Just bought Salomon QST 118's....need touring binding advice

[KravtZ]

So I got some QST 118's for an insane deal...brand new for $300. I got the 185's. I want to put some touring bindings on these to do some lighter tours out of resorts.

I've never owned or ridden on touring bindings. Looking for something solid and priced well. I charge hard so I want something that can hold up to ~20-40ft drops for the times of the year when its really really good. But most of the time I would imagine I would be using these on shorter tours to access some side country out of resorts. I ski the Epic Local resorts in colorado, a utah trip, and a tahoe trip once a year. Any suggestions?

 

[gapersarefriends]

Do you want tech or frame?

 

[KravtZ]

Do you want tech or frame?

I think frame is what I want. I don't plan on doing heavy touring just more sidecountry / resort accessed backcountry. From what I have read about frame bindings are going to be more burly and hold up way better to inbound riding / bigger cliffs and hits.

But if im wrong let me know im knew to the touring game

 

[cozyco]

Tyrolia Adrenalin 16 is the burliest one with best durability

Markers have often problems with the front toes. The pivoting axle gets loose and the screws are made of shitty material so it rips out. It just becomes a problem when you re touring often. Dont recommend still.

Salomon Guardian 16 isnt as bad as some people said here in AT/BC. Icing can be a problem. Bring a knife when you re touring. De icing this shit is a pain in the ass without a knife.

Or think about the Cast system. pretty rad but hard to get here over the pond. No experience on it but I read nothing but good reviews.
http://casttouring.com/collections

Since you live in NA go for cast. Pricey but sick af.

 

[SofaKingSick]

Tyrolia Adrenalin 16 is the burliest one with best durability

Markers have often problems with the front toes. The pivoting axle gets loose and the screws are made of shitty material so it rips out. It just becomes a problem when you re touring often. Dont recommend still.

Salomon Guardian 16 isnt as bad as some people said here in AT/BC. Icing can be a problem. Bring a knife when you re touring. De icing this shit is a pain in the ass without a knife.

Or think about the Cast system. pretty rad but hard to get here over the pond. No experience on it but I read nothing but good reviews.
http://casttouring.com/collections

Since you live in NA go for cast. Pricey but sick af.

when i was in a similar situation i went with the adrenalins, for pretty much the reasons listed here. they seem to be the most reliable one of the 3 and i loved mine when i used them. i say it a lot on here, i feel like theyd be super popular if they were marketed as much as the markers and the guardians

any specifics questions id be happy to answer

 

[cozyco]

[...]i feel like theyd be super popular if they were marketed as much as the markers and the guardians

[...]

Nailed it! Plus its the best frame touring binding when you dont wanna fuck around for almost an eternity with deicing the ground plate and frame.

The only minor problem is the bar (to adjust the height of your walk mode: flat, medium, steep) looses its tension. Sometimes it will go back to flat touring mode on one ski while going uphill.

But thats pretty easy to fix. Take out the screw that holds this bar and bend it back. Had to do that once or twice. Not a big deal. You can check out my review on the Adrenalin 13s too

 

[SofaKingSick]

Nailed it! Plus its the best frame touring binding when you dont wanna fuck around for almost an eternity with deicing the ground plate and frame.

The only minor problem is the bar (to adjust the height of your walk mode: flat, medium, steep) looses its tension. Sometimes it will go back to flat touring mode on one ski while going uphill.

But thats pretty easy to fix. Take out the screw that holds this bar and bend it back. Had to do that once or twice. Not a big deal. You can check out my review on the Adrenalin 13s too

exactly, i meant to elaborate on that-- i havent heard of common problems and nuisances that seem to happen often with adrenalins the way you do with guardians and markers.

also re: the adrenalin 13s, i did end up buying the 13s rather than the 16s. my dins are usually around 10 so DIN wise i didnt need the 16, and from what i could tell from doing my homework, it appears that this binding is one of those cases where the lower DIN model is not different beyond the different spring, whereas in some cases they use less metal and shit

 

[cozyco]

exactly, i meant to elaborate on that-- i havent heard of common problems and nuisances that seem to happen often with adrenalins the way you do with guardians and markers.

also re: the adrenalin 13s, i did end up buying the 13s rather than the 16s. my dins are usually around 10 so DIN wise i didnt need the 16, and from what i could tell from doing my homework, it appears that this binding is one of those cases where the lower DIN model is not different beyond the different spring, whereas in some cases they use less metal and shit

exactly!

