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Out Of Bounds Experts

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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
Before people say "having gear that you dont know how to use wont help you in an avalanche, durr!" i will be taking some courses and getting some experience. Now that that's out of the way..
i'm sure there are plenty of people on this site who are atleast decently experienced when it comes to the backcountry. so, for those who venture out often, what would you recommend for gear? Beacons, probes, shovels, backpacks, skins and whatever else you guys take along with you.

Also i was thinking of getting some ninthward rorys this summer and using them as my everyday ski. I would take my sth 12's off my arv's, put them on the rorys and then buy some marker dukes for my arv's. Is this a good idea? Should i just put dukes on my rorys, or are dukes not even a good binding.

Thanks










Apr 13 2008 11:45PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
which ski will u be skinning with? there is no point in having dukes unless u skin
Apr 14 2008 12:37AM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
which ski would be better to skin with
Apr 14 2008 12:39AM
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MrPantyDropper
Posts: 5016 - Karma: 65
pm me if you have any specific questions..

i dont feel like writing a novel right now...however the ARVs will be the better choice-mount em up with barons unless you intend to huck and charge-instead of dukes.
Apr 14 2008 1:11AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
what sort of BC are you going to do?

if its bootpack up - shred - shuffle on the flats home sidecountry type stuff, you may not even need to go with a binding with a touring mode.

the amount of touring-for-turns you do will decide what sort of balance between uphill-downhill performance you want your bindings to have.

Apr 14 2008 2:17AM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Go talk to someone at a good mountaineering shop by where you live and they will be able to point you in the right direction.  Beacons are all about personal preference, so trying them out before you buy is really nice.  Same with packs, it really depends on how far out you're going and what fits.  I can probably answer more specific questions for you, but I'm not typing out a little guide for everything I know about backcountry gear--I'm lazy.
Apr 14 2008 11:39AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
mmm.....laziness
Apr 14 2008 2:32PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Click for larger image
Apr 14 2008 3:18PM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
i intend to be dropping cliffs and charging.
but i only weigh 125 pounds
Apr 14 2008 4:47PM
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MrPantyDropper
Posts: 5016 - Karma: 65
how many times do you plan to tour a year?

alpine trekkers could be your best bet and cheaper.
Apr 14 2008 8:34PM
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SK1ERDUDE
Posts: 1365 - Karma: 51
dukes are best to skin with
Apr 15 2008 6:21PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
PM me for questions, I'm pretty knowledgeable on this topic, but I'd say go with the Duke as a sidecountry setup, for not that much touring and mostly charging down. Try a Fritschi Freeride Plus if you're using it as a touring specific ski.
As for skins, all G3's are nice, but I like Black Diamond Ascension nylons the best, work great for fat tips and twins. Beacon, use the Mammut Barryvox, easy to use and really accurate, worth the extra $$$, shovel just any collapsable shovel, G3 makes a good one and so does BCA. I use a shovel with a probe that fits into the handle, it's smaller and lighter in my pack but the probe isn't as long, so it's kind of a tradeoff. But, BCA once again for probes
Also, don't skin in XXXL baggy jibber clothing, get a bunch of light layers and skin in those to avoid sweating and then getting cold and being miserable, and maybe look into a pair of touring boots if you get into it
Apr 15 2008 6:32PM
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ESAND
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 744
My recs:



Skins:
As others have said, BD really does make the best skins. Really no competition

Probe:
Go for a 3m one. You're not going to be trimming your tags so why skimp

Shovel:
Just don't get plastic. D handles are better although my T handle has served me well

Beacons:
Go digital fo sho. Huge difference in searchtime. I think the tracker probably has the best harness out of any and is the best of the cheaper ones. I personally use a Pulse and find that with the exception of one little software glitch that I had to send back for it is the easiest to use, fastest to search with beacon out there. My main touring buddy loves his DSP and I know it is a favorite of a few patrollers at my area. Not so sure about the S1 i've heard mixed reviews.

Be safe. Have fun.



Apr 15 2008 8:15PM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
Thanks for your advice guys. karma to you all
Apr 15 2008 8:22PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Uhhhh....they're actually the worst AT binding in the touring category.  A lot better than anything else for the downhill, but they're far from the best for skinning.
Apr 15 2008 9:17PM
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ESAND
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 744
definitely disagree. have you ever toured on fritschis or silverettas?
Apr 15 2008 9:20PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Silverettas don't count, everybody knows they suck.

For doing long tours I'd take Fritschis over Dukes any day. 
Apr 15 2008 9:24PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
seconded, dukes weigh a butt load and i skied fritschis for a while and they ski really well
and yes, silvretta's are the markers of touring bindings, so they don't count
but...dynafits rule all for long tours and are burlier than they look for going down but i wouldn't go too big in them, they only really release when you flex the hell out of the ski
Apr 15 2008 9:35PM
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MrPantyDropper
Posts: 5016 - Karma: 65
yep..that kid wins the dumbest statement(s) of the day award...

did you know moment skis BRAKE a lot?
Apr 15 2008 10:00PM
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ESAND
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 744
eh ..... personal preference. For me and my skinning style I've found that the duke allows me to take a much longer and more natural stride with less effort than a fritschi
Apr 16 2008 12:55AM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
well i do not have much experiance in the back country verry much... But i did take and Avalanch class so i think its good you are taking that becasue it helped me out a lot as to basic information you should know before you go out. The class was well worth my 4 hours and the 6 hour hands on class.
Apr 16 2008 1:17AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
i have dukes on my bcs and they are my first touring binding so i cant really compare them to other bindings. the only thing i dont like about them (which is also what makes them so bomber) is the fact that you have to take your skis off to switch from downhill to tour mode and they are heavy. my beacon is an ortovox m2 that i really like because it is so simple to use. trackers are also another common beacon. my main advice is DONT BUY A BEACON OFF THE INTERNET unless you know what you are looking for and it is unused. this thing will potentially save you or your buddies life. it would just be plain dumb to buy one that doesnt work or an older one that isnt 457 khz. it is worth the investment. as far as packs go, go to a store and try some on. get a light weight shovel that will still be durable. i have a life link shovel that i really like. probes... in my opinion probes are probes as long as you get one long enough you should be fine. most importantly, learn how to use your gear and practice.

here is a great book to get https://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/reviews/action/read/id/698/
Apr 16 2008 1:39AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
i'm not flexible enough to get my skins off and into my pack without taking my skis off anyways

although when its cold the little flippy thing is a bitch

Apr 16 2008 2:32AM
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ESAND
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 744
or when its warm and wet snow and ice packs into every possible crevice on the binding.
Apr 16 2008 3:11AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
tell me about it...
Apr 16 2008 11:18AM
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ValPow
Posts: 1049 - Karma: 10

fairly obvious but here goes,

thers no point in having a transciever if you dont know how to use it, do regular checks with your buddies, hide one and then go and find it with another

a transceiver is useless unless you have a shovel and probe with you aswell, theres no use in locating your mate if you cant do anything about it

metal shovels better than plastic for obvious reasons. I suggest you go to a shop and get the bleeper, they will tell you how to use it. If youve got serious cashish to spend then ABS is a good idea, just fucking expensive 

Apr 17 2008 6:37AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,018
Into my threads so I can add more when I have time....
Apr 17 2008 9:19AM
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