The Zealot is a great ski and somewhat a wider stiffer version of the Verdict. However, it's quite heavy for touring unless you really rip and need that kind of performance in the backcountry I would look at something else.

I would agree. The Zealots rip in powder and lumpy dense snow. The progressive rocker really does float over that stuff. They like to be ski'd fast and hard. As long as you can drive them, and like to ski big fast lines, they are the best ski's out there. Fun on groomers too. Little it of chatter, but pretty damn good for a rippin' haulin ass big mountain ski.

You ski aggressive and are looking for a 50/50 ski for pow. That spells Zealot in my books. The 110 mm width will be sweet for the BC and pow days, and isn't really, considering skis these days, that wide to make it unwieldily on a groomer. Stay on top of the ski, and make sure it isn't driving you, and this baby will be all you need.

Katanas are pretty sweet, so be sure to not forget about them, but the Zealots are a really good touring ski. That is where they win over the Katanas. I would say that the 192 Zealot will feel good for you, it has a core that isn't boring, but can handle drops, cliffs, whatever. I don't think that you need anything over the 192, it won't help you out any, that is what the waist width is for, and will weigh more, making it less ideal for longer tours. Your height makes you feel like you need a longer ski, but your weight means that anything from 185 and up will be a great fit.

Mr. mcatt has a point of course. If you can, get similar gear as the chaps you're going to tour with. If they're into freeriding with 110mm+ waisted skis and stuff you won't have much fun in a rando racer outfit, and vice versa.

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with other folks. The question of heaviness doesn't depend on whether you new to backcountry or not, but rather what your skiing priorities are, aka what is most fun. I might catch some flak for making this generalization, but most of the time heavier gear performs better when your actually skiing downhill, the best example is the dukes. So if you prioritize downhill performance over ease of backcountry travel... go heavier, but if you'd rather tour around easier get the lighter gear. I think many people transitioning to backcountry from alpine fit into the former category, hence the popularity of the dukes.

I started earning em' with gotamas, dukes, and my old alpine boots... probably the heaviest set-up i could have picked, and have loved every second of it. I prefer that downhill confidence over a lighter load to drag around, then again I don't do many long tours either.

don't sweat the weight, get whatever will be the most fun, you'll just end up with diesel quads anyway.

Mostly reiterating what's been said above. Especially when getting into touring don't make your life hard by starting on heavy gear.

Unless you're into hucking cliffs (of maybe a really big, hard skiing guy), get a Dynafit binding. And maybe a cheek-height ski. 95mm waist is being considered as a good alround width by many people, unless you're in super deep snow climate.

Yes - your setup as mentioned above is too heavy. I sold a pair of Justices this year because I was tired of dragging them up everything I wanted to ski. I think if you really want to do a heavier ski, you should consider a dynafit binding to offset the weight a bit. At 1.8lbs, a Vertical ST binding would save you enough weight to start considering a 9.5 pound ski as reasonable. Your boot choice is pretty good there in terms of weight, but you're going with a heavy binding and ski and I'm afraid you'll regret it.

well, thats sort of a relative question. Would that be too heavy for you? is really what you need to ask yourself.

I would recommend getting which ever ski you would prefer, and decide for yourself. If you begin doing multi day tours, or your setup is plain to heavy, step down to a lighter ski.

Until someone makes a real, hard charging, tele ski, I'll be on alpine fatties or big mountain skis with Black Diamond tele bindings...no release necessary, the stiffest tele boots, whatever the trend, and NO NTN crap. If you're on Legend Pro's, I'd say stick with them until you've conquered that setup. You will then be able to ski anything available to the consumer in any given year.

(I'm six-four, 195 lbs, so it's easy for me to say but like you, I'm on Pro Rider's (195s) and I can ski them anywhere, any time against any Alpiner!

If less hard core and/or lighter weight and with less power, the Zealot's are as close to perfect as a tele ski has gotten in the evolution of the sport. Just go with them and adjust your technique to the ski. You might surprise yourself! You'll be tired at the end of the day but it'll be worth the effort and your quads will get huge.

(My secondary setup is Rossi B4 big mountain rippers with BD O2's - so my strength and weight mean I can bend a mean ski).

