soft touring set up

[graeme]

after noticing that there is a soft boot interface for skiboards it got me thinking. this would be perfect for a bit of backcountry/off piste fun. basically i will use snowboards boots and snowshoes for ascents, then skiboards with snowboard binding set up for descents. wont have time to get kit sorted for this season, but its deffo gonna be high on my to do list for 2011 for the following season.

[jjue]

after noticing that there is a soft boot interface for skiboards it got me thinking. this would be perfect for a bit of backcountry/off piste fun. basically i will use snowboards boots and snowshoes for ascents, then skiboards with snowboard binding set up for descents. wont have time to get kit sorted for this season, but its deffo gonna be high on my to do list for 2011 for the following season.

great idea graeme ,, there is less of a premium on hard snow carving in softer backcountry snow . and a soft boot set up in the snowshoe for going up and then going down on a skiboard with a soft boot , may be really nice...

[graeme]

if and when this catches on, please remember you heard it here first....lol. "soft touring" has quite a ring to it

[graeme]

already working on a stiff binding/boot combo and came up with this, gonna add a booster strap also for more shin support
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sou...tGUM3Q&cad=rja
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sou...K39ryQ&cad=rja

[jjue]

Ok graeme , you have convinced me ! ! I got to try it .! My son has extra snowboard bindings and extra snowboard boots .. although I will have to use thick socks to make my feet bigger to fit ( Kid has outdistanced Dad , size wise long ago) .. already got the snowshoes , placed an order , just now for the receptor soft boot riser...

[graeme]

jack you have become my crash test dummy. you have mentioned several times that you have toured with snowshoes but prefer boards/skins. maybe with the lighter set up it may be more enjoyable. keep me updated please.
i know you prefer the condors, but i am thinking a smaller board would be better for the soft set up. been a while since i rode condors, but thinking that boards around the 100cm mark may be easier to drive

[jjue]

jack you have become my crash test dummy. you have mentioned several times that you have toured with snowshoes but prefer boards/skins. maybe with the lighter set up it may be more enjoyable. keep me updated please.
i know you prefer the condors, but i am thinking a smaller board would be better for the soft set up. been a while since i rode condors, but thinking that boards around the 100cm mark may be easier to drive

I agree , graeme about the smaller board , i am going to try the set up with canon m7 99 , Line bullet 94 and maybe my soft ALPs.
I think a soft boot in a snowshoe will be lots more comfortable for going up than a skiboot in a snowshoe , like you say ,, will be interesting for sure ...
i think for the soft boots both a shorter board and also narrower waist may be the ticket .compared to the fat boards.

[valmorel]

Narrower than the Condor for sure makes some sense. It will all come down to snow type. Soft deep snow does not load the board/binding/boot much laterally, whereas hardpack will.
Damn.. have I got to buy MORE stuff?

[graeme]

yeah dave you do......lol

[Bill]

Damn.. have I got to buy MORE stuff?

We're not fooled...this is the like a dog complaining about too many bacon-bits ;-)

I wonder if anyone has tried a snowboard binding mounted DIRECTLY on a Condor...the Condor should be darn near wide enough to accept it without a riser.

[jjue]

..

I wonder if anyone has tried a snowboard binding mounted DIRECTLY on a Condor...the Condor should be darn near wide enough to accept it without a riser.

I think even if you could get the snowboard binding to mount directly to the inserts on the Condor , the riser would offer major advantages in getting the board over on edge with a soft boot. A few seasons a go I experimented with leather hiking boots on skiboards and discovered that adding risers really helped in allowing lateral control of the board with a soft boot.

[valmorel]

I think even if you could get the snowboard binding to mount directly to the inserts on the Condor , the riser would offer major advantages in getting the board over on edge with a soft boot. A few seasons a go I experimented with leather hiking boots on skiboards and discovered that adding risers really helped in allowing lateral control of the board with a soft boot.

That would be my take. Basically substituting lower leg leverage with foot sole pressure and grabbing all the help we can get.

[CrazyBoy-1]

Would the KTP's possibly work with directly mounted snowboard bindings in the setback inserts for backcountry descents? Eliminating the riser would save some weight, and steering the KTP's from the rear through soft snow sounds reasonable. It would almost be a higher surface area version of the 75cm skiboard/mountaineering boot setup.

[Bill]

Would the KTP's possibly work with directly mounted snowboard bindings in the setback inserts for backcountry descents? .

Tim, the snowboard binding I have for reference is about 14cm wide at the base, so it's just barely wider than the condor (13.7) and quite a bit wider than the KTP (12.5)...besides control, I think part of the idea with a tall riser is getting the binding up off the skiboard so the binding itself isn't being ridden on. The receptor riser/adapter puts the binding 1 1/8" off the board. Maybe in fluffy, deep 3-d snow it wouldn't matter.

[jjue]

Would the KTP's possibly work with directly mounted snowboard bindings in the setback inserts for backcountry descents? Eliminating the riser would save some weight, and steering the KTP's from the rear through soft snow sounds reasonable. It would almost be a higher surface area version of the 75cm skiboard/mountaineering boot setup.

Yeah , I think in soft snow no issue . .. the problem is that on any given backcountry tour , you can get areas that are firmer snow and need to get edge control on the firmer snow ...
anything I take into the backcountry I want to make sure that I can get some edge control on firmer snow .. I am concerned that the even though the KTP is short , it is stiff and quite wide and just might be too hard to get a reasonable edge angle going on firmer snow with a direct mount snowboard binding ...