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The touring one ski quiver?
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Okay so most of us who are only a few seasons into our touring careers are obviously on less than ideal set-ups. maybe your skis are too short or too fat or your bindings alone weigh more that your buddys entire setup. either way, there comes a time to upgrade to a real-deal, lightweight set up. This is that year for me. But, I've realized i can only afford one one pair of skis (hardly).
SO, what does everyone think about one ski quivers for touring? Obviously i want to get out on those deep days and drop cliffs and slash pow, but that will likely be less than 10 days of my touring per season. otherwise, i will be waiting for the stable spring snowpack (lol colorado) to get after steep, sometimes creamy and sometimes icy as fuck turns.
tl;dr --- i wanna stay relatively lightweight, but have a ski that can be fun skiing a fresh foot of pow, and can handle skiing shitty refrozen ice couloir snow in may.... what do ya think?
I'm current looking at the surface analog(100 underfoot) and the salomon Q-105...will the 105 be a bit too wide for those steep icy couloirs?
any other suggestions for a one-ski-quiver for touring all season?
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Dynafit Denali
if weight is a priority
otherwise
ON3P Steeple 102
if stability at speed is priority
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I had a few days on my Steeple 102's in pow that were pretty dang awesome, but I can't really offer a full review, for my uses though, I think it's a solid one touring ski quiver.
The other ski I've been on that really impressed me was the Salomon MTN Explore 95. It's not so wide, and it doesn't seem so flashy but I absolutely loved it. I got it in maybe 6" of dense fresh and it was fine (albiet I was skiing uber conservatively with tech boots and binders). It's also freakishly light. I'd definitely like to get some more time on it at some point, as well as the 115 version.
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Of the two choices you mentioned, I'd pick the Q105. You'll find it's fine for everything you mentioned. Anything that's got a little rocker up front and in that 98-105ish range is going to do you just fine.
Personally, I've been skiing a pair of ON3P Steeple 102s in that "everyday touring weapon" category for the past two years. The only reason I'd want something else is for seriously deep days or to lose a little weight for spring corn turns.
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Just got back from 3 days of ski testing.
Two skis I really loved for steeps, touring, couloirs, shitty conditions etc were:
Armada Declivity
+ gives great confidence, stable at high speed, also does short turns easy, great in shitty conditions.
- A bit on heavier than other skis in this segment but if you but a tech binding on it you'll be fine, sometimes you'll need to work a bit harder but if youre a good skier you'll love that.
Dynastar Mythic
+ Really nice round flex (I really like that on steeps and in couloirs), easy to ski in all kinds of conditions, really light.
- Because of its flex I only recommend it to people who weigh max 85 kilos. The more you weigh the more you'll dislike it at higher speeds.
Both are a bit under 100mm wide underfoot and have tip rocker and flat tail. So yeah in powder they will not be the best, but if your focus is on spring and touring, add these to your shortlist.
Also tested the Kufo's. The idea behind them is great, but I really did not like them in tricky conditions, steeps, ice etc. As long as the snow is on the softer side they are fine or maybe even good, but I personaly dont like need that much taper on a 103 or 108 waisted ski.
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