Alpine Trekkers vs. AT setup

[jtran10]

Here's the deal. I've decided I really need something that makes uphills easier than hiking. This setup would be used for preseason/postseason resort turns and some sidecountry activities. I'm an EC skier right now but will either be in Sud Americana or NZ this summer for the season/study abroad. After graduation I plan on moving west. I wanted to get the Dukes but that's not gonna be an option for this season for me (and I need something by this summer). Here's my thoughts:

Get trekkers, use with 177 Mantras.
Get Fristschi freerides, either mount on said Mantras or get a new ski (BD Kilowatt?, Nordica Ignition series, B3s?)
Naxos?


The only problem with mounting an AT binding on my Mantras would be that it would make them both my touring and inbounds fat ski. Are the fristchis pretty bad on hardpack, bumps, etc etc? Prereleasing? I've kind of heard both ways on that and just wanna hear what you guys have to say.

[marshalolson]

frischis suck as bad inbounds as trekkers do out of bounds.

make the call yourself.

[milkman]

Dukes....Or trekkers with as light a binder as you can use....(912ti, Z12 etc....)

[Dromond]

frischis suck as bad inbounds as trekkers do out of bounds.

make the call yourself.

That's a very good way to put it.

[jepilot]

IMHO, from an ECer and student view, the trekkers give you much more versatility. I mean, I've never personally used them, so my opinion is pretty much shit, but even if trekkers suck a little uphill, once you get them dialed in the benefits downhill are far greater than having an AT binder. Think of it as having 2 resort setups: one can ride lift-served, but the other can take you further. I know, living on the EC, that I'll spend more time in bounds than out, so I've done what Milkman said. Dukes would be fantastic, but I can't swing that coin. Most importantly, trekkers basically allow you a one-ski quiver=cheaper

[Dromond]

IMHO, from an ECer and student view, the trekkers give you much more versatility. I mean, I've never personally used them, so my opinion is pretty much shit, but even if trekkers suck a little uphill, once you get them dialed in the benefits downhill are far greater than having an AT binder. Think of it as having 2 resort setups: one can ride lift-served, but the other can take you further. I know, living on the EC, that I'll spend more time in bounds than out, so I've done what Milkman said. Dukes would be fantastic, but I can't swing that coin. Most importantly, trekkers basically allow you a one-ski quiver=cheaper

Also: on the EC a ski without much torsional rigidty is pretty useless much of the time. i.e. a ski mounted with Freerides. This has been my experience, although others are free to dispute it. Unless I know I will be skinning for sure I take something with alpine bindings every time.

[Mofro261]

I mean, I've never personally used them, so my opinion is pretty much shit

I agree with you there.




I have used trekkers and FR's. Sounds like for how you would use them and the amount of actual time going uphill, trekkers are your better option and a good place to start- cheaper, and better than boot packing. Why trekkers sux- heavier set up, more lateral slop while climbing. If your mainly using them to access your hill when it's closed, again not so much a problem. IMO FR's are easier to hike in, lighter weight, and for the most part a better option when accessing non-resort terrain. I personally never had a problem using them in bounds and skiing very aggresively, they have never pre-leased, broken, came off during hucks to~30ft, etc. BUT that was mounted on a 80 mm ski and with a guy who weighs 150lb and skis on a 10.5 DIN. Also, switching back and forth between skis with regular alpine bindings and a binding like the FR can heighten some of the insecurities you may have about using them inbounds.

So go with trekkers until you feel like they aren't working for what you want to do anymore. By then other Duke-like bindings will be on the market and the prices will drop.

[jtran10]

I agree with you there.




I have used trekkers and FR's. Sounds like for how you would use them and the amount of actual time going uphill, trekkers are your better option and a good place to start- cheaper, and better than boot packing. Why trekkers sux- heavier set up, more lateral slop while climbing. If your mainly using them to access your hill when it's closed, again not so much a problem. IMO FR's are easier to hike in, lighter weight, and for the most part a better option when accessing non-resort terrain. I personally never had a problem using them in bounds and skiing very aggresively, they have never pre-leased, broken, came off during hucks to~30ft, etc. BUT that was mounted on a 80 mm ski and with a guy who weighs 150lb and skis on a 10.5 DIN. Also, switching back and forth between skis with regular alpine bindings and a binding like the FR can heighten some of the insecurities you may have about using them inbounds.

So go with trekkers until you feel like they aren't working for what you want to do anymore. By then other Duke-like bindings will be on the market and the prices will drop.

Good advice. Thanks.

[Skidog]

weighs 150lb and skis on a 10.5 DIN.

Wow...you really like to crank em down eh???? I skied the east coast...in what I feel is a relatively aggressive style for almost my entire life and NEVER had to crank my binders that high...I think when I left the east I was about 220lbs....Type III skier....36 and 6'3" my manufacturers din was at 9-9.5.

I currently crank the naxos to 10 or maybe 10.5...and I ski them in and out of bounds all season...they are on 3 pairs of skis in my quiver currently.

