Beginner’s Guide to Ski Touring Gear
You’ve watched the lift lines, eyed the terrain beyond the boundary ropes, and decided it’s time. You want to earn your turns. Welcome to ski touring—the most rewarding (and humbling) way to experience the mountains.
But before you skin out of the resort, you need to understand that backcountry gear is fundamentally different from resort gear. The wrong equipment won’t just make you uncomfortable; it can put you in danger. This guide covers what you need to get started safely.
The Non-Negotiables: Avalanche Safety
We’re leading with this because nothing else matters if you skip it. The backcountry is avalanche terrain. Period. If you’re not carrying rescue equipment and trained to use it, you shouldn’t be there.
The Three Essentials
Every person in your party needs all three. No exceptions.
Beacon (transceiver): Transmits and receives a signal that allows you to locate buried partners—or them to locate you. Practice search drills regularly. A beacon you can’t use quickly is worthless.
Probe: A collapsible pole used to pinpoint a buried person after you’ve located them with the beacon. You’re probing through snow to find the body, so length matters—240cm minimum.
Shovel: For digging. The fastest beacon skills in the world mean nothing if you can’t move snow quickly. Get a real avalanche shovel with a metal blade, not a plastic toy.
Avalanche Education
Gear is useless without knowledge. Before your first tour, take an AIARE Level 1 course (or equivalent). You’ll learn: - How to read terrain and identify avalanche hazards - How to interpret avalanche forecasts - Companion rescue techniques - Decision-making frameworks
This isn’t optional. People die in the backcountry every year because they skipped this step. Don’t be one of them.
Uphill Travel: Skis, Bindings, and Skins
The defining feature of touring is going up under your own power. That requires specialized equipment.
Touring Skis
Touring skis prioritize weight savings because you’re carrying them uphill. They’re lighter than resort skis, often narrower underfoot (though not always), and built to balance climbing efficiency with descent performance.
For beginners, err toward a versatile all-mountain touring ski rather than an ultralight race ski. You want something that’s forgiving on the way down while you’re learning, not a twitchy noodle that punishes every mistake.
Splitboards (for Snowboarders)
A splitboard is exactly what it sounds like: a snowboard that splits in half lengthwise into two skis for the climb, then reassembles for the descent. Same concept as touring skis, adapted for riders.
You’ll also need split-specific bindings that work in both tour and ride modes.
Touring Bindings
Touring bindings pivot at the toe for climbing (so your heel can lift) and lock flat for descending. There are several types:
Tech/pin bindings: Ultralight, designed purely for touring. Connect to your boot via metal pins. Not ideal for resort use.
Hybrid/frame bindings: Heavier but more versatile. Ski resort-style with a touring mode. Good for people who want one setup for everything.
Touring Boots
Your resort boots probably won’t work. Touring boots have a “walk mode” that unlocks the cuff for hiking motion, plus soles compatible with touring bindings.
Like skis, touring boots are lighter than resort boots—but don’t go too light as a beginner. You want enough stiffness to control your skis on the descent, not just weight savings for the climb.
Climbing Skins
Skins attach to the base of your skis (or splitboard halves) and provide grip for climbing. The fibers lay flat one direction and grip the other—you can glide forward but not slide back.
Skins come in different materials (mohair, nylon, or blends) with trade-offs between glide and grip. For beginners, a nylon or blend skin is more forgiving.
Make sure your skins are properly sized for your skis. Too narrow and they won’t grip at the edges; too wide and they’ll catch on the topsheet.
Apparel: The Touring Difference
Resort apparel doesn’t work for touring. You’re generating massive amounts of heat on the climb, then cooling rapidly at the summit, then heating up again on the descent. Your clothing system needs to handle all of it.
Key Principles
Layer for the uphill. You should feel slightly cool standing in the parking lot. If you’re comfortable before you start moving, you’ll be overheating within minutes.
Embrace venting. Full side-zip pants, pit zips on your jacket—use them aggressively. The goal is dumping heat while you’re working, not trapping it.
Bring transitions layers. A puffy and/or shell in your pack for the summit. You’ll be soaked and rapidly cooling while you switch from climb mode to descent mode.
What to Wear
Pants: Lightweight, uninsulated, with full side zips. See our Resort vs. Backcountry Pants guide for the full breakdown.
Upper body: Lightweight base layer, breathable mid (maybe), softshell or hardshell depending on conditions. Most people skin in just a base layer and light softshell, adding insulation for the descent.
See our Building a Layering System guide for detailed breakdowns.
Packs
You need somewhere to carry your avy gear, extra layers, food, water, and transitions equipment. A touring-specific pack is designed for this.
Size: 20-30L for day tours. Bigger if you’re doing overnights or carrying extra safety equipment.
Features to look for: - Dedicated avy tool pocket (quick access to shovel and probe) - Ski/board carry system - Hip belt with pockets - Hydration compatible - Helmet carry
Poles
Adjustable poles that extend for climbing and shorten for descending. Fixed-length resort poles don’t adapt to the terrain changes you’ll encounter.
Navigation and Communication
The backcountry doesn’t have trail signs or ski patrol. You’re responsible for knowing where you are and getting yourself out.
Essentials: - Topographic map of your area - Compass (and knowledge of how to use it) - GPS device or phone app (with downloaded offline maps) - Emergency communication: InReach, satellite messenger, or PLB
The First-Timer Checklist
Here’s everything you need for a basic day tour:
Safety: - [ ] Beacon - [ ] Probe - [ ] Shovel - [ ] First aid kit - [ ] Emergency shelter/bivy
Uphill: - [ ] Touring skis or splitboard - [ ] Touring bindings - [ ] Touring boots - [ ] Climbing skins - [ ] Adjustable poles
Apparel: - [ ] Moisture-wicking base layer - [ ] Breathable mid layer - [ ] Softshell or light hardshell - [ ] Puffy (in pack) - [ ] Shell jacket (in pack if not wearing) - [ ] Touring pants with side zips - [ ] Gloves (light pair for climbing, warm pair for descent) - [ ] Helmet - [ ] Goggles and sunglasses
Pack: - [ ] 20-30L touring pack - [ ] Food and water - [ ] Sunscreen - [ ] Map/GPS - [ ] Emergency communication device
Start Small
Your first tours should be low-angle, low-consequence terrain with experienced partners or a guide. Don’t learn avalanche terrain on your own. The backcountry will always be there—take the time to build skills gradually.
Questions about getting set up for your first tour? Come see us at the shop. We’ll help you build a kit that matches your goals, budget, and the terrain you want to explore.
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