What are the pros and cons of planchados and splits?

What are the pros and cons of planchados and splits?

To choose between planchados and splits, the best is still to try. Everyone's feelings can vary, and especially priorities and practices differ from one individual to another. To sum up, here is a synthesis of the strengths and weaknesses of each practice, to my humble and very subjective opinion (after more than ten years of snowshoeing is a few hundred outings, some inconclusive trials in mini-skiing, and a recent splitboard with about 30 outputs):

The planchados solution:

Key comparative advantages:
  • Reasonable price;
  • Easy to find used equipment;
  • Great choice of equipment: anything is possible even for the most demanding (racquets and snowboards in a plenty);
  • Good efficiency of modern snowshoes (you climb absolutely everywhere, even sometimes where skiers are forced to take off their shoes);
  • Lightness at the feet (about 4kg for the shoe-racket torque).

Key weaknesses:

  • High weight in the back on the climb (at least 5kg extra compared to a hiking skier, it's not nothing);
  • Significant volume in the back on the descent (not too annoying with snowshoes ... much more with mini-skis);
  • Slight lift in deep snow;
  • Occasional conflict with skiers (like "don't you see you're screwing up there?" ... Ah! but they are morons, these skiers;o);
It should be noted that the alternative with mini-skis, or with rigid shoes and fasteners, solves a problem every time... and then make another one appear! On this ground, the debates are eternal, to each to judge. Personally I have tried just about everything and it is with boots and snowshoes that I feel most comfortable in this option "planchados", but other choices exist.
The split solution

Key comparative advantages:

-No more weight problems in the back on the climb: your column will thank you!
-No more problem of compactness at the descent (restricted volumes in the back);
-System now very technically, very proven (you don't lose anything on the descent compared to a normal snowboard);
-Super lift when you trace;
-No more conflicts with skiers!

Key weaknesses:

-High price;
-Low choice of equipment;
-The width of the slats on the climb (12 to 13 cm on the skate), potentially posing problems of lateral stiffness while crossing on hard snow;
-Width of the slats, bis: when you follow a trail of a skier, you tend to be "too wide" and you make traces of leaflets;
-Requires a little time to adapt and practice (you have to find the reflex of sliding on the climb, learn the conversions, and above all get used to the technical manipulation to switch from one mode to another).
The use of bindings specifically designed for the Split cannot be overly advisable. It's efficient, compact, light, well thought out... but it's a bit expensive, diantre!

Some question of practicality: a question of habit?

Of course, the fundamental question arises: what is the most practical on the ground? The question arises in particular when it is necessary to operate the removal of tailings and it is less than fifteen degrees, in fog, wind, etc.
It's not easy to decide. Snowshoes have the advantage of going everywhere (even on grassy/stony/scabrous terrain, no need to take off shoes). If the portage is well designed, with a little practice it does not take more time to go from downhill mode to climb mode than a "normal" skier (I exclude the competition tights-pipettes from my comparison, eh). The Splitboard may take a little longer to start: you have to get used to the handling. But with a little training, you can do that in less than five minutes, which over the duration of a hike is not much.

The question of efficiency in descent: a false debate?

The idea of surfing on a board cut in half along the length can be a little scary at first. Some will hesitate to trade their good old board for a splitboard for this reason. In fact, the efficiency of the system is formidable on all slopes. Going down a good grind of steep slopes (up to 5.5) -Tonio showed us on Skitour that the splitboard was not particularly handicapping compared to a "normal" snowboard. For my part I practice moderately the steep slope, but I was able to test the machine up to quite high ratings (5.3) and I did not feel any particular problems. The worries come more from the low choice of boards available - unless you opt for the jigsaw! Again, we have to put it in perspective because the brands that manufacture splitboards generally have wide and high quality ranges. Some even tailor-made.

The question of "total" weight: a half-objective opinion

Finally, I did not address the issue of "total" weight, which seems to be paramount. Why the oversight? Because I can't decide. On the face of it we could say that the Splitboard solution is advantageous: we no longer need snowshoes, so we save a minimum of 2 kg. 
Yes... but you have to add a pair of skins, knives, and splitboard interface. In the end, the total weight is about the same. From there, I would tend to think that the comparative advantage of the Splitboard melts in plain sight, because for the same effort provided, it is better to carry weight in the back rather than at the feet. 
This seems pretty obvious to me, but I admit that I have never found very convincing information about it (if some have information about it: the ratio weight to feet vs. weight/back, do not hesitate ...).

Advantage to planchados? 

Not so simple... Consider the "slide" effect that splitboard allows in the climb position: when you have the technique, you push "at the tip of your feet" (seal skin technique or cross-country skiing), rather than "take off from the heel" (racket technique). So weight is much less important. And then you also gain lift, which is essential in deep snow, especially when you have to trace.
Finally, to conclude on the subject, here is a small comparison between skiing and splitboarding, taking three types of ski touring equipment (light, classic, freeride). Where we realize that a well-equipped splitboard does not position itself that badly in terms of weight (below, I took the case of my splitboard equipment, with special split bindings).

• Option (weight in kg)
• Light skiing: skis (2) - bindings (0.8) - shoes (2.5) - 5.3kg
• Classic skiing: skis (2.8) - bindings (1.5) - shoes (3) - 7.3kg
• Freeride skis: skis (3.6) - bindings (1.8) - shoes (4) - 9.4 kg
• Splitboard: split (3) - interface (0.7) - fixing (1.9) - shoes (2.2) - 7.8 kg

Conclusion: So splitboard or snowboard-raquettes?

In the end, it is not so easy to make your choice. It all depends, of course, on the practices and expectations of each... and also of its financial capabilities, because hey... It's expensive! For example, it may not be helpful to invest in a splitboard if you only do a few hikes per season. As far as I'm concerned, despite a regular practice (30-40 outings per season) I hesitated for a long time before i started to splitboard. But I admit that, after one season, the results so far are very positive. In climb mode, I do not go on average faster than with snowshoes, but on the other hand I have overall more fun and it's more comfortable. On the descent, no complaints: unless you are dealing with ultra-unfavourable conditions (hard snow or ice) the interface is completely forgotten. In short, I think snowshoes will stay more and more often at home!
Of course, the purpose of this article is also to make people react and encourage feedback. So feel free to give your opinion, complete, etc. And above all, have fun and be careful! Buy your Splitboard Packages in best prise at Telemark Pyrenees our shop online.

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