BACKCOUNTRY SKIING GEAR LIST

BACKCOUNTRY SKIING GEAR LIST

If you don’t already have a checklist song before walking out the door, I’m happy to teach you mine! It goes something like this: boots, skis, poles, beacon, shovel, probe, skins, snax, water… You get the idea.  I have been lucky enough to be working in the ski industry now for over two decades and in that time I’ve seen the gamut of what companies invent to keep us safe, comfortable and warm out there.  Below you will find my list of what is necessary whether you have signed up for an avalanche course or a day of guided backcountry skiing.  When there’s a product or a company I particularly love or think shines, I will provide a link to their page, making it easy for you to purchase or research yourself.

Clothing: There’ an ole industry saying that “cotton kills”! More aptly put is to say that wool and synthetics will hold up better and keep us warmer as conditions moisten and deteriorate!


__ Ski Socks: Fit with your boots (Nothing else should tuck into your boots besides those socks and thinner is better to keep your feet warm even though that may seem counter intuitive!  Powder Hound Ski Shop has the best selection around.
__ Long johns/base layers:  Layering is always the name of the game and always you more in the field adjustments as you move up and down the mountain.  Check out Corbeaux for a wide variety of comfy, stylin’ layers for men and women!
__ Wind-breaker/sun hoodie:  Come Spring, it can be nice to just protect the skin from wind or sun with a super light layer.  I personally love: Cotopaxi for a mega light weight wind/sunbreaker that I use hiking, biking, skiing year round!
__ Hard Shell Top and Bottom: The only company I’ve found that makes gear hardcore enough for all the crazy weather AK can throw at us is: Flylow .  They have excellent bibs and jackets for both men and women as well as some other accoutrements such as underlayers, goggles, hats and even headbands and stylin’ baseball hats!
__ Insulated Puffy Jacket with Hood: See once again Flylow!  I always keep a puffy in my backpack year round because you never know when that extra layer will come in handy.

__ Gloves, 3 pairs: I like a light glove for touring up and a heavier glove for rollin’ down. My gloves of choice are: Baist Gloves, they have mitts too for those colder days!
__ Warm Hat & Buff: See again above Corbeaux and Flylow for a multitude of choices!

__ Sunglasses with chums: Even in the dark days of winter, a nice backup for goggles.

__ Ski Goggles and Ski Helmet: I put these two together, because it helps to buy the same brand so as to avoid gaper gap! Again, Powderhound has a great selection as does: Atomic

 

Touring Gear:
__ Backpack: 30-35 Liters Backcountry specific pack.  If you are interested in an airbag, then check out the fan/battery models made by either: Black Diamond or Scott

__ Boots: AT or Tele Ski / Snowboard: You’re feet are where you should spend the most time and money. The best boot is one that is fit by a master bootfitter to your feet, not the one on sale, used or with the cutest color! For maximum comfort and efficiency I’d even go the extra mile of custom footbeds and intuition heat molded liners. AGAIN: See Powderhound! Best boot fitters in the state!  

__ Touring Skis / Split-board: So many brands work in this department, but what do I ride on? My favorites are both Atomic, but for the lightest weight go to I use the combo of the Backland 107s with the Backland bindings. 

__ Bindings: If you plan to only have a one quiver set up for resort AND Backcountry than there is no better on the market than the Shift made by both Atomic and Salomon (same company)

__ Skins: I personally love the companies that have adopted the hybrid technology for the easier skin glue that doesn’t leave a gummy base on your skis. Try out either: Pomoca or Contour
__ Ski Poles: Try again: Atomic
__ Voile style Ski Strap: I love having 3-5 of these!  They can fix ANYTHING any season! Most ski shops sell them!

__ Avalanche Beacon: You wouldn’t send your kid to college with a massive 20 year old computer, would you? Beacons need to be no more than 5 years old!  Mammut Barryvox / Barryvox S. is my favorite, but honestly, the best beacon is the one you practice with the most!

__ Extra batteries: new name brand Alkaline with LR03 stamp. Stack them like logs together
with electrical tape covering ends, if the ends touch each other or other metal they will drain.

__ Probe. High quality, durable and sturdy thick! 280-300cms with numbers. BCA Probe

 __ Shovel: Quality avalanche shovel, absolutely No Plastic and No Cheap brands such as “Life Line”  My favorite: Ortovox

__ Water bottles and Thermos:My trick is that I fill up my Nalgene with warm water in the am and add a liquid i.v. packet for ultimate hydration and flavor, then slip it into a little Nalgene sleeping bag thermal insulator so it doesn’t freeze like camelbaks will…don’t bring ‘em!
Two 1 liter Nalgenes for spring.

__ Trail Food: Lunch begins after breakfast and ends before dinner.  I eat a huge fat/protein breakfast even if I’m “not hungry” to fuel my fire for the day. Then I have a snack bag packed of high fat nuts and dried fruit to nibble on during the day. My favorite energy bar that is healthy, nummy and doesn’t freeze? Check out: Sans Meal Bars

__ Headlamp: All year long, this baby better be in your pack! I love the Bindi because it’s super lightweight and shines bright! Bindi

__ Compass & Inclinometer: Inclinometer is mandatory for avalanche education or ski guide training courses.

__ Sunscreen: SPF 30+. Not necessary Nov-Jan in Alaska. My favorite: Clearly: Unicorn Snot

__ Chapstick w/ SPF

__ Personal Medications, if applicable. Please let me know of Any medical issues / medications.

Optional:
__ Other/Extra Clothing/Sunglasses/Baseball hat: Seasonally dependent, grab what you need to match the temps. This could include hand and toe warmers (which aren’t bad to have in your pack regardless in case of emergency)

__ Camera. Extra battery. Avoid large heavy SLR’s. No drones in National Parks, State Parks or Wilderness areas.

__ GPS unit with downloaded maps! Gaia GPS on your smartphone with maps downloaded for field use.
__ Multi-Tool: Mini Leatherman
__ Small Personal First-Aid Kit. Blister repair, athletic tape, gauze, bandaids, Ibuprofen, Tylenol...

__ MountainFLOW Eco Skin Treatment: Skin Wax Required for spring-summer.
Apply before trip. No wet skins, no globbing and it increases glide without losing grip.

 

Shops and Rentals in Alaska: