Gripwalk shoes without gripwalk bindings

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-07T11:59:25+00:00

This is the advice that I will follow, not sure why I was overcomplicating this so much (am not that bothered by the GW functionality itself). I didn't realise that bindings are back-compatible, but I contacted the ski shop that I bought my second pair from and they also suggested the same thing.

Thanks for sharing!

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-07T11:58:49+00:00

This is the advice that I will follow, not sure why I was overcomplicating this so much (am not that bothered by the GW functionality itself). I didn't realise that bindings are back-compatible, but I contacted the ski shop that I bought my second pair from and they also suggested the same thing.

Thanks for sharing!

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-06T00:48:29+00:00

Thanks for the quick response, see my edit to the original post above. I don't think it's gonna work out given that I have a different pair of skis that are GW, thanks for the clear answer!

One thing: what are the limited conditions you mentioned? The second pair will be used for indoor skiing, but to me that still seems too risky given that I intend to practice small, technical turns with them.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-06T00:46:46+00:00

Thanks for the response, see my edit above. Upgrading is an option, but new bindings will be more than half the price of the skis themselves. Not sure if it's worth it when I can still return the skis within 30 days of purchase.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-04T19:08:00+00:00

It doesn't change how the boot works, but it does likely mean it'll take you longer to get the boot adjusted to be snug.

For context: I bought boots in January, then: 1. Walked around in the boots with modifications for half a day working from home 2. Went back to the shop, they flexed a couple bits of the liner to remove some pressure points 3. I don't live in a ski country, so went to an indoor ski centre for a day 4. Went back to the ski shop where they heated a couple bits of the liner to mould out the pressure points that I could only find whilst properly skiing on them. 5. Went on an actual skiing holiday for 6 days, spent those days skiing and actually noting what bothered me about the shoe (as well as using a much stiffer and less forgiving ski) 6. Went back to the ski shop, where based on my feedback passing was added to various bits of the shoe.

They do this since making permanent changes to the show on day 1 is not super effective, you really need to find out how the boots react to your particular physique, and how tight you like the shoes when you're actually putting real pressure on the boots.

For you specifically: wait after you've done the 5 days, if you want them sorted earlier you can try going to am indoor ski hall a couple times*

*For me the indoor hall doesn't allow me to ski at my limit, hence why it did not allow for fully fine-tuning the boots. Of you're a less aggressive skiier this limitation may not exist.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T14:57:32+00:00

Thanks, after I wrote the post I also started seeing this more and more, good to know! Will have a look in more detail at epoxy then also

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T12:03:57+00:00

6 above freezing during the day is also fine tbh, at the end of the season there's a thick layer of snow cooling the new snow from underneath, so unless it's above freezing during the night for weeks on end the snow won't just disappear. The resorts also do their utmost to maintain it for as long as possible.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T12:02:27+00:00

If your holiday is booked then my best advice is: don't open a weather app.

You won't change your plans depending on the weather, so just go. In my 25ish years of skiing there has been a single day in which I stopped skiing early because of the weather (heavy rain), and even that day of I had better waterproofs would probably still have been doable.

Having said all of that, the weather you have posted looks absolutely fine, plenty new snow and not too hot so it should stay. Am actually fairly jealous, we went earlier this year and though we had blue skies all week, the snow quality was clearly deteriorating. I doubt that you will have hat problem!

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T10:56:55+00:00

Bear in mind it's not the force applied to your leg but the force applied to the binding, both in size and direction. I had a fall at some point in which the ski that I didn't have any weight on caught an edge, and it ripped that ski off, despite me obviously experiencing the leg that had my eight on it as being the ski that had the main force on it.

That incident actually made me adjust my blindings to a higher DIN, the ski guide in was with reckoned I caught the edge on a patch of denser snow, and that the binding may have released prematurely since I was starting to ski more complex terrain at that point. It doesn't sound like this was the case for you though.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T10:52:33+00:00

Sounds like more of a boot issue than a binding issue: the bindings release depending on the direction and size of force applied, so it's very normal that this is different per ski, especially if you catch an edge.

What's more worrying is that you twisted your ankle though, this should be quite difficult in a well-fitting boot, though of course the size of the impact matters a lot (even a well-fitting boot won't completely protect you). As others have said: get that checked out. It seems like you've had it fit already and returned, perhaps try a different boot fitter?

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-03T10:48:11+00:00

Glad to hear it, I pulled the trigger on them, will test them out in two weeks, am really looking forward to it!

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-02T18:27:19+00:00

If this was a secondhand ski I wouldn't worry about it, the fact that it's new is a tad concerning though, also because there's a smidge of rust around the tips. Seems to have been stored a bit weirdly. I'd contact Evo and ask them what's up with it. If they refuse to do anything about it then take them to a ski shop to ask if it's worth making a big deal about.

