The new -2017- CAST touring system thread

I’ll provide pics tomorrow. Right now boots are crammed into bindings with increased downward toe pressure in order to attempt to get a somewhat useable fit. Luckily I have another set of boots I can ski tomorrow. Lars and Silas know the risks (liability) of performing boot conversions. At the blister summit Lars was quick to lecture how tech pin fittings have a massive discrepancy across manufacturers. But I’ve never seen any tech pin binding have such rough finishing. Also I’m a commercial/industrial level journeyman electrician. I know good and bad work when I see it, my work is legally-potentially criminally binding if performed incorrectly.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

That’s sucks.

Hate to even float this out there, but wonder if the situation was caused by a bad/inexperienced employee. It seems small companies that don’t have a dedicated QC program can fall victim to a bad apple in the production ranks. Didn’t one of the smaller boutique ski brands have a year or two where a couple bad builders caused their reputation to take a hit?

The only reason I say that is I had my old boots modded by Cast and it held up for probably 300+ ski days over 7 or 8 years. In fact, got rid of the boots and the converted toe was still holding up.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Damn dude I am so sorry you had such an awful experience.

New CAST user here - no boot conversion needed, so I'm really just talking about the binding system, and I fkn love them. So psyched on the ability to tour with pivots.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

Attachment 488423Attachment 488424Attachment 488425Attachment 488426Attachment 488427Attachment 488428Attachment 488429Attachment 488430Attachment 488431Attachment 488432Attachment 488433

Photo dump of first replacement soles. First 2 photos are a comparison to originals. I’m a skilled and licensed craftsman. Second set is marginally better. I’ll post more photos tomorrow. I have no doubt that CAST is employing ski bums (not a derogatory statement, but they’re not employing skilled craftsmen ) to manufacture these goods. It’s understandable to make the company more financially viable. But at the same time poor craftsmanship like this is equal liability to totally crater the entire company. I can’t imagine they have the capital or insurance to deal with a law suit due to injury caused by manufacturing. Which is exactly what building boots to DIN standards exposes a company to. I can’t imagine Dynastar/look would pass off on this as they must have some exposure. I was never friends with Lars and Silas (always shy guys) but knew them and have skied with them as I was a friend of Crossman. I’m sure they are skilled craftsmen but as the company has scaled up the skill of the employees and execution has dropped.

Those pictures are almost painful to look at... That is much worse than what I was expecting to see. They owe you new boots and a refund for the work they did.

That looks terrible.

I think they had the first batch of lifters made somewhere else and now they are running low and trying to cnc the lifter stock they have without the pin whole inserts. Shitty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by waveshello

Those pictures are almost painful to look at... That is much worse than what I was expecting to see. They owe you new boots and a refund for the work they did.

---

That seems a little extreme. They need to remedy the fit for sure. I am kind of shocked they didn't make the OP send it in if they knew it was suspect. It seems like some flexible epoxy and some shaving of the rubber could clean up the shit cut job. https://www.tognar.com/urethane-green-pack-3-5g/

Bummer though...

K2 Recon 140 is the boot recommended to me to avoid cast boot conversion.

No walk mode. A 140 flex. Essentially a Lange last.

Doesn’t excuse that garage-level horror— but it’s where my head has been focused the last few months.

I have always been terrified of sending my langes to cast. Thanks for the validation to my fears. I hope this works out for you in a positive way soon.

It’s Spring.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Attachment 488442Attachment 488443Attachment 488444Attachment 488445Attachment 488446Attachment 488447Attachment 488447Attachment 488448Attachment 488449

Photos after a night in bindings with glue. You can see the bulging from the screws. The heel shot is the original install, to show how its not lined up. To say I’m pissed off is an understatement. It took 5 emails to get second set of soles. I can’t imagine they’re going to be very cool with a warranty on the entire boot. But they’re really setting themselves up for lawsuits with crap work like this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gaijin

K2 Recon 140 is the boot recommended to me to avoid cast boot conversion.

No walk mode. A 140 flex. Essentially a Lange last.

Doesn’t excuse that garage-level horror— but it’s where my head has been focused the last few months.

I have always been terrified of sending my langes to cast. Thanks for the validation to my fears. I hope this works out for you in a positive way soon.

It’s Spring.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

---

I think I might have been one of the people pointing you towards the recon.

FWIW, I bought a pair but had to return them since they were too big(long). Now I'm back in Langes. So don't commit to them before you get a chance try them on with a fitter.

they look like good boots otherwise though.

anyone done Lange Shadow conversion yet with GW?
Or even another Lange gripwalk boot?

How did it turn out? Pics?

I'm off skis for a few weeks after surgery, so I thought I'd send mine in; but now I'm a bit worried.

