The TGR Skinny Ski Ski Tourers' Refuge Thread

[Benneke10]

Anyone skied the Dynafit Blacklight 88 or 95? I've heard the Blacklight series are pretty stiff, can be kinda demanding. I'm looking for something in this width range, been following the comments a few pages back about the Zero G 95 and Backlands, but didn't see any comments about the Blacklights.

I've skied the 88, they are interesting skis. Very low camber and very easy to pivot and slide around. They are also quite stiff throughout. The tips are fat for such a skinny ski and can get hung up on stuff. I liked the skis so I bought a pair of 95s on sale, and they have much more camber than the 88. I ended up returning them. I asked a friend at skimo co about it, he said Dynafit purposefully added more camber to the 95 to improve edgegrip and compensate for the wider width. I have 2 friends who bought the 95 and got rid of them because they were very punishing, demanding skis.

[natebob]

I've skied the 88, they are interesting skis. Very low camber and very easy to pivot and slide around. They are also quite stiff throughout. The tips are fat for such a skinny ski and can get hung up on stuff. I liked the skis so I bought a pair of 95s on sale, and they have much more camber than the 88. I ended up returning them. I asked a friend at skimo co about it, he said Dynafit purposefully added more camber to the 95 to improve edgegrip and compensate for the wider width. I have 2 friends who bought the 95 and got rid of them because they were very punishing, demanding skis.

Good info., thanks.

[WhetherMan]

I've skied the 88, they are interesting skis. Very low camber and very easy to pivot and slide around. They are also quite stiff throughout. The tips are fat for such a skinny ski and can get hung up on stuff. I liked the skis so I bought a pair of 95s on sale, and they have much more camber than the 88. I ended up returning them. I asked a friend at skimo co about it, he said Dynafit purposefully added more camber to the 95 to improve edgegrip and compensate for the wider width. I have 2 friends who bought the 95 and got rid of them because they were very punishing, demanding skis.

Agree with comments about the blacklight 95. That thing is stiff. I can only imagine preferring it over the ZG 95 if edge hold is your only concern. But the ZG 95 is no slouch in that department so I find it pretty difficult to recommend the BL 95 to people.

Also notable, the blacklight 88 weighs exactly the same as the zero g 95 on our scale

[natebob]

Agree with comments about the blacklight 95. That thing is stiff. I can only imagine preferring it over the ZG 95 if edge hold is your only concern. But the ZG 95 is no slouch in that department so I find it pretty difficult to recommend the BL 95 to people.

Also notable, the blacklight 88 weighs exactly the same as the zero g 95 on our scale

Thanks. The Blacklights sounds like a handful. I'm leaning toward the Zero G 95, or waiting for the Dynafit Radical 88 next season.

Anyone have any experience with the Hagan Core 89 or Boost Pow 94?

[fleaches]

Thanks. The Blacklights sounds like a handful. I'm leaning toward the Zero G 95, or waiting for the Dynafit Radical 88 next season.

Different ski, but I have the blacklight pro and think it has some of the same DNA as the 0g 95 (stiff for its weight) but I have so far found it much less punishing. Part of that might be that I sized down a lot on that ski though...

Also has a ton of camber.

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[BFD]

Consulted with my advisor and bought the Salomon mtn summit. Could not find the Backland in my size. He has been skiing the zeroG 85 for awhile. He bought the Backlight and said it is stiffer. Possible regrets on buying it.

[CirqueScaler]

I didn't think the Blacklight 88 were that stiff. The Zero G 95 were much harder to ski in the same length. They have a good amount of tip and tail rise so would be good for an all around ski I think. They ski icy steeps just fine - my first run was low-40s chalk over a cliff.

That said, they didn't seem like a particularly remarkable ski because I think they are like 1200g, right? So I went with the Alp Tracks 89.

[~mikey b]

I saw a pair of ZeroG on the ski hill yesterday with an old heavy frame binding on them

that didn’t make a lot of sense to me as either a lift served or backcountry ski

the kid looked like kind of a poser but I guess we all kinda do riding chairs with tech bindings eh?

[Andyski]

Fwiw, the BC Orb freebird is fun as hell. Far from being a weight weenie special for sure, but it’s really fun all around - even skis pow pretty well. So far, my fave volcano ski that can do more than that.


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[ezgzy]

I saw a pair of ZeroG on the ski hill yesterday with an old heavy frame binding on them

that didn’t make a lot of sense to me as either a lift served or backcountry ski

the kid looked like kind of a poser but I guess we all kinda do riding chairs with tech bindings eh?

Someone in denver was selling ova freebirds with frame binders a little while ago, same vibe. Makes no sense to me but oh well


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[jdub1313]

Someone in denver was selling ova freebirds with frame binders a little while ago, same vibe. Makes no sense to me but oh well


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I just picked these up off KSL for my wife. Waybacks with frame bindings that will be discarded ASAP. Maybe we’re missing out on something

Full backcountry set- K2 Way Backs- 167cm long with frame bindings and skins included https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/71318111


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[~mikey b]

don’t trash the bindings

people want them

you can get a few monies

[frorider]

I didn't think the Blacklight 88 were that stiff. The Zero G 95 were much harder to ski in the same length. They have a good amount of tip and tail rise so would be good for an all around ski I think. They ski icy steeps just fine - my first run was low-40s chalk over a cliff.

That said, they didn't seem like a particularly remarkable ski because I think they are like 1200g, right? So I went with the Alp Tracks 89.

Which generation of zero g 95s are you referring to in this thread? When I’ve chatted with ski shop guys I trust, they say gen 1 was too stiff for a lot of users, gen 2 was better, and the current gen 3 was further improved in terms of versatility at different speeds and general friendliness.

[CirqueScaler]

Gen 2, I think the 2019/2020 topsheet (green and yellow chevron, not red and blue).

[~mikey b]

what gen is this?

[CirqueScaler]

Gen uno.

[~mikey b]

copy

good thing I’m large eh?

[PinyonJuniper5]

I feel that the first generation is the best, with each later generation becoming more and more lackluster. I also feel that gen 1 was the easiest to ski, while at the same time providing superior grip when on edge. The shovel on the new ones is way too soft, so it gets deflected in bad/inconsistent snow. Additionally, I find the newer models to be more punishing once you get in the back seat.

Maybe I’m just nostalgic for the days when I first started skiing the Zero G, or maybe I just used to be a stronger skier!


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[~mikey b]

[~mikey b]

1689 grams per ski - wow!

scored some precut skins off the Book of Faces

still gotta put on some leashes

[CirqueScaler]

new mikey b post and I was not disappointed

[CirqueScaler]

Nice rippers! Let us know how you like them.

[fleaches]

Friend recommended the Strafe Recon pants. He said Gaston told him he made them for himself to train in because he doesn't want to train in a skinsuit. Seems really light, exactly the features I need, and only $140. Promising.

And now they are 50% off (plus a lot of other strafe stuff), should have waited oops.


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[Benneke10]

Has anyone tried the Dynafit Mezzalama crampons? They are similar to the Petzl Irvis Hybrid but they replaced the dyneema cable with steel cable and are lighter.

[kevino]

No experience but they look great. My petzl dynemma is holding up despite years of abuse but would certainly consider the dynafit when the time comes to replace.