Photo:@n11_daiju.m
Let's hear impressions from riders about their favorite gear that they used extensively this winter.
This time, we'll hear from TKY Takaya Kawaguchi, a professional skier and travel surfer who travels the world, runs his own backcountry tours, and works as a guide.
Kawaguchi TKY Takaya 39 years old
He took a leave of absence from university to train in freestyle skiing, experiencing the world level through bum life in Whistler and Banff, Canada. After a solo ski trip to the Yukon and Alaska that spring, his values changed, and he began to focus on ski travel rather than park riding. To date, he has visited more than 50 countries with skis and a surfboard in hand, including a round-the-world road trip. He continues to travel to remote areas and meet indigenous peoples, following his curiosity. He
also organizes BC tours and events in Japan to convey the joy of skiing and travel. He is the founder of the travel planning project ShareTavi. He is the main guide at Nozawa Onsen COMPASS HOUSE. He is a JMGA certified BC ski guide. (National English interpreter guide qualification. Comprehensive travel business manager qualification. Comprehensive tour manager qualification. Rishiri Fuji Ambassador)
Instagram:@tky_travel_skier
Kawaguchi TKY Takaya setup
Skis ①: ARMADA LOCATOR96 178cm (127-96-117) '22-23 model
Bindings ①: ARMADA TRACER TOUR '22-23 model
Skis ②: ARMADA WHITE WALKER116 185cm (139-116-135) '21-22 model
Bindings ②: ARMADA SHIFT13 Release value set to 11 '22-23 model
Boots: NORDICA STRIDER ELITE 130 '21-22 model
Ratings and reviews of each gear
Skiing ① Review
ARMADA LOCATOR96
●Rate the perceived stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard Pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
● Common Usage Situations:
Backcountry skiing from winter to early summer after snowfall has subsided. Long-distance backcountry hikes. Especially ideal for trips involving public transportation such as flights.
While various snow conditions coexist in backcountry areas, the shape of these skis is just right, so if you're unsure about the conditions, choose these skis and they'll bring a smile to your face on any slope!
●Review:
At just 1350g per ski (178cm), these are incredibly lightweight! They completely change the speed of your hikes and the level of fatigue you feel when you reach the summit, making tours even more enjoyable.
Thanks to the straight sidecut, the entire ski grips well when traversing slopes or zigzagging on steep ascents, allowing you to climb with confidence without worrying about slipping.
And because there's no sidecut, they're perfect for skiing while manually adjusting the turn arc and sliding the tail.
Ultra-lightweight skis designed specifically for backcountry skiing often sacrifice responsiveness due to their lightness. However, these ultra-lightweight skis from ARMADA, a freestyle brand rather than a mountaineering brand, minimize the sacrifice in responsiveness, offering a level of responsiveness you wouldn't expect from their lightness, making them incredibly fun to ski on. They're so light yet perform so well—
it's almost unfair!
Binding ① Review
ARMADA TRACER TOUR
● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★☆☆
Reliability: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★★
Lightweight feel: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of climbing mode change: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of heel lifter: ★★★★★
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★☆☆
Hard Pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
● Common situations where it is used (time of year, location, conditions, etc.): Long
hikes in backcountry skiing,
from winter after snowfall has subsided to early summer backcountry skiing.
●Comments on the usability of the Walk Mode function:
The simple design, which allows you to switch between hiking mode and riding mode by simply twisting the heel piece, significantly reduces preparation time.
Furthermore, the simple structure means that damage and malfunctions are virtually zero, providing a level of peace of mind that is incomparably greater for long hikes in backcountry skiing or extended backcountry trips involving overnight stays.
If your bindings break in backcountry skiing, it's not only not fun, but it can also be life-threatening.
●Review:
Weighing just 390g per foot, roughly the weight of a can of beer. This otherworldly lightness for ski bindings will surely take you to Mars. This might mean you won't have to compromise on the weight of the beer you bring on snow camping trips.
This lightness is also an advantage when skiing, allowing for nimble footwork even in the unpredictable snow conditions of backcountry areas.
While the hold is admittedly inferior to regular bindings, as expected from ARMADA, it is quite rigid for a tech binding that locks with only four pins, and you won't feel any twisting of the binding during turns.
Ski 2 Review
ARMADA WHITE WALKER116
●Impression of stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★★
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard Pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★☆
● Common Use Situations:
Backcountry skiing in the depths of winter is pretty much limited to one option. Plow slopes, big lines on wide slopes, and backcountry skiing on days when powder is available.
●Review:
This ski offers a contrasting alternative to the LOCATOR series. Its solid construction and wider 116mm center width provide stability and potential on high-speed slopes and in powder conditions.
What's amazing about these skis is that they not only offer great buoyancy, but their unique pin nose and pin tail shape allows you to dive under powder, and the 3D structured sole called SmearTech lets you glide, allowing you to freely experiment with different actions while skiing. The
pronounced camber also lets you experience high-speed carving using the ski's flex, so if you're tired of easy rocker skis, try these adrenaline-pumping skis!
There's a preconceived notion that hard skis are heavy, but these skis are sturdy yet lightweight at just 1800g (185cm). They're also great for hiking, so they're perfect for backcountry skiing or even during the harsh winter
Bindings 2 Review
ARMADA SHIFT 13
● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Lightweight feel: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of climbing mode change: ★★★☆☆
Ease of operation of heel lifter: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard Pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★☆
● Common situations where it is used (time of year, location, conditions, etc.):
Backcountry skiing in the dead of winter. Ski resorts.
●Comments on the usability of the walk mode function:
Switching between ski mode and hike mode is a little troublesome, but once you get used to it, it's not a problem at all.
And not only is it lighter than alpine bindings, but because it's a tech binding, the support points when walking are closer to the feet, so when hiking it's very smooth and feels lighter than its actual weight.
●Review:
The two-piece binding uses semi-fixed screws that do not interfere with the flex, so the binding does not hinder the ski's deflection.
It offers a riding feel that is unexpected for a tech binding, and can reproduce the same level of performance as alpine bindings, from high-speed carving to edge control.
Let's put an end to the days of skiing with trepidation just because you're using BC bindings
Boots Review
NORDICA STRIDER ELITE 130
●Impression of stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★★☆
Upper: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard Pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
● Common usage situations (time of year, location, conditions, etc.):
All seasons, especially backcountry skiing.
●The walk mode function
is easy to use. Switching modes is simple. The range of motion is wide at 46°, making hiking easy.
●Review:
While lightweight is a given, these AT boots probably best replicate the resilience and rebound of alpine boots. Furthermore, they use materials that are highly resistant to temperature changes in flex, so they don't become stiff in the depths of winter and loose in spring, allowing you to ski with the same feel throughout the season.
As expected from the long-established boot brand NORDICA, the cork fit liner provides an excellent fit. The slightly wider last prevents your feet from feeling constricted and cold, and allows you to comfortably enjoy long hikes and extended backcountry trips without foot pain.