help build the ultimate AT rig

**freshies** · 09-12-2006, 07:08 PM

OK Mags, I want your feedback on "ultimate" AT rigs.

I currently run some old Jerry Launchers w/the the Freerides, and the first generation Denalis. Its been a good rig, but its time to replace the whole schbang.

I typically use this set-up for Tahoe BC - so no super-long multi-day tours (but I have schlepped this set-up on overnight hut trips) or super-light weight weenie rigs needed. The emphasis here is on the down vs the up (obviously).

For skis, I am thinking Goats. Seems like a good, fat, lightweight ski to make an AT rig out of.

For binders, I am torn between the new Freerides or the Dynafits. 2 years ago I would never have considered the Dynafits - they just looked too skimpy. But many friends swer by them and they seem pretty dialed in at this juncture, plus the weight is a real draw for me (since I am going fat skis and burly boots).

Boots: I know I need to try on a bunch to see what fits my foot, but I also know that Scarpa doesn't make the Denali a Dynafit compatable boot, right?

I saw some of the new Dynafit AT boots, the burly ones, in Backcountry in Truckee, and they looked pretty nice, and burly. Does Lowa and Garmont also make Dynafit compatable boots?

I plan on grabbing the Colouir AT gear guide when its out, and chatting to the guys at the Backcountry (where I will most likely buy this set-up, need to support the local shops), but I value the mags experience and input. Lots of great knowledge on here.

So, comments on my proposed set-up? What AT rig are you rocking, and what's good and bad about it? If you could start from scratch, what would be your ultimate AT rig (again, with an emphasis on the down: fat skis and burly boots)?

**mc_roon** · 09-12-2006, 07:11 PM

ive got 190 gotamas with nx21s. Heavy, but worth it for the ride down.

**pechelman** · 09-12-2006, 07:18 PM

Ultimate might be something more along the lines of

DP Wailer 95 or 105 and dynafits
or
179 Bro + dynafit

**ski_faster** · 09-12-2006, 08:29 PM

I have the Gotamas and NX21's as well. They are great for sidecountry and short tours but I prefer something a little lighter for longer tours. I also have Black Diamond Verdicts with Freerides for those longer tours. I am been thinking about selling the Verdicts and getting some Havocs for the longer tours.

**ccwaskier** · 09-12-2006, 08:38 PM

I think goode carbon 116's with dynafit would be pretty nice for a pure bc powder ski. I have 183 gotama's with freeride that are nice, but they are heavy and I feel like my garmont g-rides are not stiff enough to ski them. I usually use my downhill boots on short side country tours. For longer hut trips or summer trips I use freerides on pocket rockets with the g rides.

**jrosendahl** · 09-12-2006, 08:44 PM

1) The new scarpa Denali repacement the Spirit 4 is suposed to be dynafit compatible. The spirt 3 is avilable at telemark-pyreenes for cheep if you want to save some money. The verdict is out on weather or not the fourt buckle will matter.
2) Get dynafit bindings
3) Bro 179 stiff

Note: I have none of this equipment, I have bigger heavier stuff. I regularly ski that, and it works great - but if you want the best rig for all around touring go light. I didn't really think it made much difference untill I got a really really heavy (edit: Capital BMC w/ Freeride+/Blue/Grey Denali from Vokli V-pro 190/Grey Freerides) touring rig. Now I figure if I can go as light as my heavy rig is heavy I will fly up hill.

**kidwoo** · 09-12-2006, 08:48 PM

I toured on gotamas with old titanal IIs for two years around here and they were great. I just sold them (183s though).

But yeah if money's no object, some wailer 105s seem like they'd be money. Similar ski just lighter........and most importantly.....black.

Bros are nice and light. I've skied a pair of 188 softs and thought they'd be good....kind of noodly but for a bc ski that's not always bad.

Ah fuggit.....get some lotus 120s so I can borrow them sometime.

