Back when the Convex track came out I rode one and could immediately feel the improvement on the trail over the old 2". I rode the Yeti kit as well and was blown away by how good the ski worked compared to the TS in the deep, so much so that I bought the ski for my TS kit.
I kept making changes to try to make the TS kit more agile in the trees where we do 90 percent of our riding. When I finally rode a 2017 Camso I was amazed by what a relaxing easy ride it was. You can ride it with your knees and basically not even need your hands. It has the most wheel like feel of all the kits I've tried.
On the scale its a porker no doubt and the suspension isn't as good as the more conventional kits but the thing just works. The track rules, it dominates the convex track, as well as both Maxtracks which is why the maxtrack 1 and 2 are both gonzo and Yeti put the Camso track on their kits. Its the single best update Yeti/Camso have done to the Yeti kit since its inception.
The Camso track and monorail are worth the price of admission IMO. I wish the Camso kit was lighter, looked better, had better suspension, had a better way of locking out the chain adjustment, had better access to the tensioners, came with better quality chains, didn't have the goofy plastic back, had a belt drive and a few other things but I just don't see paying double for a Yeti, CMX, ARO.
For me its not strictly a dollar decision, if those other kits got me places the Camso didn't I would already have one, but they don't. I don't want a 10 inch track because I like to go slow at times and find routes, if Yeti had come out with a 129 Freeride with 5.5 rail spacing I would have bought one but they didn't. I hear through the grapevine, and it could be total BS, that the Yeti will be much changed for 2020 but who knows.
Last season a buddy who I ride with sold his 2015 TS 120 kit and bought a 2017 120 kit with the 2.5 inch. I could pass him like he was tied to a tree on the 2015. The 2017 was an improvement but no way can he climb like I can.
I think for my style of riding the 129 track is the ideal length, it does everything well.
The guy I ride with the most just added a 137 CMX track and Iceage rails to his 2013 TS kit to the tune of about $1300 bucks so we will see how that plays out this weekend. Hopefully it works for him, it will be an improvement over the 120 2" he had.
My kit wish list:
12 inch Camso/CMX style track maybe a 2.75" paddle
Real rebuildable coil over shocks
Monorail or 5.5 rail spacing
120-130 lb total kit weight
Trail adjustable spindle for wheelbase adjustment c'mon guys this is easy
Adjustable ski mount for different bikes
Tough as hell and modular like CMX
Belt drive
Great ski
Until then I will just stick with the Camso.
M5
