Are the shifts really that bad?

I think you'll find some really good info in this thread.

Basically, if you're smaller/average sized (like myself, 160 lbs, 5'7") then the Shifts do pretty well. Mine are on a pair of powder/side-country skis. I did spend a season touring on them and found them a bit heavy for a full-time AT setup. If you're using them to be a hybrid sort of ski then I say go for it.

When skiing they do great IMO. Again, I ski pretty smooth and am not too heavy. Heavier/more aggressive skiers probably have a different opinion. I did have the toe-piece pre-release while touring. It was sketchy and the ski ejected at the worst time. I had to scramble to stop them from going over a cliff. I would be especially cautious that the toe piece is fully engaged on the ascent.

The new ones are decent if you aren’t that big or aggressive. Wouldn’t trust the older notoriously unreliable models. $300 new is a great price pretty close to a shop pro deal, nice

If you are going for a 1 set up quiver then sure do it, but if not then just get pins for a true AT set up. The shifts tour horribly. Theres no flat touring option, the toe lockout sucks, the riser options suck, have to pop out to rip skins and flip switches on the binding. Toured my pair for 2 years and will not be touring them or buying another pair ever again. Kick turns absolutely suck on them and because your toe sits so high up from the ski when you are touring it feels like you walk on your tip toes when touring anything above 20 degrees. Also they suck to deal with when its cold, they get plenty of snow and ice build up in the mechanisms.

Shifts ski great downhill though (A din of 13 is plenty for whatever you are doing in the backcountry, none of us are Parker White and Nikolai Schirmer has proven that a 12 din pin binding is more than enough, also Hoji would agree as well) but I am on a pair of ATK Freeraider 14s and honestly they ski almost as well if not better. With that freeride spacer those things are bomb downhill.

TLDR: Shifts are great if you have one set up, if you don't, then just come to terms with the fact that tech bindings simplify everything and are more than enough for what you plan to dish out. (I am 6'3 195lbs and fully trust my ATKs when dropping things or spinning or on steep icy stuff).

Yeah they suck

I have two pairs (5'7, 130) and like many other users here, I have found them to work fine. However, they do make me cry, alot, as they are the epitome of everything I wanted to avoid In life. I think they are sorta the comp jocks of Backcountry equipment, therefore a necessary evil. Idk, just something fun to consider.

Thank you for the guidance homies I went for the Dynafit ST rotation 12 instead, I think I'll be stoked on that decision. They're a little heavy for tech bindings but light compared to the shift, and have heard great things about their downhill performance

DayManThank you for the guidance homies I went for the Dynafit ST rotation 12 instead, I think I'll be stoked on that decision. They're a little heavy for tech bindings but light compared to the shift, and have heard great things about their downhill performance

Nice! Love your profile photo btw... HUGE fan of The Nightman Cometh 😂

I think they can be good for smaller people but I am 175 and ski hard. Did this first few weeks I had the ski.

Your_local_bumI think they can be good for smaller people but I am 175 and ski hard. Did this first few weeks I had the ski.

Yikes, this is the third busted shift toepiece I've seen this year. I hope it didn't leave you stranded

Just taught an avy class with half the folks on shifts. They were constantly icing up, popping out, taking forever to transition. Part of it was likely because of a low skill level / familiarity with gear, but it was certainly noticeable.