I have the original version of LL Bean's Boreal Sliding Snowshoe which was originally made by Karhu and is a 130 cm short ski with an imbedded partial climbing skin . I used it as an approach ski carrying my teleboard into the backcountry and also played around with it going downhill . It actually convinced me that a true short ski/skiboard with a smooth base and removable climbing skin would be cool to go both uphill and downhill and got me into looking at short skis and skiboards with a smooth base . The imbedded climbing skin that was not removable was VERY SLOW to descend in .
Last season LL Bean introduced a new version of this short ski . The moniker "sliding snowshoe" is a misnomer . It actually is a short ski with dimensions of 130 cm in length 125-90-115 side cut . The imbedded partial climbing skin has been junked in favor of a Fishscale crosscountry ski base in the central area of the ski. In fact this is the very first short ski with a fishscale base which is really cool . Apparently the ski is made by Rossignol for LLBean and is a scaled down version of their well received Backcountry BC 125 ski . I actually have the original version of that Rossignol ski and it was originally made in only one size 165cm and a stiff flex for bigger guys and a soft flex for lighter folks , Now it is just produced in a soft flex and offered in 165, 175 and 185 sizes and recommended sizing is based on weight of the rider.. I have the 165cm stiff flex version and have it mounted with telemark bindings and it works great . This new LLBean 130cm short ski version is I think based on the 160cm stiff flex Rossi ski I have .
Fishscale bases are really cool because they allow you to walk up and down in rolling terrain without having to take on and off skins . You still can carry skins for steeper climbs and put them on over the smooth base when needed. The fishscale cross country base slides nicely in firm snow and is much faster then going downhill on skins and is almost as fast as going downhill with a smooth base.
The LL Bean Boreal is offered with a minamilist soft boot free heel berwin binding , that I think would be pretty sketchy for downhills . But it can also be bought as a bare ski and drilled and mounted with any telemark or alpine touring binding .
I got a pair ($225 dollars from LLBean for the bare ski) and mounted it with telemark bindings and will let you know what I think. Like all short skis I have used I have mounted my bindings with a signifcant set back.
I already have a precut pair of skins that I used for my Hagan 130 which actually has similar dimensions to this LL Bean ski that should fit just perfectly . So if there is any possiblity I have to do any steeper climbing, I will carry skins also . This of course in no way will replace my primary backcountry kit of the Rockered Condor with Rocker binding , but will be a nice option for gentle and rolling terrain where I don't want to fuss with skins .
Here is a picture of the LL Bean Boreal ski mounted. with VP 2 Telemark binding which can be used with any welted boot ( great binding unfortunately no longer available ) . The LL Bean Boreal is next to my Rossignol 165 BC 125 . I think the LL Bean Boreal is a downsized version of the Rossi
Here is a good article on how to pack for a backpacking trip by Jen Miller at Jenreviews.com
Here is a review of the LL Bean Boreal from backpacker magazine ..
Here is a nice review of the various short ski dedicated backcountry options this season including the LL Bean Boreal .
Last season LL Bean introduced a new version of this short ski . The moniker "sliding snowshoe" is a misnomer . It actually is a short ski with dimensions of 130 cm in length 125-90-115 side cut . The imbedded partial climbing skin has been junked in favor of a Fishscale crosscountry ski base in the central area of the ski. In fact this is the very first short ski with a fishscale base which is really cool . Apparently the ski is made by Rossignol for LLBean and is a scaled down version of their well received Backcountry BC 125 ski . I actually have the original version of that Rossignol ski and it was originally made in only one size 165cm and a stiff flex for bigger guys and a soft flex for lighter folks , Now it is just produced in a soft flex and offered in 165, 175 and 185 sizes and recommended sizing is based on weight of the rider.. I have the 165cm stiff flex version and have it mounted with telemark bindings and it works great . This new LLBean 130cm short ski version is I think based on the 160cm stiff flex Rossi ski I have .
Fishscale bases are really cool because they allow you to walk up and down in rolling terrain without having to take on and off skins . You still can carry skins for steeper climbs and put them on over the smooth base when needed. The fishscale cross country base slides nicely in firm snow and is much faster then going downhill on skins and is almost as fast as going downhill with a smooth base.
The LL Bean Boreal is offered with a minamilist soft boot free heel berwin binding , that I think would be pretty sketchy for downhills . But it can also be bought as a bare ski and drilled and mounted with any telemark or alpine touring binding .
I got a pair ($225 dollars from LLBean for the bare ski) and mounted it with telemark bindings and will let you know what I think. Like all short skis I have used I have mounted my bindings with a signifcant set back.
I already have a precut pair of skins that I used for my Hagan 130 which actually has similar dimensions to this LL Bean ski that should fit just perfectly . So if there is any possiblity I have to do any steeper climbing, I will carry skins also . This of course in no way will replace my primary backcountry kit of the Rockered Condor with Rocker binding , but will be a nice option for gentle and rolling terrain where I don't want to fuss with skins .
Here is a picture of the LL Bean Boreal ski mounted. with VP 2 Telemark binding which can be used with any welted boot ( great binding unfortunately no longer available ) . The LL Bean Boreal is next to my Rossignol 165 BC 125 . I think the LL Bean Boreal is a downsized version of the Rossi
Here is a good article on how to pack for a backpacking trip by Jen Miller at Jenreviews.com
Here is a review of the LL Bean Boreal from backpacker magazine ..
Here is a nice review of the various short ski dedicated backcountry options this season including the LL Bean Boreal .
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