Help me choose a new waxless backcountry ski

Thanks for all of the advice!   Great information!   How good is the traction on the Vectors?  From the picture I found of it's base, it looks like the pattern covers quite a bit of the ski. - That should help the traction for climbing.  I sometimes resorted to skins with my Fischers when conditions weren't ideal or slopes were steep.

I was sort-of leaning towards the Madshus Annum MGV Omni, but now I'm not so sure!

The Fischer S-Bound skis have a negative base, i.e., little half-moons milled into the base, and stiffer camber than the Vector and Guide/Annum.  The Vector, Annum/Guides and BC125 have a positive base, i.e., the fishscales protrude, and first two have very soft camber. (I'm not sure about the BC 125 camber.)  So, the S-Bounds are necessarily going to glide better on low angle and flats and the others will grip better.

Of the postitive-based models, I've tried only the Guide/Annum, which has a very soft overall flex.  Gawd, it glides slow on low-angle terrain.  I would imaging the Vector, which has virtually no camber, is really slow on the flats.  (I also Nordic ski; the drag might not be noticable to someone who doesn't do much XC skiing.)  I'd like to see a waxless ski with a mild tip rocker, meaningful camber underfoot and a medium soft traditional tail.

I've done trips where I am on the guide and my wife is on atomic rainears and the I have trouble keeping up skiing down gently sloped roads. The guides do climb and ski well and are great for lapping small slopes but I think I can actually make better time on things like smith brook road with my flat bottom skis with skins.

I've been skiing Fischer S-Bound 98's quite a bit this year and like them for rolling terrain/logging road type use. The S-Bounds have a lot more camber than the Rossi or Madshus (not sure about Salomon) which, combined with the negative pattern, give good glide. Still climb great, especially with 58mm climbing wires. I'm 6'1 and 185 and the 189s are just right.

I think Big Steve has a good take on the OP's query.  The great thing about the recent crop of waxless offerings is the opportunity to bias for the down.  Totally love my BC 125's and Vector BC (and not so much the Guide/Annum) - but then, I'm in it for the turns.

If meadow skipping is the game, then the stronger cambered (and some rocker!) of either of the new S-Bounds might be a better choice, especially given the binding/boot choice.  Some notables might even say they are fine for turns..

I think Big Steve has a good take on the OP's query.  The great thing about the recent crop of waxless offerings is the opportunity to bias for the down.  Totally love my BC 125's and Vector BC (and not so much the Guide/Annum) - but then, I'm in it for the turns.

If meadow skipping is the game, then the stronger cambered (and some rocker!) of either of the new S-Bounds might be a better choice, especially given the binding/boot choice.  Some notables might even say they are fine for turns..

True - I'm more of a tourer, but I want to be able to tackle the hills.

Thanks for all the great advise. It sounds like all the skis are of good quality and the decision I have to make should be based on what type of compromise I want to make. I have been wondering if a single camber ski would be better than the camber and a half of the Fischers.

You guys are giving me great advice. I'm not that skilled making turns on my Fischers. If it helps at all, here's a link to pictures from my last trip to a lookout. They might give a better idea of a typical trip.
picasaweb.google.com/1184265963414814989.../5711967821843438722