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Ski Touring Equipment Advice
When it comes to ski touring kit, it’s worth remembering the old adage that every extra kilo on your back knocks 10% off your enjoyment of the descents. Getting hold of the best and lightest kit available is generally always worth it. About the only area where kit preference is veering toward the slightly heavier is in choice of skis, with more and more ski mountaineers deciding to maximise enjoyment on descents by using wider off piste models. Boots are getting lighter and better each year, with thermofit inners becoming pretty much standard.
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Below we highlight features to look for and a number of recommended products for most main items of kit - with a big thanks to Andy Hall at Backcountry UK, our thoroughly recommended Ski Touring Equipment retailer - for helping me keep this article up to date each season. |
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Avalanche Tranceivers
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Mammut Pulse Baryvox |
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At the moment, in our view the Mammut Baryvox Pulse and Arva Link models are the best top end units around. In the mid range, the Arva 3 Axes is probably the best one and for those on a budget, look at the Mammut Element or DTS Tracker 2.
All of the above transceivers are the latest 3 antenna digital devices - the more advanced models use additional technologies, which allow for extra features and may also speed up search times. It must be stressed however, that the most important thing is to practice and train extensively with the transceiver that you actually own.
NB We no longer allow the old Ortovox F1 analogue transceiver on our ski trips - due to frequency drift and compatibility problems with newer digital transceivers. Although these units are still available for hire in many places, there have been several reports of digital transceivers being unable to detect them in adverse circumstances. If you still have an old F1 - then either update it, or hire a newer digital model from us if you are coming on one of our trips. |
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Ski Touring Bindings
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Fritschi Eagle Binding |
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There are a number of new products around in this area, so we've given our opinions on the well established and newer models about.
Fritschi Eagle (1.7kg) Latest version of the Diamir - the best selling binding on the market for years and with good reason. Buy ski brakes too as a matter of course.
Fritschi Freeride Pro (2.1kg) Beefed up version of the above, designed to take abuse from a lot of lift based off piste skiing too. Good choice for 85-90% of British ski tourers. Brakes are included in the package.
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Marker Duke and Baron (~2.8kg) these are freeride bindings designed for skinning short distances, rather than dedicated ski touring bindings. They are good to ski down on, but not really designed for out and out touring, where the extra weight and design features make them slower and more awkward to use than dedicated touring bindings. |
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Marker Tour TR (~2.2Kg) this is a lightened up version of the Duke and Baron, with the same design features. For this reason alone, we don't think it makes a good touring binding - but we've also seen numerous breakages in the first season it was launched, so in our opinion this is one to avoid. |
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Dynafit Tourlite Speed (0.7kg) Lightest (and despite appearances), strongest binding on the market! The catch? - it's a lightweight touring only model and you need dynafit compatible boots with special inserts to use the bindings. They are trickier to step in and out of too - but if weight is really critical, then Dynafit bindings are an ideal choice (see important release safety notes below before you buy though).
Dynafit Vertical ST and FT (1.0kg) Beefier, more all round touring version of the original - these are easier to use and also come with brakes. We use and recommend these bindings, but as before - see notes below before buying.
Dynafit Radical ST and FT (1.0kg) This latest model from Dynafit is even easier to step into and also has an improved climbing stand. The ST model is designed for use on skis under 100mm under foot, whereas the FT model has a wider drilling pattern designed to be used on skis over 100mm wide under foot.
NB Dynafit Bindings & Release Safety. The weight savings are obvious, but we only recommend Dynafit bindings for experienced and good standard off piste skiers (ie at least level 3, preferably 4 or 5 on our Off Piste Skiing Ability Levels). This is because the front of a dynafit binding only offers upwards release ie it has no sideways toe release (sideways release is possible, but only at the heel) which can have safety implications in certain types of fall - ie we do not recommend using dynafit bindings if you are a skier who takes regular falls in difficult snow conditions. Please consider this factor seriously before buying dynafit bindings. |
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Dynafit Radical FT Binding |
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Naxo Binding (2.1kg) - Naxo went bust a few of years ago, which tells you everything you need to know about these bindings! You may still see them around second hand, but don't buy, as they are notoriously unreliable.. |
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Silvretta Pure (1.2kg) Offers significant weight savings over the Diamir, but with it's lighter construction we'd recommend sticking to touring use for this model. |
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Boots |
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We make no apology for erring to the performance end of the market here - as good, fully custom fitted boots will improve your skiing and enjoyment more than anything else. To start with, forget the expense and always go for a full thermofit liner and a custom made footbed straight away - it will always be worth it. After that, foot volume, individual fit and boot weight may well decide your final choice - but we give notes on various favourite models below: |
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TOURING BOOTS |
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Scarpa Maestrale (3.1kg) - Scarpa's top all rounder (dynafit compatible) and a huge success, this boot sold out in the Alps last winter. Important - before buying a pair however, make absolutely sure you are buying 2012 stock, as there was a problem with the buckle bolts on the original 2011 model. The 2011 ones have the buckles attached with allen key bolts - definitely avoid these. The 2012 boots have the buckles attached with rivets, which don't come undone!
