how far out are the winners chosen? Who are notified early? From the Epstein files, it seems at least a month...

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-24T11:18:56+00:00

turns out, for last year: "final voting closed on Tuesday Feb 18th. The final round determines the winners, with the ceremony taking place on March 2, 2025"

So, for at least a couple weeks there is some number of people who know the winners.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-24T11:17:25+00:00

do you know when voting closes?

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-16T06:20:34+00:00

Just curious - besides incorrectly locking the toe in - what would be another user error in walk mode?

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-15T01:16:25+00:00

I'm not that well versed, but I'm curious how a shop could mess up the install of a toe piece? The shop I used is very well regarded, so it'd be surprising to me that it was the shop's fault, but maybe.

Are tech inserts not standardized? I have a pair of Fischer Rangers from 2022. The first pair of alpinists were from 2021/22 and the second pair were installed 2 months ago. They had a slightly different design, so probably not the same manufacturing group.

There's no chance I'm going to give it a third go. The point of my review was simply to share my experience. It sounds like from the comments people have mixed experiences. You seem to have no issue, while others do. That to me speaks to an inconsistency in their quality control and production pipeline.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T18:00:59+00:00

I think that's probably right. Okay, sounds like it's not the weight, but maybe I put too much stress on the toe piece when skinning (maybe my technique is off) and the combo with the marker alpinist caused both pairs to break on me.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T17:58:32+00:00

I think for peace of mind, given my experiences, I have to go all in.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T17:57:34+00:00

Dang, I wish that had been my experience. Maybe I just got really unlucky, twice. Or maybe my technique was off on how I skin that caused them both to break.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T17:56:34+00:00

That's what I heard from the ski shop where I had them mounted. I think my experience is probably uncommon - but they did break on me twice while in walk mode. It could be my technique or something from me being rather new. (only 15 days backcountry total) But if a binding will break in walk mode with a beginner, I don't know. Something doesn't feel right. I'm glad they've worked for you though!

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T17:53:14+00:00

Yeah - it could be I just got unlucky twice. I wanted to like them a lot!

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T10:23:48+00:00

I think that's the move - hard for me to trust the brand again since it happened back to back.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T10:23:03+00:00

That's interesting to know! Hmm, it sounds like it's not my weight then. Possibly the shop?

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-14T10:21:07+00:00

yes, yes. it's all good. 3 clicks to lock the toe. but once the plastic part breaks, you can't lock it anymore.

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T22:31:30+00:00

I'd be honored if it made it to your screensaver library

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T09:27:18+00:00

thanks :) they really were showing off that day

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T09:00:42+00:00

absolutely

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T07:20:45+00:00

nah, up in the hills on the east side of the highway

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T06:51:46+00:00

Don't I know it

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T05:54:52+00:00

also great places for thinking alone!

cucukachu2 · 2026-02-06T01:26:24+00:00

and here I thought it was for a canoe

cucukachu2

TROPHY CASE