Approach gear options: AT skis v. snowshoes v. Drift Boards v. some new miracle gear???

I'm itching to do more mountaineering that would involve long approaches in snow (with serious altitude gain involved).  I hate snowshoes because I find them slow, cumbersome, and maybe it's just that I believe that there have to be much better gear options out there.  But I don't really want to fork over $2k for new AT boots and bindings and skis, so a split board seems to be an option (I'm a better snowboarder than skier), but here's what would be ideal in my crazy head:  (1) being able to use my mountaineering boots (I have Sportiva Nepal GTX Cube, and I don't want to climb technical alpine mixed routes in AT boots) that would be compatible with (2) something lightweight and super portable.  My goal isn't to get in the best back country ski or snowboard runs, but to make the approach and return much more manageable for remote snowy mountain climbing adventures.  Anybody have comments on drift boards?  Or other equipment options???

One of my partners uses his Nepals with a split board, seems to do OK. That said, a lot of AT boots climb quite well depending on the objective i.e the Dynafit TLT5/6. If climbing in ski boots is an option, it makes the approach and descent much better with a full AT set up.

You are describing the perfect situation to use the Silvretta bindings. They work with mountaineering boots. Easy to mount on a shorter approach ski if lightweight is your priority. I bet you can find them cheap on EBAY or here on MP.

Kudos to you for realizing snowshoeing is the worst activity imaginable.

Although, I think once you start skiing more, you may enjoy that just as much as climbing :)

I have used my Nepal Cubes with my split board a couple of times and found the results surprisingly good. That said, I don't know how to ski and snowshoes are slow... so I don't really have another choice. Most of my approaches have been less than 5 miles. I could imagine any longer than that could be fairly uncomfortable.

The low weight of modern ski mountaineering equipment is pretty unbelievable. I have a pair of Movement Race Pros with Marker Alpinist bindings and I think they weigh about 2lbs each. I use Scarpa F1 boots which walk and climb like plastic mountain boots only lighter, but I don't do ice, only snow - they ski very well too. But yes 2K worth of gear.

you can also click a mountain boot into a frame binding like a solomon guardian or a fritschi diamir.  these are pretty cheap and readily available (as opposed to a silvretta). any old light-ish ski will work just fine if you're just doing approaches, so this can be a really affordable setup.  it will totally suck to ski on, but if you're committed to wearing mtn boots this is guaranteed.   i haven't done it, but its commonly done.  i personally go with an alien rs + black diamond helio alpine touring setup.  

silvretta bindings, fat cross country skis, skins. 

Altai Hoks and the larger model may be of interest to you

i splitboard in la sportiva spantik boots.   got the whole setup on craigslist for $600 (board/bindings/skins) and it’s been amazing.
i love climbing mountains and snowboarding, putting em together has been a dream come true

Tom MacD wrote:  but to make the approach and return much more manageable for remote snowy mountain climbing adventures. 

A combination of whiskey, gluttony for punishment, and some narcotics of your choice will do the job for a lot less $$$

I just got Atomic Backlands + skis and used dynafits for around $900. Not cheap but not $2k. My hope is to eventually go hardbooting with my splitboard which really is a pricy set up. Read a ton of reviews and unless you're planning on climbing very technical ice and rock then hard boots are just as good as mountaineering boots in most cases but the performance is way better down.

brian burke wrote: you can also click a mountain boot into a frame binding like a solomon guardian or a fritschi diamir.  these are pretty cheap and readily available (as opposed to a silvretta). any old light-ish ski will work just fine if you're just doing approaches, so this can be a really affordable setup.  it will totally suck to ski on, but if you're committed to wearing mtn boots this is guaranteed.   i haven't done it, but its commonly done.  i personally go with an alien rs + black diamond helio alpine touring setup.  

No kidding? I just happen to have some guardian 13 bindings.  May have to try this...

