Skins and Trekking

snomaster

snomaster

Active member
What is the best way to free the heel on the way up. What should I buy? Where should I look?

How well do skins work? How much am I gonna spend?

*all hail to the mighty gods of snow*

 
Tele.

G3.

Ask a shop.

-TAK, PPPhD

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''Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.''

-George Bernard Shaw

''...the majority of americans are fucked in the head, there the biggest posers i know, can't handle alcohol or a joke. Every single one of them i have met has had an anger problem. retards.''

-Lagwagon

 
skins and alpine trekkers. The best way. you can use regular ski bindings, click into the trekkers and then step into the binding and your heel is free. I strongly suggest it.

empirefreeride.com
 
Learn to tele... rip shit up...get all the girlies.

-TAK, PPPhD

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''Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.''

-George Bernard Shaw

''...the majority of americans are fucked in the head, there the biggest posers i know, can't handle alcohol or a joke. Every single one of them i have met has had an anger problem. retards.''

-Lagwagon

 
Trekkers suck ass. They are a pain in the butt on the way up and an extra 5lbs of bulky shit in your pack on the way down. Get AT bindings: BCA Naxo

It is what I would do if it were me. It's not me and neither are you.

Mountain Rescue - High Altitude Dive Rescue
 
ya, your right, 5 pounds is a lot, dont get them. Thats just too much work...

empirefreeride.com
 
It might be a little extra weight to use trekkers but at least you can use your normal bindings on the way down. Those naxo's are sweet but I wouldn't recommend them for everyday use, there not durable enough.

 
Yea my buddies decided to get into it this year and bought some skins and the trekker bingings. I've tried it twice and wasn't all that impressed. It wasn't so much the 5 extra pounds of the bindings, it was more the fact that i think hiking will stil serve the same purpose to a degree and the trade off isn't worth it.

THe ultimate goal is to get some snowmobiles to access all that backcountry bliss. THen i'll be happy....

 
Naxos aren't tough eh? Well let the evidence speak for itself:

Hucking 45ft BC drop with Naxos on Gotamas

Second vid of my drop

And those are last years Naxos. This years are 150% stronger than last years due to Naxo using better materials.

If you have a ski fat enough for BC, put on bomber AT bindings.

Let me reiterate how much Alpine Treckers suck. They suck. They suck going up: they put you way up above the skis, traversing is near impossible, they will slide out at the toe if you go at a diagonal, all of that also means they are a pain to get in and out of (and to put on the binding) they have been known to break bindings, they don't always fit right in all bindings, their heel elevators are a pain in the ass. All of that takes a bunch of time too.

They are bulky and heavy on the way down.

They are better than boot packing, but I used them for a season and I switched to the Naxo and never looked back.

It is what I would do if it were me. It's not me and neither are you.

Mountain Rescue - High Altitude Dive Rescue
 
Fritchi (or however you spell it) freerides are pretty sick. Decently durable too.

So Who's the Jacuzi Casanova?

That's him right there. They call him that cause he was all up in it...lovin' it strong.
 
thanks for all the replies. I want to hear more opinions though... how much are these backcountry bindings?

*all hail to the mighty gods of snow*

 
So, I only have one pair of skis right now and not a ton of money... I think that I want to maintain the strength of my bindings... I make sharp turns and don't know if I could trust an AT binding. Or maybe it's that I can't afford to cause the good ones cost $300.

Also, I read that the trekker weighs 2 1/2 lbs a pair, not 5 lbs.

Anyone want to talk me out of this or tell me where I can get the trekker for less than $179????

*all hail to the mighty gods of snow*

 
I know lots of people that have Naxos....er had them. They threw their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th pair (replaced after a very long wait) in the trash. They will break.....not even bombing cliffs, booters, whatever....they'll just break while you are touring or skiing.

Freeride's can break too, but they hold up a lot better than Naxo's. Also, the warranty service is much, much better.

If you want to stay in your bindings, just buy Trekkers. The weight can suck, but knowing you have bindings you trust is worth the weight.

 
in my experience, trekkers suck ass -- pretty much the same reasons already stated. traversing is near impossible, climbing is unstable and less comfortable than a.t. bindings, plus i've had trouble popping out repeatedly (maybe they're just not compatible with look bindings - i'm not really sure) i rode naxos plenty last season and never had any trouble -- super smoothe in touring mode and no problems skiing all types of terrain. if you're looking to save some loot on an a.t. binding check out backcountry.com for last year's fritschi freerides. a couple weeks ago they had a few pairs left for $199. this year's model and freerides will be around $300. fritschi also makes a titanal 3 which is considerably cheaper, but it has a max din of 10. that decision just depends on how big you are and how you plan to abuse them. as for skins, i like the ascension clip fix from black diamond. the tail clip is pretty nice when you get snow or ice on your glue. expect to pay $100-$150 depending on the width. i'm sure the guidelites or g3's or probably some other brands will work just fine. good luck

_______________________________________________

i'm not an alcoholic - i'm a drunk - alcoholics go to meetings
 
Yeah trekkers blow. They are heavy and just don't climb well copared to an AT binding. When your skinning it's nice to not have too heavy of a set up and with trekkers you have the extra weight of the trekkers(which weight about the same as the Fritchi Freerides) plus your heavy ass alpine binding as well. But yeah like you said Freerides are pricy but very durable from what I'vee seen and heard. I see more and more people every year using those as their only binding.

As far as skins G3s are the best because the work great in whatever condition. All skins will ice up a little or a lot in wet snow conditions but G3s do it the least. If you've never used skins you will be amazed at how well they work especially if you are good at finding routes with harder snow. G3s only downfall is once again weight and since you might be going with trekkers you may want to look for something lighter. Look at the two brands BD sells, I can't remember the names but I think they are lighter. Skins cost anywhere from 75 -130ish. depending on how wide your skis are. And don't skimp and get smaller ones than you need. Get the big ones that cut to fit your skis. Have a skin that covers your entire ski will make things much easier when side hilling.

I think rails in general are just a phase. - Anthony Boronowski

D-loc's picture looks like a monkey smoking that cig. If you had a mug like that would you really want everyone to see it.
 
get some freeride at bindings, my friend broke his T1's so yeah, go with the toughest

STARMAN DIED IN VAIN!!! Support Tito the partisan! 'Eat the poor'
 
At REI iv'e seen the trekker bindings for $130. So mayby you can find them at REI.com or if you live by one of the stores.

 
Trekkers pros

you get to use strong better realeasing bindings on your run.

cons

weight in everyway.

if you are on long treks going slightly down hill can be a pain in the ass.

the heel risers (which you will use on steeper climbs) can be hell risers. you can hurt your finger trying to pop them up.

bring extra bolts and a driver they fall apart sometimes and you will need the bolts.

high off the ground makes balance the shits.

DUE NOT BUY NAXO 03/04 bindings serious problems with breakage.
http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/naxo_faq/naxo_firstlook_04-05.html
http://www.pistehors.com/comments/258_0_1_0_C4/

this will help you out a bit more with them.

I find freerides kick ass. they are light and been tested for so many years.

If you are just getting into touring trekkers are a good way to get started. If you like touring though it is best to go light.

dynafit bindings need AT boots.
http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/dynafit_faq/dynafit_faq1.html

Nice cliff huck but get a bit tighter in the air you wont slam as much on landings.

P.S. JAPAN HAS SICK POWDER

 
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