I spoke with a couple of people that were using these skis yesterday. They had just purchased them and had mixed reviews when I asked them some questions but they seem like the perfect ski for breaking trail across a lake. Does anyone have experience with these?

The best I have found
my choice for busting trail and pulk pulling

snow conditions can be so varied I don't think there can be a "best" or "perfect" ski for breaking trail across a lake, really just about anything will work if you know how to use it

I do like the concept of a universal binding so you can use your hiking boots rather than a ski specific boot, that way you can bring snow shoes and skis, and use whichever is appropriate at the time. I have a back pack which is designed to carry both skis and snowshoes, which makes for a fun outing regardless the conditions encountered.

Might be no such thing as "the perfect ski". Best ski depends on the conditions.

I think those would work great where the snow was shallow and crusty, and you had to do a lot of maneuvering. But if the snow is deep, or you don't need to do a lot of maneuvering (a lake), you might want something with a lot more surface area. I think BWCA is mostly lake skiing, so maybe those are not the best there. Snowshoes in the woods, or big fat skis like the ones in Dan's link for lakes.

If you are pulling a sled, you can bring more than one type of ski or snowshoe.

quote DanCooke: "The best I have found
my choice for busting trail and pulk pulling "

Looks like a nice snowshoe-ski cross as one mentioned. Looks like awesome floatation.

Does the binding stay on nice and secure and what kind of boot you wearing.

quote Pinetree: "

quote DanCooke: "The best I have found
my choice for busting trail and pulk pulling "

Looks like a nice snowshoe-ski cross as one mentioned. Looks like awesome floatation.


Does the binding stay on nice and secure and what kind of boot you wearing."

For the Madshus Dan linked to you choose the binding and boot- the skis are sold naked.

Santa brought a set of the Altai skis to my house for Christmas so I have limited time on them but the more I'm on them the more I like them. The skins on the bottom give you great traction and the bindings ratchet system tightens down on the boots of your choice very well. Very easy to remove them when you need to also. I got the longer 145 cm version because I weigh 215 Lbs. In deep snow I can feel the ski bow under my weight which causes the tip to angle upward making the ski glide forward pretty well. I would call myself a satisfied customer and am looking forward to using them more this winter.

I use 3 pin 75mm bindings. Slush does not render them useless like the step in bindings.
I used Epoke 900's for over 30 years, both in the BWCA and everywhere else. They were good enough for doing the lake route of the Kek Trail and many other 5 day traveling trips. You can use what you have. All ski choices are a compromise.

one thing to keep in mind if using older ski gear is that the glues may have lost there efficiency over time. i have had skis delaminate and soles pull off off boots. my thirty year old alsolos ski boots bit the dust skijouring the other day. it made for a long walk back to the car.



also be very aware that old bamboo ski poles are prone to breakage leaving you with a lethal weapon of slivers.

If considering the "new" binding/boot combos like NNN or the Salomon System better to choose a "manual" version of the binding rather than step-in bindings, as Dan noted the step-ins often become disabled in slush and cold weather. I also lube the workings of the binding once or twice a season with lock de-icer to discourage ice in the works.

quote jwartman59: "one thing to keep in mind if using older ski gear is that the glues may have lost there efficiency over time. i have had skis delaminate and soles pull off off boots. my thirty year old alsolos ski boots bit the dust skijouring the other day. it made for a long walk back to the car.
also be very aware that old bamboo ski poles are prone to breakage leaving you with a lethal weapon of slivers."

wow, I thought my gear was old :)

I lost the tip on one of my my bamboo poles about 15 years ago, and the basket on the other, I have used them since, just have to be sure which one is only good for the snow, which one is only good for ice/crusty snow :)

and I still have my Epoke 900 skis, the Look bindings I bought with them crapped out about 3 years after I bought them ... those skiis are nearly unbreakable and yeah, they have a nice flex, in fact about 10 years ago I was unsure of what the wax condition out would be, plus I didn't have time sine I was going to work, so instead of taking my newer Peltonen or Rosi's, I thru the Epoke with wax that was about 10 years old (plus a nice layer of dust) in my car and used them at French Park. When I passed a guy up a steep hill he asked me what wax I was using, "secret recipe" I replied. Some times you just get lucky with the wax choice.

quote ZaraSp00k: "

quote jwartman59: "one thing to keep in mind if using older ski gear is that the glues may have lost there efficiency over time. i have had skis delaminate and soles pull off off boots. my thirty year old alsolos ski boots bit the dust skijouring the other day. it made for a long walk back to the car.
also be very aware that old bamboo ski poles are prone to breakage leaving you with a lethal weapon of slivers."