Scarpa Mobe (3.6kg) - classified as a freeride boot by Scarpa, but it's actually the old Spirit touring boot shell paired up with a stiffer Typhoon cuff - so it makes a very good touring boot for skiers wanting a good walk mode and plenty of downhill support.
Black Diamond Quadrant (3.4Kg) - again, dynafit compatible, the Quadrant sits between the Maestrale and the Mobe in terms of stiffness. The Quadrant offers a precise fitting 4 buckle design with a great walk mode and importantly, BD's touring boots have much warmer inners than their freeride boots!
On the subject of inners - foam injection inners are known for giving a precise fit, but they are too cold for ski touring. Instead, go for Scarpa intuition inners which are the best thermo fit inners on the market at the moment.
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FREERIDE BOOTS |
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Freeride boots with interchangeable soles offer great support for off piste skiing, but are only really designed for lift assisted and day touring use. They are not so comfortable for walking and skinning long distances in (ie we've seen lots of blistered feet coming out of freeride boots on longer multiday hut tours - if you plan on using the boot for multiday tours, then you may be better looking at a dedicated touring boot instead). This is an expanding market, with numerous new models available - a few good ones to look at include:
- Dynafit Titan
- Scarpa Typhoon
- Scarpa Hurricane
- Garmont Radium
- Garmont Delerium
- Scarpa Mobe
- Salomon Quest Pro Pebax
- Technica Bushwhacker
Our advice is simply to go for which ever one gives you the best fit. From the list above - the Dynafit Titan gives a slim fit, the Scarpa boots are all a mid volume fit and the Garmunt Delerium gives a wider fit. |
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Scarpa Mobe |
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WOMENS BOOTS |
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Scarpa Gea (2.8kg) - Good quality touring boot specifically moulded for women’s feet. Same construction and performance characteristics as the new men's Maestrale boot - see notes above. Dynafit compatible.
Dynafit Zzero4 UTF (2.8kg) - High performance 4 buckle womens touring boot - if you've got very short feet, in comes in extra small sizes. Dynafit compatible.
Salomon Quest W - womens freeride boot. Essentially this is a comfortable, supportive downhill boot with a good walk mode. Comes with a standard downhill sole, which can be swapped to an interchangeable touring sole if required.
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Clothing |
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Light, warm and versatile are the key words to bear in mind when choosing touring clothing - as an average week sees you alternate between carrying clothes in your sac on climbs and warm afternoons, to wearing absolutely everything when the weather closes in. |
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A traditional layering approach works well, but we’ve also found certain combination garments can be great with the advantage of saving weight by combining the function of 2 layers into one (eg an insulated waterproof jacket is lighter than a cagoule and mid layer combined, and you often wear both or none at all when ski touring - eg the Arcteryx Fission SL Jacket is a perfect example of this). |
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Legwear |
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Either go for thermal longjohns under a pair of lightweight overtrousers, or a pair of lightweight mountain trousers and carry the overtrousers for bad weather. Another alternative if you don’t anticipate rain, is to just take a pair of of weather resistant mountain pants made from fabrics such as Powershield or Windstopper and ditch the overtrousers altogether.
For baselayers we prefer Merino wool or powerstretch depending on how cold it is and look for Goretex paclite when choosing overtrousers. Full weight goretex sallopets are best avoided, as you end up either sweating a lot or carrying them - and they weigh a ton!
Recommended Products that we use ourselves for ski touring include the following: Merino Wool Baselayers, Arcteryx Alpha SL Pant, Arcteryx Palisade Pant, Arcteryx Gamma SK Pant
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Topwear |
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Typically this runs along the lines of: wicking baselayer + warmer midlayer + shell garment, with an additional light and warm ‘spare layer’ to put on when it’s really cold. For base layers we really rate Merino wool - which is warmer, more comfortable over wide temperature ranges and doesn’t smell like other thermals.
For midlayers we recommend a light softshell jacket or midweight fleece. (avoid heavier softshell jackets, which are invariably too warm when skinning and weigh a ton to carry). A lightweight shell jacket made of Gore Paclite is great. For a spare layer, a lightweight insulated synthetic jacket is ideal (ie a light synthetic 'puffer' type jacket). Full down jackets are generaly over the top for European hut touring, but there are a few light 3-400g models around which might be worth a look (most guides will carry one of these in case they have to wrap up a skier injured in a fall).
Recommended Products that we use ourselves for ski touring include the following: Merino Wool Baselayers, Arcteryx Gamma MX Jacket, Arcteryx Epsilon SV Hoody, Arcteryx Alpha LT Jacket, Arcteryx Solo Jacket, Arcteryx Atom LT Jacket.