Same here I went for the 13s cause my DINs are set on 10 like yours, too.

The lower DIN model is like you said pretty much the same except tiny differences.

the Tyrolia website says:

13: FR Pro Toe

AFS Metal

Hiking Platform

FR Heel

Climbing Aid

Solid Colored

16:FR Pro Backen

AFS Metal

FR Pro Platform

FR Pro Heel

Climbing Aid

Solid Colored

the weight difference is just 20g Doesnt seem there are any noticable changes (except they added "Pro" in front of the heel and toe pice hahaha)

 

[KravtZ]

Honestly I plan on using these 80% inbound riding/cat skiing/heli skiing this year and 20% touring. Is it even worth it to get touring bindings if im going to use them so little?

My thinking was I wouldnt be using these skis heavily anyways since I have 4 other pairs these are my widest ones and only use them on bigger pow days / days I want to go out of the resort.

I want a touring binding I can rip around inbounds most of the time without issue. I may try out a pair and remount with normal bindings if I don't end up using the touring mode much

 

[SofaKingSick]

Honestly I plan on using these 80% inbound riding/cat skiing/heli skiing this year and 20% touring. Is it even worth it to get touring bindings if im going to use them so little?

My thinking was I wouldnt be using these skis heavily anyways since I have 4 other pairs these are my widest ones and only use them on bigger pow days / days I want to go out of the resort.

I want a touring binding I can rip around inbounds most of the time without issue. I may try out a pair and remount with normal bindings if I don't end up using the touring mode much

that's pretty much the idea with these frame bindings

another possible idea is seeing how people review the alpine daymakers...?

but yeah that's basically the reason for these burly frame bindings. people like you and me who want to be able to tour sometimes but dont want to sacrifice performance on the way down, and are willing to pay for that in weight on the way up. but honestly the first time i ever did a serious tour i used the adrenalins and i was with a full on dynafit crew who tours all the time and sure i was a little behind them on the way up, but you bet your ass on the way down i skied like i would with a normal alpine binding and it was all good with me. im selling my skis that have adrenalins on them right now but only cause i dont like the 5 point geometry skis and it makes more sense to sell them as a kit...but im almost definitely gonna buy another pair of adrenalins when i can for a new touring setup

 

[BirtDike]

Rax

 

[KravtZ]

that's pretty much the idea with these frame bindings

another possible idea is seeing how people review the alpine daymakers...?

but yeah that's basically the reason for these burly frame bindings. people like you and me who want to be able to tour sometimes but dont want to sacrifice performance on the way down, and are willing to pay for that in weight on the way up. but honestly the first time i ever did a serious tour i used the adrenalins and i was with a full on dynafit crew who tours all the time and sure i was a little behind them on the way up, but you bet your ass on the way down i skied like i would with a normal alpine binding and it was all good with me. im selling my skis that have adrenalins on them right now but only cause i dont like the 5 point geometry skis and it makes more sense to sell them as a kit...but im almost definitely gonna buy another pair of adrenalins when i can for a new touring setup

Yea thanks for the tips. Going to pick up a pair of frames

 

[SofaKingSick]

Yea thanks for the tips. Going to pick up a pair of frames

for sure dude. let me know if i can answer anything else, and let me know what route you decide to take and how it works out! we're in changing times for all this touring equipment, it's hard to decide what to do. im sorta stuck in the city right now but will definitely be getting back into it asap