Fischer S-Bound 98 Ski and Voile 3-Pin Cable Binding Review
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- čas přidán 18. 02. 2017
- My review of the 2016 Fischer S-Bound 98 Ski, the Voile 3-pin cable binding and the Fischer BCX 675 boot. This is a great setup for off track conditions in the area where I live. I've skied everything from soft powder to wet slush and love this setup. They are too wide and heavy for use on groomed trails, but perfect in the backcountry when you need some extra flotation.
Great review. There are so few reviews on these types of skis, I really appreciate the time you are taking to put this video together.
Great videos Tom. I like your passion for the hills and a slow controlled decent. Wish we had that kind of terrain here on Vancouver Island.
Thanks Tom, just getting into Nordic skiing and it's so confusing with all the different setups out there that all have their strengths and weaknesses. Great to have good gear reviews like this that show how it all works together!!
Yes, there are lots of different combinations of boots, bindings, and skis. Here are two more videos that you might find helpful. czcams.com/video/lTGvQzTC6hI/video.html and czcams.com/video/KbuvoPPOZ-k/video.html If you have any questions, feel free to post them and thanks for watching.
Really great video. You helped me choose ski and binding for my skiing in Sweden.
Thanks for the feedback. Hope you have a great ski season.
Thanks for capturing the joy of backcountry skiing :) Great video and music. Thanks!
Thanks for tuning in and I hope you have a great ski season.
Thanks so much for your great videos Tom! Best greetings from Québec!
Thanks for your feedback. Have a great winter.
Thank you Tom! Very nice review. Best wishes! ))
Merci Tom...great video from Quebec...i gonna buy them now Fisher S-bound 98 looks pretty good in all terrain !
Great choice for off track skiing. Have a great ski season!
That smile going downhill! Cheers for all the insights and nice scenery :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome skis wish I lived near somewhere to put a pair of then to good use
Gorgeous scenery and great review. One note on the bindings: I simply release the heel locks on the cables and take the heel pieces off my boots for uphill or flat travel, then close them back for downhills. The cables simply sit in the ski behind your boots. You can remove the bindings completely but it's not necessary.
Appreciate the feedback. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you have a great winter.
Thanks for the video was looking at the same type set up except S-Bound 112
great.
I haven't skied the S-Bound 112's but I've put lots of miles on both the 98's and the 125's. I'm sure the 112's would make a great XCD ski. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the review. I've been looking of guys who still use 3 pins and cables. I'm looking to replace a set of old XC skis and this might be the ticket
The Fischer S-Bound 98 is a great off trail ski. The cables on the Voile 3 pin binding are really long springs. The springs provide resistance to the forward bend of the boot. I think it helps in keeping pressure on the trailing ski when doing a telemark turn. The resistance to the forward bend of the
boot feels awkward when climbing uphill or skiing on the flats. I keep the cables in my pack most of the time, and only use them when I know that I have a very long downhill run. If you get a pair, let me know how they work out for you.
Love the video - hoping to get a similar set-up for Scotland soon!
Fantastic. Hope you are having a great ski season.
Awesome video, liked and subscribed!
Thanks for watching and for your feedback.
great job,enjoyed wathing you and info,thankyou
Thanks for tuning in.
I wish I didn't have too many sets of skis... The easy skin are cool.
I like my X-terrians up in New England. They are a bit heavy but they are short, fat, with good side cut to ping pong between the trees.... Climbs like a goat!
Sounds like fun. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you have a great winter.
I have the same setup as you, but was kind of mistaken when I made my purchase thinking I was going to use them to replace both my downhill skis and my cross country skis. I’ve only used them a couple times here in Michigan and they’re really no good here because our terrain is flat unless you go further North. I’ve tried them as strictly a flat cross country ski and they’re heavy and slow! One thing I kept struggling with is aligning the 3 pins on the binding with the boot. The “tongue” on the boot is pretty soft rubber and you can pretty easily miss the holes and clamp them down offset. I often thought that the “tongue” of the boot should have either been made of harder rubber, had bronze inserts in the holes or have a stainless steel plate on the bottom of the “tongue”. Maybe I’m the only one with these problems though! I can see how sweet they’d be on rolling terrain! Great video!
