The new -2017- CAST touring system thread

[CHAIR_97]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nng...w?usp=drivesdk


^ I added a centerline and a forward heel screw line to the CAST heel riser/brake retainer template to help locate these two holes accurately. You could also do this on the template they send with a ruler and pencil--that would still be more accurate than just trying to line the template up over existing holes. As always, confirm scale after printing and tips go to the left...

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I just push it in tight to the heel and mark it in place. Never had a problem this way started doing this when the provided (cast template) did me wrong.

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[Gnar_Shralp406]

I just push it in tight to the heel and mark it in place. Never had a problem this way started doing this when the provided (cast template) did me wrong.

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Same. Push it tight, lock the brakes up, and use a thin pointy object to mark the center of the holes. Then it's drill baby drill.

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[waveshello]

It just occured to me that if you're gonna be anal about this like me, you could still mark your centerline on the ski and then finish it off SVS/gnar style--at least you'd have some confirmation you're centered up.

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[TexasGortex]

Any input on Cast vs Shift for a primarily inbounds setup? Think 90/10 DD, 30-120min sidecountry laps. Half assed touring at best. I’m sick of Guardians, Daywreckers, and boot packing. I guess I’m getting old.

6’4” 185lbs, Lange XT3 boots, usually ski a 10 DIN. I’m not chasing the FWT or anything but I do ski like an inbounds skier; fast, bang off stuff, clank my skis together, do wheelies, spend a lot of time in the air, ski and land switch a fair bit. I’m basically considering Cast because I ski like an over-caffeinated beater moron instead of a video pro. Is that nuts?

If Cast used STH2 13 bindings I’d already have it. Pivots are good, they are just my second favorite binding (and heavy). I’m a Salomon guy through and through. I don’t think Shifts are burly enough to get beat up inbounds all day every day. Combined with being finicky with adjustments/release I’m pretty hesitant to give them a go on a DD.

My priority would be reliability, safety, and downhill skiing over weight (at least for this setup).

[SkiLyft]

I ran shifts the first 3 years they came out — my ski log shows roughly 150 days on them. Over that time I had 2-3 pre-releases; one was in a very spicy funnel above a couloir… which resulted in me tumbling out the bottom, not fun!

Ultimately despite running them at 12, when I flexed into my boot on hard pack if my ski deflected I could feel the toe piece open up and my toe would move 5-10mm. This was very unnerving; especially in light of the pre-releases.

For me; I’m now on Casts, like you that ski is my DD and travel ski which sees 90% IB use. The reliability of being locked into an alpine clamp is worth it and I won’t be buying any more shifts.

200lbs - 6ft


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[PeachesNCream]

Any input on Cast vs Shift for a primarily inbounds setup? Think 90/10 DD, 30-120min sidecountry laps. Half assed touring at best. I’m sick of Guardians, Daywreckers, and boot packing. I guess I’m getting old.

6’4” 185lbs, Lange XT3 boots, usually ski a 10 DIN. I’m not chasing the FWT or anything but I do ski like an inbounds skier; fast, bang off stuff, clank my skis together, do wheelies, spend a lot of time in the air, ski and land switch a fair bit. I’m basically considering Cast because I ski like an over-caffeinated beater moron instead of a video pro. Is that nuts?

If Cast used STH2 13 bindings I’d already have it. Pivots are good, they are just my second favorite binding (and heavy). I’m a Salomon guy through and through. I don’t think Shifts are burly enough to get beat up inbounds all day every day. Combined with being finicky with adjustments/release I’m pretty hesitant to give them a go on a DD.

My priority would be reliability, safety, and downhill skiing over weight (at least for this setup).

Cast is more in line with what you're describing. Imo shift has its place, but if your prioritizing reliability and downhill performance (and resort durability), cast wins hands down. Also might be worth considering the Duke PT.

[TexasGortex]

Thanks for the input guys.

This may be a little silly but I have a long-standing grudge against Marker going back to probably the early 90s. I’ve just been burned too many times to seriously consider any of their products.

[Sylvan]

I agree with SkiLyft and Peaches. Based on your use case and brand preferences, CAST is the way. I've recently grown fond of a Marker product as a dedicated slack binding, but am also a vengeful motherfucker so can appreciate your perspective. I'm also still praying for a P14 CAST-light to come to market so I don't have to ski anything but Pivots. Maybe 90 days on Shift; never pre-released but have witnessed others (whose gear I also maintain), and, based on a previous pre-release (old Marker Demo) in a pretty unfortunate spot, as I'm sure SkiLyft can attest, I place a pretty high priority on that not happening now. 50 on CAST, 5 and counting on PT 12s. 6'2, 200#, DINS 11.

[goolick]

Add me to the list of people that had shifts, lost faith in them due to preleases/reliability, and abandoned them for CAST.

[eSock]

Add me to the list of people that had shifts, lost faith in them due to preleases/reliability, and abandoned them for CAST.

Same. Lost a ski for the winter after a prereleasing shift. Replaced with Pivots when I found the ski this summer

[rod9301]

Hard to believe people are still skiing shifts

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[GoldenBC]

Saw a lot of CAST last year at the shop that didn't operate smoothly and I'm wondering how many others have seen this. People who butter tended to loosen/bend the screw towers on the toe and would cause issues with transitions. It seemed like it was the screw pulling on the wood. In many solid skis.

