 days on a real tech boot and binder I heartily concur. You don't know what you're missing.


I just hope you wait for me now that you've seen the light(weight foot program).
10 years ago
0 0
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
LiteratureI just hope you wait for me now that you've seen the light(weight foot program).


Bro, not a lot of people in the world who have to wait on you!
10 years ago
0 0
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
cobra_commanderBro, not a lot of people in the world who have to wait on you!


You didn't see his setup before.
10 years ago
0 0
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cydwhit
Posts: 5078 - Karma: 43,070
cobra_commanderBro, not a lot of people in the world who have to wait on you!


This.

That setup before was just to get me in shape though....
10 years ago
0 0
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
Toured with my Full Tilts 4 times last season. Seriously. First time, got blisters. Healed up, couldn't afford another pair of boots, so I used them again and was fine after that. Obviously your stride is limited on the uphill but it can be done if you have to. But of course, I was using a frame A/T binding.
10 years ago
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