Daymakers/touring

Pretty affordable option to get into it, and to see of it's something you want to invest in later on. Definitely get some learning and training in before you go, as it's not just you out there. It's super fun and rewarding, get after it!

If you already have metal pivots CAST is a really good option if you can find cheap boots or do the conversion, then you get a real touring toe

If you’re just looking to try it out, try finding some used frame bindings. They float around online for stupid cheap prices, and they’d definitely be cheaper than daymakers. The Daymakers serves it purpose but having toured on it, it’s really easy to outgrow if you find that you want to do longer, more technical tours after your introduction to it. Frames suck but they’re cheap and you can resell them when you’re done and you want to get a pin binding.

animatorIf you’re just looking to try it out, try finding some used frame bindings. They float around online for stupid cheap prices, and they’d definitely be cheaper than daymakers. The Daymakers serves it purpose but having toured on it, it’s really easy to outgrow if you find that you want to do longer, more technical tours after your introduction to it. Frames suck but they’re cheap and you can resell them when you’re done and you want to get a pin binding.

I would say frames are just as if not more easy to outgrow if you want to do long tours. Pivot points 4in in front of your toe and lifting the whole heel every time does not sound fun. Plus with frames you put a million holes in your ski and ski on a binding with extra stack height and a really long platform that messes with the flex, plus you have a plastic mechanism that might fail and throw you into tour mode while skiing. Where with daymakers you ski on whatever bindings you already have and get a much nicer touring motion. And I bet daymakers would be easier to resell on ns

If it helps, we've heard nothing but good things about the Day Makers, especially if you already have an existing setup and you're not looking to expand the collection. If you like skiing as much as we do, high chance you're going to love touring and eventually want more out of your touring gear, too.

Also mentioned above, it's not just you out there, please take an avy class. There are also a ton of awesome FREE online avy class resources all over the web available to you. Have fun out there!

I would say go daymakers over frame. They'll feel about the same as far as uphill performance goes and you won't have to lug around frame bindings on the downhill. You also won't have to get your skis remounted, plus daymakers are super easy to resell since they sell out every fall. You can also swap them around on any pair of skis you want. I use daymakers quite a bit and love em for certain hikes

If you already have metal pivots and boots with tech inserts then look at CAST. Probly the best option but it's pricey to start the setup from scratch.

If you're just going to be dinking around here and there I wouldn't invest in a touring specific pin binding, probably not worth it

Daymakers are a great introductory touring set up, they’re super easy to use and you don’t have to go buy a whole new set up for something you’re just trying to figure out. especially trying to dial in the lightweight skimo set up or more freeride set up and down the road you can keep the daymakers around for the days you want to use your alpine skis to tackle lines or drops that you don’t feel confident doing with a pin toe!

Beacon. Probe. Shovel.