Snow has fallen in the Wasatch and crisp autumn smells are in the air. Now is the time to start thinking about your backcountry skiing setup. Whether you are new to the sport, or an expert who needs an upgrade, you’ll find there’s too much new gear to choose from. Well, I’ve talked to the gear reps, tested next year’s stuff, and did my research to come up with a few suggestions. From jackets to helmets, skis and AT boots, here are my top picks for new backcountry ski gear for the 2015/16 ski season.
SKIS
As always, there’s a ton of new skis being released this fall that cater to backcountry skiers. Here are a few that I’m most looking forward to trying (or even owning.)
These backcountry slicers are downright space age… literally. Salomon says that with Spaceframe 2.0 technology, the skis are powerful on both the up and the down. A 3D core lends balance and stability while reducing weight, and CFX Superfiber, MTN Rocker, and G-Spot Technology round out the creatively-named features. At 95mm underfoot and only weighing 1400 grams, the MTN Explore 95 look like precision tools for skinning and skiing steep mountaineering lines. MSRP: $850
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM: If these skis perform anywhere near as well as the Salomon Q BC Lab skis, they’ll be worth adding to the quiver.
DPS is releasing their fourth construction option to its lineup with the Tour1. It’s targeted to backcountry skiers with a lightweight build that emphasizes fast ascents while retaining downhill performance. I tested these skis last year and found them to be comparable in weight to the lightest backcountry-specific touring skis on the market. They are crazy light! In the powder, they wailed, much as the name implies. If you think light is right, check out the Wailer 112RP Tour1.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM: These skis are crazy light for the up but rule on the down. With these featherweights on your feet, you’ll be able to tour all day long.
For backcountry skiers who also like to rip in-bounds, there’s the Atomic Vantage 100 CTI. This all-mountain ski promises to shred groomers, crud, and powder equally well, making it a true quiver-killer. Atomic point to the Carbon Tank Mesh (a layer of rigid, woven carbon mesh that reduces weight and increases strength) as a reason why these skis are so capable. There’s also Firewall, a tiered full sidewall that dampens vibration and delivers edge grip. Sound like ragers that only was to trench the hardpack? While they can do that, the ski’s directional shape and all mountain rocker also lets them play in the powder.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM: When you ski the resort, you might as well go big with the burliest all-mountain tanks money can buy. The Atomic Vantage 100 CTI fits the bill.
BOOTS
Every skier knows that if you don’t have the right boots, your ski experience will suck. Boots are everything – if they are too small, too soft, too large, too stiff, or just plain hurt to wear, your skiing will be affected. While the new 2015/16 ski boots featured here may or may not work for you or your personal style, they are the latest and greatest. So go try them on, click into your backcountry bindings, and shred some snow.
Atomic threw everything we know about backcountry ski boots out the window. By rethinking and designing the Backland series from the ground up, they’ve invented a lightweight boot that is like wearing sneakers on the up while maintaining performance on the down. With an insane 74-degree range-of-motion with the tongue removed, you can practically run up the mountains. But the carbon in this boot keeps everything nice and stiff for confidence when shredding back down.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: If you like fast and light, but still need descending power, this is the boot that will do it all.
I toured in the Salomon MTN LAB boots one day last season and pretty much fell in love with them (read my thoughts here). Salomon basically rethought touring boots from the ground up. They have a crazy amount of cuff articulation, 120 flex, narrow last (great for my narrow feet) and pretty much do everything well in both the up and the down. You can charge hard in these babies both in and out of bounds. These backcountry kicks may change the way we think about touring boots in general.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM: Salomon hit a home run with their first attempt at a true, light weight backcountry touring boot. When you try them, you’ll fall in love with them too.
APPAREL
While backcountry skiing, when you’re cold, you’re miserable. That’s why apparel like jackets, pants and gloves are so important. Skiing the backcountry is an aerobic sport with lots of starting and stopping. To meet the demands of sweat combined with cold air, backcountry gear has to be warm, yet breathe. Here’s what I’m excited to throw on this winter.
Utah is a cold and dry state, which means we don’t get much winter rain or even much wet snow for that matter. So I’ve always thought the most expensive, technical, Gore-Tex shell is overkill. Enter the Black Diamond Recon Shell. According to BD, they’ve taken a “mixed-materials approach by combining WINDSTOPPER® with taped-seam construction in the body of the jacket and panels of Schoeller® stretch-woven fabric under the arms and on the back. That means it protects like a hardshell and moves/breathes like a softshell. Perfect for Wasatch backcountry tours. MSRP $499
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: The Black Diamond Recon seems like the ideal outer layer for ski touring in Utah.
