Unfiltered | Elizabeth Gerritzen X Faction Skis

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December, 2024

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90-100mm "all mountain" touring setup

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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
Hey guys, I've been enjoying my first touring season with 2015 Candide 3.0 (112mm waist) and Marker Barons, and although they're great on the way down and super fun in powder, they are obviously not as great on the way up.
I will keep them for deeper days/short sidecountry pow hunting, but now that I've tasted the joys of touring I want a shorter, lighter, straight-ish/flat-ish tail ski as my "everyday" touring option for next season.

Going up is (for now) just a mean to have more fun on the way down and I don't do multiple days hut trips yet, so I'm looking for something fun yet stable on the way down, but not necessarily super ultra light (lets say around 1500g per ski would be nice). Bindings will probably be the new Salomon/Atomic Shift, as they seem to be the best compromise between tech and alpine.
My touring boots are the Hawx Ultra XTD, I'm 6' and 155lbs and ski in the Alps (France and Switzerland).



The big question is what skis to get? So far I've narrowed it down to the 179 Line Sick Day Tourist (for a wider option) and the new 177 Atomic Backland 95 (as I can get either for a really good price), but I'm open to anything in between and any advice will be appreciated!
Feb 28 2018 6:40AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
The new BackLand 95 is a great ski (17/18 and newer). Lighter than the old one with a smooth flex profile and easy to get into a turn without having crap edge control.

FWIW, having used them, I wouldn’t want to put a shift on a dedicated touring ski. Not only is it heavy, the transitions are awkward and the suck and only having one heel riser is a bitch in steeper terrain or when breaking trail.its much more suited to replacing barons and guardians than slowing you down on a legit touring ski
The tecton is lighter, tours better, and still skis great for a touring specific binding. Crampons are the shit part of it.
If you want to actually get your weight down the new Amer touring binding at under 300g has been finding its way on to my touring skis and I love it. Skis pretty well,tours amazing and is easy to use with frozen hands in gloves.
Feb 28 2018 10:01AM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
cobra_commanderThe new BackLand 95 is a great ski (17/18 and newer). Lighter than the old one with a smooth flex profile and easy to get into a turn without having crap edge control.

Ah good to know!
As for the Shift, I was looking into it because I also wanted to use these futur skis on piste. But maybe I should just get a pair of real dedicated touring skis + another pair of directional skis...

Tecton over Kingpin?
Feb 28 2018 12:55PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Tecton is lighter and skis great.
Feb 28 2018 7:57PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
Sounds like a deal, then. Backland 95 with Tecton.
Mar 1 2018 4:48AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,996
Lots of options out there..

Icelantic Vanguard 97
Dynafit Tour 96
Black Crows Camox Freebird if you want a bit damper ski.
Dynafit Meteorite if you want something with metal in it.
Blizzard Zero G 95
DPS Cassiar 95 Tour 1 (or Alchemist if you want it to be a fair bit stronger)
Salomon MTN 95
Voile Ultravector if you're scared of carbon/want a cheap good ski
Black DIamond Helio 95
Black Diamond Route 95 if you don't care for the carbon in the helio


There's so many haha.
Mar 1 2018 12:44PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
DingoSeanThere's so many haha.


Well yea... Which is why I'm having a hard time deciding. But I forgot about the Vanguard 97, and it sure is a sweet looking ski... If it skis anything like the Sabre 99 then it would be a pretty cool one to have for the not-so-perfect-conditions days.
Mar 1 2018 5:22PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,996
BrawnTrendsWell yea... Which is why I'm having a hard time deciding. But I forgot about the Vanguard 97, and it sure is a sweet looking ski... If it skis anything like the Sabre 99 then it would be a pretty cool one to have for the not-so-perfect-conditions days.


My favourite on that list is definitely the Helio 95. That ski is straight up awesome.