wow, I thought my gear was old :)


I lost the tip on one of my my bamboo poles about 15 years ago, and the basket on the other, I have used them since, just have to be sure which one is only good for the snow, which one is only good for ice/crusty snow :)


and I still have my Epoke 900 skis, the Look bindings I bought with them crapped out about 3 years after I bought them ... those skiis are nearly unbreakable and yeah, they have a nice flex, in fact about 10 years ago I was unsure of what the wax condition out would be, plus I didn't have time sine I was going to work, so instead of taking my newer Peltonen or Rosi's, I thru the Epoke with wax that was about 10 years old (plus a nice layer of dust) in my car and used them at French Park. When I passed a guy up a steep hill he asked me what wax I was using, "secret recipe" I replied. Some times you just get lucky with the wax choice."

I have wax and waxless skiis. I have become a lazy waxer. It is blue and more blue if needed.

I also have a pair of Epoke 900's. On their third set of bindings. Still indestructible. I use them for breaking the North Arm Trails at the beginning of the season or after heavy snows. Slow-poke's,

I think they would be worth giving a try! The bindings look to be a little more durable than the old "berwin" bindings that have a tendency to break in the extreme cold weather.

Which bindings did you get to go with the Annum 78 skis and where did you buy them?

quote DanCooke: "The best I have found
my choice for busting trail and pulk pulling "

Hi Dan, which bindings did you get to go with the Annum 78 skis?

quote walleye_hunter: "I spoke with a couple of people that were using these skis yesterday. They had just purchased them and had mixed reviews when I asked them some questions but they seem like the perfect ski for breaking trail across a lake. Does anyone have experience with these?"

I have used the Hok 146 cm in the BWCA several times. They have become my go-to BWCA ski. I use a 75 mm binding with Scarpa T3/T4 plastic boots. They are great for breaking trail through deep snow.

My Hoks put my Rossignol BC 125 skis with 90 mm underfoot out of a job.

quote bigmitch1: "

quote walleye_hunter: "I spoke with a couple of people that were using these skis yesterday. They had just purchased them and had mixed reviews when I asked them some questions but they seem like the perfect ski for breaking trail across a lake. Does anyone have experience with these?"

I have used the Hok 146 cm in the BWCA several times. They have become my go-to BWCA ski. I use a 75 mm binding with Scarpa T3/T4 plastic boots. They are great for breaking trail through deep snow.


My Hoks put my Rossignol BC 125 skis with 90 mm underfoot out of a job. "

How do the T4's work? Tempting since waterproof with removeable liner.

T4/T3s are not only waterproof, but very warm.

I increase the warmth of the boots by lining the inside of the boots with aluminum tape.

I reduce the amount of perspiration from my feet by coating them with antiperspirant.

My T4s are nearly identical to my T3s, which I have used for 20 years. I put the felt liners inside my sleeping bag to dry them out.

If I used my T4/T3s more than one BWCA trip/winter, I would upgrade the felt liner to an Intuition liner.

I have Intuition liners in my other Scarpa Boots (T2 and Maestrale) that I use for ski tours out West. Intuition liners do not absorb moisture and are easily warmed up inside a sleeping bag.

Used T4s/T3s are cheap on eBay and are nearly indestructible. Scarpa ski boots run true to size. My 12 1/2 foot fits nicely inside a 30.5 T4 and a 12 1/2 T3.

I use a similar ski, karhu meta skis. No more snowshoes or skinny skis for me. They have metal edges, good on ice. Bindings are machined aluminum. Great in deep snow and tight spots also. Hiking boot or winter boot. I have climbed hills and down hilled with these! However they don't make them anymore. I have a friend that bought a pair off ebay last year. The altai looks like the closest choice, if buying new.

"I have used the Hok 146 cm in the BWCA several times. They have become my go-to BWCA ski. I use a 75 mm binding with Scarpa T3/T4 plastic boots. They are great for breaking trail through deep snow. "

Regarding the 75 mm 3-pin binding, I forgot to mention that I first used a 20+ year old Riva II cable binding from an old pair of hippy sticks, but that binding always squeaked a lot with my old T3s.

When I upgraded/simplified to the Voile HD Mountaineer binding, the 19 mm thickness of the Scarpa T3/T4 duckbill was at the limit of the binding (13-19 mm). It was too hard to get this binding to lock off, so I ground off about 1/8' of the top of the duckbill.