Back/Slack Country Setup

Kooky_Lukey

Kooky_Lukey

Active member
Hey! I am really itching to get a backcountry or slackcountry setup for next year. I just used my buddy's yesterday and I would really like to get into more of the backcountry scene.

Little bit about me, I am originally from the east coast so all I did was park. But recently I moved to Montana (Bozeman) to be exact, and I really like the whole all mountain stuff. I have about $1250 to spend on a setup. I scored a nice internship this summer and I can't exactly go much higher than 1250 because of rent and living stuff. I am 5'6" 170 lbs. and I would consider myself an expert skier. I love hitting cliffs and doing more chute kind of stuff. I would use this setup to go out a few weekends a year to do a day in the real backcountry but mainly just to get through the gates and not have to worry about getting stuck anywhere.

The gear I need is where I need help. I have little experience with this stuff (don't tell me to take an avy class as I am taking one next semester). I was looking at getting the Duke's for bindings, they seem to fit my needs well enough, but correct me if there is something better. For skis, I was looking at the Sir Francis Bacons. I am a big Line guy so I would like to stick with Line but I would also like to see whats out there. I do like a ski on the softer side. I know all mountain skis aren't like the Traveling Circus ski, I'm not asking for that kind of soft, but I really don't like when it feels like I have 2x4's strapped to my feet. I really do not prefer Armada's so please do not recommend them.

I already have a shovel and a decent backpack (Heli Pro). I was looking at getting the Tracker DTS but recommend something else if you think I need better. Probe, I have no idea about sizes but the 240 looked to be pretty normal. For skins, it looked like Black Diamond Ascentions would do, but I also know little about skins.

If I am missing anything I need, please let me know. I know this was long and I probably forgot something. Thanks a lot for any help, it is greatly appreciated.
 
Do you want a twin rocketed ski like the SFB, or would you be ok with a flat tail, because there are way better touring skis in that category.

I would argue that you should stay away from Line, but if you have your heart set on sticking with teem, I would look at the Sick Day 110. It is very light, pretty soft, and is more backcountry focused than the SFB.
 
Do you want a twin rockered ski like the SFB? Or would you be ok with a flat tail, because there are way better touring skis in that category.

I would argue that you should stay away from Line, but if you have your heart set on sticking with teem, I would look at the Sick Day 110. It is very light, pretty soft, and is more backcountry focused than the SFB. But again, if you want a flat tail, I can steer you towards far better companies.
 
I mean I'm open to any company besides Armada, just didn't like them when I had a pair. I would like to keep it a twin tip because I would still like to throw them around in the resort and go switch.
 
I would recommend the Salomon Rocker2 108, or the Faction Candide 3.0.

The 108 is very playful and pretty soft, but not a complete noodle like the Bacons.

The 3.0 is ridiculously light due to its balsa flax core, and is very popular for backcountry usage. It has much better construction with full sidewalls underfoot than the 108, but will cost a bit more. But it is also used by most people for just standard resort usage.

 
black diamond skis will last you forever and they're excellent. Although they are very touring focused and less freestyle, they kill. Also, you prlly don't need dukes, it's just unnecessary weight especially if your 170 pounds. I have barons and I love em and i saved a little more money. You can also get used skins to save about $20. Check out 4FRNT Hoji and Praxis' lineup. Also you can get the BCA essentials avalanche gear that comes with all three essentials for like $300. Whatever you do, don't buy a used beacon.

 
Loving my 4frnt Hojis! Stiff enough to mach the chop, yet playful and nimble. I would stay away from dukes. Too heavy imo, esp at your light weight. Barons or f10/12 tours are what I'd recommend for side country and inboubds ripping. Tracker DTS a a great entry level beacon. 240cm is fine for a probe. Check out climbing skins direct, way cheaper than the BD skins. Locally made here In Jackson hole!
 
After doing a little research on them I really like Rocker 2's. Seem like they are right up my alley, thanks a lot man. I don't know why I just completely forgot about Salomon. The Factions would just be a little too much money for my budget.
 
Hey man, I'm in Boze Angeles too and by the sounds of it am a similar skier to you. Sorry for the essay, I'm on mobile and can't split up text... I've been riding 188 moment PB & Js with dukes this season. Given the choice now I would probably err towards a guardian/tracker rather than dukes, they feel really burly and you don't have to take your skis off to switch between ski/skin. They also do the 13 din version which I suppose is equivalent to a baron, depends where you have your dins... Both are solid bindings for light BC use.

Skins: I would recommend G3 alpinists over BDs, if you're inexperienced then cutting skins can be a bitch and you don't want to fuck it up. The tool that comes with G3s is really smart, easier to use, and automatically leaves a couple of mils of space for your edges, much better than the BD tool. I have used mine all season and they are bomber, the tip connectors are really good and I've never heard of anyone's tail clips snapping which has happened to 2 friends BDs.

As for transceivers you can't go wrong with a Tracker2, I use an ortovox Zoom which is really simple to use and has an excellent range, I would thoroughly recommend it. A few friends have mammut pulses which are also very good. Don't get a pieps freeride, they have a very weak signal and are more difficult to read. Any questions shoot me a pm
 
BD Ascensions. Don't cheap out and don't get G3s, they don't grip anywhere near as well.
 
What makes you say that? Having used both I would say G3s grip is superior when we're talking about full nylon. The guys at backcountry.com said the same when I was in the market for skins, I've had no trouble at all and would definitely buy them again over BDs
 
The Tracker DTS is only a two antenna beacon, so it won't offer such precise searching and an easy to use multiburial function as a three antenna beacon. I personally use the Mammut Element, it's got a really user friendly interface and the multiburial function is easy to use and sufficient for your recreational backcountry user.
 
I use the G3 High Traction skins this season for touring here in Scotland where we get some icy conditions, as you may remember. I haven't had any trouble with them so far, and I definitely prefer them to my Alpinists which I'd used for the past two seasons, the improved grip doesn't come with too much of glide penalty either compared to the Alpinists.
 
i'd recommend the praxis bc, just got back from big sky and the bc is a great one for everything at that mountain, go gpo if you wanted a higher speed limit, if i lived there i'd daily ski a gpo i think but that fits my style well on a bigger mountain.

the praxis stuff is super burly, i got one little core shot after hitting a LOT of rocks
 
I would go down the tracker route, a function I hate of them is how they go into "send" as soon as you put it back into your sleeve.

I have the Peips DPS Sport and I really like it. It is simple, I got it at a great price and it fits my needs. If you would think you need the auto-revert feature in the event of a second slide, then go with the Pro. Great beaker with some great testimonials out there.
 
They are, however I personally find beacons with a 'display' (eg. element/pulse) easier to use than beacons without (eg. tracker). And that's not because I can't 'use' a transceiver, when I first started entering terrain needing a transceiver I skied with and used an analog beacon, the fact of the matter is beacons with a 'display' are more intuitive.
 
Buy BCA gear for everything. It is the shit. Also, Faction Agent 100s are the shit. Can't beat them when it comes to a freeride/touring ski.
 
Shop friends have stopped selling G3 completely (unless someone asks for them specifically) after bad experiences themselves, friends and customers. Less grip and less glide than BD Ascensions. All of them are on BD now (some Ascension, some Glitelite).

I am BD Glidelites now, they're working well for me.
 
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