That is a bummer that you are not happy with the 98 / 3 pin setup. It is a great off trail XC ski for use in soft snow when float and moderate terrain turns are the main focus. It has a fairly soft camber and with the extended length of the traction pattern it climbs well, but those attributes can cause a bit of drag for kick and glide tours, especially when compared to a narrow double cambered ski. It does take a bit of practice to get the boot and the pins lined up just right. For me, the best way to do this is to "feel" the pins sink into the toe of the boot before you clamp the bail down. It is a matter of micro movements (back and forth with a minor amount of wiggle) but you should be able to feel the pins move into the holes. Try the skis again, once you get some fresh deep snow. I'm betting you can find some gentle hills and give it another go. In the end if they are not suited for the type of skiing you do, then it is probably best to try a different ski / boot / binding combination. You can always list the equipment for sale over on telemarktalk.com or on your local Craigs list. I appreciate the feedback, and I'm sure others can benefit from your experience. Take care and post back if you find the perfect setup for you.
Thanks for such a great review... not many out there for this setup. Do you worry about following the size recommendation by weight or would you go with the shortest ski possible for maneuvering in trees and turns?
I'm skiing the 179 cm length, their midrange ski. Fischer lists the 179 for people weighing from 143 to 198 pounds. I'm right in the middle of that bracket so the choice was easy for me. A longer ski will give you better float in soft snow and I think they are more stable at speed. Another consideration regarding skier weight and ski length has to do with the contact of the crown pattern with the snow. If a heavy skier uses a ski designed for a lighter skier, then the crown pattern may drag a bit when gliding. If a light skier uses a ski designed for a heaver skier, then they may have some difficulty getting the kick and climb they need. The Sbound 98 is a great off track ski and you will have lots of fun. Thanks for watching..
Thank you..most informative. I was thinking of the 109 s myself with the regular bnn binding. Your thoughts? Plus the alpina Alaska boots too
The e109's with the NNNBC binding and Alpina Alaska boots are a good match for off trail XC skiing.
Thanks Tom, real great and wise commentary. How would these skis work with nnn bc bindings? You seem very graceful on the downhill sections with your setup!
Lots of people ski the Sbound 98 with NNNBC. If you plan to use your 98's for the kind of terrain as shown in this video, just be sure to select a good NNNBC boot with ample support and control. I plan to test the 2021/22 version of the 98's this season with the new Rottefella Xplore binding later this winter, so stay tuned. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you have a great winter.
Thanks Tom for the review and the excellent photography. Do you use a particular technique or app with the moving selfies, in order for it to follow your movement? What equipment do you use for the photography?
I shot this entire video with a Sony Action cam, model fdr x3000. It is hard to believe that 3 years have passed since I put this together. I did not use any special software. Some of shots were taken with the camera mounted on the end of the ski pole, others with the camera mounted on the front of the ski boot, and the stationary shots with the camera mounted on a tripod. Camera technology and editing software has improved dramatically in the 3 years since I put this together, and I had to replace the Sony with a GoPro when it finally failed after a couple of years of abuse. I've been thinking about getting a 360 camera that can produce "drone like" edits, to up my game and add a new dimension to my ski videos. All in all, the Sony was one of my favorite cameras. Here is a link to my original test video czcams.com/video/6i1LJ5qpkWo/video.html I'm currently using a GoPro Hero 9 and cell phone for my most recent videos.
Thanks for the review. I have a question: how to avoid damage to the boots or more likely to the holes in boots made by pins? Is there any special way of clinging to these bindings?
The best way to avoid damage to the pin holes in the sole of the boot is to be very careful that the holes line up with the pins when closing the binding. Its easy to do in the store, but it can be difficult to do in the field, especially if there is snow packed in the binding. After clearing excess snow from the binding, I slide the duckbill forward and can "feel" when the pins and the holes engage. If I'm uncertain, then I slide the boot back and forth until I'm certain that they are lined up before I close the bail. It takes a little practice, and I think it is best to practice at home with the skis on a carpet to get the hang of it. Others have suggested painting a small dot with fingernail polish on the top of the binding that lines up with the the front of the duckbill so that you can get a visual reference as to how far forward the boot should be. Years ago I had problems with 3 pin boot holes blowing out long before the boots wore out, but I haven't had that problem with the newer generation of bindings, like the Voile 3 pins.