M

[Damian Sanders]

Get snowshoes!!!!

[laseranimal]

Also: on the EC a ski without much torsional rigidty is pretty useless much of the time. i.e. a ski mounted with Freerides. This has been my experience, although others are free to dispute it. Unless I know I will be skinning for sure I take something with alpine bindings every time.

I'm a trekker hater and I'll agree with dromond

FR's are the ultimate in a compromise binding, I don't think they tour really well b/c I don't like the stride, and they're not great inbounds.

For a 50/50 split 1 rig setup they're a nice choice

I'd go with trekkers simply because they can be found cheap and allow you to tour and ski inbounds. Since you're only doing sidecountry, the amount of performance you'll give up on the tour will be insignificant next to the gain you'll make on the downhill. Freerides will give up way more in the inbounds performance department then you'll make up for on the uphill.

[Mofro261]

Wow...you really like to crank em down eh???? I skied the east coast...in what I feel is a relatively aggressive style for almost my entire life and NEVER had to crank my binders that high...I think when I left the east I was about 220lbs....Type III skier....36 and 6'3" my manufacturers din was at 9-9.5.

I currently crank the naxos to 10 or maybe 10.5...and I ski them in and out of bounds all season...they are on 3 pairs of skis in my quiver currently.

M

I had a shop mount px12ti's on my LP's not too long ago, and the DIN chart for my weight and skier type III+ or whatever that means, and BSL ~300mm was 9.5-10. Height has really nothing to do with it (I'm a strapping 5'7"), the smaller BSL has some to do with the increase. So I don't think I crank them down that much more than recommended ~10-10.5 on any of my skis either mounted FR+ or alpine, but for the most part I flat out don't want them falling off my feet at an in-opportune time, as that is usually going to be way more detrimental- hitting trees, falling over rocks etc.


I used the trekkers for the first ~3-4 years I toured before switching to freerides. Those first few years it was mostly accessing the hill I skied on before and after it was open. Then I switched to the Silvretta 404 for like 2 yrs which was the ulimate sacrifice in DH performance- they'd constantly pop off when I got the ski up to speed. The freerides have toured well for me for the last ~6-7 years. Next time I switch it will probably be to both Dynafits and Dukes, kinda opposite sides of the spectrum.

One good thing about the trekkers over the fritchis- I was able to modify them easier to fit my 6/7yr olds boot. Hey, the kiddies want to hike the hill before and after it's open too.

[uncle crud]

If ya don't like the torsional slop of Naxos, Freerides and Pures then you should try Dynafits.

I skied Naxos for 2 seasons and hated them because unless the snow was soft and light, I had poor control over the ski due to the slop between boot and ski.

I got Dynafits last year and cannot believe the difference in torsional stiffness and feel for the ski/snow. Besides, they weigh a lot less and their uphill skin/stride motion is way better than Naxos -- and I'm pretty comfortable saying they're better than Fritschi or Silvretta AT bindings on that score as well. The stride is much better IMO.

[gimpy]

you guys bitching about fritschi slop just can't ski for shit. face it, any competent skier can slay it on fritschis or any other binding. waahhhhh, i can't ski well so it must be the bindings. unless you're hucking 50' cliffs, freerides work great.

[uncle crud]

you guys bitching about fritschi slop just can't ski for shit. face it, any competent skier can slay it on fritschis or any other binding. waahhhhh, i can't ski well so it must be the bindings. unless you're hucking 50' cliffs, freerides work great.

put that needle dick back in your pants, junior. nobody's impressed. nobody said they could not ski on AT bindings. 2 of us said we didn't like the slop.

when your reading comprehension improves, your balls have dropped, and puberty has given you some maturity, come back and talk.

[Bring On The Snow]

I skied inbounds on my Naxo 21's for the first time on blackcomb last friday and I did not have any problems with slop obviously i wasnt like an Alpine binder but it was certainly far from terrible, this may change with use because they are basically brand new but hopefully not to much.

[adimmen]

My Trekkers worked well about 1/3 of the time. However, between the slop, the stack height, the hassle of getting them on and off and packing and unpacking them, the prereleases, the extra weight, and countless other problems, they were a pain in the neck more often than not.

When they finally do break, I hope you're not in the middle of nowhere. I had to boot a couple miles through deep snow while my partner skinned along effortlessly last weekend after my Trekkers broke. Get AT binders if you plan on doing even moderately long tours. You can make them work for long tours (I did all last year) but not without major headaches.

Remember, what can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time.

[birdboatboy]

Get snowshoes!!!!

Hmm....not too sure about this advice. I have snowshoes just for funsies and any ski setup will beat them in deep snow. Just my $.02.

[jtran10]

Hmm....not too sure about this advice. I have snowshoes just for funsies and any ski setup will beat them in deep snow. Just my $.02.

I also have tried snowshoes for "funsies" and haven't been all that impressed. It's a good idea for now, though.