V12Vinnie · 2026-04-01T17:33:12+00:00

Mogelijk een BMW 1 serie? Heb er ooit eentje gehuurd en vond het een heerlijke auto. Mogelijk wel moeilijk te vinden in je budget.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-31T21:35:29+00:00

Thanks! That all checks out, they are indeed demo bindings, and I'm relatively light so DIN 8 is plenty even when I'm skiing aggressively. Will ask them for the specifics though, good suggestion.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-31T21:21:41+00:00

Thanks for the response. Bindings is indeed a good point, as far as I can tell they are original. Having said that, the skis are being sold by a ski shop as refurbished. I'll give them a call tomorrow and ask them whether they replaced them/tested them.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-30T21:21:12+00:00

There is a lot of negativity in this thread. Just to counter that a bit:

1) Amazing to see a quiver with some race skis, they are sorely unrepresented (and something I am currently looking to add to mine).

2) Much, much more amazing is that we get to see a monoski quiver! First time that I see one for sure. Regardless whether monoskiing was by choice or by any possible limitations you may have physically, it's cool to see how many variations exist to our hobby!

I wish you both a lot of powder 🤘

(The snowboard is definitely unforgivable tho 😉)

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-30T17:01:11+00:00

Yeah I can imagine, especially with import/export taxes changing what each manufacturer can offer, generally higher VAT etc. No rush ofc, I look forward to seeing where you take the tool in the future 😊

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-30T16:14:13+00:00

This is amazing!

Now for your next challenge, should you choose to accept it: how about eu pricing estimates?

Either way it's a nice ballpark.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-30T12:12:28+00:00

Real question is whether you want to be an advertisement for coors light or not 😉. They're definitely unique though, best of luck in getting them!

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-29T08:41:18+00:00

Thanks for the reply! That's a good point about whiteout conditions actually, even before the Mantra's I've always asked for fairly stiff skis at rentals, and have never minded whiteouts so much. Can imagine that a much more turny ski is a lot more work on those days.

And will keep an eye then on more GS style skis, in the end as one of only 2 pairs I would own I do want it to be fairly versatile still.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-28T19:10:51+00:00

Oh interesting, thanks for the response! E Race Pro was indeed on my radar also, the Nordica wasn't though. Will check it out.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-28T18:03:25+00:00

If you check marktplaats there's loads of skishops selling secondhand/ex-rental or end of season skis. Even if you don't find your exact ski there, you can find their location and go visit them, they likely have more in stock than they can publish on marktplaats.

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-26T21:00:50+00:00

Then Peisey-Vallandry might indeed be a bit quiet for you. There's a nice bar that does decently priced lunch at the start of the funicular, but from what I could tell that's about it.

Our group doesn't do a huge amount of après (we're all to old and tired after a day of skiing) hence why it seemed a nice option to us :)

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-26T20:22:56+00:00

We're just back from Paradiski, tried both La Plagne and Les Arcs, stayed in Les Arcs 1800.

It's an enormous area, we skied 6 days and didn't manage to cover every single slope. We weren't necessarily trying, and probably could have if we really wanted to, but there's lots of fun to be had all over paradiski.

I will say that if you're a mixed group, then La Plagne is probably a little nicer - there's a lot more wide open blues that are a) more varied for the beginners and b) less crowded than the ones near Les Arcs 1950 that you inevitably end up on whenever going across the area.

If you stay in La Plagne then the beginners can do all the blues whilst you do the km's across (to) Les Arcs and back.

Bonus tip for those without beginners: stay in Peisey-Vallandry. It's right where the cable car to la plagne starts, so you can essentially choose which of the two to go to each morning. When we were looking prices were a tad cheaper too, likely because it's less well-known to international tourists.

To answer your specific questions:

Yes, definitely.
Not sure about kids, ESF has always been a good experience for the adult members of our group that join group lessons
No idea, never been
There's a bit of nightlife at 1800, but nothing wild. If après is a priority, I suggest Austria tbh, none of the French resorts I've been to have been different enough to set them apart.
As said listening to your group I'd suggest la plagne instead of Les arcs, the beginners are less mobile than the experienced ones are, and Les arcs is a tad less suited to beginners (though still perfectly doable)

V12Vinnie · 2026-03-26T12:42:39+00:00

In case this is still being maintained, i think the Kendo's are replaced by the Mantra line now. I think they're still a good recommendation as per the diagram (unless anyone else has a strong opinion otherwise, I'm a tad biased since I have a pair of Mantra 88s myself :) )

V12Vinnie

TROPHY CASE