Yours is my favorite CZcams Nordic ski channel. I’m getting S-Bound 98 skis. I’m confused about the length for this ski. I’m 5’5” and weigh 120 pounds. Do I get 159 or 169 length?
Here is what Fischer recommends
169 CM: 120-153 pounds
179 CM: 145-189 pounds
189 CM: 185 and over pounds
This weight listed is skier weight (your weight plus clothing, boots, pack) All that gear adds up more than one might think. Another good rule of thumb is to pick a ski about your same height (165 cm). My wife skis the Excursion 88 at 169 and she is about your height and body weight, and is very happy with the 169. I'm glad that you are enjoying the channel and appreciate the kind words. Let me know how well you like your new skis after you have had a chance to ski them.
Hi Tom. You and I exchanged quite a few notes back and forth last year as I was asking questions regarding upgrading from my Rossy BC70's to something more DH. I have come to the conclusion (after a overly-thorough investigation) that the 98's are the right ski for what I need. My question now is: Do I go with Voile 3 pin (hardwire) OR with the Rotte Xplore. You were very excited about these last year. I was planning on using the Scarpa T4 (I know... too much boot but I am looking to focus on the DH part of my skiing). As always, thanks!
The Fischer S-Bound 98 is a great ski. I've owned 3 generations of the 98 (2009 Sbound Boundless, 2015 S-Bound 98, and now the 2021 S-Bound 98 Xtralite. It is a great offtrack XC ski for soft snow and fits nicely into what most people call XCD skiing (Cross Country Downhill). Another alternative to the S-Bound 98 would be the Asnes Falketind 62 Xplore, if you prefer a waxable ski over a waxless design. The Scarpa T4 is a great boot. It offers more power and control than the typical soft boot and would be a great match to the S-Bound 98 if the primary focus is downhill control. I skied two generations of the T4 and used them as my primary downhill boot when I skied the wider S-Bound 125's (no longer produced) and the Voile V6, which is strictly an alpine downhill ski. The current inventory of Scarpa T4's has dwindled to just a few small sizes. I hope that Scarpa will have another production run but only time will tell. My real hope is that there will be a redesign of the T4 next year but I have no inside information. At this point (2022) there is not a plastic boot T4 / hardwire equivalent for the Xplore platform. The Xplore platform with the Alfa Free boot and the hard flexor is a much better system in every respect than what I'm skiing in this video (S-bound 98, Voile 3 pin spring cable, Fischer soft leather boot). The 98 with the 3 pin hardwire and Scarpa T4 would offer better downhill control, but for the conditions shown in this video (soft snow, moderate angle, open slopes) my choice would be to ski the Xplore system, as it has ample control and just feels lighter and more traditional. If downhill is your focus, then the T4 is the safe bet for moderate slopes. If you decide to go steep and deep, then you should move beyond the XC ski design and pick an alpine downhill ski and step up from the T4 to beefier plastic boot.
@@tomm9850 As always thank you very much and now I am looking further into the Asnes... Their turn radius is much better at 18.7m with what I believe is the 98 radius at 29.9m and probably better suited for the T4 (or something similar). The waxable at first was an issue but I guess with the skin incert that solves the problem.
Hi Tom, thank you for the very informative videos! Just building my quiver, I have a similar set up ......except Fischer excursion 88’s, same binding and Fischer BCX 675 boots. I plan on going to a ski area with lift service and the snow is somewhat firm/groomed.....sometimes icy. I am not all that confident with my Fischer boots for this purpose. I was curious if the Scarpa T2 boot could be used with this set-up? I am new to telemarking however I have a good amount of both Alpine and traditional x-country ski experience. Thanks, Brad.
