1 ski / 1 boot quiver? (70/30 - Resort/AT)

[Dendrite]

Hello there, long time since I last posted here.
I’m not exactly a gear specialist, so would appreciate some good advice regarding skis and boots for a new quiver.

I’m aware that 1 ski/boot quiver means compromise. But since I live in Brazil, skiing means international airplane trips, so traveling with more than 1 set of skis and boots, is complicated.

I’m an advanced skier, who likes different kinds of terrain (groomers, trees, moguls, powder etc), don’t care for park, and don’t do tricks, jumps and cliffs.
I ski mostly in South America, and do a trip every year to the Northern Hemisphere.

Started getting into ski touring about 7 years ago, so looking for skis and boots that are good at both the resort and the skin track.
I’m 5’10 and 158 pounds. Currently my one ski quiver is:
-Salomon Rocker 2 100mm
- Armada Shift bindings
- K2 Pinnacle 120 boots

I do like the surfy feel of the Rocker 2, but looking for something a bit wider (104-108?), and maybe a little better on crud and hard snow.
I like the K2 boots on the downhill, but definitely not on the uphill (super heavy!)
The Shift bindings I won’t change in the near future.

Wondering if the skis and boots bellow would make sense for a 1 ski quiver (70 resort / 30 AT), and what would be the compromise?

Skis:
- Black Crow Atris 108
- Atomic Bent Chetler 110
- Zag Slap 104
- Moment Wildcat 108
- Moment Deathwish 104
- Volkl Blaze 106

boots:
Atomic Hawx XTD 120
Lange XT3 120
K2 Mindbender 120

thanks a lot!

 

[Mike Rogers]

I really like the Moment Deathwish. I tour on the touring version and the full weight version is the ski I grab most often at the resort. If I was forced to use a one ski quiver, and I was skiing more resort than backcountry, and not doing long ski mountaineering missions it would be the Deathwish with Shifts, or CAST system, or the new marker duke. I would pair it with a resort oriented touring boot that fit my feet. Something like the Lupo 130 or the new krypton TI to replace my Kryptons.

If I was was doing more in the backcountry, I would keep the deathwish skis and use my Hoji Free boots and a lighter binding like the Kingpin Mwerks or the fritschi tecton.

I think most of your choices look good.

Hoji's 4frnt line would be good for double duty too, especially if you are okay with full rocker inbounds.

 

[Winks]

Hello there, long time since I last posted here.
I’m not exactly a gear specialist, so would appreciate some good advice regarding skis and boots for a new quiver.

I’m aware that 1 ski/boot quiver means compromise. But since I live in Brazil, skiing means international airplane trips, so traveling with more than 1 set of skis and boots, is complicated.

I’m an advanced skier, who likes different kinds of terrain (groomers, trees, moguls, powder etc), don’t care for park, and don’t do tricks, jumps and cliffs.
I ski mostly in South America, and do a trip every year to the Northern Hemisphere.

Started getting into ski touring about 7 years ago, so looking for skis and boots that are good at both the resort and the skin track.
I’m 5’10 and 158 pounds. Currently my one ski quiver is:
-Salomon Rocker 2 100mm
- Armada Shift bindings
- K2 Pinnacle 120 boots

I do like the surfy feel of the Rocker 2, but looking for something a bit wider (104-108?), and maybe a little better on crud and hard snow.
I like the K2 boots on the downhill, but definitely not on the uphill (super heavy!)
The Shift bindings I won’t change in the near future.

Wondering if the skis and boots bellow would make sense for a 1 ski quiver (70 resort / 30 AT), and what would be the compromise?

Skis:
- Black Crow Atris 108
- Atomic Bent Chetler 110
- Zag Slap 104
- Moment Wildcat 108
- Moment Deathwish 104
- Volkl Blaze 106

boots:
Atomic Hawx XTD 120
Lange XT3 120
K2 Mindbender 120

thanks a lot!

To start you are right about compromise but depending on the amount of touring you do then the idea of a shift already works great. Boots I am always going to recommend a Bootfitter but the ones you named are great places to start.

Now are for the most important question the skis. The Atomic Bent 110 is a great one ski option, it is a bit lighter than most people expect and the mount is a bit forward for the average user but it could most certainly handle your needs.
Atris is a bit on the heavier side
Zag skis are okay, nothing bad to say
Moment Wildcat is the same as the Atris, good ski but a bit on the heavier side
The Blaze will be a total letdown from ability to weight.

My personal recommendation would be the Armada ARW 106 UL or one of the new Fischer Ranger skis like the 102. Despite the ARW being in their women's line they make it all the way up to 188 as plenty of men use it as a do all ski.

