How to Choose Alpine Touring Skis?
Key Features
Camber
Camber is the arc of the ski away from the snow (when unweighted). In firm conditions, it provides pop and edge grip. In other words, it makes your skis more energetic and more easily sets the edge in turns.
Rocker
Rocker is the upward arc of the ski at the tip and sometimes the tail. It makes turn initiation easier and helps keep your skis above the snow in powdery or variable conditions. The downside is a shorter effective edge, making for less control and edge grip on hardpack.
Waist
This is the width of the ski underfoot. A wider waist gives more stability and float. Wider-waisted skis often perform better in poor snow. A narrower waist makes edge-to-edge transitions more quickly in firm conditions.
Length
Length is the distance from tip to tail. Longer skis are faster and have more float. Shorter skis are generally more maneuverable. When stood up vertically on the tail, the ski should reach somewhere between your lips and the top of your head. Beginners should err on the side of shorter skis and experts, longer ones.
Sidecut
This is the shape of the ski as seen from above. It is often listed as three numbers separated by hyphens representing, in order, the tip, waist, and tail width.
Turn Radius
This refers to the curve a ski naturally follows when put on edge. It’s determined by the sidecut and is expressed as a radius in metres. A shorter turn radius allows for tighter, quicker turns, while a longer one works best in wide, sweeping arcs.
Types of Touring Skis
All-Mountain
For the sake of your budget or in a spirit of minimalism, you can choose just one ski that’s up for anything. A backcountry quiver-of-one ski should have a waist between 95 mm and 110 mm. That makes it wide enough to float in powder and narrow enough to easily set the edge on hardpack. It should also have a moderate weight (around 1,300 g to 1,650 g) that lets you enjoy long days of skiing but is hefty enough to handle variable conditions. These skis will generally have moderate rocker and camber for stability and easy turn initiation on all types of terrain and snow. You can even go with a versatile setup that will perform well both at the resort and in the backcountry. This requires the right binding and a ski on the heavier side.
Powder Skis
If you’re planning a trip to Japan or the Rockies or have access to a reliable, secret backwoods powder stash, you may need a powder ski. Such skis perform best with at least 20 cm to 25 cm of fresh snow, depending on its density. Whatever you have underfoot, powder skiing is always a blast. But filling this quiver slot will take you to the highest levels of floaty bliss. And since big powder days usually mean tree skiing, you want skis with a medium to short turn radius and plenty of tip and tail rocker for fast pivoting. Although wider skis are usually heavier, there are some powder-oriented backcountry skis on the market that are light enough (under 1,500 g) to really rack up the laps.
Freeride Skis
Freeride skiing is powder skiing with high speeds, jumps, big drops, and acrobatics thrown in. If you really want to send it in the backcountry, you need powder skis’ burly big brother—freeride touring skis. Weighing at least 1,500 g, they’re much like powder skis but have the bulk to absorb shocks, dampen vibrations, and take a beating.
Mountaineering Skis
Mountaineering skis are for those with objectives way above the tree line. They must be light enough (under 1,350 g) to take on long approaches and big climbs. Their relatively narrow waist (between 85 mm and 95 mm) and significant camber helps you set the edge on hardpack and ice and carve up sun-baked corn snow. You may want to go with a slightly shorter length than usual to make short turns in steep couloirs easier and save some weight.
Race Skis
Race skis (aka skimo skis) are for those who have a masochistic appreciation for climbing uphill and love of crushing their friends on Strava. These skis are very short, narrow (under 85 mm), and super light (under 1,000 g). This lightness makes them blazing fast on the uphill, but the way down won’t be stellar.
Your Setup
Choose touring bindings and boots for your chosen style of skis to get the most out of your setup
Questions?
Finding just the right pair of backcountry skis can be a complex challenge. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions. Our advisers would be delighted to help you put together a touring setup.
