How to Choose Randonee Ski Gear – Bindings, Poles, Boots, Skis

Bindings are actually what make randonee gear special. They have two modes, one free-heeled for striding or climbing the other locked down for parallel skiing. In the downhill mode, the majority of them also release at both the toe and heel.

Most randonee bindings feature a binding plate to which you attach your entire boot sole. The plate locks and unlocks at the heel and pivots on a hinge at the toe. An example is Fritschi Diamir bindings. These are step-in bindings that lock down and unlock with a flick of your ski pole and release at toe and heel during a serious fall. They also include 4-position heel elevators that relieve strain on your calves during a steep ascent. The Silvretta Easy Go bindings also offer step-in and -out convenience and convert from touring to downhill mode with your ski pole tip. They, too, release forward and side to side if you fall.

Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pro w/L – 108mm

Fritschi Diamir took its do-it-all Freeride touring binding, added some beefed-up torsional rigidity and wider baseplates to handle today’s fat powder skis, and ended up with the powder-slaying Freeride Pro Binding. With its fat-ski festish and full tour mode, you’ll be skiing deep backcountry shots your locked-heel friends can only dream of.

Other bindings do not feature a base plate, but rather use the stiffness of the boots’ soles for leverage. Because they lack the base plate, they are much lighter, an attractive feature if you’re carrying lots of gear or traveling long distances. There are slight drawbacks to this style, though. You have to get out of them in order to switch between uphill and downhill modes, and they are also compatible only with boots made specifically to fit them. One such binding is the Dynafit Tourlite Tech, compatible only with Dynafit Tourlite Tech boots. These particular bindings feature forward and sideways heel release.

Binding converters called Alpine Trekkers are another option for randonee skiing. These devices fit into your alpine ski bindings and allow free-heel motion for climbing and striding. When you’re ready to ski downhill, stash them in your pack and click back into your bindings. This setup is a little heavier than randonee gear per se, but it’s a good option for the alpine skier who wants the mobility to go to the backcountry without investing in a lot of gear.

Dynafit ZZero 4 PX-TF Alpine Touring Boot

Slip into the Dynafit ZZero 4 PX-TF Alpine Touring Boot for easy skinning up to the ridge and then moderately stiff performance during the deep downhill reward. Said to be the lightest high-performance four-buckle boot available, this boot’s Pebax shell and Rilsan Powerstringer provide both rigidness and forgiveness to match your downhill powder obsession. While rigid, the shell is also lightweight and yields amazing uphill capabilities with the walk mode’s 30-degree cuff rotation.

Boots

Randonee boots are similar to both downhill ski boots and plastic mountaineering boots. They have lug soles for traction when walking on steep snow. Generally speaking, randonee boots are lighter, lower and more flexible than conventional downhill boots, making a longer stride possible. The cuffs have forward and backward flex that can be “turned on and off” with a rear latch. Loosen tension, and the cuff moves with your legs when walking; tighten it and the boots are stiffened up for striding or downhill turns. Some boots have more buckles and “power straps” than others to increase stiffness for downhill control. You may want these if you crave speed on the steeps!

When selecting boots, pay close attention to the bindings with which they are compatible. Some, such as the Dynafit Tourlite Tech 4, are made to work with only 1 binding, while others are more versatile. Also keep in mind that, because of the walking sole, randonee boots cannot be used with regular alpine (downhill) bindings. Plastic mountaineering boots may fit some randonee bindings, but it’s best not to use them. Because they lack the stiffness of randonee boots, they may not release during a serious fall.

Randonee boots are typically offered in mondo point sizing:

Mondo Ski Boot Sizes to US Sizes

17.5 Mondo Lange Team 7 Kids Ski Boots

Skis

Length: Randonee skis are generally shorter than traditional alpine skis, typically from 160 to 190cm. Shorter length allows easier turning and less weight to haul up the mountainside.

Width: Randonee skis are usually wider than either telemark or standard alpine skis. How wide you get them will depend on the type of snow you most often encounter.

Sidecut: A randonee ski’s wide tip and tail plow through crud and help the ski float in deep snow. The wider tip also makes the ski turn faster in softer snow and allows for short-radius turns on packed or frozen snow.

Camber: All randonee skis have alpine camber, that is, little arch from tip to tail. They are made to perform on the downhill runs and require skins for climbing. They do not have a wax pocket or kick zone like those on Nordic-cambered skis.

Flex: Flex, or the amount of “give” in randonee skis, varies among models. Just as with telemark skis, the more flexible the ski is, generally the better it performs in soft snow, and the more forgiving it is in varied conditions. A stiffer ski holds an edge and carves nicely on windblown, hardpacked or icy snow.

Torsional Rigidity: Torsional rigidity is a ski’s ability to resist twisting. It allows a ski to hold an edge on hardpack without skidding or twisting flat onto the snow. On deep, soft snow or variable snow, the more torsionally rigid the ski, the better it holds a turn without flailing. Most randonee skis are built with good torsional rigidity for control on extreme terrain.

Edges: Randonee skis have metal edges, as do all alpine skis. Some have angled sidewalls for increased grip on hardpack and better slicing through soft or sloppy snow. On firm snow the angled sides allow pressure to be directed to the metal edges so you get better control. In soft snow, the sharper angle presents a thinner surface than a 90-degree sidewall would, so the ski slices through more easily.

Poles

Downhill poles will work, but the poles used for telemark skiing or climbing are more versatile for backcountry use. Double- or triple-section adjustable poles can make climbing, traversing and general backcountry touring more comfortable. They can be shortened for downhill sections and lengthened for ascents. Some can also be linked together to form long avalanche probes.

If you choose telescoping poles, make sure they adjust from waist height for downhill skiing to just above your armpit for effective striding. (To size properly for downhill poles, your arm should form a 90-degree angle if you grab the shaft just below the basket when the pole is upside down and the grip is touching the ground. This represents approximately 70% of your total height.)

Martini Sportswear Randonee Race Outfit

Kilowatt Ski – Men’s by Black Diamond

Versatile for your time spent on ice, crud, powder, groomed runs and more as the fat design and wide tip and tail lend itself to a solid ride and easier turn initiation Get smooth and predictable transition between turns thanks to the solid poplar wood core that is CNC-3D-machined, then wrapped in torsion box construction Lock into turns, even at high speeds, with the Formula One Technology that utilizes a sway bar at the nose for increased glide and performance Expect a lively, yet forgiving ride as these skis offer moderate flex that gets stiffer towards the tail giving you more snap out of your turns Tough, high-speed sintered base absorbs loads of wax for a fast ride.

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