Backcountry skiing gear essentials
Backcountry skiing is amazingly fun and rewarding, and if you’re any kind of gear weenie at all then geeking out on the equipment can be almost as much fun as all the untracked pow turns you’ll be scoring on your new setup.
Without going into clothing, gloves, helmets, eyewear, etc., there is some essential backcountry-specific equipment you’ll need to get started including ski gear, backpack, and avalanche safety gear. So, let’s get started!
[Buying Guide]Backcountry skiing gear essentials(Youtube Video 1)
Touring bindings
There are loads of different touring bindings available and most of them can be categorized as either pin, frame, or hybrid.
Pin (aka low-tech or tech bindings)
If you plan to spend many of your days in the backcountry then pins are a great choice. They are designed to be ultralight, simple, and sturdy for uphill efficiency which makes them ideal if you’re keen to reduce weight so you can go further, faster.
The drawback to pins is that they don’t release as dependably or as consistently as alpine bindings. Having said that, because so much weight can be saved by using them, pins are used by most skiers who prioritize their time in the backcountry.
Frame
Without getting too technical, frame bindings are basically a normal alpine binding toe and heel mounted on a frame which can be released at the heel for ski touring. The benefits of frame bindings are that you get the dependable, consistent release of alpine bindings and they are compatible with a wide variety of ski boots including alpine boots without tech inserts.
On the downside, frame bindings are much heavier than pins, the pivot point is far forward making them less efficient when skinning uphill, and the frame can change the performance of your ski.
Frame bindings are designed for skiers who need one setup that can do it all, who prioritize the reliable release of alpine bindings, and who spend 80 or 90% of their time ripping around the resort but still want to cash in on the occasional side country mission. However, due to revolutionary new developments in hybrid bindings, frames are being used far less often these days.
Hybrid
More and more skiers are heading into the backcountry not only to ride fresh pow but also to send the kinds of rowdy lines, cliffs, and couloirs that can’t be found inbounds. This mixture of freeride and backcountry requires gear that’s burly enough for fast, powerful skiing and big landings yet light and efficient so that the rider still has enough power left at the top of a climb to charge the descent.
Enter the new S/Lab Shift. The Shift combines the reliable release and boot compatibility of alpine bindings with the lighter weight and optimal pivot point of pins.
Touring boots
Touring boots distinguish themselves in a few ways that make them a comfortable and performance-oriented alternative to regular alpine boots. First, they feature a hinged cuff that, when open, provides a comfortable range of motion for walking and skinning uphill. When it’s time to ski, the cuff is easily locked into ski mode by flipping a lever at the back of the boot.
Most of them also feature a lugged sole that makes it easier to scramble up rocky ridges and boot pack up snowy slopes.
While these two features are essential in the backcountry, many resort-only skiers also prefer touring boots because they are comfortable and super useful for navigating safely across icy parking lots and busting out disco moves at après ski!
The third feature that distinguishes touring boots is tech inserts, which make them compatible with pin bindings.
Getting the right boots is really important so for a deeper dive check out our article on how to choose the best ski boots.
Touring skis
The biggest difference between a touring ski and a normal alpine ski is its weight. Backcountry skis are lightweight for uphill efficiency and their shape, flex, and rocker profiles are designed to ski well in powder and off-piste snow.
Pure touring skis are designed for skiers who spend a majority of their time on long or multi-day ski tours in the backcountry, and therefore they are designed with just as much emphasis on uphill efficiency as downhill performance. Because weight is so important touring skis are usually not as wide as freeride models.
Having said that, there is a compromise in a downhill performance that goes along with lighter weight. Freeride skis are available in wider sizes and are heavier than pure touring skis, which reduces chatter and makes them more stable when blasting through crud and sticking big landings.
Freeride skis are the perfect one-ski quiver for riders who spend more than 70% of their time riding lifts but still want a ski that will smoothly transition to backcountry mode for adventures beyond the ropes.
If you’d like to know more, take a few minutes to read our advice on how to choose your touring skis.
Backcountry ski poles
Just like your skis, boots, and bindings, your ski poles should be lightweight yet strong enough for backcountry use and abuse. Adjustable poles are a good idea for long traverses up steep slopes when it’s handy to have one long pole on the downhill side and a shorter pole on the uphill side. An extended grip is also useful for this purpose.
There are a few different locking systems on the market, and we believe the easy-lock system provides the best combination of a rock-solid lock with easy adjustability.
A couple of other smart features are releasable ski straps that release in the event of an avalanche or a snagged tree limb, and swivel baskets that enable a better pole purchase when skinning up on hard, steep snow.
Adjustable Backcountry Ski Poles
Ski skins
Ski skins are attached to the ski by a special glue. There are also glueless skins available that stick to your skis by molecular suction, but skins with glue are generally the most reliable, especially in damp environments.
Many ski manufacturers sell skins that are pre-cut to match your skis. If not, most skins are sold with a cutting device and easy-to-follow instructions and you’ll find loads of YouTube videos that tell you how to cut your skins.
Backcountry ski backpacks
A good backpack is needed to carry all your avalanche safety gear, an extra layer, and enough food and water to keep you well-hydrated and properly fueled during your adventure.
For non-glacier skiing, look for a 20- to 30-liter pack with two compartments minimum (you’ll want to keep your avi gear in a separate compartment that can be easily accessed when needed). Other pockets dedicated to smaller items like goggles, sunscreen, a small repair kit, etc. can be quite useful but are not as necessary. Learn more about what to pack for a day in the backcountry.
Many packs come in small, medium, and large so make sure you start with the right size. Then make sure the waist and shoulder straps are comfortable and that when cinched up the pack fits tight to your back and doesn’t bounce around.
Ski carry is also important for those times when you need to boot pack up a slope or scramble across rocky terrain. Most packs feature either an A-frame carry system, a diagonal system, or both. The way you carry your skis is a matter of personal preference so check out this video about how to carry your skis to find out the pros and cons of each method.
Avalanche safety gear
Needless to say, in the backcountry, you will be exposed to objective hazards including avalanche danger. Because of this, you must gear up with a state-of-the-art avalanche transceiver, collapsible probe, avalanche shovel with a metal blade, and that you learn as much as possible about avalanche safety before ever stepping foot into the backcountry.
To find out more about avalanche safety gear, check out our article on backcountry skiing safety gear basics.
So, there you go. This gives you a basic understanding of the essential gear you’ll need to get into the backcountry. For more advice, check out our backcountry skiing and freeriding articles and videos. There’s a lifetime of techniques and equipment to learn but at some point, you’ll need to put down your iPad, close your laptop, or pocket your phone and get out there and go skiing!