Yes the Scarpa T2 will fit into the Voile 3 pin cable binding. The Scarpa T2's are a great boot and I use them often with my Voile V6 skis and have used them once or twice with my Voile Objective Skis. I have never skied the 88's or 98's with the T2's. If you haven't already, check out my video where I tested the T2's with my Objectives czcams.com/video/pUhZm4mkDJM/video.html I'm referencing this video because it will give you some idea of the restriction, flexibility, and mobility of the T2's when using the Voile 3 pin binding. When I did this test, I did not use the spring cable, as the boots are powerful enough on their own. The T2's would definitely add confidence to the 88's, and if you already have a set or can pick up a used set at a bargain price just for lift service, then I'd say go for it. On the other hand, I would not recommend buying a new set of T2's for the 88's, its just overkill, for what is essentially a wide double cambered off trail cross country ski. If you are planning on adding a downhill focused ski to your quiver in the future, and plan to use a "duckbill" binding, then maybe it makes sense to pick up a set of T2's, but keep in mind that you might decide in the end to go with an NTN binding system instead. My gut reaction however is that the 88's and the T2's are mismatched and designed for very different use scenarios. The 88's won't be that great for lift service, and putting lots of downhill time on the 88's with T2's won't help you gain confidence with the leathers and 3 pins, but it might be a ton of fun. Anyway, if you decide to give it a go, check back in as I'd like to know how it turns out.
@@tomm9850 .....thank you for your detailed response. Since the terrane at the local ski area here in PA is very gentle, I will give the leather boots more of a chance while I perfect the turn........I assume that this technique was developed on boots with much less support. Your channel inspired me to up my cross country game😃$$$.....lol.
@@bwalsberg That's the spirit. At first, I'd avoid days when the slopes are solid ice and stick to soft snow. For me, telemark in soft boots is a soft snow turn on moderate terrain. For lift service or difficult snow, hard boots, hefty bindings, and downhill specific skis are the appropriate gear for tele.
Hey Tom, How do you compare those Fischer boots to Alaskas? Maybe you already did a video, I'll give another look!
Fischer dropped the BCX 675 that I'm skiing in this video, so it is no longer available. The boot was comfortable and had ample support. I have not skied the 75 mm Alpina Alaska boot, so I do not have a direct comparison. I do ski the Alpina Alaska XP boot, but it is different from the 75 mm Alaska. I wore out two sets of the 675's over the course of about 5 years, then switched to the Rossignol BCX12. I have a comparison and review of the two boots on this channel. I skied the Rossignol boots for a season. They were very similar in performance to the Fischer BCX675's, but I had fit issues that I could not resolve, so I then switched to the Alfa Greenland. All of these boots have been dropped by the manufacturers, so my past reviews would only be relevant for those looking at used boots. My current S-Bound 98 setup is mounted with the new Rottefella Xplore binding, and I'm skiing them with the Alpina Alaska XP and the Alfa Free boots.
Which Voile 3pin on the S-bound 98? Mountaineer or the Voile 3pin traverse. Just wondering if the ski is wide enough to accept the screw pattern of the plate for the traverse?
I have the Voile 3 Pin Cable binding mounted on the S-Bound 98. The S-Bound 98 is wide enough to accommodate the Traverse. I have not skied on the Traverse, but when it comes to the 3 Pin Cable/ 98 / Soft Boots, I rarely use the cables. The Traverse would be a big improvement over the basic 3 Pin Cable if the riser allows the cables to remain attached to the binding even when not connected to the boot. With the 3 Pin Cable, I'm not flexible enough to attach or remove the cable from the binding with my boot in the ski, so putting them on and taking them off is more hassle than its worth (at least for me). I can't stand skiing uphill or on the flats with the cable attached to the boot, even for short distances. Again, I have not skied on the Traverse, but from Voile's Video, czcams.com/video/uM7227JZ-sY/video.html it looks like it might be possible to leave the cable attached. Let us know what you decide and how well it works out for you.
I would imagine you pull those easy skins off when heading back down? But I'm wondering if you always have to, like on short descents, can you still turn and glide if they are attached?
It is possible to ski down short descents with the mini skins. The ski will glide as the mini skins only cover about 1/3 of the base, but they don't glide as well as without the skins. You can still make turns with the mini skins on, but it feels very different, depending on the snow conditions, and it takes some getting used to. Its much easier to ski downhill and turn with mini skins than full length skins.
