Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Emmanuel
This article discusses the seven things about alpine touring ski boots and bindings to help you choose the right combination and move through the mountains conveniently.
These specialized tools are essential to a successful ski tour because they help you safely hike slopes and ski down them.
When picking the tools, ensure they are compatible with your boot size because they affect your performance.
Table of Contents
What is alpine touring?
Alpine touring requires a lot of effort in the uphill sections, but this sport is worth it because when you get off the beaten trails, you experience fresh snow and marvelous views.
So, ensure you have a good guide and specialized gear, including alpine touring ski boots and bindings.
Is alpine touring worth doing?
Whether Alpine Touring is worth doing depends on everyone’s motivation to discover the mysteries of the science behind snow.
It also depends on your ability to move over the winter’s impassable terrain, the avalanche risk you are ready to take, etc.
You can ski touring anywhere with enough snow, typically from late November to late April in North America.
Below are the reasons to make ski touring one of your best recreational activities.
Ski touring requires lots of effort, but it helps to up your fitness while enjoying fresh air and views.
Also, it empowers you to return to skiing roots by moving from one point to another in deep snow.
- Ski touring requires lots of effort, but it helps to up your fitness while enjoying fresh air and views.
- It also empowers you to return to skiing roots by moving from one point to another in deep snow.
- Popular ski touring lasts up to six days with different challenges, enabling you to set goals and stay focused to reach them.
- Short or long ski touring provides the best and most unforgettable adventure.
- They take you far away into the remote backcountry and deep valley to enjoy the never seen snow.
- Meet new people, make friends, and discover fascinating places.
Can I take an alpine tour with regular downhill ski boots?
Can I take an alpine tour with regular downhill ski boots?
There is a slight difference between alpine, race, and touring boots:
1) Touring boots don’t suit touring because they only fit into the type of frame touring bindings.
Their dedicated walk mode makes them comfortable to go uphill efficiently and safely.
Touring boots are lighter and feature metal toe pieces paired with heel inserts to fit into pin bindings, unlike regular ones.
Besides, they have a curved (rockered), which prevents them from fitting into regular downhill ski bindings.
2) Lighter boots suit expedition touring, but free-tour boots are most appropriate for downhill skiing because they offer better control and power and are user-friendly.
3) Race boots are the best option if you prefer speed over regular touring, as they are ultralight.
We also recommend an article about Idaho Mountain Touring Boise, showing a brand that offers top-quality touring bikes and clothing.
This brand’s other touring equipment includes snow sports, camping tents, sleeping bags, hydration water safety, and more.
Consider the Idaho Mountain Touring Boise if you need top-quality touring equipment and apparel.
Telemark versus Alpine touring skis: pros and cons
Alpine Touring Skis.
Alpine Touring’s benefits include a “lockable heel” for solid parallel turns going downhill.
They are more lightweight than tele bindings, but this advantage comes with a price because they are expensive.
Furthermore, users of these gears say they are more functional than telemark skis.
Others claim alpine touring skis are not as smooth as Telemark because they require you to stay on a hinged toe.
Telemark touring skis.
Choose telemark skis if you like a cross-country skiing feel and stable turns in more bottomless power.
They typically protect the knees to prevent them from staying torqued in parallel turns.
However, stay cautious because telemark skis don’t lock down the heel; they are vulnerable in parallel turns.
==> Check how hiking in England is different from hiking in the US.
How can I choose touring skis bindings?
Touring bindings work like the classic alpine bindings to hold your boot in place when skiing and release automatically to avoid falls.
They have a climbing system to free your heel when you ski downhill.
However, given that ski touring differs, each has the appropriate types of bindings, and you must choose accordingly.
Below are the different types of ski bindings to help you make the right choice.
Low-tech racing bindings.
These bindings feature less than 300 gr per pair and are the lightest ski bindings with minimalist construction.
Their manufacturer has not equipped them with the toe piece release system, and you will not likely find it on their heel piece.
Instead, they have leashes in the place of the usual heavy ski brake enabling you to save much weight and climb faster.
The top low-tech race bindings on the market are ATK Revolution, Dynafit Low Tech Race, and Plum Race.
Low-tech bindings.
These options are 300 to 900 gr per pair, super light, and more secure than race-specific bindings.
Moreover, they integrate a release system on the heel piece and can protect you better from the risks of injuries.
These bindings also feature rotative heel pieces with two or three heel lifts, making it easy to adjust the heel height depending on the steep.
Hybrid low-tech bindings.
You can pick three low-tech hybrid binding types that suit your skiing need and safety.
These bindings are more secure and reliable because each pair weighs from 1000g to 1700g.
AT bindings or frame bindings.
These bindings are used in alpine skis and resorts with toes you can adjust to your liking.
Besides toes, they also have heel pieces mounted on articulated frames or rails so you can switch from climbing to skiing modes.
Each pair weigh 1600 gr or more, depending on the model, and the frame bindings comply with the norm ISO 5355 for alpine ski boots.
Where can I get affordable alpine touring skis tools?
Many retailers offer affordable alpine touring skis, bindings, boots, and poles, depending on where you live worldwide.
For instance, if you live in the United States, you can find them at Idaho Mountain Touring online store.
Once there, search under “Snow Sports” to find the best equipment you want.
Also, the Idaho Mountain Touring offerings include skate skis, snow gloves, snow shoes, snow helmets, and snow goggles.
This brand’s other snow sports products include climbing skins, avalanche safety gear, snowboards, wax, and accessories.
It ships across the United States and offers free shipping for orders worth at least $75 unless you live in Alaska and Hawaii.
Moreover, you will have 30 days from the purchase date to return the products for exchange.
You can also return the purchased items for a refund if they don’t please you for one reason or another.
Final thoughts.
Choosing the proper alpine touring ski boots and bindings should be easy if you know your skiing style and where you will perform these activities.
Consider the boot stiffness, binding compatibility between boots and skis, your size fit, the boots’ weight, the skiing’s level of comfort, etc.
Furthermore, choose the optimum combination between both pieces of equipment for maximum comfort and performance.
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