How much does pack weight affect touring?I did very shallow tours in Norway, with a Scott Patrol E2 which is 2.7kg empty! Looks like lightweight non airbag bags are a touch over 1kg empty, so quite a bit lighter.
I used a Litric Zero 27 in Lyngen. It’s less than 2kg. Barely notice the weight.
That's prob the lightest electric avi bag around I reckon?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How much does pack weight affect touring? I did very shallow tours in Norway, with a Scott Patrol E2 which is 2.7kg empty! Looks like lightweight non airbag bags are a touch over 1kg empty, so quite a bit lighter.
My airbag is 1.3kg heavier than my non-airbag touring bag. I did say when I bought it I had 1.3kg of body weight I could loose to counter... didn't actually action that plan tho! Maybe for next season.
TBH I haven't felt bothered by the extra 1.3kg when touring. You can probably shave off weight in kit elsewhere also - fancy lightweight puffy, lightweight helmet, how much water, how much food, what spares etc. I'd rather have my airbag than a thermos of tea.
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And then when you look at the amount of weight splitboarders seem to carry,
Yeah, have you seen how massive and heavy our board-ski crampons are?!?! Like 2x the size of ski crampons.
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saw three young fit looking boarders climbing on Sunday and they looked so awkward stomping along, wasting energy, and I was watching them out of curiosity, lifting their feet and boards and it all looked a shambles, but they were going at a pace, maybe they were just new to it?
I can't think why the splitties would need to stomp more than skiers, probably just new like you say? Except when you've got the aforementioned crampons on and heel riser you do have to lift your foot (on my set up anyway). Annoying but when you need those crampons, you are glad of them.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
stevomcd wrote:
Hot take - bag weight is an issue on the way DOWN, not the way up.
Carrying a heavy bag makes a much bigger difference to my snowboarding than it does to my skinning.
Maybe different on a board, but I've found heavy sack to be not too much of an issue DOWN - ensure you keep a quiet upper body.
And I've skid with some seriously heavy packs - 2 weeks self supported with a week's food fuel tents etc in the Rockies plus Bugs>Rogers Pass - all on fairly skinny tele kit too
@Weathercam, @BobinCH, off to Lofoten with @offpisteskiing, he's taking both an avi bag and a light weight one. It's a series of day tours, not hut to hut, first day touring will be Wed 10th April until Mon 15th then fly back Tues 16th.
I see the Litric zero is total 1,970 grams weight which would be (I guess) noticeably less than my E2 at 2,720g.
I believe so!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@geoffers, it‘s not that it’s a problem, it just makes it less fun.
Slight hiccup today, don't know quite what happened, as you can see my track from a couple of days ago I was following
KenX said there were no tracks to where I ended up and I seem to recall sort of just flipping over, at speed
I was taking this route as the gulley was the only place with snow lower down, otherwise was a long walk out.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
stevomcd wrote:
@geoffers, it‘s not that it’s a problem, it just makes it less fun.
As a skier, this is definitely true. I've got used to a large pack but when I'm without camera kit / mountain jewellery, it's a joy
After all it is free
After all it is free
Well that's a wrap finally for the season.
Again, like last season, but a few days later, all the ducks came to be in the correct row, that is, a clear overnight sky, zero degrees at 07:15 and still a closed road up to the Galibier, but open all the way to where I could stash the e-mtb.
At first, the snow was awful, but I had faith in what I'd see when I rode up there a few days prior, and sure enough, once off the flat of the Vallon onto steeper E'ly facing slopes, it was smooth as a carpet and delivered some of the best Spring Skiing of the season
And on the way up Ullr came the closest yet to a Marmot without getting it with his teeth, all caught on video
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Slightly off topic - but impressed ... I need one of those buckles - one of mine has broken (same white buckle, Salamon cam lock, plastic ribbon OK) - anyone know how I can get one?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
The Nouvelliste reported today that there have been 8 avalanche deaths in the Valais so far in May, more than the whole of the winter.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
coddlesangers wrote:
I've been wallying away this season a bit more than last, and am reaching that tipping point where I'm getting a bit hacked off being the slow guy....still touring on my stockli stormrider 95's and shifts but having my mate always gaining ground on me and having to wait for me all the time has me thinking the time has come to go weight weinering. Still love how secure I am on the down versus fella's on skimo twigs and pin bindings, but wondering whats the right next step where security on the down isn't super compromised (tend to have to ski a lot of relatively icy and crusty stuff locally given the altitude) ......happy i think to spend a few quid and get a dedicated touring setup now.....suggestions? My HR on my night climb this week had my HR at a 165 average and peaking at 185 so it wasn't like i wasn't trying...
Thread update. Matters were taken out of my hands when on my last tour of last year I smashed my stockli's into a hidden rock, duly breaking one of them in half. This made for a very strange descent, but never mind. We've replaced them with these bad boys
Kastle TX 94's with ATK R11 Evos.....
So I am slowly becoming a member of the weight weenie, twiglet binding club. I've not changed the boots yet, and will be doing a tour Friday morning to see how these go, very excited for the coming season.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Definitely excited to kick the touring season off. Most of my new gear for touring this season has been clothing. BD Recon Bib, Patagonia Snowdrifter jacket, Rab Xenair flex mid, Rab Vapour Rise gloves. Going to get some new poles but can’t decide if to get whippet compatible ones.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Just an update on this, had the first chance to try my Kastle and ATK Raider 11's out for an entirely piste based ski and tour in Villars/ Diablerets on Sunday (side note, congrats to the pisteurs, conditions considering the temps and relative lack of new snow were great). Initial impressions were that I was absolutely blown away by the difference the lighter gear made, literally night and day from touring on my shift/stormrider combo. These also as a bonus, ski very well, they are damp enough to carve on, I did try do see where the limit was on them and its not the binding or the ski, its the fella on top of them. Overall I'm super happy with the setup, for me a ski that can perform on the down while also being light enough on the up so I'm not puffing like Ivor the engine is the holy grail. I've also gotten my hands on a 2nd hand pair of stormrider 88s that i'll be mounting a regular alpine binding up for my seasons quiver to be complete....although having ski'ed the Kastles only on piste this weekend, I don't even know if I need the stocklis anymore.....