I would also see brand new sets mounted and everything seemed to transition properly but then you switched which ski you put the toe piece on and there wouldn't be enough clearance to slide the toe on. To me thats a manufacturing variance. On one pair, you could see the size difference in the parts.

In my mind, the Cascade Components alternative mounting plate solved these problems.

[CHAIR_97]

People who tend to butter lol. What about ppl who fknsndr? My one and only set of cast has outlasted 2 pair of skis and is now on its 3rd pair of skis. No fussing either. Mount em right the first time and beat the piss out em.

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[DigSki]

Add me to the list of ditching shift for cast. I would shed skis with shifts in the middle of normal pow turns, and several times I didn't even know until I went to make my next turn. It got pretty ridiculous and scary tbh.

[pfluffenmeister]

Saw a lot of CAST last year at the shop that didn't operate smoothly and I'm wondering how many others have seen this. People who butter tended to loosen/bend the screw towers on the toe and would cause issues with transitions. It seemed like it was the screw pulling on the wood. In many solid skis.

I would also see brand new sets mounted and everything seemed to transition properly but then you switched which ski you put the toe piece on and there wouldn't be enough clearance to slide the toe on. To me thats a manufacturing variance. On one pair, you could see the size difference in the parts.

In my mind, the Cascade Components alternative mounting plate solved these problems.

Cascade Components?
Was that the CNC toe plate?
Did that ever go commercial?

[californiagrown]

Add me to the list of ditching shift for cast. I would shed skis with shifts in the middle of normal pow turns, and several times I didn't even know until I went to make my next turn. It got pretty ridiculous and scary tbh.

Hahaha i know that feeling well. Ripping turns all stoked out, and go to make the next turn but realize your inside ski is no longer there. Try to hold on and finish that turn out. Look uphill like WTF, and see the ski way up there.

I also had a hilarious double eject out the front door just popping off a green groomer/cat track into some flat side pow at like 10 mph. As soon as i mindlessly landed went into an immediate front flip. I looked back and both skis where perfectly in place where i landed and a lady 'troller was laughing her ass off at me as she skied by.

And now im on the original CASTS for STHs. For 95/5 resort to touring, its a waaay better setup.

[TexasGortex]

Cast setup ordered! Thanks for the input. I think part of my hesitation is that some weird custom mods should be jankier than Salomon’s premier binding. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve totally fucked myself by not choosing the simpler option!

I couldn’t find a retail link for the cascade plates. Seemed like they were still in development per the thread here. Hopefully I don’t need them; I don’t like flat bindings. I’m an upright boot + ramp and delta kind of guy.

[Sylvan]

Saw a lot of CAST last year at the shop that didn't operate smoothly and I'm wondering how many others have seen this.

In my mind, the Cascade Components alternative mounting plate solved these problems.

The only issue I had with CAST was the initial mount/setup was finicky. First tour I thought the toe was locked but a ski came off a few times on the up, and I swore a whole bunch. Once I sorted it out I didn't have any issues. That's one nice thing about the Duke PTs, they are plug and play, and the design is pretty slick; can't speak to durability yet though. I haven't skied the 16 which in my mind is the CAST competitor, with the 12 competing with Shifts (unsurprisingly). Will hafta check out the CC mounting plate.

Edit to add: Clearly not a shop human, my vast CAST experience is 3 pair.

[davjr96]

Pretty sure the Cascade plate never became available

[Westcoaster]

Cascade Components?
Was that the CNC toe plate?
Did that ever go commercial?

It got flamed in here for no reason in particular, but the owner didn't respond well. Imo it was the most elegant cast-like solution, even though the hole patterns were no longer the same.

[DigSki]

I also had a hilarious double eject out the front door just popping off a green groomer/cat track into some flat side pow at like 10 mph. As soon as i mindlessly landed went into an immediate front flip. I looked back and both skis where perfectly in place where i landed and a lady 'troller was laughing her ass off at me as she skied by.

Have to quote you back because I had this exact same thing happen, except it wasn't a front flip, just face straight to the snow. That was actually my final straw, pretty sure I bought cast that night.

[detrusor]

Add me to the list of people that had shifts, lost faith in them due to preleases/reliability, and abandoned them for CAST.

Add me as well. Pretty fucking hard to get every iota of snow off the boot and binding when your waste deep in it.


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[ASmileyFace]

Abandoned shifts for CAST on my daily driver (95% inbounds/5% touring) last season after 15-ish days on the salomons the season before that. Much much happier.

[PeachesNCream]

Add me as well. Pretty fucking hard to get every iota of snow off the boot and binding when your waste deep in it.


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Put me on the list. I've cranked up the heel dins +2 and have had less issues. Pondering if its worth it to put another set of holes into a ski that has 2 mounts. Wouldn't even know what binding I'd use for 60 touring/40 resort, I was thinking tecton but not sure if it'd hold up for 40% resort, 200 lbs

[TexasGortex]

Does Cast turn the Pivot into a totally flat binding? I have the Gripwalk AFDs. I am a long time Salomon skier, and just curious how bad the change in delta is going to fuck with me. Considering shimming before I even ski them.