Arc’teryx makes expensive gear. So you won’t be floored to discover that they are coming out with gloves that cost $250. The Lithic Gloves are supposedly “next level” and have already received tons of awards at industry trade shows. More like a jacket for your hands, the Lithic feature highly hydrophobic, N333p-X 3-layer Gore-Tex at the palm and fingers for ultimate protection without compromising dexterity. The back of the glove has a hyper-breathable N70p Gore-Tex layer so you can shed heat when skinning. Add PrimaLoft Silver and Gold insulation for warmth, and you’ve got the ultimate backcountry skiing glove. MSRP $249
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: Cold fingers will ruin your enjoyment outdoors. Might as well go big and wear the best gloves money can buy.
The newest merino wool base layers from Icebreaker is the Zone line. These shirts and leggings are made from stretchy merino for long, high-output days in the skin track. What sets these base layers apart from the rest is Icebreaker’s BodyfitZONE™ construction, which combines lightweight 200gm stretch merino wool with strategically placed merino mesh panels to help regulate temperature during stop-and-go days on the trail. Result: ultimate breathability where you need it.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THEM: These base layers made for aerobic activities like backcountry skiing.
Salomon S-Lab X Alp Midlayer Hoodie
I’ve had a long search for the ultimate skinning layer – not too hot, not too cold, and it has to breathe like its hyperventilating. My search may end with the Salomon S-Lab X Alp Midlayer Hoodie. It combines Polartec PowerGrid with a secondary stretch woven over the wrists, chest, and hood, for protection during ascents without sacrificing breathability. It also has a 3D stretch fleece construction for temperature regulation and moisture wicking ability. A high collar with off center zipper protects the neck and face against the wind. MSRP $160
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: If you skin up mountains, you know how hard it can be to find the perfect layer for the skin track. Maybe this hoodie is the Holy Grail.
SAFETY
Being safe in the backcountry is paramount. So it’s important to have the right gear. The examples below are stuff I’d want to have on my person when setting out into the untamed, off-piste mountains.
This helmet is the only one you will need, from protecting your cabeza in the BC to running icy laps in bounds. It features EPS 4D Construction which Salomon says absorbs 30% more shock then required. With a sub-300 gram weight, it’s also the lightest helmet available that meets both alpine skiing and mountaineering safety standards. MSRP $200
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: Who wouldn’t want to own the lightest ski/mountaineering helmet on the market? Plus, it looks cool.
The AvaLung has been around for years now, but what’s new for 2015/16 is the Element. What sets it apart is that the device is removable when used with any compatible AvaLung-ready pack. That way you don’t have to own multiple packs for year-round use. When ski season is over, simply take off the AvaLung and use your pack for hiking or climbing. When the snow flies, stick the Element back in for increased survival in case of an avalanche burial.
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: Simplify your life with only one pack for all seasons with a removable AvaLung.
MISC
Miscellaneous gear is all the other stuff you might want to bring along on a backcountry ski tour, but don’t necessarily need. Here’s a few ideas of gear that will elevate your backcountry experience.
The Suunto Traverse is the latest in the company’s GPS-enabled watch line. This simplified version features integrated GPS and GLONASS for advanced route navigation, real-time breadcrumb view to retrace or select the shortest backtrack route, speed, distance, pace, altitude (FusedAlti™), compass and flashlight, weather functions, daily activity tracking including step monitoring and calorie counter, and much more. Plus, the big news in my opinion, is that the battery holds a charge for up to 100 hours while in GPS mode. It will be available October, 2015. MSRP $450
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT: Quality GPS function in a slimmer package. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the Ambit series, this is the GPS watch for you.
Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Utah
Now for some shameless self-promotion. I wrote a new guide book titled: Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Utah. It features 99 ski tours in mountain ranges all over the state including the La Sals, Tushars, Bear Rivers, Uintas, Wasatch, and more. Each route provides photos, maps, and essential information that you need for a safe and successful tour. If you’re new to Utah, or a local in search of terrain you may not have explored yet, then do yourself (and me) a favor by purchasing this book. It will be available in late October/early November, but you can pre-order it now from Mountaineers Books.