Candide 3's with Shift bindings as day touring/powder ski?

[Katsuie]

Sup guys.

I currently only ski a 2018 ARV 96 as an all-mtn quiver, holds up really well in the park/light powder. Now that I got some new boots with tech inserts and looking to get more into touring, I also got the option to get a good deal on barely used CT 3.0's (the blue ones from 20/21) and put some Salomon Shift 13s on them. I would take them for mellow park laps at the end of the day aswell, but mostly powder. For reference, I am 187/77kg and they're 184s, I have the options of getting the 190 version aswell but I think that might be too much for me to use anywhere but powder).

I am wondering if anyone can tell me if this is a good idea, I want to get into easier touring but also mostly keep this for freeriding. Kind of curious if they're too heavy to tour with or even too wide or whatever, I don't have much experience skiing anything over 100mm width (or even much touring itself). Thanks!

 

[migidimigi]

A friend of mine has the same set and he has been pretty happy with it so far!

Skiing even mellow park with Shifts might be pushing your luck a bit, they are definitely not made for that so I would stay away from rails, smaller jups should be ok

 

[ericforman]

Shift bindings suck ass and will break by your 20-30th tour good luck.

 

[Katsuie]

A friend of mine has the same set and he has been pretty happy with it so far!

Skiing even mellow park with Shifts might be pushing your luck a bit, they are definitely not made for that so I would stay away from rails, smaller jups should be ok

Thanks! I'm probably just gonna stick to my ARV for the park, I guess I'll stick to easy 3s or something on the shift bindings I guess. Think they should still be okayish for powder jumps?

 

[IsaacNW82]

My friend had this exact setup, loved it at first bc its skis great, is reasonably light for touring, and decent in the park (for its width at least). The downside is Factions aren't durable and neither are shifts. He was also pre-ejecting frequently and the setup lasted him less than a season before the skis de-laminated.

105-115 is actually a pretty great width for touring IMO. Typical BC conditions are softer than a resort but huge powder dumps come with high avy danger that can keep you out of the BC anyways until the snow settles and heals.

Touring is its own culture and there are people out there who will make fun of anyone who isn't on pin bindings and sub-1500 gram skis. I tour with normal pow skis and its fine, just a little slower. If you want big days of vert and have the mentality of send in the resort, enjoy the BC more casually, ultra-light setups are perfect. There are plenty of reasons your BC setup should stay away from the resort (and especially the park) though.

If you realistically think you aren't that hard on gear its probably a great set up. If you've struggled with pre-ejecting bindings and de laminated skis in the past I'd stay away.

 

[zerospinskier]

That would be a good option. You can also just buy Daymakers and skins and use your current skis. That would get you started to see what touring is like. Too many people think you need top of the line perfect gear to even try touring. Especially if you are unsure if you'll even like it. Don't stress too much and get something easy to start. Then go from there once you figure things out.

 

[tdollo]

Shift bindings suck ass and will break by your 20-30th tour good luck.

That's an opinion. Shifts are great when setup correctly, most pre release issues stem from the AFD height not being set correctly. The Shift is sweet as an alpine/touring binding

 

[ericforman]

Like every guide or serious backcountry skier I know has seen so many shifts break and malfunction. My toe pieces won’t stay up (yes double locked) and I know so many people with the same problem (among other problems). Obviously there’s no hard and fast data on this, and maybe it’s just because so many people bought them, but they certainly cause problems. Based on my and many other people I know I’ll continue to say they are ass unless all you wanna do is uphill and side country. I don’t feel safe on them in bounds skiing hard and I don’t trust them to work miles from a trailhead in the backcountry so to me, they are ass.

That's an opinion. Shifts are great when setup correctly, most pre release issues stem from the AFD height not being set correctly. The Shift is sweet as an alpine/touring binding

 

[zerospinskier]

That's an opinion. Shifts are great when setup correctly, most pre release issues stem from the AFD height not being set correctly. The Shift is sweet as an alpine/touring binding

Honestly I get that people don't like them. Even though I've had Shifts since they first came out and never had a problem after many tours and resort days. But I set them up very carefully and take care of them. They require perfect setup and maintenance. If the average person can't do it, then ultimately it's not a good design.

 

[tdollo]

Honestly I get that people don't like them. Even though I've had Shifts since they first came out and never had a problem after many tours and resort days. But I set them up very carefully and take care of them. They require perfect setup and maintenance. If the average person can't do it, then ultimately it's not a good design.

Fully agree, It's a sweet binding for a certain market and do require a good initial set up.

 

[Katsuie]

Ok, seems like the Shift aren't as good as I initially thought. Thanks for the advice guys, still unsure what to do haha

 

[caveman31]

Ok, seems like the Shift aren't as good as I initially thought. Thanks for the advice guys, still unsure what to do haha

The shifts are fine if you set them up right like someone else said

 

[mattytru]

The shifts are fine if you set them up right like someone else said

shifts seem to work okay if set up correctly, but I do have intel from a homie who took his time with the setup and is still having issues. id recommend the CAST system, especially if you are spending lot of time on the downhill/inbounds. that way you are using a pivot most of the time.

 

[zerospinskier]

Ok, seems like the Shift aren't as good as I initially thought. Thanks for the advice guys, still unsure what to do haha

The main downhill issue is the heel. Cranking a nose butter or a nose heavy switch landing can release. Otherwise they work great.

The main setup tip is that the AFD really only has 8 steps. You need to be solidly on one of them. People have issues with they are set right on the edge of a step. Then it'll drop down on a hard landing or carve and now be too loose, leading to prerelease.