Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    New Ski Touring Maps and Guides
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us

    HOTTEST REVIEWS


    Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition Skis Dynafit Free 107 Skis Ortovox Diract Voice Transceiver Burton Straight Chuter Splitboard Scarpa 4-Quattro XT Boots Atomic Backland Carbon Boots Plum OAZO Bindings

    VIDEOS YOU'LL LIKE


    Avalanche Transceivers 101 Dalbello Quantum Boots How To Buy a Transceiver North Face FUTURELIGHT Jacket Faction La Machine Skis Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro Boots Plum OAZO Bindings

    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

    Unsubscribe
    avalanche canada
    backcountry skiing utah
    Rivers Ocean and Mountains
    • Home
    • »
    • Forum
    • »
    • Other talk
    • »
    • Gear Talk
    • »
    • Can AT tech equipment serve two masters?

    FORUMS

    Here’s your chance to tell everyone about everything and anything to do with backcountry skiing. Follow the simple steps to register and WHAMMY, you’re in. If you are pulling your hair out with frustration, have a look at the help forums for answers or take a pause and drop us an email at: info (at) backcountryskiingcanada.com. We’ll do our best to help out as soon as we can (but all bets are off on a powder day, obviously).  


    Can AT tech equipment serve two masters?

    • RSS
    • Subscribe
    • lifeisgood
      2014-03-07 00:21:50

      Can AT tech equipment serve two masters?

      Gear:  190 cm dps wailer 112 pure skis, plum yak bindings and dynafit Vulcan AT  boots.

       I am not connected to the ski industry and it's products in any way.  Just your everyday ski nut.  The purpose for me writing this is to let people know my experience using AT gear on and off piste as I've read many conflicting reports. 


      OFF PISTE:

      Toured in deep blower pow and wind blown hard pan in the Selkirks. 

      Skis:  quick and responsive and handled deep pow to wind blown hard pan very well. 

      Bindings:  easy to climb with and held me without any unwanted pre-release issues.  Easy to get in and out of.   Not a fan of ski brakes in the backcountry nor leashes so used neither.  

      Boots:  as comfortable as slippers and as beefy as any downhill boot I have used without even inserting the extra plastic tongue that come with the boots. 


      ON PISTE:

      Skied on average 20,000 vertical/ day for six consecutive days at Whistler on everything from groomers to bumps to double blacks and collouirs.

      Skis:   very quick and responsive on all types of terrain.  Had them to 91kms/hr on hard pan and were solid.  Turned easily on very tight and steep pitches.  For their length they were pretty good in the bumps but not your typical bump ski. 

      Bindings:  used leashes and were easy to hook and unhook.  Not one pre-release issue.  Felt as solid as any downhill binding.  

      Boots:  same comments as off piste. 


      BOTTOM LINE:  

      All equipment functioned exceptionally well in both scenarios for me.   Given this I will continue to use them as such until they blow up and/or wear out.   No need for me to have on and off piste set ups given their exceptional all around performance.  Time will tell about durability. Smile



    • bekks
      2014-03-07 10:28:20

      Nice review. I tele on a pair of 180 Wailer 112 pures and they are awesome in the backcountry, but I found that they were harder (than expected) to hold an edge on slightly icy conditions and I haven't had them on any soft groomers. 
    • 2wheeler
      2014-03-07 12:36:29

      I've had two pairs of Plum Guide bindings over the past 6 seasons.  The Yak is the same as the guide with the addition of a base plate.  I've had two binding failures, both on the ski hill; one of the pins on the back of the binding broke, the other time one of the wings at the front of the binding broke.  Unless you like to ski relatively gently at the ski hill I wouldn't recommend a tech binding for on hill use.  I think people coming from a race background would be disappointed with a tech binding's on hill performance.  


      That being said it's the only binding I have on my skis and when I do ski at a lift service hill it's what I use.  

    • admin02
      2014-03-07 12:58:22

      Holy timeliness Batman. We just posted a review of the Wailer . I ski almost exclusively on Dynafits at the hill and off. The Plums, which I have also experienced, seem to connect with one's boot heel in such a way that the boot heel isn't touching anything below--they float.  This makes me a little nervous about really beating on them. It's good to hear that the Plums work for you at the area "lifeisgood". I think I'd trust them more in the backcountry. I have Dynafit Radicals on the Wailer 112, as well as a pair of Line 125 Sick Days. Nothing but praise... never a pre-release or anything untoward..

      The question, as I see it, is not "whether" tech bindings--it's "which." We've been on the G3 Ions too and are pretty stoked about them for next season.


      Andrew

    • lifeisgood
      2014-03-09 22:19:20

      The plum yak bindings have a heel pad that pretty much eliminates the gap you are referring to between the heel of the boot and the ski so it hopefully removes some of the tension on the two rear binding heel pins.  


      There is is no question when you buy gear specific equipment ie. mogul skis, slalom skis etc they will perform at the highest level for the terrain they are best suited for.   My comments were geared for those who think you must have different set ups.  I don't believe you do.   I have encountered tougher skiing conditions off piste than on and I was totally comfortable in both scenarios with AT specific gear.  Again time will tell.  Cool

    • Rani Thakur
      Online
      2022-06-11 22:31:18

      I recently bought a pair of AT Traxion IIs. I have been on the mountain a few times and used them in snow. The first thing I noticed is they did not give me the same float as my Salomon X2 or K2 feet (which are also AT ski boots). They were a bit stiffer than my Salomon's but that was to be expected.
      A couple of days later, I was on some groomers with a group of friends. The AT Traxion IIs had become very loose in their bindings, so we switched out for the K2's and could not believe how much more float they gave us.
      Then last weekend, I went out to play some slopestyle skiing for about an hour on some groomers at about 40-45 degrees with the AT Traxion IIs and K2 boots. They were perfect! No binding issues, no slipping when turning quickly, no slipping when climbing up or down hills (I've had problems with these things when using my Salomons), etc…  Samsung Charger
      So why is this important? First off, you don't need any other boots to get great skis in AT mode (unless you're going to school at Snowbird or something). Second, if you're going to school with your skis on dirt snow and/or soft snow, it's best to use AT tech due to their greater float compared to traditional skis/boots (which have less friction). Third, if you're into freeride off-piste riding or rock climbing then you'll need some sort of mountaineering boot. And fourth (and most importantly), if you're unsure about the ability of your boots/boots' ability then feel free to ask me questions: I do a lot of research before buying gear and will be glad to answer any questions that might help someone else make a purchase decision.

    We built this backcountry skiing community for you, the passionate skier, and hope you enjoy the hard work we put into all the reviews, routes, videos, and posts we create. It’s been free from day one but that doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable resource. If you enjoy this website and value the content we create for you, then please support Backcountry Skiing Canada by donating today or by clicking on those sponsor ads and 'Buy Now' links at the bottom of the reviews. Thank you!

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022-23 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.