 

[Dendrite]

Thanks for the inputs.
Definitely regarding boots, the one that fits better is the one to go.
But I’m intrigued by the removing tongue of the Dalbellos now.

How do you like the Deathwish in powder / soft snow, and tighter terrain?

The Armada ARW looks like a solid option as well, interesting that they sell it as a Woman’s ski.
To be honest, I never understood why I ski would be considered specific for one gender, since different sizes and skiing styles goes for all genders.

 

[Winks]

Thanks for the inputs.
Definitely regarding boots, the one that fits better is the one to go.
But I’m intrigued by the removing tongue of the Dalbellos now.

How do you like the Deathwish in powder / soft snow, and tighter terrain?

The Armada ARW looks like a solid option as well, interesting that they sell it as a Woman’s ski.
To be honest, I never understood why I ski would be considered specific for one gender, since different sizes and skiing styles goes for all genders.

I tour on on the Dalbello Lupo Pro and the tongue idea works great, it can be a little annoying at times, especially if your hands are cold or you need to clear some snow/ice off. Most of the time unless its horrible conditions up top I relax a bit before I start my decent, so for me its not a big deal to take some extra time to setup.

The ARW UL came from the 116 UL idea and more men asked for it in the 106 so they just extended the sizes. The High Fives special edition this year was the UL with a more manly graphic.

There used to be a difference in men's and women's skis, such a mount point and thickness of materials, most companies have moved away from gender specific skis and are scaling them by size nowadays. With our modern world most companies are now making the same ski but with different graphics to appeal to a larger crowd, such as Armada and Fischer.

 

[Mike Rogers]

How do you like the Deathwish in powder / soft snow, and tighter terrain?

The Deathwish is my favorite tree ski. It's very good in tight spaces. The tradeoff would be stability in rough snow. I have more fun on the deathwish if I am always turning popping off crud, rather than plowing through crud or holding long radius turns.

Float is good, probably average for a 112mm ski.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Ive got the atris mounted with cast system. I slid mount back about 2cm. Im not a surfy ski kinda guy so they arent my favorite. Too light, too soft. But they pivot SUPER easy in tight terrain.high speed crud buster, no way. I use them as my ‘touring’ skis.
The cast system is awesome, but Im a pivot fan boy so my opinion is very skewed.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

boots:
Atomic Hawx XTD 120

Im 6’3” 190 i use the xtd 130 as my touring boot. Way too soft for my everyday boot. I feel like they have a HUGE flex difference between 20 f and 45f.

 

[Dendrite]

Float is good, probably average for a 112mm ski.

I was considering the 104 Deathwish, but don’t know if it will be better in soft snow / tight terrain than my old Rocker 2 100mm…

Im 6’3” 190 i use the xtd 130 as my touring boot. Way too soft for my everyday boot. I feel like they have a HUGE flex difference between 20 f and 45f.

Since I’m lightweight, and I’m not a racer or cliff jumper, would the Atomic Hawx XTD be a considerable compromise for a everyday resort boot?

 

[James]

For boots 70/30 resort/at there’s also
Tecnica Cochise and Fischer Ranger Free. Those are more in line with the Lange XT’s.
You really needs something that works with your foot/leg and stance. That’s more important than speculating.
Then just picking on how you’ll tour. E.g., the shorter the tour part the heavier and more resort/downhill oriented you could go, (Usually means heavier)

The only appropriate bindings imo, are the Shift, the Duke PT, or frame. Or CAST system. Spending multiple days on piste in tech bindings isn’t a great idea.

 

[jmeb]

I was considering the 104 Deathwish, but don’t know if it will be better in soft snow / tight terrain than my old Rocker 2 100mm…

I've got 40ish days on a set. Mostly patrolling but some freeskiing too. The 104 is a touch stiffer than the 112 version which makes it more fun on groomers. It's very easy on tight spots (e.g. skiing bumps with a sled behind ya) and very fun on groomers for it's width (the double camber gives impressive grip). I'm on the edge sizewise. I was pleasantly surprised with how they performed in up to 14", including 1 day of ~10" of heavy PNW concrete. It isn't super light, but you don't get super light + good in crud + fun on groomers off lifts.

Since I’m lightweight, and I’m not a racer or cliff jumper, would the Atomic Hawx XTD be a considerable compromise for a everyday resort boot?

If it fits your feet, I think you'll be OK given your size. I've toured ~150 days in mine and skied another dozen off lifts. I'm taller and bigger than you. I'd wager you see no real difference in performance vs your current boot. If you were coming from something like a Lange RS/RX LV or Head Raptor -- I'd feel different.