Essential Ski Touring equipment

Your avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe) is as important to you when touring as a decent pair of skis!

The transceiver must be worn under the first or even second layer of clothing to prevent it getting ripped off in an avalanche. Mobile phones can interfere with the signal so keep them apart. Your probe and shovel positioned into your bag in such a way that it cannot cause you injury. The best transceiver is the one you find easiest to use. Test a few!

There is a new member to the avalanche kit cupboard, and that is the ABS bag. Some guide centres are making the hire of this bag compulsory. This is very popular in the States and Canada, and rightly so. Despite hearing unsubstantiated concerns about whether this is as effective in the heavier snow of Europe we think this is a great product that will become a must for any trip.

The skis you use for touring are generally much lighter, often with a clever skin attachment feature at the tip and base of the ski. More and more frequently people are mounting touring bindings onto freeride skis allowing for a slightly harder uphill phase, but offering a more satisfying ride down. The bindings too have developed into very lightweight and stable units. The typical and well proven bindings are the diamir brand. These can be used with a touring or non touring boot. The lightest are the Dynafit system. This system requires a special boot, and seems to be unnervingly minimal, but they take a lot of weight off the uphill, and still offer great stability down.

Don't forget your skins. They should be cut to fit your ski, and come right to edges. Black Diamond and Coll Tex are well known for quality skins.

You will need a good bag for touring and one with a good ski carry system. When you have to carry your skis on your back climbing a foot ladder up a steep wall, you'll be glad of this feature.