Tom, great review. I'm new to xc backcountry skiing (I used to snowboard for many years), and I'm trying to figure out the perfect pair for me. I live near a 9.000-foot mountain, so we do get a fair amount of snow, but most of the time the conditions are crusty and wind-blown. My idea is to do short backcountry hikes (like yourself in the video), but also occasionally ski on groomed trails and forest paths. I'm thinking of getting the Spider 62, as it's touted as Fischer's most versatile ski, but I wonder if it would be wide enough for the backcountry. Again, we rarely get deep powder here and the terrain, despite the height of the mountain, is fairly flat. What would you recommend?
I have not skied on the Spider, but from the specs, it looks like a good all purpose ski. Backcountry skiing and track skiing are two very different activities, and in my opinion, best enjoyed with two different boot / ski setups. The design differences are like comparing a road bike to a mountain bike. The design of the Spider would be akin to a cross bike. If you don't need wider skis in the back country for stability or powder and the terrain is fairly flat, the Spider would probably be a great one-ski solution.
Thank you for the reply, Tom. I appreciate it.
@@tomm9850
And what about the S-Bound 88 (called today Excursion 88 Crown/Skin) as a more versatile one-ski solution ? I mean which would allow to occasionally ski on groomed trails when necessary ? Like Dimiter Kenarov, I'm new to XC/backcountry skiing.
Thanks for the video.
I haven't skied the S-Bound 88, but they are too wide for a groomed track. Most groomers set a track that is 6 to 7 cm in width. I'm sure the 88's would be fine skiing outside the tracks. I have a pair of Traverse 78's (same cut as the S-Bound 78's) and I won't use them in a freshly groomed track.
@@tomm9850
Thanks Tom. What are the differences in use between your Traverse 78's and your S-Bound 98 ?
And, another question : what is this beautiful landscape where you drag us for this review ?
Hey Tom I've really been enjoying your videos and just picked up a pair of S-Bound 98s with the Voile 3-Pin cable bindings. I'm struggling to decide on where to mount the pin line and there is a lot of conflicting information out there.
Can you tell me where you would recommend setting the pin line on the S-Bound 98s with 3-Pin bindings?
I have my Voile 3-Pin cable binding with the "pin line" as indicated on the mounting template on the balance point of the SBound 98 ski. That is the traditional way to mount a 3 pin binding on a "cross country ski", but I don't know what Fischer recommends, and the techs I've spoken to don't know either. Some say pins on chordline center of the ski, others say balance point, and a few mark the chordline center and balance point and split the difference. Mine ski just fine on the balance point, so take that for what it is. Just for fun, I went out and measured my 179 cm 98's. The chordline length is 69 inches, so pin line on the chordline center is 34.5 inches. My pin line on balance point is 34 inches from tip, 35 inches from tail (eyeball estimation using tape measure), so not a lot of difference between the two methods on my 98's, the chordline center method being approx 1/2 inch forward of the balance point method. Unlike Fischer, Voile provides recommended mounting positions for their skis. Voile lists a measurement from the ski tip to boot center. I have a 3 pin mounted on my Voile Objectives and I just measured them to see how they compare to my 98's. The chordline length of my Objectives is 69.5 inches. The bindings, as mounted using Voile's boot center method, has the pin line 33 inches from the front, 36.5 inches from the tail, so that would make the 3 pin line on this ski 1.75 inches forward of the chordline center (for my size 42 leather boots).
@@tomm9850 Thank you for taking the time to write this detailed reply Tom! I am sure this information will be useful to many in the future!
I spoke to my ski shop today and the tech said that he heard back from Fischer today and they recommended mounting the binding so that the boot center falls over the balance point instead of the pin line. I can't be sure if they knew it was a 3-Pin or if they thought it was an NNN. What is your thought on that method?
I have added your feedback to a Reddit post for others to see too.
old.reddit.com/r/Backcountry/comments/jvu51g/fischer_sbound_98_3pin_binding_mount_location/
@@MikeSideris I not sure what to think of that recommendation. My size 42 leather boots are approx 12 inches from the pin holes to the back of the boot, so boot center on balance point would move the binding 6 inches forward from its current position. That would be a drastic change from what was traditionally done. If I had mounted mine with that recommendation, the pin line would be 28 inches from the tip and 41 inches from the tail. Let me know what you decide to do and how well they ski for you.
