Getting started with A/T-ing

wow, lotta great info here. Thanks all, looks like I need to do more homework on this. Thanks.

Since most alpine boots have a fixed forward lean, your legs will be in for quite the workout trying to tour very far in alpine boots, but it can certainly be done.  If you've got a pair of skis you already like, you could always opt to remount them with some dukes or barons and just use that one setup inbounds and backcountry (i wouldn't recommend this strategy with fritschis...they'll take an alpine boot, but they're generally not considered stout enough for daily in-bounds abuse).   That would keep your expenses down to just the bindings and some skins...you could wait on the boots till later.

Good advice for getting started for limited $ outlay.

My original touring setup was alpine skis, boots, and bindings (NO heel lift at all) and Army surplus canvas skins) This was admittedly miserable on the up but unbeatable on the down, and my adolescent self was too ecstatic about all that untracked goodness to mind the miserable part.  I did leap to heel lift the moment viable commercial AT bindings (Marker TR) came to the US market.

I toured regularly in alpine boots from 1967 until ten or twelve years ago...Lange comps, Nordica Slaloms and other such monsters.  They really work pretty OK with the buckles loosened and a modern AT binding if you don't have a super steep skin track, but once you use a good light At boot you'll never want to go back..  They will easily buy a person enough time to make an informed choice about the AT boot of choice and to accumulate the $$$

I gotta speak up for the Fritschis.  I used a pair of Diamirs for 7 years or so and while I was always afraid they'd break, they never did. For weight reasons I am now all Dynafit, all the time, inbounds and out with no regrets.  I cannot fathom a need for DIN 16 and so am eternally mystified by Dukes.  I confess I neither huck nor hammer in hard conditions; these realities no doubt affect my binding preferences and satisfaction.

Since narrow skis are now  totally unhip it's possible there are touring setups out there for sale with narrow skis, AT bindings, and narrow skins maybe for quite cheap.

If you're buying skins new climbingskinsdirect.com sells quality skins at better prices than BD.

One other piece of input on the DH boots/heavy bindings perspective. This is the most joy-inducing activity in the world; the primary goal is to have fun. Requires being safe, that's a given, but the only other thing that really matters is having fun. The way to ensure it's fun is to not get your feet and legs beaten down by the fixed forward lean and frustrated watching all your new partners keep getting smaller in the distance - stride flexibility and weight. Kick down for the decent AT boots and lighter bindings. If cost is a big issue, get sales deals on the skis, pack, gloves & jacket (they're out there). Either remount old cheaper skis or get someone's "last year's model" skis 90-100mm underfoot with either a flat tail or a nonrockered twin tip (we all know the debate) and bam, you just cut off at least $300 - maybe $500.

Since most alpine boots have a fixed forward lean, your legs will be in for quite the workout trying to tour very far in alpine boots, but it can certainly be done. If you've got a pair of skis you already like, you could always opt to remount them with some dukes or barons and just use that one setup inbounds and backcountry (i wouldn't recommend this strategy with fritschis...they'll take an alpine boot, but they're generally not considered stout enough for daily in-bounds abuse). That would keep your expenses down to just the bindings and some skins...you could wait on the boots till later.

This is good advice. I'll add a bit since this comes up a lot.

If you don't have bindings or skis yet then you have to ask yourself some questions:
Will you mostly be using the setup for touring or downhill or both? Tour=dynafits, dh with occasional at = baron/dukes, cheap= used whatever

How much $ do I have and what gear that i already have can i use?
If you have a downhill setup all you need is bindings and skins. You can keep using your skis and boots, it may not be the fastest setup but it's not a big deal. Try it out and see how comfortable your boots are for touring, if it's really painful then you'll want new ones or they may work just fine.

AT bindings are really starting to have some options.
What DIN do you run?
Do you want good downhill/inbounds performance or a lightweight fast setup?


Heavy to Light binding options:
Alpine trekkers (cheap, heavy, not very popular)
MFD alltimes (use your dh bindings, heavy)
Duke/baron (heavy, can use in-bounds or backcountry, din12 or lower=baron)
Fristchi/Naxo (in between performer, tours better than duke, much worse than dynafits, shouldn't ski a lot in bounds on these, can find these used for cheap=good starter)
Dynafit (lightweight, no din over 12, great if you love to fiddle and climb fast...)


There's also sollyfit or dynaduke plates that let you swap bindings on one ski if that makes sense for you.

Sorry to bump this up again, but thanks to all the replies on this. lots of good info for me, hopefully I can start accumulating some proper gear the next couple months. Thanks!