Touring can open a world of possibilities for those wishing to find untracked terrain, challenge themselves by leaving chairlifts behind, and experience turns outside of resort bounds. It can also simply be about mountain movement, keeping fit, and enjoying the personal challenge. Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer, casual uphill goer, or considering touring for the first time, here’s a few tips to inspire or expand your kit list. 

Some of the equipment listed assists with personal safety, but should not be used as a substitute for training, knowledge and experience in the mountains with regard to avalanche awareness.

Any ski can theoretically be used as a tool for ski touring, however a key consideration is how much touring you plan on doing, vs. resort based riding. Those who are touring regularly may benefit more from a lightweight ski construction such as carbon or basalt, to make the time in the uphill easier. Those who are touring more casually and generally riding lift-accessed terrain will benefit from a freeride / all mountain ski for greater versatility and stability in the downhill. 

Are you:

• Lightweight - Faster, easier to carry uphill. Generally better suited to someone primarily touring and ski mountaineering the majority of the time. I.e. Salomon QST Echo or K2 Mindbender 96C

• Freeride / All-mountain - More stable and reliable in the downhill. Less likely to chatter at high speeds and can be used as a resort ski too, although generally heavier to walk uphill. Great examples include the Line Sakana or Rossignol Sender Free 100.

Boots are the linchpin to a comfortable set up, especially when used for uphill as well as down. A day in the backcountry with cold toes is not the most enjoyable experience, so I would recommend a well fitting boot with a custom footbed to give you the best chance at comfort all day long. 

We have a selection of hybrid boots which are commonly used for touring as well as regular resort riding. They feature a walk mode to make uphill movement easier, and tech inserts to fit with any touring binding. The K2 Mindbender, Nordica Unlimited, Tecnica Cochise and Salomon Shift Alpha Boa are all great options.

Come and see one of our bootfitters in-store for a recommendation on which boot would work best for you. Ensure you’re wearing tight fitting, thin, merino socks so you keep your feet toasty. Icebreaker, Stratus or Le Bent are all great options. 

Just like the skis, bindings should be chosen based on how much time you plan to spend in the backcountry/touring versus riding inbounds.

If you're aiming for a lightweight setup - or have already picked a lighter ski - a minimalist option like the Marker Kingpin is a great choice. It strips the bulk out of a traditional binding and is best suited for uphill.

Alternatively, a ‘hybrid’ binding like the Salomon Shift2 or Marker Duke PT offers the best of both worlds: the capability to tour, without sacrificing downhill performance. These are slightly heavier than pin bindings but provide more versatility for mixed terrain.

Climbing skins are used to travel uphill by gripping on the snow. They can be trimmed down to size to fit your ski, and all brands will have a size guide on which is most appropriate for your equipment. I use the G3 Universal, which have good grip and pack down small. To look after them, I store them in a cool place overnight and use skin savers to preserve the glue.