Older skis and gripwalk boots/bindings

[LooneyTunes]

Considering a pair of new ski boots in advance of next season and it seems like the game has moved on quite a bit since I last bought any, with many being "gripwalk" rather than the older alpine soles.

I still have some serviceable skis that pre-date gripwalk that I'm reluctant to consign to history but it seems like my options are:

1) Have the new boots fitted with alpine soles and essentially forego gripwalk (even though new skis can accommodate it) or flip between soles depending on what I'm taking with me; or
2) Change the bindings (from Marker Motion X to whatever will work) - candidly I have no idea if this is feasible or how to get it done; or
3) Don't use the old skis, which would be a shame as I'd quite like them available.

I realise I am well behind the curve on this but suspect that other PHers may have faced the same issue so hoping someone can help.

[Rojibo]

I did something similar at the start of this season, lovely pair of Lange Shadow 130 LV boots that came with grip walk soles. My skis aren’t that old but the bindings weren’t compatible so I just swapped out the soles for alpine bindings.

I really don’t think you’re missing much, personally, and enjoyed the skis that I knew quite well, walking in alpine soles like I always have done. I’ve kept the grip walk soles so that I can put them back on should I come to change skis later.

[LooneyTunes]

Thanks - it was kind of my view too that I’m used to the old style soles so might be able to live without Gripwalk.

It if a terribly involved process to swap or just a case of unscrew the GWs and screw on the alpines such that it wouldn’t be overly difficult to swap over when deciding which skis to take for the day (my end of season impulse buys are GW compatible).

[Rojibo]

Just four screws in each toe/heel piece, very straightforward.

Grip walk bindings should be compatible with alpine soles too, so I wouldn’t even switch back.

Only thing that comes to mind, are your current ski bindings on rails and adjustable length or are they drilled/fixed? Just in case the boot shell size is different.

[LooneyTunes]

Great, thanks.

Current bindings are adjustable, so it seems like as long as I get boots for which there are definitely alpine soles available I should be sorted.

A much better outcome than I was hoping for, as I’d initially feared I might need to get rid of the older skis.

[wildoliver]

My wife and I both got new boots (K2 me and dynamic I think her) for last season and Ellis Brigham had standard soles in stock to swap over and put the grip walks in the box incase they were needed later. Got to say having walked on both soles other than the potential grip difference I found zero comfort difference, but I never find the walk function helps that much either, whether it would if I chose accomodation with long walks to a lift or not I don't know. I don't think you will miss the gripwalk function.