AT Bindings on Regular Alpine Skis...

Hey folks,

Can I ask a stupid question?

I have some Solomon skiis I purchased a couple years ago. I am considering removing the bindings that came with the skiis and putting on some Randonee bindings such as these: Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pro Randonee Bindings - 2010/2011 ( www.rei.com/product/806552 ).

I should be able to use my alpine ski boots (Solomon) AND my Koflach Arctis Expe boots in these bindings, correct?

Thanks for any advice... not a new skiier, but new to backcountry.

Fritschis should definitely work with your alpine boots. I'm not sure how well they'll work with the Koflachs though, since that's a climbing boot. The Fritschis are designed to be used with an alpine standard toe and heel.

Someone who knows for sure will weigh in here soon, but you'll probably need to consider either a different binding, or a different boot for your backcountry.

Are you looking for a "ski boot", or a boot that will fit in a binding and allow you to get to ice climbs and what-not? Because the latter is probably more the Koflachs place. I can't imagine it will be a great ski boot.

Mountaineering boots won't work in those bindings.

Koflach mountaineering boots will work with certain bindings (such as Silvretta Easy Go), but they suck for skiing. Don't do it! I once figured I'd be happier skinning up Baker in Koflaches, and perhaps I was on the way up, but then down - oh that was terrible. You just swim, you can't get any forward pressure on the skis to turn. Maybe for someone who knows how to tele, it would work in a kind of strange, fixed-heel, almost falling forward out of your boots kind of way.

The only application I can think of for M boots in AT bindings (if you had a compatible set), would be a long, long dry approach where you could save having to carry ski boots on your back, and you would have to not care that the skiing would be a lot less good.

You folks are extremely helpful. I'm so new to this stuff that I didn't know what to believe.

Learned:

1) Those bindings don't work with Koflachs
2) Koflach's are not a good idea anyway, use ski mountaineering boots and throw them on the back of your pack if you need to...

Good deal. I think I'll go to Marmot and rent a pair of AT skis and give it a try before I make ANY purchases...

That's the best approach, caledh. They'll put you in a decent backcountry ski boot that will actually give you some stiffness and control, compared to the Koflachs. I would definitely encourage you to find a boot that will work for the skiing up AND down, so you don't have to pack a pair of boots on your back all the time.