Jong question about AT set up

[Terpski]

Alright, I'm stupid, I know. I don't know shit about AT, I know. But, I intend to be doing a fair bit of it next season (after recieving the proper education and acquiring the needed equipment and going with people that have extensive BC experience, of course). I just have a few questions. You guys can make fun of me all you want (I probably deserve it) so long as some one answers my questions genuinely - I would much apreciate it.

Basically, I'm looking into getting a pair of 183 Gots w/ NX21's (I'm 5'10" and around 170 lbs). I've done my research within this forum and in several other reliable sites, and I've seen that most of the reviews about these bindings have been positive - lots of improvements from the previous models. I know the skis are good because I have the Karmas and Volkl is the shit. My biggest concern is my boots!

My question is:

Will getting this set up still be worth it if I use them with regular downhill boots [05/06 Technica Diablo Flame]???? Essentially, will I still be able to efficently tour and climb with regular boots in Naxo bindings without destroying my feet and legs??


I was initially going to just get trekkers and use them with my karmas and regular boot since I am just starting... buuut I'm slowly starting to think about not bothering with that shit and just getting AT gear. I guess, I figure it would save me money in the long run - if that makes any sense to you all - because I think I'll grow tired of trekkers pretty fast and just want better gear right away.

Thanks in advance.

[theferret]

Sounds good, you can always buy AT boots later, right? Personally it sounds a little painful on the uphill, but money on the down.

You might want to check out dynafit boots & bindings... the dynafit freeride aero is a great boot (if it fits you), a very stiff AT boot. The bindings weigh next to nothing. Only problem is they LOOK sketchy. But they work great.

But the goat setup sounds like a good starter, if you find yourself huffing a puffing on the way up you can always get AT stuff later.

Also, what kind of terrain will you be skiing? I would only use a heavy setup like that for pow & scaries. If you are skiing spring corn without fatal exposure you might think about getting lighter stuff. You can ski 45 degree corn on really light stuff and have a good time.

FWIW my setup is Fischer Atuas, Dynafit TLTs, and freeride aeros.

You'll have fun no matter what you do. Bet you wind up with two setups no matter what you pick first...

[lingcod]

Lots of info on this under search, but in my experience, you're fine with alpine boots if you're just doing shorter laps, or not not out there too long. If you'll be slogging an hour or more, I'd use AT boots. I'm moving away from my AT boots (Garmont G-Rides) for the way I use my freerides / skins / skis because I don't like skiing in the G-Rides much at all (another search subject), and I'm just doing shorter laps in my alpine boots. On the other hand, if I was going to tour and ski deep pow (not spring corn), I'd probably use the AT boots. Bottom line, you'd be fine the way you're set up now, until you decide to start going out longer.

[Lurch]

The boot's will be heavy and slow you down but it's doable. The NX21 is a lot of binding for some one who only weighs 170#. You might want to think of going with the N01 unless you plan on hucking your meat off of tall objects.

[marshalolson]

if your alpine boots fit properly (ie. you can ski in them all day and never fiddle with buckles or anything), then use them till you can both afford a good boot and a really good fit (intuition, footbed).

if your boots do not fit properly (ie. unbuckling every run, pain, taking them off @ lunch) DO NOT TOUR IN THEM. your feet will thank you.

[upallnight]

Basically, I'm looking into getting a pair of 183 Gots w/ NX21's

It's all about $$ -- how much you have and how much you want to spend.

Oh yeah, it's about how far you want to go, too.

The ski + binding combo you suggest with alpine boots is certain bomber for the resort and lift-accessed BC.

The problem is that it will be pretty damn heavy if you are skinning any distance in them. (It'll be a little better if you're just hiking.)

If you can afford boots, I recommend getting something that is DYnafit-compatible. That way, long-term you will have the Dynafit binding option if you get into longer tours.

If you absolutely can't afford new boots, then your options are somewhat limited. If you will ski the setup @ the resort, I think you can only really consider the NX21 or the Freeride (maybe the Plus version coming out now/next year). Also, given that you're in alpine boots, I think I'd give the nod to the NX21.

I would add that if you try skinning with them and find you hate BC skiing/touring, realize that you just might hate touring with the heavy setup. A big ski is sure fun in the backcountry, but sometimes huge skis make me want to ski super fast & rip....and I realize that the 1.5h hike I just did resulted in a 180 second run. Yeah, it's fun and I love going high-speed (and have a ton of fat skis)...but sometimes you can go farther, higher, longer with a skinnier/lighter-weight setup...meaning you get more untracked pow, have a more solitary experience, and have a longer trip down.

It's kind of about having the right tool for the particular tour or peak that suits your fancy. I've had times where I just want to rip blower pow on a fat ski...and I've had times where carrying my fat skis would have denied me a remote summit.

Another, alternate way for you to go about things is get a super-cheap, used setup of an 80mm-waist ski...and then maybe you could get a proper AT boot, too.

Then, later on add a fatter ski with heavier AT binding and you're set.

Just trying to provide some food for thought. Like I said, I took my 190 Gots w/ Freerides into the BC plenty this year (w/ AT boots), and that's fun for shorter stuff...but if you can get a light-weight setup (hey...179 Bros would shave 2-3 pounds!) that doesn't make you crap out after hiking 1,000' vert, you might be more psyched in the long-term.

[kidwoo]

PSA: http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-Volkl-Gotam...QQcmdZViewItem

your hookup for 183 goats with med NX21's

Shhh!!!!

I figured that's what he was looking at.

I've only had to hike once using my alpine boots because I left my regular at boots in friend's car. It killed me. Made a normally 2.5 hour hike into a tear jerking agony.