Opinions on Black Diamond Glidelite Snow Trekkers?

Good approach ski? Better than snowshoeing? Any reviews or thoughts on these?

I wonder if you could buy the binding separately and put it on x country skis for a mellow approach. ...? 

Just note that you can’t use them while wearing mountaineering boots, which kind of defeats the purpose.

Briggs Lazalde wrote:

Are you sure Ryan? Product description says you can but tell me more

Doesn't it say something about needing flexible boots?

I think that comes from the Altai Hok ski, which is not designed for use with rigid sole boots, only flexible.

I saw nothing on the BD site that states this.

But from using a similar Stubai binding I do know stiff boots put great strain on the binding mounting screws.  When I had them dismounted several were found to be snapped.

"Binding should not be used with stiff-soled shoes".  https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-bdel/default/dw5bf5665d/files/M13146_A%20GlideLite%20Ski-Binding_IS_REF.pdf

"the Glidelite Universal Binding fit any boot or shoe for quick and easy access in snowy terrain.."

That's from the product description on their website!  So if the 'no rigid boots' is true, this is complete bullshit!!!

it's not BS.  The bindings hinge under the ball of the foot, so it will only work with flexible boots.  Look at the pics!  For rigid-soled boots, you need the hinge point to be at the very front of the boot, or for the entire binding to be raised off the ski.
Here's a screen capture from the user manual for the GlideLite:

These bindings are NOT designed to be used with an ice boot. The flex point is at the ball of the foot, not at the toe and thus, inappropriate for what you are asking for.  Right now, if you want to use the ski, buy it without the binding and mount a pair of silverettas (or similar) onto them.  

Note, the longer pair have medal edges and the shorter size does not if that makes a difference to you.  

I recommend against these as I experimented with the Karhu Meta in the past (link for reference, not mine https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/240045-Karhu-Meta-Ascension-Skis-155-shipped)

Numerous manufacturers have made versions of this same thing over the past few years, none have been successful because they're not very useful. I'm a pretty bad skiier, but I found these things to be total death traps (on par with normal edgeless XC skis, but without the length/stability). Your overall surface area is about the same as a snowshoe. Any hopes of kick-glide is laughable.

Even on flat/wide open surfaces, I just didn't see an advantage to snowshoes.

I do think there is a place for approach skis, but I'd go with something more akin to the Karhu XCD guide and some silverettas or something.

Eric and Lucie wrote: it's not BS.  

Actually it is BS.  "Any boot" means ski boots and rigid sole climbing boots too.  That's a quote from their product description.  Pretty much anyone outside of Trump land can't bend those words.

Your clip from the instructions are buried in a .pdf that is the kind of thing that hardly anyone reads before purchasing climbing/ski gear.

Whether this situation is deliberate or not, BD needs to make it clear in the product promotional info.  This is especially true as many if not almost all online retailers do NOT offer the instructions on their listing.  Take a look at REI's description: it says "any boot" and has no link to those instructions!

​REI: BD Trekker Ski/Binding​​​

Well that answers that. Looks like a no go. Thanks for the input!

jon jugenheimer wrote: These bindings are NOT designed to be used with an ice boot. The flex point is at the ball of the foot, not at the toe and thus, inappropriate for what you are asking for.  Right now, if you want to use the ski, buy it without the binding and mount a pair of silverettas (or similar) onto them.  

Note, the longer pair have medal edges and the shorter size does not if that makes a difference to you.  

That's a drag (thx for all the other answers as well). The ski looks good though. Would this ski plus these binders work for ice climbing boots as an approach ski? 

https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en/ski-bindings/fritschi-diamir-scout-w%2Fm-95mm-brake-BD1012742_cfg.html

Or, what are the preferred model of silvrettas or whatever other brand for this purpose? This thread is old, and doesn't appear to give a definitive answer... 
https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/107245037/ski-binding-for-ice-climbing-boot?page=2

We used an older version of the Fritschi bindings once for a longish (~1.5hrs) gentle snowy approach once in BC (Canada).  Our boots were La Sportiva Nepal supreme.  They fit nicely in the bindings and felt secure enough for easy skiing (but we did not try anything steep...).  
However, we have not done this since, because both of us developed huge blisters on both heels as a result of the skinning action...  made the climbing interesting...
I think you really want boots with rigid ankles (i.e. AT boots) to skin.  Otherwise, most of the pulling load ends up shearing the skin on the back of your heels.

The longer version (147 instead of 125) has metal edges, which seems like an advantage.

Does anyone know of a shop in the Denver/Boulder area that rents these?

I have now tried both the Glidelite 147 and the Altai Hok 125. I do not recommend either.

First off, I am a decent resort skier. I can ski fast and smooth on anything groomed, and will tackle any black and many double blacks. My alpine skis are Head iTitans and Dynastar 8800s. I am not a x-country skier, though.

I skied the Glidelites and Hoks on the trail from East Portal near Rollinsville--it's a gradual uphill, some flats, two log bridge crossings, some open areas where I could climb up and ski down steeper slopes. It was cold--maybe 10 degrees. The snow on the trail was compacted, but off trail was powder.

The Hoks were fine for uphill travel. Downhill, though, there was insufficient glide. They would grab and release. I could never get a downhill rhythm. Floatation was excellent, though. They just don't "ski"--but are probably a decent replacement for snowshoes.

The Glidelites had better glide. However, if the trail was off camber, they would slip sideways. Crossing the log bridges was particularly exciting. In the end, they are just too squirrelly underfoot, and I ended up carrying them downhill rather than risk tweaking a knee or ankle.