But i own the Vanguard 97. It skis pretty well. About as well as you'd expect given it's design. It floats well and turns quick. No exotic materials like carbon or anything either... It's fairly damp due to the glass and resin they used.

Oh, and way cheaper than any of the carbon options. Mine ended up being free.99 but even without, they're pertty affordable
Mar 2 2018 1:46PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
DingoSeanMy favourite on that list is definitely the Helio 95. That ski is straight up awesome.

But i own the Vanguard 97. It skis pretty well. About as well as you'd expect given it's design. It floats well and turns quick. No exotic materials like carbon or anything either... It's fairly damp due to the glass and resin they used.

Oh, and way cheaper than any of the carbon options. Mine ended up being free.99 but even without, they're pertty affordable


Thanks for the info! The Helio 95 was one of my earliest choices and then I read it is really great on the way up but lacks a bit on the way down...

Can you tell me more about the Vanguard? I like damp skis and it's hard to find real reviews online.
Mar 2 2018 2:32PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,996
BrawnTrendsThanks for the info! The Helio 95 was one of my earliest choices and then I read it is really great on the way up but lacks a bit on the way down...

Can you tell me more about the Vanguard? I like damp skis and it's hard to find real reviews online.


Of everything aforementioned, it was one of, if not my favourite on the way down.. that's why I liked it. You have to compare these types of skis to their contemporaries...

The Vanguard is nice. It doesn't get the chattery feel of the rest of the skis (still chatters like crazy. Get used to touring skis) but it doesn't rattle around and make your feet vibrate or anything like say.. the Volkl VTA's, or the La Sportiva skis tend to do.

My favourites would probably be the Helio 95 or the Dynastar Mystic 97
Mar 2 2018 3:28PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
DingoSeanOf everything aforementioned, it was one of, if not my favourite on the way down.. that's why I liked it. You have to compare these types of skis to their contemporaries...

The Vanguard is nice. It doesn't get the chattery feel of the rest of the skis (still chatters like crazy. Get used to touring skis) but it doesn't rattle around and make your feet vibrate or anything like say.. the Volkl VTA's, or the La Sportiva skis tend to do.

My favourites would probably be the Helio 95 or the Dynastar Mystic 97


Alright, thanks again! Too bad BD doesn't make the Helio in like a 177. 183 is too long and 173 might be just a tad shorter than what I'm looking for...
Mar 2 2018 4:14PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,996
BrawnTrendsAlright, thanks again! Too bad BD doesn't make the Helio in like a 177. 183 is too long and 173 might be just a tad shorter than what I'm looking for...


You're on a touring ski... it's okay to go shorter.

I normally ski a 192.

My Vanguards are a 178.

You'll live. =)
Mar 2 2018 7:25PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
Ok after lots of deliberation and an amazing deal that fell through, I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on the 2018 Backland 95 and Kingpins (as I can get the set new for around 600 bucks through my shop). I feel like it's a good compromise on weight/skiability for what I'll use them for.
I thought of other bindings, but they're all much more expensive and the Kingpins don't have to prove anything anymore, so I think it's a solid choice.

**This post was edited on Mar 26th 2018 at 5:03:21pm
Mar 26 2018 5:01PM
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woodwvrd
Posts: 91 - Karma: 188
get the nordica enforcer 93 / 100s or the dps wailer 99 if you wanna sell your organs
don't really know too much about tech bindings so don't know what to recommend you
Apr 9 2018 11:34AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,996
woodwvrdget the nordica enforcer 93 / 100s or the dps wailer 99 if you wanna sell your organs
don't really know too much about tech bindings so don't know what to recommend you


No.
Apr 17 2018 3:43PM
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BrawnTrends
Posts: 1102 - Karma: 2,439
I ended up going for something else as a spring setup: Black Crows Ova Freebird with Dynafit Radical ST 2.0. Got them used for super cheap and I'll upgrade to something a bit wider before next season starts (prolly with inserts so I can use the same bindings).
Apr 18 2018 3:25AM
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