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Have you had a decent tour on your new set up @coddlesangers, ?
Today we went out on another conditions assessment with low expectations. We were on the Zweisimmen/Saanenmoser area. From the Parwengsattel we skied south, leaving the ski area.
Approximately 1km out of the area it's skins on and enjoy some beautiful alpine terrain.
The snow was of extraordinary quality. East, N east and N aspects were fabulous powder, something none of us expected. Huge areas completely untracked we had a blast. Quite remarkable that the snow was so good when considering that the last "proper" snowfall over this side was Sat 10th Jan.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Oh I have, had an eventful night tour in the jura last Wednesday during the decent snowfall - very fast pace set on the way up by the swede, I struggled to keep up, but fantastic fresh on the way back down in a blizzard, then followed that on Saturday with a tour around la Dôle , going to head this weekend to the abandoned le Noirmont area .. very happy with the gear and the season to date!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I have been doing little bits of ski touring on and off for 4 years, started out with switch bindings but in december i switched to atk, the difference is incredible, I am very happy with them and how they ski. It has definitely encouraged me to get out more since, but recently when skinning in deep powder i have had some new (to me) issues.
First one is snow sticking to the skins - i read i need to wax them, and can rub it, the iron in the same direction as the fibres?
Second one was after my 3rd transition on Sunday i guess i messed up and some snow got under the skin - the skins literally fell off (and i fell over). it was pretty has to recover from. I guess i wasn't careful enough with water/snow/ice on the bases or skins. I read I could carry an absorbant cloth, and keep the skins in my jacket, to help avoid this. maybe i should have also used a ski strap to keep them on (it affected my last 400m ish of unavoidable skinning). It did also make me a bit worried for the glue - how can i tell if the glue is still ok?
Any tips appreciated, cheers
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
kat wrote:
I have been doing little bits of ski touring on and off for 4 years, started out with switch bindings but in december i switched to atk, the difference is incredible, I am very happy with them and how they ski. It has definitely encouraged me to get out more since, but recently when skinning in deep powder i have had some new (to me) issues.
First one is snow sticking to the skins - i read i need to wax them, and can rub it, the iron in the same direction as the fibres?
Best thing i found to do is to warm the wax with your iron than basically crayon it on, and iron with the grain , as you described in the direction of the fibres, makes a huge difference
Second one was after my 3rd transition on Sunday i guess i messed up and some snow got under the skin - the skins literally fell off (and i fell over). it was pretty has to recover from. I guess i wasn't careful enough with water/snow/ice on the bases or skins. I read I could carry an absorbant cloth, and keep the skins in my jacket, to help avoid this. maybe i should have also used a ski strap to keep them on (it affected my last 400m ish of unavoidable skinning). It did also make me a bit worried for the glue - how can i tell if the glue is still ok?
The glue will be fine, keeping the skins dry by keeping them in your jacket if you are going to do a bunch of transitions is best. Just generally trying not to get them unncessarily wet generally, which of course can be tough in wind or exposed areas.
Any tips appreciated, cheers
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@kat, everyone who ski tours has experienced the issues you described.
One of the easiest solutions is to buddy up with someone more established in touring. To point out minor details.
Snow sticking to skins is a royal pain. The reasons for this are generally temperature related or you had a tiny bit of moisture finding it's way on to the surface. Alternative to wax is a little plastic scraper, size of a credit card, sounds a faff removing a ski and scraping down but often it works.
cheers @coddlesangers, and @Rogerdodger, i have just had a go at waxing, and then ironing (low heat). Let's see how they cope on the next outing!
I noticed that there is a little bit of give right at the edge, despite trying my best to get them on perfectly. there is maybe a couple of millimetres of gap in some places. I am going skinning with a guide next week so will also get some advice then, get them to look at them.
i did start keeping them in my jacket if i plan to put them on again, but they were SO wet when i got them out, i was in shade, all my stuff was wet...was kinda hard to get them dry. Maybe i should have been more patient before whacking them on.
Will carry a plastic scraper in my bag, won't add much weight, thanks.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Great move @kat, the guide will clarify all the minor details I mentioned, you will end up laughing as most of it is obvious when pointed out!
The skins sound as if they are perfectly cut, steel edges should be exposed so 2.5 -3mm on each edge of the ski. This enables you to use the ski edge as a knife on ascent on very hard snow.
Have a great day out with the guide.....never stop asking questions!!!
I would however question, I know it's too late, ironing on the wax to the skins, far better and more normal advice is to rub the wax up and down both ways on the skin.
I had major issues beginning of the season and frustratingly the skins had only been used ten or so times.
Also in your pack carry couple of cableties you can join together should you need to attach the skin to get you out of jail, or cord or tape.
Gaffer tape wrapped around your ski pole is a useful tool for those untoward incidents.w
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
gaffer tape is on the shopping list! (although i bumped into my architect who is also in the mountain rescue and he recommends surgical tape)
I would however question, I know it's too late, ironing on the wax to the skins, far better and more normal advice is to rub the wax up and down both ways on the skin.
I had major issues beginning of the season and frustratingly the skins had only been used ten or so times.
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Poster: A snowHead
