Good all around touring ski

For the last couple years I've been skiing Candide 3.0's with some pin bindings and I love 'em. I skied the Nomad Lite and thought they got deflected a little more in variable conditions vs the Candide's at the time.

If I were to buy a setup today I'd buy the Salomon Echo with ATK bindings.

If I only get one touring ski in my quiver, I really like it to be around 105-ish. Just a good sweet spot to accommodate most conditions. Don't get me wrong, my weight weenie friends beat me up the resort for dawn sessions (not by much), but they're not skiing that same setup when we're in the backcountry anyways...

luke_508So I’m looking at a few different options to expand my quiver and get into some touring. Here’s what I’ve been looking at:
Icelantic:
-Natural 101
Natural 111

Atomic:
Backland 107

DPS:
Pagoda tour (100, 105 or 112)

I currently have the Icelantic nomad 105 and nomad 95 in my quiver and I LOVE them. I know that Icelantic makes a nomad lite for touring, but I honestly want to expand my horizon and see if there are any other shapes out there that suit my skiing. I also have a pair of Bent Chetler 120s with shifts that I have taken touring and I find them to be amazing skis when we really get dumped on up here in the Yoop, but I feel like 120 underfoot is too much ski for most occasions. If any of y’all have some inputs that you’d like to share, I could really use some guidance. Thanks!

Hellbents

I’m pretty keen to try a 4frnt raven as a dedicated touring ski.

Backland 107 or maybe the QST Echo. Basically the backland but lighter. I tour with on bent 120's with pivot 15's and daymakers. It's also my daily driver. Looking to get the new cast kit, looks way more refined than the 1st gen.

BallClapperBackland 107 or maybe the QST Echo. Basically the backland but lighter. I tour with on bent 120's with pivot 15's and daymakers. It's also my daily driver. Looking to get the new cast kit, looks way more refined than the 1st gen.

Cast system is where it’s at in terms of durability. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Im definitely gonna look into the QST echos. You’re the second person to speak highly of them. I’ve never skied a Salomon ski, but I have the shift pro 130 boots and I love them. Kinda forgot about Salomon’s ngl. A few of my buddies use daymakers. They seem to love them, but damn… bent 120s+pivots+Daymakers! That is some serious weight to be hauling uphill. You’re definitely earning your turns lol

I use whitewalkers as my touring set up, im in the east coast. I could not imagine skiing anything that is not wide. If you are touring you are probably skiing powder to some degree, so having something that is narrow makes no sense, especially if you are looking to ski terrain that is also somewhat gnarly. the only thing you might want to consider is your sizing options. Go with the length you are comfortable with, but having something that you may consider short might benefit you. For example I am 178cm and ski 192 arv116 and my whitewalkers are 185. Having something that is shorter makes it more nimble and easier to pivot through tight trees.

As for bindings, of course cast is the best but it requires a lot more fiddling. In the east the mountains are not huge so I find myself skining for an hour ski for 10 minuets maximum until I have to skin again. I use kingpins, they are decent but I hate them in resort, I think any pin setup will do you fine for strictly touring. Pin bindings seem to hold very well in powder but get real sketchy in chopped up and icy conditions (basically just resort conditions).

In the end, go with the ski that you think will be the most fun!