**PNWbrit** · 09-12-2006, 08:58 PM

Freshies - Check out the new 07 Garmont Mega Rides. I just got some as warranty replacements for an older pair of G Rides and took them to Argentina this summer. Lighter, stiffer, Dynafit sockets, great boots.

**Sphinx** · 09-12-2006, 09:19 PM

Dynafit.

As for boots, I've been skiing Denali XTs for three years. Garmont doesn't work for me, without a baked liner I can barely squeeze into the largest Megaride. It hurts like fuck and my ankle is big enough that I can hardly get the buckles to close.

I thought the Laser and Matrix would be too soft and wimpy based on a flex test in the shop. I bought some Lasers a few days ago on a whim, put my heavily modified liners in them, snapped my old denali tongues on them, and with a Denali on one foot and the Laser on the other, I cannot discern a flex difference between them, fore or aft, while clicked into my skis on the carpet. I couldn't believe it and cannot wait to ski them.

Buy whichever of the Matrix/Spirit/Megaride/Freeride Aero fits you best, and you should be happy with the performance compared to your Denalis.

**freshies** · 09-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

I toured on gotamas with old titanal IIs for two years around here and they were great. I just sold them (183s though).

But yeah if money's no object, some wailer 105s seem like they'd be money. Similar ski just lighter........and most importantly.....black.

Bros are nice and light. I've skied a pair of 188 softs and thought they'd be good....kind of noodly but for a bc ski that's not always bad.

Ah fuggit.....get some lotus 120s so I can borrow them sometime.

yeah, some wailers would be realll nice i imagine, but i ain't gonna spend that kind of $$...I figure that the dynafit binders and boots are gonna cost me a lot as is (with a minor discount, however, since they are euro, the exchange rate is making this stuff more pricey this year), so i will probably try and find some nice, light pow boards as cheaply as possible (e.g. last years models, etc)....

**kidwoo** · 09-12-2006, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by freshies

yeah, some wailers would be realll nice i imagine, but i ain't gonna spend that kind of $$...I figure that the dynafit binders and boots are gonna cost me a lot as is (with a minor discount, however, since they are euro, the exchange rate is making this stuff more pricey this year), so i will probably try and find some nice, light pow boards as cheaply as possible (e.g. last years models, etc)....

T-P.com?

Yeah I remember back in the day you could get skis for like 50 cents. Fuckin euro.

I started skiing on some made'ns last year and other than stupid 80deg icy chutes that suck anyway, I think they're a little better for most of the hiking I do. A little better float because they're so noodly with a little wider shovel but they wail through low angle stuff so much better. I know it's not cool to admit that but the truth is you have to get back to your car sometime. And actually they are easier to turn even on steep sluffy stuff. I think this years gots are almost the same shape......just stiffer. But nobody wants made'ns as much as gots so they're cheap.

**trouble** · 09-12-2006, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by freshies

yeah, some wailers would be realll nice i imagine, but i ain't gonna spend that kind of $$....

If money is part of the equation, is it really going to be THE ultimate AT rig?

**freshies** · 09-12-2006, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

T-P.com?

Yeah I remember back in the day you could get skis for like 50 cents. Fuckin euro.

I started skiing on some made'ns last year and other than stupid 80deg icy chutes that suck anyway, I think they're a little better for most of the hiking I do. A little better float because they're so noodly with a little wider shovel but they wail through low angle stuff so much better. I know it's not cool to admit that but the truth is you have to get back to your car sometime. And actually they are easier to turn even on steep sluffy stuff. I think this years gots are almost the same shape......just stiffer. But nobody wants made'ns as much as gots so they're cheap.

hmm, i have a 3 year old pair of kahunas (the blue ones w/the stripe down the side - basically the made'ns before they were released) that i guess i could throw the dynafits on....but then that would leave me only with the spats as my resort rig...which means i would need to buy some mantras or something....decisions...decisions...but thx for the feedback on the made'ns...i figured they would be good for an at rig b/c they are fat and soft -i don't want super stiff fats for a bc rig anyway....

