What Are Alpine Touring Skis?

Touring skis, or backcountry skis, blend styles like alpine, cross-country, telemark, randonnee, and backcountry. They offer the best of all worlds, so you might only need one pair of skis to meet your needs. Touring skis are ideal for more advanced skiers who have a greater understanding of the unpredictable backcountry environment.

Ski touring involves traveling both up and down the mountain without removing the skis. The loose heel and wide base of touring skis allow you to explore the powder snow in the backcountry. If you prefer skiing on-piste, alpine touring skis can also be used on the groomed slopes of ski resorts.

How to Choose Touring Skis?

Generally, touring skis should be lightweight (around 1100 g to 1800 g), and the length should be within 5-10 cm of your height. Heavier skis are better suited for downhill skiing, offering more stability and speed, but will require more effort during ascents. Lighter skis are better for uphill-oriented ski touring. The waist width depends on your touring preference, but it is usually between 82-105 mm for more all-around backcountry skis.

What Ski Touring Gear Should I Get?

For alpine ski touring, you will need specialized gear to help you navigate the mountain. The right equipment will ensure you get the most out of your backcountry adventures.

One of the most crucial pieces of touring gear is the bindings. These special touring bindings allow you to walk with your skis on by enabling heel lift while keeping the toe fixed to the ski. You can find alpine touring bindings in our Ski Bindings Selection.

Choosing the right ski boots is also very important. Since you need to lift the heel for forward walking motions, highly flexible and relatively lightweight boots are advantageous. Our range of Alpine Ski Boots includes specialized touring boots suitable for backcountry skiing.

Other essential touring equipment includes skins and ski poles. Skins prevent you from sliding backward when hiking up and are mounted on the base of the skis. Good climbing skins offer a balanced combination of traction and glide and attach securely to the skis. For ski poles, we recommend using adjustable ones. This allows for a long pole for ascents, a shorter pole for descents, or different lengths for traversing the mountain.

Since you will be in the wild, you will also need safety equipment such as a ski helmet and avalanche gear. Check out our selection of Ski Protection Gear and head to the backcountry with peace of mind.