@@tomm9850 I went back to the shop after reading this and balanced the ski on a ruler and placed my foot on top of the ski. It seemed obvious to me and to the tech as soon as I did that and we ended up marking the pin line as 3cm ahead of the balance point - 97cm up from the tail on my 189s.
Thanks again for the help, Tom. I'll let you know how that works after I get out on them! Fischer is apparently redesigning the graphics on the ski for next year and will hopefully put a suggested pin line on them.
That sounds like a great decision. You have a great combination for having some off trail XCD fun. Hope you have a great season.
Thank you for sharing. Do you still recommend today, or is there something newer, better?
Perfect timing for this question. Fischer has revised the Sbound 98 for the 2021/2022 season. I have a pair on order, and when they arrive, I'll do a bench comparison to see what has changed. I plan to mount the new 98's with the Rottefella Xplore Binding and will post a comparison video later this winter. The 98 is a great ski for moderate offtrail XC downhill in the kind of snow conditions we have here in NW Wyoming. I use the Traverse 78 for less steep XC skiing and dedicated narrow track skis for groomed XC trails. Check out my video playlist for the 98. It will give you a good idea as to the types of terrain and conditions where I use the 98 czcams.com/play/PLSbEbRoGC_hpk2O20D7AQUDlldgs__fvH.html
What kind of setup do you use for rolling terrain? I am really struggling with that because I am not climbing up and then just going down, most of my skiing I would consider to be on rolling terrain, so I really don't like switching back and forth between tour mode and ski mode. With the exception of the Voile switchback binding which I find pretty easy to switch back and forth. I also have the added problem of woods with tight trees. I recently purchased a pair of 125cm Altai hooks and put 3 pin bindings on and have been using them with a low cuff plastic tele boot which is pretty great for me. The only problem with that though is that the Hoks have an integrated skin so they don't glide as well as crown skis. What is your favourite setup for rolling terrain?
In previous years, for kick and glide tours in rolling terrain, my go to setup was a set of Fischer Traverse 78 / NNNBC / Alfa Skarvet. This year I've been skiing a set of Alpina Discovery 80's / Xplore / Alpina Alaska XP. The Alpina Discovery lacks the Easy Skin option of the Traverse 78's, but it is a bit lighter, has ample glide, and a bit more side cut for easier turning in soft snow. I too have a downhill ski setup, Voile Hyper V6 / Switchback X2 / Scarpa T2 that I use exclusively for steep and deep downhill. I'm still skiing the newest Fischer SBound 98, but I've dropped the 3 pin cable setup and switched to the new Xplore binding with the Alfa Free Boot. This is my favorite "tour for turns" ski setup in moderate terrain where I know there will be some kick and glide sections getting to or coming from the downhill section. It is always a
compromise in regards skis and boots, as the best combo for kick and glide won't be the best combo for downhill control. If you pick a downhill focused setup it will suffer on the kick and glide end and vice versa. It sounds like you are happy with your plastic boot / hoks combo for downhill control so you might want to just add a more XC focused ski setup for kick and glide tours. There are lots to choose from and I certainly haven't skied them all, but I'm very happy with the Discovery 80 / Xplore / Alaska XP combo. My wife however loves her Fischer Excursion 88 / NNNBC /Rossignol BC X-6 FW for skiing snowmobile trails, forest roads and rolling offtrail tours. czcams.com/play/PLSbEbRoGC_ho2vBkZ4nklbxh_CoJpR3Ok.html
@@tomm9850 Thanks for the feedback! I watched your video about the Xplore binding. Are you able to do a decent Tele turn with the Xplore binding? I find I can't really do it with a tech toe or free pivot touring mode or even on the NNN Nordic binding (although I am also using a soft boot with that one). I can however do it with the 3pin binding and plastic tele boot with no cable. Which makes me pretty happy because I don't have to switch back and forth from ski mode to touring mode. In my case, I don't know if it is a lack of skill or I am trying to pull off something with equipment that can't do it. I don't know if you know what I mean here. I am not traditionally a tele skier so I am really new to the technique.