Find a used splitboard setup, you should be able to get your hands on something for around ~$500 used in good shape if you’re patient. I ride in my Cubes as well when I know I’ll need my crampons, works good enough for me. I switched over from using snowshoes & cant believe I didn’t get a spilt sooner. 

jt newgard wrote: You are describing the perfect situation to use the Silvretta bindings. They work with mountaineering boots. Easy to mount on a shorter approach ski if lightweight is your priority. I bet you can find them cheap on EBAY or here on MP.

Kudos to you for realizing snowshoeing is the worst activity imaginable.

Although, I think once you start skiing more, you may enjoy that just as much as climbing :)

I've had two sets of Silvretta bindings break, leaving me in very dangerous situations. Don't go there. I have used Dynafit tech pin bindings and boots both on piste and on long snow approach rock climbing. On class 5 and up, I take my rock shoes. They are light and packable.
Dynafit is bombproof!

If I understand this correctly, you essentially want something that is better than snowshoes for approaches. That being the case, the BD Glidelite might be what you are looking for. I don't have personal experience with them but they seem like a pretty decent dedicated approach ski for use with normal boots. I recently saw there is a pair for sale here in Montana currently for $200, PM me if interested and I may be able to set you up with the seller.

A split does not make sense to me. I understand the advantage of being able to use snowboard bindings with mountaineering boots. However, slitboards don't perform the best in ski mode. Specifically in any down hill or on firm side hills. The bindings lack lateral support and the edge radii are not optimized for skiing. If you think you will get into some actual splitboarding than a used split would fit your current need k owing some limitation exist, it just doesn't seem like the right tool solely as a dedicated approach ski.

Chris Owen wrote: The low weight of modern ski mountaineering equipment is pretty unbelievable. I have a pair of Movement Race Pros with Marker Alpinist bindings and I think they weigh about 2lbs each. I use Scarpa F1 boots which walk and climb like plastic mountain boots only lighter, but I don't do ice, only snow - they ski very well too. But yes 2K worth of gear.

Thanks Chris.  Maybe I should just bite that bullet...  The next Q is - is this set-up appropriate for taking to the slopes with the wife and kids on days I'm not heading out back-country or do you use an entirely different set-up for that?  Just curious...

Different set up for lift served. You are better off with $20 Lange boots from the ski swap and some 10y old thrift store skis for bumming around on lifts than using skimo gear.

You mention long routes with serious altitude gain.  Sounds like where I would be wanting "robust" gear vs light weight.  You might need crampons so that could influence choice of boots.  If it's really mountaineering you'll also want a mountaineering axe, some ice screws and other climbing gear including a rope, bivy gear, etc.
I'd not recommend split or snowboard.  Sooner or later there will be a fall in a difficult location and having both feet locked in won't be great.

Linnaeus wrote: Different set up for lift served. You are better off with $20 Lange boots from the ski swap and some 10y old thrift store skis for bumming around on lifts than using skimo gear.

When I first got my superlight AT set up I ran them at the local resort because I wanted to see how they performed under groomed conditions - the only reason I don't use them at the resort is that I don't want to wear them out! I ski my local resorts a lot and use a downhill set up - I actually bought the skis used off Ebay for $180. The boots I got from Sierra Trading Post. Having said that I knew exactly what skis and boots I wanted - and got lucky.

Idaho Bob wrote: You mention long routes with serious altitude gain.  Sounds like where I would be wanting "robust" gear vs light weight.  You might need crampons so that could influence choice of boots.  If it's really mountaineering you'll also want a mountaineering axe, some ice screws and other climbing gear including a rope, bivy gear, etc.
I'd not recommend split or snowboard.  Sooner or later there will be a fall in a difficult location and having both feet locked in won't be great.

That all makes perfect sense, and is what I'm really asking about - I'm interested in climbs where for sure I'd be bringing crampons, an axe or possibly two, rope, screws and a small rock rack, etc.  So for those routes with long snowy approaches, if you leave behind the split board and skis, what do you do - use snowshoes or just hike in in your mountaineering boots?  Snowshoes and post-holing are something I want to avoid.  I'm guessing you just wait until the approach isn't a snow slog?