Karhu XCD Guide Skis

[Fairweather]

Has anyone used these waxless tele's in a lightweight AT setup? I've never used anything but skins. Do you give up a lot of grip? Do the scales become obnoxious on the downhill? I'm thinking they'd be good for snow-covered FS road-type trips. Any thoughts?

[primate]

Fishscales will not climb like skins. But for rolling terrain, not having to deploy and remove skins is a great advantage. And you can always slap skins over the scales for sustained, steep climbs. I've never put AT bindings on fishscales but it has been discussed extensively at telemarktips.

 

Do it! And tell us how it worked out.

[Kraken]

I have a pair of these skis. They work great for general touring where there is a good amount of up and down but lots of lull in between.

 

Slap a pair of silvretta 500s on them and you'll be stoked. If the angle kicks up, you can throw some skins on them and they will do great. You do sacrifice a little glide at times due to the scales but I think you'll like them! Ultimately you still get way more glide than with a pair of skins on all the time.

[Fairweather]

Thanks guys! My old Silvretta's are exactly what I was thinking about putting on these inexpensive skis for trips like Suntop, etc. I'm not sure if a shop will be reluctant to mount them.

[mattp]

For skiing on Forest Service roads I'd look for a telemark binding and flexible shoe. It'll be a lot more comfortable. I'm sure you could get somethiung pretty cheap at Value Village or Craigslist.

[Fairweather]

I've thought about giving it another try, but me and teleturns just don't get along on the downhill end. I enslaved the heel long ago and have no intention of releasing it. I'd love to ski with you this winter though.