A plastic 75 mm boot with a good downhill ski and soft snow are a perfect combination for telemark. Telmark with light weight boots and XC skis takes more time and patience to learn, but for many, the challenge is half the fun. Sometimes it works well and other times it can nearly be impossible, depending on the conditions. I'm a big fan of the Xplore binding after one season's use. Most of the improvement however is in the boots. For those who are comfortable on NNNBC or 3 pin soft leathers, the improvements will seem more evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary. The feel with the Xplore in the telemark turn is similar, but better than a 75 mm leather boot when using a similar class of boot. The great thing about the Xplore binding is that the kick and glide performance feels much better to me than with 75 mm. The icing on the cake is the new Alfa Free boot. It offers more downhill support than just about any other leather boot I've skied in recent memory. It does not have the power of a plastic boot, but it hits the sweet spot between the leathers and 3 pins that I have skied in the past and plastic boots. I also think that the hard flexor will help some learn the telemark turn. I fully understand the desire to have a simple system that you don't have to switch back and forth between the up, down, and flat modes, and while the Xplore has 3 flexor options, I'm sure that I will probably just pick either the standard flexor or hard flexor, depending on the nature of the tour and not change them out on the tour. That is one of the big advantages of freeheel skiing in lightweight gear.
@@tomm9850 Thank you. I am a really big fan of the Voile binding technology. So it is interesting to learn about the X-plore binding and the Alfa free boot. Voile is planning on making a significant change to the tele tech binding and so I might just pick up that new binding and mount it on a junior ski and use it with an NTN boot. Like the xplore binding I think the idea is that it will have more than one option for a pivot point. That might be a way of blending the free pivot with the 3pin pivot which might be good for those of us that are skiing on rolling terrain. Although I think the hardwire still will need to come off which is the advantage of the Switchback binding in that you don't have to do that.
Hello Tom, I have a question, what size of the easy skins you use for Fisher S-Bound 98?
I'm using the 65 mm width Fischer Easy Skin on the S-Bound 98 and I'm very happy with its performance.
@@tomm9850 Thank you very much for information, the skins is the last thing to complete the set for the winter. Fisher Sbound98, Rottefella Xplore and Alpina Alaska XP are waiting for adventures, I will try to explore most of mountains in my neighborhood this winter, I hope there will be a lot of snow this year :) best regards from Poland!
I have to old Boundless Crowns from the 90s which I believe have the same dimensions. They always got a bad rap for poor kick because of the negative fish scales. Sounds like Fischer improved that and maybe even lightened them up. I should get them out again.
The crown pattern on the newer Fischer skis works very well in most conditions (the exception being ice). They can be a bit noisy, but I don't know how they compare with their previous traction pattern skis. I use my 98's pretty much year round, but they are especially great in the spring.
Ski's eye view camera shot 4:37
Hey there. I want to buy a pair of used, maybe older off-track skis. Any recommendations? Thanks!
I've been a big fan of the Fischer Line of waxless off trail skis for a number of years. Not a lot has changed in the design of thier off trail XC skis over the past 10 years, with the exception of the addition of new graphics on the top sheet and recently the slot through the ski to attach an easy skin. I couldn't recommend a particular ski without knowing your current ski experience, the terrain you will ski the most, and which you deem most important, speed on the flats, or touring for downhill turns. Here are a few links that you might find useful:
REI www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/crosscountry-ski-touring-gear.html
The shop that produced this video (2014) is no longer in business, but you might find some of the equipment mentioned in the video on the used market czcams.com/video/U8HfoiZNLK0/video.html
Last but not least, check out www.telemarktalk.com/ If you find a used ski you are interested in, search the forum to see what comes up.
@@tomm9850 Thank you so much! very helpful.
Hi @tomm9850, I live in Vermont and we don't get a lot of deep power days. Most of our trails are through the woods, steep and often icy so I'm looking for a ski/boot combination that offers a lot of turn control and stability. I'm considering the Fischer S-Bound 98 and wanted to get your thoughts on whether this is a good choice and what boot you might recommend? Thanks
@MrShankwheat Steep and icy is probably the most difficult condition for skiing XC skis. I'm not sure the S-Bound 98 would be the right choice. The S-Bound 98 is my favorite off trail ski for soft snow on rolling terrain where turnability is more important than straight line kick and glide speed. The key here is soft snow. For ice, it is all about edge control and that can be difficult when using the typical soft XC boot on wider skis. Are you skiing mostly hiking trails, forest service roads, and other paths with occasional turns or skiing off trail through the trees with lots of obstructions and very tight turns?
