Rode on these skis after having simmons flexi-skis on my XTX for a season (09-10). I ride close to 50/50 on trail & off in THE COUNTY and expierenced no drawbacks boondocking with the splitrails. I figured i had a good comparison for this after using the flexi-skis for a season with the XTX. Durability wise, I rode a hard 5K and going down a steep hill hit a 3/4's of the way buried, standing upright 55 gal steel drum with the outside of my ski & spindle. This almost took the sled right out from under me it hit that hard, with only some minor plastic missing and a scratched spindle! The XTX is a blast now in the twisties and stays right with the 800E-tec mxz in the woods and have no reservations going boondocking despite having a fourstroker. And yes they work well on the watercrossings too! Split Rails took the drawbacks (handling,steering) of the NYTRO and made it a non-issue.