Ski width for spring corn

What width ski's do you prefer for spring couloir skiing? I got an AT setup a few years ago with some huge skis....190cm with 119 underfoot. Great when I am skiing some powder, but a huge pain in the ass when boot packing up a hard pack couloir. I want to get a second ski set up for spring months where width is not a problem, was thinking 85 underfoot. Just wanted some opinions and input for your experience.

I agree with your 85. 80-90 should work great. Get em a little shorter if you're going to be doing really steep and narrow couloir

One of my biggest concerns is that the lighter you go for a ski-mountaineering ski the more you compromise in durability; the light weight Dynafit skis are light but fragile compared to BD skis that are a bit heavier and can handle more abuse.

What kind of boot and binding are you going to use?

I've got dynafit radical bindings and the dynafit Titan boots. Not at all lightweight boots. I was looking at a pair of BD skis or possibly Ski Trab.

FWIW - I've skied a 95 underfoot the past two springs with 100% satisfaction.

I think good stiffness, camber and side cut are more important than underfoot width, but that's just me.

I noticed STP has the Warrant on sale for <$300. Nice ski for a good price and probably just a bit more versatile than a skinny ski.

80-95 anything is fine, more important is Light Is Right. Pick the lightest set-up you can.

You can pick up a pair of the TLT5-P for pretty cheep, they climb way better than TLT6 and will be perfect for driving a 80-90mm skimo ski.
Or you can do this to your titans;)
tetongravity.com/forums/sho…

Check out the Wild Snow ski weight/suface chart.
wildsnow.com/9657/ski-weigh…

The Cold Thistle Blog also has a ton of good info.
coldthistle.blogspot.com/

How much shorter for narrow couloirs? I am set on the BD current ski, 86mm underfoot. It comes in a 176 or 185. I am 6' 4" 177 pounds, per BD's weight chart I could fit either ski. I've never skied anything shorter than a 185, but I am tempted to try the 176 for quicker turns, plus a lighter setup for the way up. Any thoughts?

I appreciate the input!

176 will def feel short and snappy, but that can be a good thing in narrow couloirs. Too short for charging down a bowl but you've got the pow skis for that. Doesn't sound like you ever ski groomers so unless you need a piste ski for some reason, try out the 176. It should compliment your other skis well.

at 6'4" I would definitely get the 185. The Current has tip & tail rocker. The 176 at your height will feel like a snow blade IMO. Your weight may say 176, but your height definitely says 185 if you ask me. Even for a spring ski.

IMO weight is much more useful for determining ski size than height.

I'm 6 4 and 170 lbs, and I ski some 182 twin tips (effectively 176 cm due to the turned up tail). They aren't my everyday ski, but I love them for anything where I wanna be able to swing em around quick. Moguls, tight trees, tight chutes, steeps with lots of rocky obstacles, etc. So if you truly are wanting skis specifically for tight radius applications, I vote 176, just look at what slalom skiers use. And the weight savings could be an advantage of the shorter ski as well. Mike does have a good point about the rocker though, it will make it feel a little shorter, so if you want more all-around versatility for skiing bowls of corn, then go 185. Really depends on how specifically you intend to use it.

I've got a pair of the 176 BD Currents(with TLTs) and IMO they are a great ski-mo ski that has a good balance of weight, durability, stiffness and snap.

I use to rock the big AT set ups and now I'm set on the ski-mo way. Here is a good interview that Trevor Hunt did about ski-mo gear.
skintrack.com/people/trevor…

There was a time when ski mountaineers routinely skied transformed spring snow in rather steep couloirs and slopes on a ski length say 130 cm or less.

Those skis were called "firngleiters" or figl skis.

I have k2 backups 82cm waist / 181 and BD kilowatts 95cm waist 185 length. I am 6'2" and 200 lbs. I prefer the k2s for corn snow and tighter turn radius. The kilowatts still ski great but they are heavier and turn radius is bigger 19 vs 24.5. The weight alone is enough for me to pick the k2 for longer tours.
I'd shoot for 80-86 cm waist. the extra weight of the 90 does not give any extra benefit for corn snow.