Tour: skis, boots & bindings
Take it easy
- Author: Tommaso Cardelli
- Photographer: Giovanni DanieliAlberto StortiMichele Guarneri
No changes at the epicenter of the skimo world. At least not in terms of products, but a touch more in terms of positioning. This category is once again the largest and most popular. The increasingly docile gear is suitable for the wider public—those coming to the sport from other disciplines who are seeking a few hours of hassle-free fun with minimal effort, both uphill and downhill.
Sometimes, when we write the introductions to the categories in the Buyer's Guide, we feel like we're repeating ourselves. Yet there are times when that’s exactly what’s needed. The Tour category is a prime example, as unlike other classes, it seems to have matured in the last couple of seasons. And the hallmark of this maturity is tranquility. It’s populated by fairly lightweight but above all docile tools, which are easy to tame, which invite controlled skiing across all snow types (versatility is another of the increasingly evident characteristics), and reduced cruising speeds. These are tools that also allow for some fun, as climbs involve reduced effort, meaning legs are saved for the descents and exertion can be dosed out gradually. If you’re looking to carve big mountain lines or a pair of burly planks for challenging couloirs, then we suggest you look elsewhere. For the former, browse the Free class, although some models could also fit in the Tour class, given the width of some of the tools there. For the latter, take a look through the Light section. There’s now a well-established truth within these two variables. There’s been a polarization in terms of specialization and technical performance in the directions of lightweight and freeride, where you can (also) find more demanding models, while the Tour category’s vast center features proposals with a wider appeal.
els, while the Tour category’s vast center features proposals with a wider appeal. To give you a few examples: Pairing the Scarpa F1 XT with a ski between 87 and 90 mm provides slightly easier performance than before in the Light category. Nevertheless, it’s a choice that requires good technique and experience. Using the Maestrale with a 95 Tour ski is a much easier proposition today than it was a few years ago, as skis now have more forgiving shapes and smoother, more responsive flex profiles. If you’re looking for a heftier ski, which responds to the commands of a more demanding skier, perhaps with a background in alpine racing, or with powerful legs, but want to stay in this category, you need to check out tools that companies place in their all-mountain category rather than ski touring, and then mount them with a pin binding. One example (among many) is the Maverick range from Atomic.
There has been a continuous evolution in the direction of ease of use, which for intermediate technical levels also means safety, and this is easily found in the latest ski models. For instance the Camox from a few years ago doesn’t compare to the current model in terms of responsiveness. This is not meant as a criticism, as for the majority of ski tourers who are its target this is better, but for that niche group of more demanding skiers something has changed. Staying with Black Crows, there are some rare exceptions to the rule, for example the Navis, which is one of the few models left in their lineup for real hardcore skiers.
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Materials are evolving, which is increasing the opportunities for pushing the boundaries of mountaineering splitboarding. It’s no longer just about easy tours, a few jumps and a beer. Thanks to innovative new setups and growing knowledge within the community, long ascents and steep terrain no longer intimidate.
Weighing from less than 100 grams to nearly a kilo, the common denominator are the pins into which you stick your boots and that enable you to climb. From the revolution of the pin binding to the latest hybrids for freeriding, here are all the best bindings the skimo market has to offer.
Probably The most accurate ski test out there.
