Alpine Backcountry Skis

What Are Alpine Touring Skis?

Backcountry skis, also known as touring skis, merge styles like alpine, cross-country, telemark, randonnee, and backcountry. They offer an all-encompassing solution, meaning you might only need one pair of skis to fulfil your requirements. Touring skis cater to experienced skiers who already have a deep understanding of the unpredictable backcountry conditions.

Ski touring focuses on ascending and descending the mountain without removing the skis. The loose heel and broad base of ski touring skis permit you to explore the backcountry's powder snow. If you wish to ski on-piste, alpine touring skis can also easily be utilised on the groomed slopes of skiing resorts.

How to Select Touring Skis?

Generally, touring skis should be lightweight (around 1100 g to 1800 g) and the length should be approximately 5-10 cm more or less than your height. Heavier skis excel in downhill travel, offering more stability and speed, but demand more effort when ascending. On the other hand, lighter skis are preferable for those drawn to uphill-oriented ski touring. The waist width is based on touring preferences, typically ranging from 82-105 mm in versatile backcountry skis.

What Ski Touring Equipment Should I Acquire?

For alpine ski touring, specialised equipment is necessary for ascending and descending the mountain. Proper gear will ensure you get the most out of your backcountry experiences.

An essential component of touring gear is the bindings. Special touring bindings allow you to walk with skis on, enabling you to raise the heel while keeping the toe affixed to the ski. Discover alpine touring bindings in our Ski Bindings Selection.

The choice of ski boots is equally crucial. Being able to lift the heel for forward walking is advantageous, making highly flexible and relatively lightweight boots beneficial. Our collection of Alpine Ski Boots features some specific touring boots ideal for backcountry skiing.

Additional essential touring equipment includes skins and ski poles. Skins stop you from sliding backwards during uphill climbs, attaching to the ski bases. Effective climbing skins offer a blend of traction and glide and secure fastening to the skis. When it comes to ski poles, we suggest using adjustable ones for touring. This gives you the choice of a long pole for ascents, a shorter pole for descents, or varying lengths for traversing.

Venturing through natural terrain necessitates safety gear, such as a ski helmet and avalanche equipment. Explore our assortment of Ski Protection Gear and approach the backcountry with confidence.