Charger Love

Telemark Dave

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
No. Not the Chargers...
The Chargers!!!!
(With apologies to Maxwell Smart and the "Craw"... )

Tried my new Voile Chargers today. First impression - why did I wait so long..

They tour (xc) better. Rocker + width + length = win.

They turn better, faster, easier. Again, rocker for the win.

Uphill, in 24" of dry slightly consolidated powder, they climb as would be expected of a fish scaled ski in those conditions. I set a lower angle skin (scale..) track, using 6 years of familiarity with Karhu Guides... and was rewarded with not having to pull my skins from the pack.. Pretty nice. However, I won't leave home without them. (Skins).

The Chargers turn on a dime, almost remote control. The tails are definitely stiffer than the tips, but I didn't find that I noticed, other than that they like the fall line..which is a good thing. (ie.
they don't overturn .)

All my downhill lines were in fairly tight gladed hardwood, so it was pretty slow-mo. That bring said, it was very confidence inspiring to be in total 100% control in unmanaged terrain.

I'll be taking the Chargers for another test drive tomorrow. This time where I can let them run. Hopefully we"ll get another dump soon, so I can go dawn patrol with them at a ski area poach... ?

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TD

 
Not a Hinterlander, but chiming in to try to help. I have been skiing the original Vector BCs (not the Ultras, with tele boots/bindings) since they were introduced (what, like 2011-2012?). I've used them for serious bc in Vermont and the rockies, goofing around for turns in 50' of vertical on lunch breaks at work, and even some resort skiing. They're just fantastic, overall. THat said, I just got a pair of the V6 BCs this season, in lieu of a season pass and I'm really liking them too--they seem a little more playful/easier to turn (and the Vectors aren't hard to turn), so I'd recommend having a look at those, too. Near as I can discern (and reviews seem to back me up) the Vectors are stiff in the tails and a little softer in front and hold an edge on hardpack really well. The V6s are more even/round flex, a little floatier, haven't skied them at a resort, so no idea on the hardpack characteristics.
Either way, assuming new bindings and boots, get the least fiddly setup you can--if you can switch from tour mode to ski mode in 10 seconds or so, you'll have more fun on rolling terrain/less vertical/lunchtime excursions.
The voile fishscales enable me to climb up to about 20 degree slopes unless it's fresh and deep. YMMV.
 
So 7 seasons in, and I’m still feeling the Charger Love.
 

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i just saw summitcone makes a bc ski ?
 
The V6s are more even/round flex, a little floatier, haven't skied them at a resort, so no idea on the hardpack characteristics.
The regular V6 (2016) is my daily driver, even on rare inbounds days. It gets outmatched in firm conditions or chop especially at speed, but an excellent ski for soft snow. I remounted -4cm after a few weeks and they felt much better. I want to try the new Manti
 
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