Avalanche & Backcountry Gear Recommendations

This page is a resource for the experienced vet or the complete beginner. It's our attempt to put together a list of backcountry gear that we thing is actually worth your time. These are just the opinions of the Mountain Training Center instructors! Things like skis & boots are totally personal preference but we're still including our favorites. You'll notice most of these links go to Skimo Co, they're a local shop in Salt Lake City that is one of North America's best backcountry skiing shops. Also, it's run by some great, knowledgable people. If I cannot find it on there, I'll link directly to the manufacturers page. Don't forget to cross reference this with our discount codes on the previous page! Updated 10/24

For transparency, a few of these links are affiliate links which means we get a small kickback whenever you purchase an item, with no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations.

Avalanche Safety Equipment

Lots of Mammut on this list and there is a reason. I don't believe another brand comes close when it comes to avalanche safety equipment.

Best Avalanche Package: Mammut Barryvox Package Light

Best Recreational Avalanche Beacon: Mammut Barryvox 2 Avalanche Beacon

Best Professional Avalanche Beacon: Mammut Barryvox S2 Avalanche Beacon

Best Avalanche Shovel: Black Diamond Transfer LT Shovel

Best Avalanche Probe: Mammut Speed Lock Probe

Snow Science Tools

Good tools to have if you plan on being a student of the snow (which you should).

Slope Inclinometer: BCA Slope Meter

Snow Crystal Card: BCA Crystal Card

Snow Saw + Snowpit Cord: Black Diamond Guide Snow Saw

Skis (Varying Widths)

I've found that the sweet spot for general, do-it-all backcountry skis is around 99-102mm in width. Your milage may vary.

Best 110+: Black Crow Draco Freebird

Best 100 - 106: Black Crow Navis Freebird

Affordable 100-106mm: K2 Wayback 106

Best 94-99mm: K2 Wayback 98

For general backcountry skiing, we don't recommend going lower in width. Ski mountaineering? Then yes, go skinnier.

Climbing Skins

Lightest Quality Option: Pomoca Free Pro 2.0

More Affordable Option: Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide

Ski Bindings

Bindings can be classified as race, lean and full featured. I mostly ski on race & lean bindings though if you're planning on hucking flips, go for the fully featured binding. That being said, I've skied my most committing lines on race & lean bindings.

Best Race Binding: ATK Trofeo

Best Lean Binding: ATK Haute Route Plus

Another Best Lean Binding: Plum Oazo 8

Best Full Featured Binding: ATK Raider 12

Ski Boots

I'm not even going to list any on here as it's entirely based upon what will actually fit you individual foot. I suggest reaching out to Skimo Co as they focus strictly on backcountry skiing. Hit up their boot fitters for recommendations.

Ski Poles

I like a set of non-adjustable poles. Less things to break. That being said, I'll list a pair of quality adjustable ones as well.

Will's Favorite: Black Crows Furtis Pole

More Affordable Option: Black Crows Oxus Pole

Collapsable Option: Black Diamond Traverse WR 2

Radios

Long expensive, longer range: Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Radio

Less expensive, still solid range: Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio

Repair Kits

Traverse Equipment Backcountry Ski Repair Kit

Clothing Kit

This list is all from Will McKay, the lead instructor for this course. These are all the actual pieces he uses throughout the entire winter.

Lightweight Wool Socks: Darn Tough OTC Lightweight Socks

Wool Long Underwear (knee length): Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis Thermal

Sun Hoody Base layer: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody

Mid layer (Fleece): Norrøna Møre Octa Zip Hood

Mid-weight Insulation: Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket

Lightweight Shell: Nørrona Lyngen Gore-Tex Jacket

Regular Shell: Nørrona Møre Gore-Tex Jacket

Softshell Pants: Nørrona Flex 1 Pants

Lightweight Gloves: Ortovox Tour Light Glove

Mid weight Gloves: Black Diamond Patrol Gloves

Heavy Gloves: CAMP Hotmitt'N

Waterproof Over mitts: Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts

Ski Mountaineering Equipment

Ski mountaineering can be defined as anytime you take your skis off in pursuit of a skiing a line. This can include mild amounts of rock scrambling, skiing with ropes, rappelling and even some ice climbing. These are the tools we use to make that dream a reality. Included are also devices + tools that can be used in Crevasse Rescue, those will be marked with a *.

Best Ski Mountaineering Crampons: Blue Ice Harfang Crampons

Best Ski Touring Axe: Blue Ice Hummingbird

Best Axe for Technical Ascents (mild ice + rock): Petzl Gully Ice Axe

Best Ultra Light Harness: Blue Ice Choucas Light

Best Light All Around Harness: Blue Ice Choucas Pro

*Complete Crevasse Rescue Package: Petzl Crevasse Rescue Kit

*Best Ultra Light Rope: Petzl Rad Line

*Best Lightweight Rope: Edelrid Rap Line Protect Pro Dry Cord

*Ice Screws: Petzl Laser Speed Light

*Rappelling Device: Petzl Reverso Belay Device

*Best Progress Capture Pulley: Petzl Nano Traxion

*Best Progress Capture (non-pulley): Petzl Tibloc

*Best Locking Carabiner: CAMP Nimbus Lock

Best Non-Locking Carabiner: CAMP Nano 22