The Zealot is a great hard charging backcountry ski, and doesn't have any major shortcomings. The only thing that keeps me off of them is my personal style. I like twin tips. Twin tips just feel better to me, even though I seldom land and/or ski switch. It's also helpful to back out gracefully from the lift line when you're caught without a pass, or the prissy lifty won't accept your "pbr pass." Also, the Zealot is just a bit too stiff for me. I don't think it's very forgiving, (also, like the lifties,) and keeps me in the backseat too much. I couldn't keep them from slapping the hell out of my landings, instead of saucing 'em nice and smooth like my Ravyns, Maestros, or Atuas. Other good backcountry charging skis would be 4frnt CRJ, Scott P4, Line Blend, BD Justice.
Also, check out the Bluehouse District 187. It's stiff, but not quite as burly as the Zealot. It doesn't have rocker, but has a progressive flex, twin tips, long nose, and a slightly tighter turn radius (27.5m) to keep it nimble and smooth. The District is about 120z heavier, but it's a bit longer and wider (than a 182 Zealot.) Good luck.

The Zealot is a stiff ski that takes a lot of muscle to move around quickly, but it can be done! A shorter length will keep them more nimble and agile, but a long Zealot will be hard to whip around easily. If you're an aggressive skier, you should enjoy the Zealot's hard charging, freestyle-meets-racing flex, and early rise tip, for powder/crud domination. I like a softer, more playful ski, and I also like fatter dimensions, so this isn't my style. If I were into gritting my teeth, and tearing up, due to overwhelming speed, and intense exposed, hairball lines, I'd probably be more into the Zealot, but I like the Line Mothership more. It has similar attributes, but also a multiple radius sidecut, and freeride flex/geometry. I would definitely choose the Mothership over the Zealot. Another ski to consider is the Bluehouse District. It has a stiff, freestyle flex, generous sidecut, and great weight/strength. Also, Bluehouse is a great company, offering awesome warranties, customer service, prices, and above all, incredible skis. A true grassroots company that is all about the customer and the skis. Check 'em out.

The Zealot is pretty burly. As an expert, you shouldn't have any trouble, especially with Hammerheads! The Coomback is a lot lighter, forgiving, and has quite a bit more flex. The rocker on the Zealot is pretty minimal compared to the ObSethed or the Coomback, and the Verdict as well as the Havoc are narrower, with no rocker.
I like the ObSethed and I bet the Justice would be a good ski for you, too. A lot of versatility, and excellent performance in almost all conditions.

Can't confirm an exact weight, but they are 10+ for the 192cm length.

Look at the new Line Pandora -- you can get the 172, and with the early rise you will be in hog heaven.

I demoed these in the 182 length last winter, and they were fantastic. I thought they'd be too much to handle, since I'm only 150 pounds and 5'9", but in the deep powder it absolutely wasn't an issue. One thing that Alexander mentioned is the turn radius. I really only used them on powder days, so when I get back on the groomers I just want to bomb back to the lift for another run, but they really don't turn on hard snow very well. In the deep stuff the rocker punches it through the turn quite well, but if you're on harder stuff, no such luck.

The Line Prophet 100s come in a 172 length. They won't give you quite as much float as the Justice and aren't rockered, but are definitely stiff and can handle high speeds and groomed runs as well as pow and crud...a little more of an all-mountain ski. They have a short turning radius (17m as opposed to the Zealots 33m!) which I like for tele, allows you to make quick turns in tight spaces...

I am 5'8" and the 182 is pretty much prefect. It skis longer than a 182, in my opinion, and has awesome skiing characteristics at my size. You could go 192, without a problem, but if you are skiing in tight places and like to turn fast, then the 182 might be the ticket. I have talked to multiple people who are 6' plus and 185# plus and still ski on the 182. Most people I speak with prefer the 182 over the 192 for the above reasons, but, to each his own. The 182 is definetly still quite a bit of ski, especially if you are coming off something softer and easier to turn.

The 192's actually do quite well in the tighter trees, considering the size. But I like to ski longer, even in those conditions. If you feel comfortable on a shorter ski, then the 182 will not hold you back.

I have skid the 182, and for a fat/midfat skis it rocks for the quicker moving skis. i am 5'8" and the length works for me. however if i was to get an early camber ski like the Justice i would go longer. you truly can't go wrong with this ski.

If your looking for a softer powder board then check out the justice, 5 mm wider, same tip profile, but a LOT softer. They would balance well with your verdicts. Verdict for old snow, justice for new snow.

The new Zealots are fat stiff and designed for control at high speeds in pow and variable snow. They are definitely stiffer than the verdicts but if you want to take your skiing to the next level give them a shot. They definitely rip!

The Zealot is much stiffer, not softer. Really fun if you want to haul balls and have amazing stability.

The Zealots are stiffer than the Verdicts. Look no further than the reviews by Noah and Nick, those dudes know what they are talking about.