Let's talk about the impressions of the favorite gear that riders used this winter.
This time, Toru Kawaguchi's favorite skis, boots, and bindings, who are filming mainly in big mountains in Hokkaido and Canada.
Toru Kawaguchi 37 years old
Since he was in his twenties, he has participated in freestyle skiing contests in Japan and abroad, and left behind images such as "mighty jamming film works" with his friends. After shooting, he began to enter the backcountry, and was fascinated by snowy mountains and nature, and his field went to mountains all over the world. Currently he continues to shoot with "Heart films". While working as THE NORTH FACE Athlete and involved in VECTOR GLIDE's ski production, he is living a sustainable snow life in Hokkaido.
Set up by Toru Kawaguchi
Skis: VECTER GLIDE FLOWVER 180cm (140-117-135) '22-23 model
Boots: K2 MINDBENDER 100 '21-22 model
Bindings: MARKER KING PIN 13 '21-22 model
Ratings and reviews for each gear
ski reviews
VECTOR GLIDE FLOWVER
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★☆☆☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Choose suitable scenes in 5 steps
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★☆☆
Hard pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★☆☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Frequently used situations
I mainly use it in the backcountry from the powdery conditions of the harsh winter to the granulated spring season.
●Review
Surfy-like skis that allow you to glide smoothly on the natural topography of snowy mountains. A product that anyone can ski comfortably with a high degree of freedom and a lightweight structure.
boot reviews
K2 MINDBENDER 100
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★☆☆
Upper: ★★☆☆☆
●Five levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★★★
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function
Since it is a simple structure, it is easy to operate and there are few troubles.
●Frequently used conditions (time, place, conditions, etc.)
I ski with these boots all season.
●Review
I chose soft flex boots. You can use your ankles and have good operability, and the last width of the boot is set to be relatively wide, so it feels comfortable to wear.
binding review
MARKER KING PIN 13
●Five levels of impression
: ★★★★☆
Reliability:★★★★★
use:★★★★☆
Lightweight feeling:★★★★★
Operation feeling of climbing mode change:★★★★ ★
Heel lifter operation feeling:★★★★★
●Choose suitable scenes in 5 steps
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★☆☆
Hard pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★☆☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function The
binding itself is made very lightweight, so you can walk lightly on snowy mountains.
●Frequently used conditions (time, place, conditions, etc.)
I use it in the backcountry.
●Review
I like the fact that it is very lightweight. It has good operability, moves quickly in the backcountry, and is highly reliable as a pin binding, so you can use it with confidence.