That looks like complete dogshit. I'd be embarrassed if that left my shop.

Holy hell that is garbage work. They should be ashamed that left their shop. For me that is a boot replacement on them and I would go with a different boot with pins from the manufacturer.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

To further add to the story. Just to get a second set of soles took 5 emails. They suggested I use a dremel to alter the replacement soles in order to get a better fit. And then the second set they sent me didn’t come with the extra 3 holes chamfered. These boots were sent to CAST during the summer, so it’s not like they were in a rush to complete the job. Just total hacks. I did just order some k2 recon teams. Not as precise of a fit as a Doberman plug boot, but they did feel pretty good in the store. Liner does seem a bit thick.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

In an effort to get this thread back to somewhat positive….just CAST’ed my Pilsner Hojis.

Feeling lucky that I have pin boots (Nordica Striders) cause I’m not sure I’d ever want to do a CAST conversion on any alpine boots…. seems very sketch.

Attachment 488626

Attachment 488627


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Attachment 488758Attachment 488759Attachment 488760

Maybe should have posted in the other thread but I was inspired by the Pilsners.

Quick update on my boot situation with CAST. After many back and forth emails they decided that my shoe goo solution was good enough. That or I could send my boots to them at my cost and they’d put soles on them. What an absolute fucking joke. Crappy “craftsmanship” and even worse customer service. They basically acted like they had done me a favor in converting my boots. Where in truth I paid for a service that was done improperly and they refuse to stand by their product. I would highly suggest finding a boot with tech fittings if you want to use the CAST system and avoid at all costs sending boots to them for conversion. Also the Duke pt16 works great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by altacoup

Quick update on my boot situation with CAST. After many back and forth emails they decided that my shoe goo solution was good enough. That or I could send my boots to them at my cost and they’d put soles on them. What an absolute fucking joke. Crappy “craftsmanship” and even worse customer service. They basically acted like they had done me a favor in converting my boots. Where in truth I paid for a service that was done improperly and they refuse to stand by their product. I would highly suggest finding a boot with tech fittings if you want to use the CAST system and avoid at all costs sending boots to them for conversion. Also the Duke pt16 works great.

---

This shit leaves such a god damn sour taste in my mouth and it's not even me who was wronged! Do people not realise that in small companies within smaller communities this shit spreads like wildfire.

Very lame

I have a spare freetour 1.0 second ski kit. Lightly used, in great shape. $80 on the site - I'd do 50 bucks shipped in the US. Open to price police.

Despite my horrible experience with the boot conversion I like the system. I’ll take the second ski kit


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by altacoup

Despite my horrible experience with the boot conversion I like the system. I’ll take the second ski kit


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

---

Sweet, they're yours. Sent you a PM.

anyone who cast-ified want to rid themselves of the leftover afds and pedestals? gotcha for shipping and beer$$$.

Ive got a pair of P18 pedestals and AFDs if you're in need. I'll be home Wednesday and can ship on Thursday.

went to mount up a second ski kit and found i am missing a toe shim and set of 4 shoulder bolts. don't know how i managed this. longshot but anybody holding? pic is of exactly what i need for clarity: Attachment 510133

I'll check my parts stash and report back on Saturday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by halliday

I'll check my parts stash and report back on Saturday.

---

i was thinking to myself: if anyone has this shit, it'll be halliday. preciate you looking.

Definitely have a set, but they'd be coming from Canada and might be subject to some heavy tariffs... Let me know if you don't find any closer to you.

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I'm having issues with one of my toe pieces. The metal piece that comes out by the springs at a 45* angle (directly under the toe lugs of the boot) and holds the toe piece against the forward pedestal keeps bending outward (forward when looking down at your skis) which doesn't allow the pins to fully enclose on my boots because it stops on top of the pedestal instead going down behind it. I can take a hammer and bend it back at home, but I'm not carrying a hammer with me skiing. What am I doing wrong? Possibly stepping into the toe piece at too much of an angle I'm bending it with my boot?

Wanted to provide an update on my cast boot conversion. Initial conversion on my Dobermans, which I documented here was a total disaster as was the customer service. Well it seems there’s a new guy working cast customer service. After barely using my boots so year, I was frustrated with them just sitting there. Tried to replace with k2 cortex, but that boot isn’t as precise in the forefoot. I emailed cast again with my complaint and this time the response was awesome. They sent me a shipping label and converted my Dobermans to a GW sole free of charge. Had them back to me in less than a week. And they look great with the grip walk soles installed. Really stoked to have plug Dobermans with GW soles.

Thats good to hear. Wish we could upload pics. Id like to have a gander or 3

Sent from my SM-S711W using TGR Forums mobile app