How narrow/light before I'll regret it?

[banerjek]

I'm looking to get a new set of skis that I'll frequently need to carry on my back significant distances and will be used primarily for long steep climbs, mostly day trips, but also a few multiday ones with heavy packs. I'm in the Cascades so a lot of time is spent on firmer stuff. The new skis will not be used on groom.

Current skis are Atomic Drifters with HHs and T2s. They've served me well for years and will not be retired, but I need something lighter to help me keep up with a younger and stronger buddy. He's on K2 Coombacks with Switchbacks and T2s which seems to be a good fit overall for what we do. We're both reasonably light with me at 140lbs and him a tick more.

The new BD Cirque 84s have caught my eye and maybe even the 78s. Both are significantly lighter and narrower than what I have which should help on the climb up, but there is the way down which can be anything, and reliability is important.

Is this a direction I should even be considering, and if not, how might I shave some weight? I'm committed to 75mm. Any thoughts appreciated.

[Woodserson]

What's your main interest here, the climbing and peak bagging? Or the skiing?

I ask because "light" and "firm" don't go together IMO. I think you are on target with a mid 80 waist ski. I have Voile Objectives, and they are light and very capable but on FIRM snow that is STEEP I find they chatter a fair amount and make for a teeth-clenching descent. It's not their fault, they just don't have the mass and combined with their rounder flex the shovel and tail don't stay engaged.

I used to have a pair of K2 Wayback 82's... they were the Euro version with a narrower shovel than the US version (why, I don't know) and they were light (not as light as the Objective but close), with less rocker, and stiff as a post. A lot more capable on the steeper firm stuff. I sold them, kind of regret it due to this aspect. But for everyday skiing that's not STEEP & FIRM I enjoy the Objectives more as they are more forgiving. But forgiving is not something you want with a heavy pack and S&F.

If this is a skimo thing, you have your pick... but SkiMo skis ski terrible. So back to my original question at the top of the post.

[phoenix]

I'm a lightweight guy myself, and have both the Objective's and some (older) Wayback 88's. Like 'em both, a lot. From what you've described so far, guess I's suggest some Wayback's, 88 or 96, would fit the bill nicely. Voile Vector's would also be a very, very tempting option; haven't skied 'em, but fondled some, and pay attention to the feedback on them.
I'd skip the Objectives as an option for your trips, as Woodserson described above.

I'd also pay attention to binding choice; there's some noticeable weight differences among them.

[banerjek]

What's your main interest here, the climbing and peak bagging? Or the skiing?

Skiing is more important than climbing, but I'm trying to improve the climbing part and am trying to figure out where to draw the lines --the whole point of being out there is in fact to be out there in everything so I don't want to trade too much. What I have now is great for normal days, but I'm trying to reduce the suffer factor on the tough days.

What I've liked about my current setup is the skiing. Fun in powder and very decent on rough, heavy, and icy surfaces. Reliability has been bombproof which is very important to me.. The reason I haven't changed my setup for years is I was afraid of sacrificing the great all round experience. However, I'm not as strong as I used to be so I'm trying to making long climbs more fun.

[Montana St Alum]

Changing bindings won't affect your climbing with skis strapped to you back, but it will have an immense effect on skinning efficiency!

A true "free pivot" design in tour mode, Vs. what you get on HH's is the equivalent of dropping a surprising amount of weight on really long climbs, skinning.

I don't know the answer to this, but how close is the 22 Designs Axl hole patter to the HammerHead?
If very close, you could just swap out bindings, save money and stay with a ski you know and love.

For me, the down always had precedence. I spent a whole season skinning up on JJ's, years ago, which are obscenely heavy, but the down was fantastic! (Also, my son was on JJ's as well and I always had him breaking trail!) But I also had Axls on them so the pivot had no resistance at all. It made a huge difference.

And, sometimes you just NEED a big ski!

That's my son, not me!

[banerjek]

I don't know the answer to this, but how close is the 22 Designs Axl hole patter to the HammerHead?
If very close, you could just swap out bindings, save money and stay with a ski you know and love.

I think I read it's identical, you're just back half a centimeter -- I am seriously considering this option. The main thing holding me back is not weight per se but fear of not having a secure enough mount. I had different bindings before I installed the HHs about 8 years ago and worry that too much messing around might weaken something.

[Montana St Alum]

I don't know the answer to this, but how close is the 22 Designs Axl hole patter to the HammerHead?
If very close, you could just swap out bindings, save money and stay with a ski you know and love.

I think I read it's identical, you're just back half a centimeter -- I am seriously considering this option. The main thing holding me back is not weight per se but fear of not having a secure enough mount. I had different bindings before I installed the HHs about 8 years ago and worry that too much messing around might weaken something.

You could go the insert route. I've used these and had great luck with them.

https://www.bindingfreedom.com/

[JackO]

I've been very impressed by the Blizzard Zero G 85 thus far this season - full disclosure just skiing icy early season resort. But they handle the ice really well - no chatter, no slipping even. I'm actually kind of amazed. I was nervous when I first got them, but for ice, corn, a little soft stuff, I think they will be great. And those are typically the backcountry conditions I find. Hope to get them out in the wild soon.

I am on the Miedjo 3 on these skis - I think that the NTN tech makes a big difference for how they perform, especailly on the ice.

[gulfofslides]

Plenty of light skis out there, Scott Superguide, Atomic UL , Hagan. The Hagan Ultra 87 blows away the competition. Ski everything better than Scott, G3Atomic, Ski Trap. I own a pair and use it with the Voile X2 you will never use another ski

[greatgt]

`People were hiking up some ridges next to the Gulf of Slides....Teleking and I had just climbed....thrashed...cajoled...and ripped through Krumholtz....and were bleeding on many surfaces....Standing at the top of where the snow still existed was to narrow to turn....Slid down the slide till it opened up...heh...with a knee just starting to heal could only turn one way and catch air the other coming off the rise in the middle and that is what I did....Come around in a tight turn, rooster tail the corn, hit the rise do a 180 and drop....about 8-10 feet....repeat....again and again.....laughing all the way.....Those 210 e99's were nothing short of fantastic.....Elongated they were a mighty long rail and did they ever blow up the corn....How skinny can you go?...Way skinny and you can have a blast....Teleking? Smooth rounded arcs blowing corn into the bushes with a gigantic grin on his face.....Worth the blood?.....oh yeah!!!!!! TM