Strap-ons in the Backcountry

I ride a Prior split (4 years old), and I'm very happy with it. It has been in just about every condition in the Rocky Mountains, and it has responded very well. At first I rode with hardboots; then I moved to softboots. Now, I realize they both have a place. So, I use the Dynafits for steep spring and the Salomons for winter powder.

I think BCRider hit it though - it really depends on what you want. I've found that by having an open mind helps (i.e., when I first tried softboots).

In addition, the splits are decent for downhill. I'm not very good, but one of my bc partners is very good.

I was very tempted by the dynafit approach skis. However I think the price of the setup and the fact they are too long to have on your pack( I tried a couple times and didn't like it but that's just my opinion) makes a split a better way to go. I finally made the switch to hardboots last season with a pair of old dynafit 4s and was very skeptical. The feel is a little different but they are very soft and I ride them in walk mode hardly buckled. I even ride the same stance as I did with soft boots. The difference in touring though is amazing especially multiday tours. Not having softboots when camping is very nice.

I switched to hardboots this year for bc riding. I use Dynafit TLT 4 lites (old skool) and have been pretty happy with them. I also ride them at softboot angles, which works well for me. They make the long days when we cover a lot of ground a lot more enjoyable. They descend fine, although I did narrow my stance a little. I've noticed a little bit of a loss of feel of the snow since the soles of the boot are so stiff, but that's only an issue for me on firm and uneven snow. I wouldn't huck big stuff in them...

I pretend to do a little bit of mountaineering-type stuff, so the obvious climbing/weight benefits were a big reason I wanted to use them in the first place. But, yea, using them with shorty skis seems like it might negate most of those benefits.

They're also waterproof.

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/dynafit1.jpg

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/dynafit3.jpg

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/dynafit4.jpg

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Originally Posted by CommanderBaker

Forgle-meistering originated in central europe in the 1600s and involves olive oil, one or more smooth bark stripped trees, and a lonely backcountry skier.

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I was wondering about all those smooooth trees with the stains running down them. :eek: ...
http://www.wowasatch.com/pictures/Ma...ld-friends.jpg
Photo: www.wowasatch.com

cool pics preston! :)

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Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

That mean mister Trackhead keeps making fun of me. He's starting to turn into Lou Dawson. It almost makes me want to buy some of these.



(Sorry I missed the crit, mang - I had to work late that day)

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Damn those are some good prices, too bad my feet aren't size 5.

I think I'll give the hard boots a try even though I've been in soft boots forever. They can't be any worse than the Koflachs I used to wear.

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I was wondering about all those smooooth trees with the stains running down them. ...

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Hey DW - looks like prime forgle-meistering to me :)

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Originally Posted by CommanderBaker

I noticed the other day that you (splitboard.com) had some Prior backcountrys on sale - that lookie like good price. Is it? And quad vs. non-quad - whats that sheeit all about?

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The board normally sells for $988 USD so yeah…$795 is a good price (almost 2 benjamins off). :)

As for the quad glass. This link should help. It reduces the weight of the board by 8-10% which is pretty significant (and important when using a splitboard).
http://www.priorsnowboards.com/board...splitboard.php

Hope that helps! :)

Does anyone use the slider track gasket (the rubber thing you're supposed to put b/w the binding and slider track)?

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/trackgasket.jpg

It doesn't seem necessary with strap bindings, but it seems like it could help with hard boots. Does it actually add any dampening?

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Originally Posted by bcrider

cool pics preston!

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Thanks :)

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Originally Posted by prestonf

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/dynafit1.jpg

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Ist das der Forgle-meister??? Die Baumen sieht sehr Gemutlich aus, gael?!?

Was noch, spielen in Der Poopenhosen?:cool:

edit: Er spielt "Wasserforglemeisterschaft"

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Originally Posted by jfost

Ist das der Forgle-meister??? Die Baumen sieht sehr Gemutlich aus, gael?!?

Was noch, spielen in Der Poopenhosen?:cool:

edit: Er spielt "Wasserforglemeisterschaft"

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Oui - dis iz das der forgle-meister con peen stroken a la pringtemp.

Der poopenhosen laterspeil.

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Originally Posted by prestonf

Does anyone use the slider track gasket (the rubber thing you're supposed to put b/w the binding and slider track)?

http://faculty.washington.edu/pfew/trackgasket.jpg

It doesn't seem necessary with strap bindings, but it seems like it could help with hard boots. Does it actually add any dampening?


Thanks :)

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Yeah mainly for dampening and to add a little flex to prevent breaking the board or your binding. They also suck up some of the vibration on firm snow.

If you use a strap binding with a plastic base I wouldn’t use them. The plastic already provides enough flex (and in some bindings too much). If your strap bindings use a metal baseplate or if you’re using plate bindings I would use them.

.02 cents

conversely, you can make nice damper pads out of a truck inner tube.

As far as ascent skis go... what BCRider sayeth is true.

If you still want to go that route I have a pair of K2 approach skis I could part with. PM me if interested.

r.:cool: