Dukes on Funshapes

**toiletduck** · 11-01-2007, 11:07 AM

Alright - so, I've searched and read through about all of the Duke threads to try and figure this out, but I'm still a bit confused. There's a school of thought here that reverse-reverse skis are too heavy, and too poor at skinning up things, for Dukes to be worthwhile. The other argument seems to be that if you want to skin up stuff, it's worth the effort for the way down.

So - just pulled the trigger on some Praxis (thanks JeffreyJim!) - do I want 916's or Dukes? I've never toured before, or spent a season in North America before (Euro mountains are pretty different layout wise), or skiied a funshape before. I do like the idea of small climbs to get to normally unaccessable or long hike type stuff. 10k vert days isn't what I'm interested in (for a start, it'd likely kill me), just messing around really.

Trekkers seemed like a reasonable compromise, but with people saying Dukes handle like alpine bindings, I figure it's probably an unnessecary one.

So - Dukes on Praxis, or are they wasted/not a good idea? I'm sure everyone really wanted another binding vs duke question, so I figured I should oblige :/

Cheers guys.
Dave

**altasnowbirdripper** · 11-01-2007, 11:30 AM

Hey Dave,

I dont have a ton of expirience of touring but from what I have done, seen & discussed, the Duke will be an excellent touring binding for heavier skiers or skiers who charge real hard and like big airs and need bomber gear. Perfect for the skier who still spends time at resorts. I think they would be just fine on the Praxis. Sweet ski! If they were my skis I'd go with the Duke, Naxo NX21 or Frtschi Freeride plus in that order. You could be fine with a 916 & trekkers - just a bit more gear to haul. I have used 916's & trekkers on my Ak Swallows for 4 years now and have been just fine. But now with the Duke, it seems that we have the bomber construction & high din of a good race binding. Marshalolsen. lemonboy, leroyjenkins could all give some good advice as well. I'd say go for the Duke.

**dre66** · 11-01-2007, 11:31 AM

dukes are in their first year of production. they haven't been tested over a long enough period by enough people to draw conclusions like "dukes handle like alpine bindings". they are bomber, no doubt, but don't have a proven track record yet.
if you have never toured before i'd go with the trekkers. although most people will say that you should put touring bindings on your funshapes because eventually you will want to tour with them I don't see a reason for you to do it yet, especially since you don't plan to go out on long tours.

also remember that nobody here "knows" what you want. read everything there is to read and draw your own conclusions. as you mentioned there are different schools of thought and a ton of different and very contradictory opinions.

**Poop~Ghost** · 11-01-2007, 11:41 AM

A number of folks here have put naxo21 on praxis w/ no problems other than the slop you get on hardpack.

I looked at my cost for naxos21 vs. dukes... it was $50 more for dukes. W/ the dukes I felt more comfortable w/ skiing them inbounds because of the reviews of having no play at all. so I pulled the trigger on dukes specifically for the praxis now having the ability to ski them all day at a resort if the conditions allow.

**toiletduck** · 11-01-2007, 03:49 PM

Thanks all - still not really sure, but considering Dukes will only set me back a little bit more than 916's + trekkers, can't really hurt to try... I'm not hucking big cliffs yet or going massive (as implied by never skiing funshapes I guess!), so they don't have to be comp standard or anything.

Any more input either way is appriciated, I have about a month to work out what's best

**Pow4Brains** · 11-01-2007, 03:53 PM

Put Dukes on them so you have the option to tour.

**addict** · 11-01-2007, 05:36 PM

What are they drilled for now?

**toiletduck** · 11-01-2007, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by addict

What are they drilled for now?

977s in the wrong BSL (327 iirc).

**Core Shot** · 11-01-2007, 05:43 PM

gee, I really wish there were already 3 threads on this.
If only there were a search function available.

**toiletduck** · 11-01-2007, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Core Shot

gee, I really wish there were already 3 threads on this.
If only there were a search function available.

Link me one w/ the same question? I agree there're lots of similar threads, and this one is pretty mundane alongside the other million binding plus ski threads, but whatever.

**Below Zero** · 11-01-2007, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by altasnowbirdripper

I dont have a ton of expirience of touring but from what I have done, seen & discussed, the Duke will be an excellent touring binding for heavier skiers or skiers who charge real hard and like big airs and need bomber gear.

Yes, but the Duke's have a much lower profile as compared to the Freerides and Naxos. For those who have both, this is true, correct? I like the idea of getting a much lower rise from the Duke compared to what you get on the Freeride. Flatter the mount the better for the Praxis.

**Below Zero** · 11-01-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by Poop*Ghost

A number of folks here have put naxo21 on praxis w/ no problems other than the slop you get on hardpack.

Not too many maggots had this ski last season, and I can't remember anyone of them mounting with Naxo. Who?

Edit: I'd be curious to know how they handled?

**addict** · 11-01-2007, 05:59 PM

How far outside 327 are you? No way of running them on sally's till you get used to them without redrilling?

REgardless I'd personally throw dukes on them, but then again all I have is 2 pairs of dukes on 2 pairs of skis so I'm biased. And I spend a very small % of the season on lifts, as much as I love 916s.

**fluffballs** · 11-01-2007, 06:13 PM

Well, I was asking myself the same question. The weight difference is pretty slight between 916's and dukes, and probably in the favor of the dukes if you throw in the trekkers. I'm fairly confident (though admittedly based solely on reviews) that the dukes will be more than enough binding for me. With price not being an issue, I figured, why not have the ability to free up the heels.

**marshalolson** · 11-01-2007, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by dre66

dukes are in their first year of production. they haven't been tested over a long enough period by enough people to draw conclusions like "dukes handle like alpine bindings". they are bomber, no doubt, but don't have a proven track record yet.

dukes ski like alpine bindings.

i'd trust them every bit as much as any other "retail" high din binding ie: mojo 15, STH16, 16.0 etc.

**Vicious** · 11-01-2007, 10:33 PM

As someone who skied 40+ days last year with 138s, 916s and trekkers, I can confidently say that after just a few runs on my Pollards with Dukes yesterday, I will never go back to the 916 + trekker option. Still have 916s on my XXLs for inbounds, but Dukes are $$$.

**Poop~Ghost** · 11-01-2007, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Below Zero

Not too many maggots had this ski last season, and I can't remember anyone of them mounting with Naxo. Who?

Edit: I'd be curious to know how they handled?

PM'ed from AltaSnob...

In powder they work great. On any sort of packed powder you start to notice the flex of the naxos and the flex of the AT boot. But praxis suck on hard pack anyway. So if you are looking for a powder specific tool, go for it.

Touring isn't so bad. They actually are not much heavier than my old powder setup (naxos and seth pistols). If the skin track is icy, side hilling kind of sucks, but if the track is powdery, they're fine. I'd highly recommend getting some skins from https://www.climbingskinsdirect.com/. They're cheap, light, and make em wide enough for the praxis.

The other issue is getting them mounted. The naxo jig will not fit on the praxis so a shop is going to have to hand measure the template to the ski. It was a pain in the ass to find a shop that was willing to do this (most of them refused because they thought they'd screw it up). You should have an easier time in Denver.

Right now, I have the praxis and K2 Shuksans (my light weight setup). I'd like to get one more in-between ski, maybe the K2 Coomba. The praxis are sick in good powder, but they really excel in crappy, four day old slop. Anyway, good luck.

**Beatdown** · 11-01-2007, 11:27 PM

I'm in pretty much the same boat as toiletduck here, no touring experience yet, most likely not going to be going on long tours (this season at least), and spending the majority of the time on the lifts. FWIW I'm going with fks 155's on my praxis, and if I do end up taking them into the bc, it'll probably just be bootpacking. I have a pair of nx11's though that are going to be going on some bro's for the touring/learning I'm planning on this season, so for me it would be kind of pointless in having 2 sets of skis for touring on.