One ski quiver gear question?

If I could only have one pair of skis in the Cascades, it would be 100-108 underfoot, lighter than average, lightly tip rockered, slightly short for my size/weight/skill, have a friendly sidecut, and feel confident when demoed.

I only ski on older-school tech bindings, but understand the knee concern. One posse of friends has gravitated toward the Fritschi tech-bindings out of a belief that they may offer a wider margin of knee-safety.

I don't like skiing in the area on tech bindings. I think the ticket for a do-all binding is the new Salomon Shift, which acts like an alpine binding in ski mode, but  tours like a pin binding.

It's a tough question. Limiting yourself to one set-up.

Radical 2.0s on dhaulagiris... now that looks real light while still being durable and safe enough for in-bounds use?

I'm no expert as I've only been into touring for a couple of years.  However, knowing what I know now I'd go with one of the new generation of tech bindings.  My first set of AT gear had a frame binding.  Before I really got into touring I was attracted by their ability to give me alpine performance on the in bounds with the ability to tour when needed.  The El Capo/Baron setup continues to serve me well.  Of course it didn't take too many long days in the backcountry to realize I was going to need a lighter setup.  My second set of gear has a pair of Dynafit Radical FT bindings mounted to a pair of K2 Marksman skis.  While not the lightest ski (performance on the down is a priority for me), the tech setup is much more tour friendly.  My only problems with the Dynafits come on the rare occasions I find myself on them in-bounds on ice.  I'm an east coast guy, so that's the kind of ice I'm talking about.  I've found the Dynafits to be prone to pre-releasing the toe on icy, hard, chatter surfaces, which isn't what they were made for.  My next pair of bindings will be pins, but one of the newer ones that has more releasability and a little bit of shock absorption in the toe.  I was skiing with a guy this year who busted his Kingpins by forcing the lever when setting them to tour mode, so I might research that some before I go Kingpin.  I've got another buddy who loves his.  I've been on my tech bindings in plenty of technical terrain from Baker to Squaw, Whistler and Adirondack Slides and they have yet to let me down when the going got tough.

As for those K2 Marksman.....take a look.  Most fun ski I've ever owned. 106 under foot goes anywhere, rockered tip helps float in powder, beefy enough to blast through chop and crud, camber under foot to help you carve when the surfaces get firmer, and the asym sidecut really makes them transition well edge to edge.  The swing weight is just right that you can throw this 106 any which way you want to at any time.  That Pep Fujas guy knows what the hell he's doing!

Have fun looking and shopping.  Good luck!

1st. put a value on your connective tissue and life long mobility . Then research lower leg injuries with tech bindings . All of the career ending accidents and knee injuries in our area including my own have been on pin tech bindings , as many of them have zero toe shock absorption and unreliable release .  A tibia rod weighs far more than the difference between a tech binding and a true safety binding. I think ACL surgeries are running about  $30,000.000 + - .There are a lot of strong opinions out there . Remember that Earl miller was ridiculed because of his safety binding and ski brake . Both now industry standards in some form. The medical industry was aghast at the popularity of non release tele bindings and saw a spike in injuries after big strides had been made to make skiing a safer sport with releasable bindings. This response does not represent the views or opinions of TAY or any of its corporate partners. X

Wondering what other's experiences are with Kingpins? I picked up a pair for a good deal last year and have been really liking them. Coming from frame backcountry bindings they feel light enough and are great on the downhill too. But I have read the reports of sporadic pin shears occurring, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence. While I've skied them on a few resort runs and they were fine, my personal preference is for resort bindings if I'm skiing lifts.