@@tomm9850 Thanks, Tom. I would say open paths that are much wider than hiking trails but not as open as a road. Occasionally through trees but the paths are usually steep. I would add that when the trails are icy that I usually don't bother going out anyway because that's just not a lot of fun 🙁 The paths go up and down a lot with short runs and but a lot of turns
The S-Bound 98 is wide, curvy, medium flex off trail XC ski and works very well for the conditions as shown in the video. I think most people would prefer a stiffer, narrower ski for skiing paths, roads, and trails on consolidated snow and ice. With a narrower ski, it is easier to roll the foot, use the steel edges to control your speed and to do step turns when you need to avoid an obstacle. I tend to ski my Traverse 78 for the kind of conditions you describe. Do you already have a set of XC ski and boots? It would be helpful to know what you are currently skiing so I can have a better understanding of where you are coming from. If you get a chance, take a look at Jared Manninen's video on step turns
czcams.com/video/nP6SwsRWo8Y/video.html Does this look more like the terrain and snow conditions you like to ski? I think that Jared is skiing S-Bound 98's in this video with the 75 mm Alpina Alaska, but it would also be the type of terrain and snow conditions where I'd be happy skiing the Traverse 78 or the Excursion 88.
@@tomm9850 Hi Tom. I have pair of Rossignol BC 65 with regular NNN bindings (not NNN BC) with regular standard soft touring boots (not BC). I took them to a ski shop to have NNN BC bindings installed but they hold me that the skis were too narrow at the waist for the binding. My thinking was that I would get bigger, beefier bindings and boots to provide more stability & control. Since that's not possible apparently, this lead to my search for a whole new outfit. My skiing conditions mirror this video exactly. czcams.com/video/8jdRs05zWVM/video.html Thank you for all of your help.
@@MrShankwheat Thanks for sending the video link. It gives me a much better feel for the trails you ski. The skier is skiing a downhill setup and I can see why it would be difficult to follow him with a set of XC skis and soft boots. Your current skis would accept an NNNBC binding (Rottefella's minimum waist is 52 mm for NNNBC) but if it were me, I'd keep your current setup for kick and glide XC tours and add a more downhill focused setup for when you need downhill control. That opens up a whole new can of worms. Options to consider would be a tele setup with either plastic boots or very stiff leather or the new Xplore system with a boot like the Alfa Free. I have two downhill skis in my quiver: the Voile Objective / Xplore Binding / Alfa Free boot and the Voile V6 / Switchback X2 binding / Scarpa T2 boot. I'll pick one of those options when the focus of the tour is downhill control. I'll also pair my S-Bound 98's with the Alfa Free Boot on moderate terrain and that is a good combo when I'm on an XC tour with some moderate downhill.
How do you like the 125's was my 2nd choice.
I skied a set of 125's for about 4 seasons. I skied them with a 3 pin binding and a soft leather boot in moderate terrain for two seasons, then remounted them with a Voile Switchback X2 and skied them with a Scarpa T4 boot for 2 seasons. I like the ski a lot. Fischer classifies the ski as an adventure ski. It's the kind of ski that one would pick for XCD skiing, and it really shines in soft snow on moderate terrain. Fischer no longer sells the ski and the widest S-bound ski they sell is the S-Bound 112. I no longer have the 125's in my quiver. I've replaced it with two skis, the Voile Objective BC with 3 pins and the Voile Hyper V6 BC with the Switchback X2 binding. My Voile skis are "downhill" skis, with a softer camber, turned up tails, and a grooveless bottom. I was using the 125's mostly as a backcountry downhill focused ski and the Voile's are better suited for the downhill end of things. The S-Bound 125's are a better XCD ski than my Voile's. I'm still skiing my S-Bound 98's and they see lots of use, probably more than my Voile skis. Here is a link to my playlist of skiing the S-Bound 125's czcams.com/play/PLSbEbRoGC_hpgPDeSDoVQDMYdxr1rsJAV.html