**3pin** · 09-13-2006, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by onehotchili

freshies -

give me a shout the next time you're in town. i can give you some of the beta on the gear in the Couloir gear guide before it comes out. i was part of the AT test team

. besides, you prolly owe me a beer for promising to get out of town this Xmas

-OHC

btw, i have been very happy with a short 177 Mantra, Dynafit Comforts, and Garmont MegaRide combo...

Heh... screw that OHC guy, his input sucks

Actually, you should drop OHC and me a line when you're back up here. We could grab tacos at Jalisco's or Blue Coyote or something, and fill you in. I'm finishing up the gear review stuff this week, so it's all pretty fresh in my mind.

-G

**verbier61** · 09-13-2006, 01:24 AM

dynafit bindings for sure. many (but not all) garmonts and scarpa are dynafit-compatible, lowa are not. For sticks, I'd say bros, or DP is you're very rich.

**tcross.au** · 09-13-2006, 06:12 AM

here are photos of the spirit 4
http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wik...carpa-Spirit-4

**ulty_guy** · 09-13-2006, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by onehotchili

freshies -

give me a shout the next time you're in town. i can give you some of the beta on the gear in the Couloir gear guide before it comes out. i was part of the AT test team

. besides, you prolly owe me a beer for promising to get out of town this Xmas

-OHC

btw, i have been very happy with a short 177 Mantra, Dynafit Comforts, and Garmont MegaRide combo...

hey ohc, can you fit the wide dynafit crampons around the 94mm waist on those?

**ulty_guy** · 09-13-2006, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Sphinx

...I cannot discern a flex difference between them, fore or aft, while clicked into my skis on the carpet...

DINOPPPS

desperately in need of power post preservation society

**pechelman** · 09-13-2006, 07:57 AM

since we're thinking budget minded 'ultimate' AT rig, perhaps also consider the 180ish sugar\tele\heli daddy. Mounted with dynafits that would be pretty freaking light and badass in powder.

**Conundrum** · 09-13-2006, 08:09 AM

I think I have the ultimate AT rigs.

Megarides (stiffer tongues), 193 DB Surreals-about 95 at the waist (Stephan Drakes prior company to DP), TLTs

Megarides or Pro Models with vibrams, ANTs, NX21s for sidecountry, and steeper/dropping/blower bc days

Crispi XRs, Soft Bros, Bishops (heavy but worth it)

To each their own but these have a nice little home in my quiver.

**marshalolson** · 09-13-2006, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

I think I have the ultimate AT rigs.

i see your ANT/nx21's and raise you my 190 Igneous FFL/nx21 setup

**Conundrum** · 09-13-2006, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

i see your ANT/nx21's and raise you my 190 Igneous FFL/nx21 setup

Hmmm...I'll call.

FFLs, 916s, trekkers for my quad workout. I don't think it gets much heavier than that.

Hey, I might have a thought on some pro models for you. Pm coming your way.

**Yossarian** · 09-13-2006, 08:46 AM

Now that I've just gotten rid of my Teledaddy/Freeride/(Denali) combo, I fantasize about being able to replace it with either a:

Sugar Daddy/Comfort/Spirit 3 combo or a
DPSkis/Comfort/Spirit 3 combo.

The hard part is just deciding which DPSki to fantasize about.

I was kind of thinking the 178cm Lotus 120... I really like shorter skis for CO trees. Or maybe the 185cm Wailer 95s. Except those would be too close in width to my 177 R.EXs (84mm), which I still have.

Hmm, this is a toughie. I'd really like a 180cm-ish Wailer 105, I think. Do they do a 178 Wailer 105? I seem to think no. So maybe the short Lotus 120s...

Hmm...

**marshalolson** · 09-13-2006, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Hmmm...I'll call.

FFLs, 916s, trekkers for my quad workout. I don't think it gets much heavier than that.

Hey, I might have a thought on some pro models for you. Pm coming your way.

big ups on the PM. thanks man.

yos - yes there is a 178 w105. and it is what you need. just FYI. lust away.