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Extremities |
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Good quality ski socks or mountaineering socks with a good wool content are essential. Ski socks don’t want to be too thick and wearing two pairs is best avoided. A warm, wind resistant hat is also a must - as are top notch ski/mountain gloves. If you suffer from cold hands, consider a pair of mittens or carry a few ‘heat pads’ to put in when it’s really cold. NB When drying your boots in the evening, whatever you do keep your thermofit boot liners away from too much heat, as you risk ‘reforming’ them if they get too hot. |
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| Crampons |
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Petzl Charlet Vasak |
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Very light, alloy framed crampons are available for ski mountaineering which are a great weight saver and suitable for many less technical tours. Camp XLC's are the lightest, but don't go buying a pair of these intending them to be your only set of crampons - as they were only ever designed for stomping up steep snow.
For technical tours that may involve climbing on icy ground and snowed up rock, then you still need to use good steel crampons. Currently we reckon that Petzl Charlet Vasaks are the best all round mountaineering crampons, so these would be a good choice.
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Crevasse Rescue Kit |
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DMM Revolver Carabiner |
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If you are joining a trip or course, then 2 prussik loops and a 4ft sling with screwgate crab is sufficient.
However, a guide would probably be carrying the following:
- belay device
- 5 screwgate crabs
- 8ft sling
- spare quickdraw
- 2 ice screws
- 2 prussik loops
- Ropeman or Mini Triaxion
- Lightweight pulley or DMM Revolver crab.
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Harness |
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Light and simple are the watchwords here. If you already have a climbing harness, then you can also use it for ski touring too.
However, if you want to save some weight, then there are 2 options: buy a lightweight climbing harness (eg. an Arcteryx M.280 Harness) or an ultralight, specific ski touring harness (Camp make various models).
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Ice Axe |
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Grivel Airtech Evo |
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There are a number of extremely light alloy headed axes on the market, billed as ski mountaineering models (eg Cassin, Camp XLC ).
Unfortunately, when you try to climb or actually do any work with one of these tools they are very difficult to use effectively, so best reserved for days when you don't think you are going to need an axe! (ie I wouldn't bother buying one..)
If you are after a lightweight tool which is genuinely useful when you need it, then look at the Grivel Airtech range - the shorter 48cm length fits inside a pack, to keep it safely out of the way on descents.
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Poles
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Any pair of normal fixed length ski poles are fine for ski touring, with alloy ones being preferable to carbon fibre or composite poles in terms of strength - but either are a lot stronger and more reliable than telescopic poles. Make sure you have reasonable sized baskets (5cm plus in diameter) for the softer conditions and a full metal rather than composite tip if possible.
If you really do prefer telescopic poles, then we strongly recommend the Black Diamond Traverse two stage model - as this is the only one which doesn't seem to break or malfunction on a regular basis. Another thing we recommend avoiding is pole/probe combos, as they do neither job well and you risk not having a probe if an avalanche incident occurs.
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Probes |
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BD Super Tour Probe |
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230-260cm is a good working length and carbon fibre models are lightest. Currently the Black Diamond Quick Draw Carbon and Grivel Carbon Fibre Probes offer the best value in this group.
Alloy probes are stronger but heavier - with Voile, Ortovox and BD all offering very similar products and prices.
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Ropes |
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It's common to carry two 30m long, 8mm dynamic ropes in the party - one with the leader and another at the back (in case the leader skis into a crevasse!). Beal market a specific rope of this type called the Randonee, which comes in 30m and 48m lengths. Having said that, many variations occur depending on the type of tour and the obstacles expected - you may see guides carrying everything from 40m of 7mm static cord, to a full weight, full length rope. |
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Rucsacs |
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BD Outlaw Ski Pack |
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A 35-40l pack with a u shaped zip opening rather than a lid is the classic touring sac. Other useful features are a close, body hugging fit, ability to carry skis together on the back (like you would carry a snowboard) and as few excess features as possible (though it's difficult to achieve this without taking a knife to most sacs!)
Deuter and Black Diamond make a number of good touring sacs of this type - Eg the Black Diamond Covert and Outlaw, plus the Deuter Guide are all well designed and big enough for multiday hut tours - each offering slightly different features depending on what range of activities you plan to use the sac for.
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Shovels |
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We only recommend full metal bladed shovels, as when digging in real life in hard avalanche debris, plastic blades flex so much that they and are totally ineffective.
The Black Diamond Deploy 3 is a great metal shovel with a telescopic handle, the Mammut Alugator Light is similar but a little cheaper and for a budget quality metal blade, check out the Black Diamond Lynx.
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Skins |
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BD Ascension Skins |
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In our opinion Black Diamond skins and the latest Colltex skins have the best glue, plus they glide very well and last a long time also.
