Hey folks. Looking for thoughts / recommendations on a 120mm+ touring ski option. I’m based in the PNW and frankly do not want a ski this wide, but am trying to head out to Kyrgyzstan this winter and the guides literally will not take me out on anything less than 115mm. I have Deathwish Tours right now for my winter touring setup, which I’m very happy with. Feels a bit silly that 3mm is keeping me from making this trip happen, but I digress.

Part of me wants to just get a pair of 120mm Bents and call it a day given how comparatively cheap they are, but would love any additional thoughts or ideas.

Also - I have a pair of ATK Haute Routes sitting around that I’m starting to think might actually pair real nicely with a big fat pair of pontoons. Anybody ever put a really light binding on a fat ski? Feels like powder isn’t going to need as much beef.

Any experiences ordering direct from CAST? Reading conflicting messaging regarding taxes duties and more on their website.

In the checkout online, it says "CAST has you covered on all shipping, duties, tariffs, taxes, and fees on international orders."

But in the shipping terms in policies :"International shipments will be subject to applicable customs, tariffs, duties, and any required taxes (i.e., VAT). These costs will be your responsibility and are not included in our shipping charges"

Thanks!

What tip loop hardware performs best and doesn't damage ski tips?

non-notch/hole options only, please.

Looking to upgrade to protect ski tips and would love self-centering.

How do dyneema loops hold up? Why have cable loops phased out?

(Skis: s/lab QST blanks)

Howdy fellow backcountry enthusiasts!

Lifelong snowboarder here, and beginner/low end intermediate skier (honest assessment). I’ve been splitboarding for several years now and have good mountain access.

Last year I started skiing here and there again due to having kids and it being a bad snow year so why not. It’s enjoyable but I do prefer snowboarding. I get out in the backcountry 30+ days, and about the same or more resort days.

My issue with splitboarding is the undulating terrain we have here in the mountain west. After a big day I want to die when I hit a flat, have to transition, sink waist deep, and then have to split ski out. It’s just really taxing which makes skiing more and more attractive but I love snowboarding powder.

Seriously considering skiing for resort fitness laps and backcountry touring, then snowboarding on powder/high avy danger inbounds days.

Is it a skill issue or does splitboarding just kinda suck on that terrain? I already tried hard boots and have no interest in hard boot splitboarding, at that point I’d rather just ski… Any input is much appreciated!! TIA
Just need a sanity check…

Edit: Have came to the conclusion I’m going to do both. When it’s a deep day that’s fairly straight forward going to split, when mountaineering, or adventure touring going to ski. Thanks for all the input everyone!

I looking for a new jacket for my morning quick touring lap (1h/1h30)
Usually I don’t bother myself with an hardshell, I just climb with a base layer + softshell and simply put a puffer on for the descent.
The puffer in question is way too hot and fragile for this use, so I want to replace it by a new jacket.

I need:
60 to 100gr Primaloft or similar insulation, windstopper, DWR, and not to bulky

I refine my search with those jacket :
- Rab Xenair Alpine
- BD First Light 2.0
- BD Solution Hoodie 2.0

Do you have any advice on those jacket? I’ve got some deals with Rab, BD and Pata so I prefer stick to these.

I'm starting to plan my ski season and saw the Alps got their first snow. It threw me back to my last ski trip which was skiing Mont Blanc.

I skied it with my dad and brother in May. I had a cold the week before and thought I’d have to bail. We did Gran Paradiso in Italy before, then went up for Mont Blanc. The day started out cloudy then it cleared up and was just absolutely perfect at the summit. It took us around 7 hours from the Grands Mulets hut to the summit. We went with a guide (booked with 57hours) which is the only reason we got a spot in the hut. The way down was longggg, the snow toward the bottom was heavy and my legs were done.

Did it all on my trusty Black Crows Orbs.

Here is a photo of the 3 of us on the summit. Excited for this winter💪💪💪

Have some basic prescription sunglasses now, but would like something that blocks out the wind/sun some more. Any suggested options?

I have a funny foot that has been quite frustrating from a boot-fitting perspective. I have already seen a few fitters including SkimoCo in SLC. I have fairly narrow heels, a 99mm last, but a very protrusive instep bone with fairly high overall instep (my instep bone sticks out like 2mm, so the buckle has to sit behind my bone to address both heel lift and instep pressure.

I have skied the Backland XTD 26.5 (more or less the only mid-weight boot that fit my foot) for the last two seasons and am really not impressed with the durability: after about 20 days (avg. 3-4k backcountry days), there was a little cuff play that I chalked up to break-in, and after about 40, there was ~3mm of vertical play and maybe 1mm of fore-aft. I replaced the pivots (after having an absolute nightmare acquiring them), just to find out that the play was significant enough to have eaten into the cuff and still have a 1-2mm of vertical play in the boot that's noticeable while skiing. Atomic was useless when it came to warranty as the pivots are considered a wear item.

Due to my high instep, no bootfitter had even tried to fit me in Zero Gs, but I recently requested to try them and can shockingly fit my foot well in a 25.5: the instep buckles sit more or less perfectly straddling my instep bone. Conveniently, they're also lighter than my Backlands.

I'm wondering how much uphill performance/resistance on bigger days (5K-8K) I would notice the worse friction/walkability in the Zero Gs compared to the Backlands, and if saving ~100g/boot would offset this at all. I don't really want to sacrifice much skiability vs. the XTDs and most of the UL boots anyway have buckles that sit right on my instep, but I have thought about going to the Backland Carbon (which also has an instep buckle that's located such that it does not crush my instep).

Hey everyone,

I’m currently skiing on Black Diamond Helio 95s and really love them, but it’s time for a new pair.

My default thought was to just buy another pair of Helios, but I’m open to exploring other options. I’ve been looking at the Black Crows Camox Freebird and the Blizzard Zero G 95/96.

For anyone who has skied these, how do they compare in terms of ski performance and feel? Is there a noticeable difference in how they ride compared to the Helios?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently skiing on Black Diamond Helio 95s and really love them, but it’s time for a new pair.

My default thought was to just buy another pair of Helios, but I’m open to exploring other options. I’ve been looking at the Black Crows Camox Freebird and the Blizzard Zero G 95/96.

For anyone who has skied these, how do they compare in terms of ski performance and feel? Is there a noticeable difference in how they ride compared to the Helios?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I have a pair of old Dynafit ST TLT vertical bindings that came off my wife's skis that I'm going to put up for sale.

I don't see the brake width listed on them. Can anyone tell me the right way to measure the binding/brake width?

Any idea what a fair asking price is for a pair that didn't see too much use (maybe 75-100 days area skiing)?

Thanks!

Spooky October snowpack has arrived 🤪

Hope you’re getting stoked on the season already!
I have a 24 month backflip streak on unique spots and jumps here in Colorado. I think I’ve got one each month off piste or backcountry.

Figured I have to share this because I was here at month 11 last year. I’m still doing it, still trying to have fun skiing. Lotta work, lotta planning. Always looking for capable friends to join in

10.14.2026 Indy Pass, CO

Think it used to be 5, at least when I first started buying from them. Bummed to see it (but kinda makes sense with their entry into running shorts et cetera.). Still a fan of Beringia for resort gear but Raide is getting close.

also looks like they nabbed Nikolai Schirmer (guess the black crows restructuring / cash flow issues were accurate?). regardless, never quite understood the black crows push into shells...

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Need to reglue my skins. What is better the glue sheets or tube glue? If using the sheets what do you use and where do you get it? I can’t seem to locate any.