Touring Setup Suggestions

[druseph33]

Okay, so with the resort closures, I (as I am sure many of you are) will be getting more heavily into touring.

I have my avy gear and an avy1 cert class coming up, and some light backcountry/sidecountry experience (mostly strapping to my back and boot-packing or using snowshoes) with friends who are certified; but I am looking to get a dedicated setup (or at least start on one).

I currently ride Moment Wildcats and Jskis Masterblasters depending on the conditions. 5'9" 145lbs, between advanced and expert skier. Ride mostly big mountain. EDIT: forgot to mention I ride primarily in the Sierras.

My questions:

Should I just get some touring bindings and quiver killers and stick them on the Wildcats (and if so, what bindings?)

Or

Should I get a full touring setup?

Or

Should I go some combo of the two (such as new boots and bindings but same skis, etc)?

If I do end up going the full setup (or some combo), what are some good setups based on the skis I ride, etc?

I was thinking of the Wildcat 108 tours, but would love to hear other suggestions if anyone has them.

Same goes for boots, bindings, etc

**This thread was edited on Mar 18th 2020 at 4:41:52pm

 

[CatdickBojangles]

What about the CAST system?

 

[f100prerunner]

I’ve got some 118 wildcat tours with shifts and it rocks. Definitely can’t go wrong with shifts or post recall kingpins. If you don’t necessarily ski too hard some lighter weight bindings could be a viable option. New cast system is also an option but costlier than the shifts and you likely don’t need +13 din due to your weight I’d assume. Non super lightweight skis rock and I’m sure the 108 wildcat tours would be sick.

 

[clorox]

Grab some kingpins and quiver killer or go cast if you have pivots to use. I quiver killer my kingpins between two other pairs of skis so I put them on some volkl ledges I had laying around. Mounted them -4cm

 

[druseph33]

Dang the CAST + quiver killers would have been perfect since I have Pivots on the Wildcats, but it appears CASTs are sold out for the season.

 

[druseph33]

Grab some kingpins and quiver killer or go cast if you have pivots to use. I quiver killer my kingpins between two other pairs of skis so I put them on some volkl ledges I had laying around. Mounted them -4cm

So just use the skis I have with a quiver killer and kingpins in this instance?

 

[druseph33]

I’ve got some 118 wildcat tours with shifts and it rocks. Definitely can’t go wrong with shifts or post recall kingpins. If you don’t necessarily ski too hard some lighter weight bindings could be a viable option. New cast system is also an option but costlier than the shifts and you likely don’t need +13 din due to your weight I’d assume. Non super lightweight skis rock and I’m sure the 108 wildcat tours would be sick.

So you think either quiver killer + new bindings + current ski could work, but so could getting some new skis altogether?

Just depends on my budget I guess? Haha

 

[f100prerunner]

So you think either quiver killer + new bindings + current ski could work, but so could getting some new skis altogether?

Just depends on my budget I guess? Haha

Exactly, budget determines everything. The less heavy a setup is the less miserable it will be on the way up unless you love a workout. I’d be careful quiver killing if you’re not confident in your tool handling abilities (quiver killering a setup can be kinda sketch your first time but is definitely possible to do it right). Maybe searching Craigslist for a cheaper touring setup could be an option too. Do you have a pair of boots with pin holes? I will say my first touring setup is what I currently own and I’m happy I went the route of pin touring bindings vs say a frame binding or daymakers. As it is even on longer days a 190 wildcat tour and shifts can be tiring and I couldn’t imagine a frame binding on a heavier ski or say boots without a walk mode, but all people are different

**This post was edited on Mar 19th 2020 at 4:46:17pm

 

[clorox]

So just use the skis I have with a quiver killer and kingpins in this instance?

The skis I have my kingpins on now are not quiver killered cause I wanted them ready to go asap, but maybe I'll upgrade when I have the time. Spring skiing you won't really wanna go overkill on a ski that'll be skiing slush and rocks. I'm plenty confident in my kingpins for skiing inbounds, and tech bindings make a way bigger difference over frames than just a light ski that'll ski like crap anyway.