What does backcountry skiing?
There are many places to go backcountry skiing. The I-80 corridor provides easy access to popular spots. Check out our Best Places To Go Backcountry Skiing post to learn more about some of our favorite spots.
To help ease the process of gear hunting, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite gear this season. Take a look at our Top Five series below.
Baselayers and Midlayers
Dressing for a full day of backcountry skiing requires a balance of breathability and weather protection.
And the only way to really achieve the balance is through layering.
It’s not rocket science, but it is easy to overdress for ski touring. It’s an aerobic activity, and you need to be prepared to sweat. Every layer should embrace breathability including your shell and pants. A good layering system walks the line between being warm, but not so warm that you are overly sweaty. Of course, temperature, humidity and precip factor heavily into finding the right layering system. To shed some light on what we think is a good set up for a routine day of ski touring, here’s what we are wearing for base and midlayers this winter. Backcountry Skiing Gear -
But you shouldn’t have to compromise. Backcountry skis should be light for the uphill without making too many concessions on downhill performance in the process of shaving grams. Here is a guide to buying your next backcountry set up. Below are what we consider the top 5 backcountry skis of this season. And don’t forget, you can find all of these skis in our shop, Tahoe Mountain Sports.
The Blizzard Zero G 95 is a timeless favorite of ours. It skis well in a variety of conditions and is the lightest on this list. At under 6 lbs per pair, you’ll float up the skintrack with these on your feet. It’s designed with the uphill in mind and if you pair it with a light binding like G3’s Zed, you’ll be unstoppable.
The 95 mm waist makes this an extremely versatile ski that can handle soft and firm conditions. With camber underfoot, it charges in firm conditions and maintains a strong edge hold. It excels in firmer conditions, making it one of our favorites for springtime corn skiing. If you’re new to backcountry skiing, this ski is a great option. It’s light on the uphill and responsive on the downhill. It’s can make quick, tight turns giving you confidence in unfamiliar terrain. The Bottom Line: If you are looking to cut down on weight, pick up this ski. We are impressed by its balance between weight and performance.
It’s ideal for someone who’s looking for a lightweight backcountry performer.
Lightweight and powerful, just like it’s little brother the Zero G 95, the Zero G 105 is a great choice for those looking for a hard charging backcountry ski. It’s quick, nimble, and will hold an edge when you need it. This ski wants to be taken on committing lines, it’s aggressive and demands that you ski it. It’s stable and predictable at speed and in variable conditions (chop, breakable crust, etc.) The 105 mm waist is incredibly versatile and can be used as an everyday ski.
The extra width underfoot gives you more float, especially on deep powder days. The traditional camber profile of this ski gives the ski power and precision. Once engaged, this ski offers a strong edge hold. With this ski, Blizzard has created a lightweight tool that doesn’t sacrifice performance for weight.
This ski is all you need for a one ski quiver. At 102 mm underfoot, it has a versatile waist that can hold an edge in firm conditions or float on deep powder days. It’s a playful and responsive ski that likes to pop in and out of turns. You can certainly use the Navis Freebird as a daily driver at the resort and in the backcountry, it does well in and out of bounds. You never really know what to expect in the backcountry but you can feel confident that these skis can handle it all – steep stuff, hippy pow, chop, icy firm days, you name it.
What Gear Do You Need?
Backcountry skiing involves a LOT of gear. It can be overwhelming to sift through boots, bindings, beacons, skis, backpacks, skins and more…To help ease the process of gear hunting, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite gear this season. Take a look at our Top Five series below.
What Binding Should You Buy?
Backcountry bindings are a nuanced part of the gear equation when you are starting to gather all the gear. The best backcountry binding is the one that suits your unique needs. It completely depends on how you will use your setup, what kind of skiing you intend to do, and what your priorities are when putting all the pieces together. To learn more about this conversation, check out our How to Choose Backcountry Bindings post.What’s In Your Pack?
Some of the most important gear is arguably what’s in your pack. You need to bring avalanche safety tools, ski gear, food and water, extra layers, emergency medical equipment and more. Take a look at our post, Backcountry Skiing – Backpack Review and Gear List to find out what you should bring with you for a day in the backcountry. Know Before You Go! Backcountry skiing involves many risks so it’s important to learn how to travel safely in avalanche terrain and to check the avalanche forecast before you head out. Layering for Backcountry Skiing –Baselayers and Midlayers
Dressing for a full day of backcountry skiing requires a balance of breathability and weather protection.
And the only way to really achieve the balance is through layering.
It’s not rocket science, but it is easy to overdress for ski touring. It’s an aerobic activity, and you need to be prepared to sweat. Every layer should embrace breathability including your shell and pants. A good layering system walks the line between being warm, but not so warm that you are overly sweaty. Of course, temperature, humidity and precip factor heavily into finding the right layering system. To shed some light on what we think is a good set up for a routine day of ski touring, here’s what we are wearing for base and midlayers this winter. Backcountry Skiing Gear -
The Best Skis of 2020 Choosing a backcountry ski is a time consuming and difficult task.
But you shouldn’t have to compromise. Backcountry skis should be light for the uphill without making too many concessions on downhill performance in the process of shaving grams. Here is a guide to buying your next backcountry set up. Below are what we consider the top 5 backcountry skis of this season. And don’t forget, you can find all of these skis in our shop, Tahoe Mountain Sports.
The Blizzard Zero G 95 is a timeless favorite of ours. It skis well in a variety of conditions and is the lightest on this list. At under 6 lbs per pair, you’ll float up the skintrack with these on your feet. It’s designed with the uphill in mind and if you pair it with a light binding like G3’s Zed, you’ll be unstoppable.
The 95 mm waist makes this an extremely versatile ski that can handle soft and firm conditions. With camber underfoot, it charges in firm conditions and maintains a strong edge hold. It excels in firmer conditions, making it one of our favorites for springtime corn skiing. If you’re new to backcountry skiing, this ski is a great option. It’s light on the uphill and responsive on the downhill. It’s can make quick, tight turns giving you confidence in unfamiliar terrain. The Bottom Line: If you are looking to cut down on weight, pick up this ski. We are impressed by its balance between weight and performance.
It’s ideal for someone who’s looking for a lightweight backcountry performer.
Lightweight and powerful, just like it’s little brother the Zero G 95, the Zero G 105 is a great choice for those looking for a hard charging backcountry ski. It’s quick, nimble, and will hold an edge when you need it. This ski wants to be taken on committing lines, it’s aggressive and demands that you ski it. It’s stable and predictable at speed and in variable conditions (chop, breakable crust, etc.) The 105 mm waist is incredibly versatile and can be used as an everyday ski.
The extra width underfoot gives you more float, especially on deep powder days. The traditional camber profile of this ski gives the ski power and precision. Once engaged, this ski offers a strong edge hold. With this ski, Blizzard has created a lightweight tool that doesn’t sacrifice performance for weight.
This ski is all you need for a one ski quiver. At 102 mm underfoot, it has a versatile waist that can hold an edge in firm conditions or float on deep powder days. It’s a playful and responsive ski that likes to pop in and out of turns. You can certainly use the Navis Freebird as a daily driver at the resort and in the backcountry, it does well in and out of bounds. You never really know what to expect in the backcountry but you can feel confident that these skis can handle it all – steep stuff, hippy pow, chop, icy firm days, you name it.
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