A growing segment of the touring boot market, ‘freeride’ touring boots are light enough that you don’t kill yourself on the way up but are still stiff enough to ski hard on the way down. Tech fittings are becoming pretty much standard. These aren’t ultra-light touring boots, but rather boots that are more suited for […]
Best Freeride Touring Boots 2018/2019 Read More »
Updated Feb 8, 2022 to include the Look Pivot GW One of the problems with having only one pair of boots for both touring and resort skiing is binding compatibility. The best touring boots have fully rockered rubber soles that don’t work in most alpine bindings. The best alpine boots are heavy as bricks and
Alpine Bindings for Touring Boots Read More »
When you’re ready to buy your first backcountry skiing setup, you might be wondering whether you should you get tech bindings or frame bindings. Each style has its pros and cons and is better suited for different skiers with different needs. We’ll go through each and help you decide which is right for you. When
Tech Bindings vs Frame Bindings Read More »
A question that many skiers ask at some point is ‘Should I get touring boots or use my alpine boots for backcountry skiing?’ I know when I first started exploring the backcountry I asked myself this question. I used my alpine boots (which were freaking heavy) for the first 5-10 days of backcountry skiing. Once
Top Reasons to Get Alpine Touring Boots Read More »
Update: check out the updated 2019 versions of the best bindings for backcountry skiing: The Best Bindings for Alpine Touring in 2019 Part 1 – 50/50 Bindings Part 2 – Tech (Pin) Bindings As the backcountry skiing industry keeps heating up, more and more manufacturers are making high quality touring bindings. The number of choices
The Best Alpine Touring Bindings in 2018 Read More »
Is anyone else starting to drool over all of the new gear that’s coming out this year? I know I sure am. It seems like every year there is at least one new piece of gear that is unlike anything that came before it. This year there are at least 3 that fit that category!
2018/2019 Backcountry Skiing Gear Preview Highlights Read More »
Last season Mrs. HikeForPow got a new pack for Christmas to replace her aging Arc’teryx Silo 30. The Silo 30 was a good pack, but it was a bit too long in the torso for her. It also had a bit of an odd shape. It narrowed at the bottom, so fully packing it was
Osprey Kresta 30 Women’s Pack Review Read More »
If you are someone that spends time in the backcountry, you should definitely consider getting a PLB (personal locator beacon) or a satellite messenger. The nature of backcountry travel means that you are often out of the range of cell towers. Having a device that communicates via satellite can literally be a life saver if
The Best Satellite Messengers and Personal Locator Beacons of 2018 Read More »
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the grass is starting to get green. Maybe you’ve already been out for a mountain bike ride or two, or you’ve started pre-season bike maintenance. Your beloved skis are probably gathering dust in a corner in the basement or your shed, and won’t be given another
End of Season Ski and Gear Maintenance Read More »
Although an avalanche shovel is a fairly simple piece of equipment, every year there are small improvements made to shovel designs. They get stronger, lighter, and easier to assemble and take apart. This article will take a look at some of the best avalanche shovels currently on the market. If you’re looking for other avalanche
Best Avalanche Shovels in 2018 Read More »