Picking a pow and touring ski

Frames are outdated now, if your on a budget get em but i would say splurge on something like a shift or cast and get some billy goat tours

Bent Chetlers are stupid light for their size. I use them with Shifts as a 50/50 setup.

Throw a marker duke on a line vision 108 and it'll still come out reasonably light.

Weight weenies are funny

The main reason I'm interested in the Ambition is they are a bit lighter than the Pivot 14s that I have on my park/all mountain ski (Ambitions are 1930g while Pivots are 2230g). My thought is that the Ambitions would give me the option for short tours but ski exactly like an alpine binding when I'm inbounds. I do foresee a ration of 80/20 or even 90/10 inbounds vs. touring.

In an ideal world I would have Bentchetler 120s mounted with the Atomic shift but this would also require me to buy new boots because my Panterras don't have tech inserts.

So should I save up the money and maybe wait a year to purchase the perfect setup or are frames still ok for someone with an 85/15 split?

Yall are the best :D

Here's a quick comparison of estimate weights and costs brand new via Evo

K2 reckoner 112 (2050g / $559.96)
Tyrolia Ambition 12 (1930g / $359.20)
Total weight (2050*2)+(1930*2) = 7960g = 17.55 pounds
Total cost (559.96 + 359.20) = $919.96

BC 120 (1740g / $649.95)
Shift binding (885g / $599.99)
Total weight (1740*2)+(885*2) = 5250g = 11.57 pounds
Total cost (649.95 + 599.99) = $1249.94

So basically you spend $330 more to save ~6 pounds with the dream setup. That's not as bad as I thought it would be but then I'd still have to buy boots with tech inserts. And of course there's the possibility of mixing and matching components here or getting something else entirely. Why is skiing so expensive?

I would mount them with pivots and save for cast if you can or get the frame binding (cheap). Word on the street is marker duke pt could work as a mostly in bounds binding as well.

Shifts:
Skiing 90/10 or 80/20 in a resort on shifts would suck in my opinion. Great for my wife / slower skiing, not great for someone looking to send or mash bumps at full speed. I have shifts and love them but my use case is backcountry and uphill in resort. In the backcountry I ski slow and uphill at resort means its first tracks on a big dump. I have two setups (shifts + line vision and pivots + heavy ski). As well as two boots.

Frame:
They won't ski exactly the same. More people can comment here, but the one person I know who has them a) hates touring on them and b) says being a bit higher up off the ski and the deadness underfoot is a bit annoying.

Cast:
If this is your ONLY set up, you can just slam a pivot on it and feel 100% confident in resort...then if you actually want to tour you can upgrade to cast / new boot. I think the new marker binding could work here too.

In terms of skis you have a billon options. The industry basically figured out how to make a lightish progressive mounted pow ski. Wildcat / wildcat tour, bent chetler, k2 reckoners, line outline, line vision, list goes on...

pancakeboyThe main reason I'm interested in the Ambition is they are a bit lighter than the Pivot 14s that I have on my park/all mountain ski (Ambitions are 1930g while Pivots are 2230g). My thought is that the Ambitions would give me the option for short tours but ski exactly like an alpine binding when I'm inbounds. I do foresee a ration of 80/20 or even 90/10 inbounds vs. touring.

In an ideal world I would have Bentchetler 120s mounted with the Atomic shift but this would also require me to buy new boots because my Panterras don't have tech inserts.

So should I save up the money and maybe wait a year to purchase the perfect setup or are frames still ok for someone with an 85/15 split?

Yall are the best :D

If you're looking at that kind of ratio of of in/outbounds, depending on what you're planning outbounds, consider getting alpine bindings and daymakers to start. If you get into it and want to balance that ratio more, sell the daymakers, get binding inserts put in for your previous alpine binding holes and get a tour binding drilled for inserts and then you dont have to compromise so much.

Also consider our Pioneer skis. theyve been designed to be a in and outbounds freeride ski, if you're interested dont sleep on our ns secret sale (link below)

FaunaSkisIf you're looking at that kind of ratio of of in/outbounds, depending on what you're planning outbounds, consider getting alpine bindings and daymakers to start.

I'll second this if you don't want to buy new boots. Frame bindings just don't seem worth it to me anymore. Sure they'll release like alpine bindings, but, especially if you're coming off Pivots, you'll really notice the increased stack height and mounting length when you're riding inbounds. If you're going...say...85/15 resort/bc I have a feeling you won't enjoy your resort time as much, and if you end up truly 50/50 or more you'll probably want a more capable touring setup.

Considering how many really solid boots have tech inserts these days (even the standard Krypton is getting inserts next season) I'd look at boots first. Keep your alpine setup, get a pair of GripWalk boots (and GripWalk AFDs for your Pivots), and rent or borrow touring setups for your first couple of treks. Don't be afraid of rentals. If you can find a good mountaineering shop, they'll almost definitely have a very capable rental/demo fleet.

After you get a couple tours under your belt you'll have a much better idea of what exactly you're looking for and where your priorities are.

I second this idea because I bought daymakers but got rid of them in favor of pins + cast (more expensive but fits my needs better)

BurritoI'll second this if you don't want to buy new boots. Frame bindings just don't seem worth it to me anymore. Sure they'll release like alpine bindings, but, especially if you're coming off Pivots, you'll really notice the increased stack height and mounting length when you're riding inbounds. If you're going...say...85/15 resort/bc I have a feeling you won't enjoy your resort time as much, and if you end up truly 50/50 or more you'll probably want a more capable touring setup.

Considering how many really solid boots have tech inserts these days (even the standard Krypton is getting inserts next season) I'd look at boots first. Keep your alpine setup, get a pair of GripWalk boots (and GripWalk AFDs for your Pivots), and rent or borrow touring setups for your first couple of treks. Don't be afraid of rentals. If you can find a good mountaineering shop, they'll almost definitely have a very capable rental/demo fleet.

After you get a couple tours under your belt you'll have a much better idea of what exactly you're looking for and where your priorities are.