Looking at getting a Powder ski with touring setup.

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kapsy

Member
So looking at buying a Powder ski with touring bindings.

I've sorta narrowed my skis I'm interested in buy to:

- Line Mr Pollards Opus http://lineskis.com/skis/mr-pollards-opus-1213

- Armada JJ http://armadaskis.com/product/skis/signature-series/jj/

- Armada Magic J http://armadaskis.com/product/skis/signature-series/magic-j/

and for Bindings:

- Marker Duke EPF http://www.markerusa.com/binding/duke-epf/

- Tyrolia Adrenalin 16 http://www.aaa-series.com/microsite/bindings/aaadrenalin

- Salomon/Atomic (Guardian/Tracker 16) http://www.salomon.com/au/product/guardian-16.html

and I have no idea what to go for skins to get.

All help would be great.
 
For the skins, you should go with G3s. Check out backcountry.com match the width of the skin to the width of the waist of your ski (or get the skin bigger you can always trim them with a skin trimmer $3).

Bindings, Salomon/Atomic Guardian/tracker is lighter and has a lower profile and you dont have to be off your skis to change from climbing to skiing. check this out, a nice article on those bindings. http://tinyurl.com/cpmsvbs some people have also said that the Dukes have too much play in the toe.

Get whatever skis look best, they are all pretty good choices.
 
For what it's worth, most skins I've encountered (Black Diamond and G3) come with a skin trimmer at no additional cost.
 
Thanks for the info. Just had a look at some skins on backcountry and WOW had no idea that they were that pricey.

Also looked at Freeskiers buyers guide and for powder skis the Mr. Opus had one of the highest scores and the JJ had one of the lower scores. Though did also see the K2 Pettitor which might be another option to look at. No review of the Magic J though which was disappointing.

But something I just noticed is that the Armada (JJ and Magic J) and K2 (Pettitor) skis have capped side walls which I presume is to stop/reduce chipping which can lead to de-laminating skis.

I know I've heard great things about both JJ and Mr.Opus, but haven't really heard much about the Pettitor and Magic J. I guess thats mainly due to them being brand new this season.
 
My setup is the Atomic Bent Chetler 183 and Marker Baron bindings. It's pretty heavy but I figured it would fit me since I'll only be skinning maybe 15% of the time on those skis.

You could look at some Black Diamond powder skis too. Those will be lightweight and designed more for touring if that's what you're looking for.
 
The touring is just an option that I'd like to have when its needed,

have done some hiking with skis but not much and have found it just so

exhausting having to walk through knee deep pow.

They'll probably be

used 80% of the time in resort boundaries so be catching chairlifts.
 
I'm also deciding between the Magic J and the Pettitor for my ski. I own a pair of K2 Kung Fujas and they are awesome, but chip and scratch SUPER easy. It's very disappointing. I think you should get the Magic J because it will be more durable, WAY LIGHTER, and probably will float better than the Pettitor and Opus as it is larger underfoot. The Magic J's lightness would be really nice for touring. I looked up the weights and got this: Magic J (190cm) - 9.6 pounds, Opus (192 cm) - 10.8 pounds, and K2 Pettitor (189cm) - 11.15 pounds. They're all great options, but the Magic J would be best for you. For bindings, I'd go with the Salomon Guardian/Atomic Tracker's because they are all metal (unlike the Duke's, so they will be more durable and bombproof), they sit lower on the ski than the Duke, they are wider than the Duke (more control over ski, easier to ski), and you don't have to take the ski off to get your skins off unlike the Duke.
 
I'd say you're right on the money for what you're looking to do.
Guardians/Trackers seems like the best choice. Ski wise, I'd grab the Opus out of that group.
 
never give ski advise on this site again please.

op if i was you i would get either the opus or the jj. whatever skin others have recomended and for the binding i would go gaurdian/tracker
 
I will go whit the Opus w/ guardian or duke.

I have some Opus whit baron's and love them, the only thing that's wrong is the height of the baron's which are 35mm I think.

I have the JJ's and the Opus, the Opus is just a better ski for everything and you don't have to deal whit Armada delimitation on the tail ( my JJ's delaminated on the tail and skied them 20 days )

For the binding:

The Duke/baron are good, they have 3 climbing position which is a good thing, I love the 7 degree, But you have to get use to the height.

The Guardian ski like s real alpine binding IMO, they just have 2 position, like 2 degree and 13 degree if i'm not mistaken. You get use to it, but sometime is miss the 7degree one. A big advantage of the guardian is the fact that you can put them in hike or ski position whit out taking your ski off.

For the skins, I have some 125mm BD mohair mix, would have bought the 140mm but they didn't had them in stock. I would suggest you the 140mm one. The G3 are good skins for fatter ski, so look at them, just buy the skins in 140mm and trim them.

If you have any question let me know.

Btw I've done like 12 tour this season with that set-up. 5 in Revy cat ski area which are not long, an hour max and half of that on cat track. 7 in roger's pass which were like 4 hours hike, it was okay, you just go a little slower than people with dynafit.
 
So close, I read you're blog after posting.

Btw the tyriolia are good too. My two roomies have them, they are an hybrid between baron and guardian. But I hate tyriolia binding, might have to guve them a tru
 
wait till next year and buy the soul 7. i have a feeling thats gonna be a real good touring ski.as for bindings, i got barons and i love that you can have 3 modes. obviously you arent going to be doing a whole ton of flat land touring but its nice to have when getting back out of somewhere. cant go completely flat with the guardian. and i think the guardian mode is a load of shit. i dont think using your pole is as easy as it seems.

i used the tyrolia system the other week and it is actually very nice. just put your pole in the whole and pull up and your in touring mode. also has the ability to go flat. and really, unless you are mad flexible and coordinated most people need to get out of their skis to put their skins on anyway so i see no real advantage of the guardian. some people say its nice to have the guardian because you can click into ski mode if you have a little down hill or are doing gullies, but with my high traction skins i am not going down hill fast no matter what mode i am in
 
You can change the climbing mode really easely with your pole, you just do it whit the handle and it work's better then the baron imo.
 
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