For european conditions, go for Mixed Fibre skins.
Current versions from both manufacturers are all sold with a cut to fit device and reliably stay on whether the classic tip only attachment system is used or the tip and tail fastenings instead (in which case the BD glidelite or Colltex Camlock attachment systems are the ones we recommend). 3G skins are identical to BD ones, having just been repackaged under a different name.
There's some big changes going on in glue technology at the moment, with the new Colltex CT40 and an Austrian company called Gecko both using totally new types of glue that utilize nanotechnology in order to stick. The reports are good, but we're reserving judgement on these until we've seen how well they work long term on the hill.
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Skis - Off Piste and Touring |
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A minefield this one! Here we aim to flag up a few of the best all mountain skis around that deliver good off piste performance without being too heavy for touring - ie for Brits wanting one ski for all.
Scott Crusair - (3.3Kg at 176cm, 128-90-116, 17m radius). Our favourite mixed day touring/resort off piste ski - gives great off piste performance and designed specifically for backcountry touring, although it also skis super well in resort and carves well on piste. Has a new white top deck and new skin attachment system this season. Good choice if you want a high performance ski with plenty of float and minimal weight.
Scott Mission - (3.6kg at 178cm, 128-89-115, 15m radius) A very successful ski over the last few seasons - good float, forgiving and easy to turn. Recommended for improving off piste skiers.
Scott Neo Aversion - (3.7kg at 172cm, 123-83-114, 15m radius) Good choice for heavier and more agressive skiers - slightly stiffer than the above. Wood core and a titanal topsheet.
Trab Volare - (2.9kg at 171cm, 129-99-116, 24m radius) This seasons' objects of desire for backcountry powder skiing - check out the weight! Wide bodied, soft flexing ski with ultimate Trab quality and performance - comes with it's own skin attachment system (other brand skins can also be used). Ideal deep snow ski if you always ski off piste and spend as much time away from resorts as possible.
Dynastar Exclusive Legend Eden - (3.1kg at 158cm, 126-85-110, 13m radius) Great quality women’s ski with good all round performance/weight for off piste and touring.
Scott Rosa - (3.27kg at 158cm, 124-84-111, 14m radius) Womens version of the Mission. Plenty of float in deeper snow and forgiving to ski. A good choice for improving off piste skiers.
Rossignol Temptation 82 (3.1kg at 158cm, 131-82-119, 11m radius) New womens ski out this year, with excellent reports from testers. Rossignols new wood cored line of skis feature rocker tips and tails for increased performance in soft snow - a great choice for an all mountain all rounder.
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Skis - Lightweight Touring |
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If saving weight is of utmost importance, then this is the way to go - but don't expect quite the same performance levels in resort as from the out and out off piste skis. Again the market is huge, but we've flagged up a few of the best models in terms of downhill performance for you to consider.
Trab Stelvio light (2.56kg at 171cm, 117-84-105, 20m radius) Al's favourite touring ski - offers the backcountry performance of a proper freeride ski, but it's very light. These skis could easily sit in the category above, but they really excel in backcountry touring conditions, where they can handle anything. A ski that requires good level skills to get the most out of.
Dynafit Baltoro (2.94kg at 173cm, 116-84-103, 23m radius) A good, soft flexing, stable ski that's suitable for a wide variety of conditions. Well priced option for a second touring setup.
Trab Duo Freerando (2.5kg at 171cm, 112-79-96, 24m radius) The reference ski in it's category - Dynafit, Blizzard and numerous others have copied this skis dimensions, but non have the manufacturing and quality control to match Trab. Wood core, a superb ski for good skiers and stable at speed.
Trab Polvere (2.7kg at 171, 123-88-109, 20m radius). Ultimate wide bodied touring ski - softer flex and more forgiving than the stelvio light, so more orientated toward soft snow and powder skiing.
NB We only suggest lightweight touring skis for experienced, good standard off piste skiers (ie level 3-5 on our Off Piste Skiing Ability Levels) with a strong interest in touring. The weight saving obviously comes at a cost in terms of performance on the descents - so you need to be able to make up for this with good ski technique, in order to enjoy any net energy saving or increased enjoyment factor from this type of ski. Similarly, you should never buy this kind of ski for a single 'one ski does everything' setup - as they're not designed for the levels of abuse dished out by resort based off piste skiing.
NNB - Superlight Skis You can get lighter skis than the various models above, but they are all generally harder to ski and/or not as strongly built - ie there is definitely a limit to weight saving where both ski performance and reliability drop off markedly. Personally, we are very wary of some of the newest skis on the market that 'look too good to be true' in terms of weight etc - as they probably are... Of all the companies making superlight skis, in our (somewhat expensive!) experience Trab are the only brand that we really trust to make superlight skis that actually ski well and don't break - you have been warned...
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