Ski touring equipment

I am getting bored skiing resort as conditions at lift-served and short-bootpack off-piste deteriorate quickly, within a week from snowfall everything gets tracked out, within two weeks - bumped out, within three weeks bumps become tanks surrounded by trenches and not fun, and on average it snows 2-3 times per month in Europe. I don't like crowded pistes and i want to get into touring next season to enhance experience. I found a good deal on a pair of Atomic Access with skins and Market Tour F10 bindings. I saw many good reviews of the ski, so I think it will work well. My only concern is that they come at 161cm length (I am 168 and usually ski at 165-175 range). So, is ot OK to go slightly shorter for touring? My other question, has anyone got any experience with Marker Tour? i know that Tour F12 is considered a stronger binding, but I am lightweight and use DIN 6. But is there anything else I should take into consideration? Can this bindings be used with regular boots? I will have to indicate my BSL, but when I tried on touring boots last year I noticed that they tend to run somewhat smaller. I ski in 23.5 alpine boots but could only fit into size 25 some Black Diamond boots. If I give BSL of my regular boots, can the touring bindings be re-adjusted later without requiring re-drilling? I will appreciate all input I can get. I might even start learning to skin this season and have more fun on slopes than I would otherwise.

So I have a decent touring setup, Diamir Freeride pro bindings on Salomon Shoguns. Probably not lightest setup but definitely a decent compromise for whole year. Big generalization but the Marker is probably a better downhill binding than the Diamir. I have had to crank mine probably to levels us to keep mine from popping off.

Personally I have just moved back from touring boots to downhill boots. Basically I think they give you much better control and if you are only doing moderate touring, 2-3 hrs uphill to ski down then not too bad. No issue to use any boots on you touring bindings but you shouldn't use touring boots on normal bindings. I think this is because lack of glide plate can mean the heavier grips on touring boots can be difficult to release. Again that might be an old wives tale as opposed to solid rule.

Length should be okay, kick turns will be easier ?.

Some comments from F12 Tour users over on BackCountry.com

http://www.backcountry.com/marker-f12-tour-binding

Boot Sole Lengths on Touring boots does tend to be shorter as the boot material is often PEBAX.

It's not generally good practice to wedge a Vibram cleated sole into a DIN binding with a Glide Plate, for the obvious reasons.

ISTR Sole in Cham have been putting Vibram soles on alpine boots, or it might be the other way around. If you are interested then get in touch.

I've had Fritschi's for 4 years+, I've never had a ski pop off, a pre-release or any other malfunction. The only thing that you'll likely miss is rubber shock absorbers in alpine bindings.

The new atomic binding is supposed to be pretty good

Thank you, guys. I heard about new Atomic and Salomon touring bindings and I know many skiers waiting eagerly to get them, but unfortunately DIN starts from 7, so no good for me. Kick turn is a good point, thank you. I spoke to guys in the shop in resort and they pointed me in the direction of Freerides, they say their plus side is that I don't need to get out of the bindings to switch the modes, but I am a bit concerned that the profile will be a bit too high and will take some getting used to on the downhill. I guess I will rent something next week to see how this works. Should be fun, especially with sunny days and warm temps.

Fritschi's are pretty solid and easy to use IME. Yes, they are tall, so there is no chance of boot out ) Never experienced the "slop" that is talked about on the web.

Fritschi sell ski crampons to fit.

If you decide they are ok, consider if you want to fit return springs for a small weight addition.

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Thank you, guys. I heard about new Atomic and Salomon touring bindings and I know many skiers waiting eagerly to get them, but unfortunately DIN starts from 7, so no good for me. Kick turn is a good point, thank you. I spoke to guys in the shop in resort and they pointed me in the direction of Freerides, they say their plus side is that I don't need to get out of the bindings to switch the modes, but I am a bit concerned that the profile will be a bit too high and will take some getting used to on the downhill. I guess I will rent something next week to see how this works. Should be fun, especially with sunny days and warm temps.

i admit that not having to get out of the bindings to change modes sounds good but surely you still have to get the skins off?!

Ha-ha! shows how much I know about the whole touring thing;) But why is it then often mentioned as a plus point? Do you always have to wear skins when tour?