First time turn-earner with ski and binding questions.

[Woodhouse]

Looking to pick up a proper touring setup this year. I plan to go with a tech binding, on a ski somewhere between 105 and 115 underfoot. I'm 6'1", 190lbs, ski the BC interior, and usually at about a DIN 10-11 with Pivots. I like fat slarvey skis, I've gone through two pairs of Bent Chetlers and absolutely love them, but for a touring setup, I wouldn't mind going a little stiffer and more manageable in shit conditions.

My first question lies in bindings...if I like to land switch (not sure if its feasible with tech bindings, part of my question) and have fun, drop, make jumps and potentially daily these as a slackcountry ski too, what kind of tech bindings should I be looking at? Dynafit Beasts seem like the best option out there from what I can see just due to the high release value, but the price tag makes me weak at the knees. Thoughts? How does Release Value compare to DIN?

As far as skis go, I have a set of Billy Goats from last year (not the tour layup) available to me for about 50% off. Are these going to be too heavy to be worth it if I plan to sack up the money for an all around lighter setup anyway? They seem like a pretty damn good ski for what I am planning to do with it, but I'm not entirely sure how much I need to consider the weight differential. No matter what I will be heavier (31.0-31.5 boots) but I don't want to drag anything I don't need or won't be worth it.

Thanks!!

 

[grifrowl]

I don't have much experience with the Dynafit Beast; saw it a couple of times at trailheads, and didn't really investigate more after I looked up the price. I also used to work at a shop that was a Dynafit dealer so I sold a lot of Radical tlt's and such, and have some touring buddies that rock them. On big skis with big dudes they still leave something to be desired as far as prerelease performance even with the release cranked up, and durability of the toepiece. But here are three options that have caught my eye recently:

Ski Trab TR2:

Scarpa rep showed these off a bit ago. They look really sleak. eg. get the job done with a pretty high din, low weight and really solid construction. It sucks that they use a proprietary boot though.

Marker:

Haven't yet seen these, but they seem promising.

CAST:
http://casttouring.com/products-2/sii-touring-system-look-and-head/

Touring an FKS/Pivot with a dynafit swapable front.

As far as skis go:
http://www.kittenfactoryskis.com/14-15-all-mountain/

 

[grifrowl]

Also just a warning. All this shit is gonna be super expensive.

 

[tomPietrowski]

Op for what you are lookin for I woul probably recomend a freeride binding like a guardian or duke rather then going full tech. for backcountry freestyle use they will hold up much better then radicals ect and the price of the beast is not worth it so I would say maybe forget tech until you want a true touring set up where it's more about the ups then the down.

 

[Woodhouse]

Op for what you are lookin for I woul probably recomend a freeride binding like a guardian or duke rather then going full tech. for backcountry freestyle use they will hold up much better then radicals ect and the price of the beast is not worth it so I would say maybe forget tech until you want a true touring set up where it's more about the ups then the down.

I can sacrifice kickers and skiing switch for better climbing, my question was more of was it possible on touring bindings period.

My ultimate question for this thread is there a cheaper equivalentish to the Beast?

 

[Dig.]

My ultimate question for this thread is there a cheaper equivalentish to the Beast?

Maybe the radical 2 which drops for the 14/15 season afaik

 

[geist]

I can sacrifice kickers and skiing switch for better climbing, my question was more of was it possible on touring bindings period.

My ultimate question for this thread is there a cheaper equivalentish to the Beast?

No. the beast 14 is out this winter, lower din, lower weight, lower price than the 16. Otherwise no. until these style of bindings and salomon/atomic etc bring out their new bindings to push competition and drive prices down.

 

[Woodhouse]

Bumpity for a related question and not wanting to start a new thread.

If I ski a DIN 10, how high of a RV rating should I be looking for if I want to ski in a similar fashion, minus the switchery and kickers?