There is an endless amount of skis out there right now. The number listed with the name of the ski is the width underfoot. Essentially, how wide they are. Recommended width is 95 to 105 with 100 being the sweet spot.

A ski is only as good as it waxed and sharpening.

For priorities of gear when acquiring quality equipment, keep in mind the following…

1.)Boots

2.)Bindings

3.)Skis

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Voile SuperCharger Skis

Pros: Lightweight, easy to ski, fun

Cons: 

Best for: Everyone

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Line Vision 98

Pros: Lightweight, easy to ski, fun

Cons: You need to carefully sand down/dremel the rounded rubber piece on the tail for your skin to fit perfectly.

Best for: Everyone

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Evo’s list of touring ski’s

Fritschi Vipec Evo 12 Bindings

Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, fast transitions, one of the only bindings that have a DIN setting for both toe & heal (this really increases the safety of your knees)

Cons: All plastic

Best for:  Beginner/Intermediate skiers who only ski a couple times a year

Ski Crampons: Must have for icy conditions

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Hagan Core 12

Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, fast transitions, all metal.

Cons: DIN setting only in the heel. Can be a little advanced of a binding for those who do not ski tour often.

Best for:  Intermediate/Advanced skiers who ski more than a couple times a year

Ski Crampons: Must have for icy conditions

Additional recommendations: ATK Freeride spacers

Pomoca Climb S-Glide

Get the Ready2Climb

BD Evac 7 Shovel

Best one out there

Ortovox 320 + PFA

great probe

BD Quickdraw probe 280cm

BCA Stealth 300

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• carbon fiber sounds nice at first but they break easily

  • get a metal probe

• minimum length of 280cm

BD EXPEDITION WHIPPET READY 3 SKI POLES

TRAVERSE WHIPPET READY 2 SKI POLES

Whippet Attachments

• comes in handy when in the alpine

BD Guide Avalanche Beacon

Easy to use out of the box.

Don’t get the cheaper versions of this Blackdiamond beacon, if you are going to get a blackdiamond beacon, get this one.

Mammut Barryvox S

Easy to use out of the box.

Fantastic beacon.

Ferrino Instinct 40+5L

Pros: Ultra lightweight, extra padding/protection for crampons/skis

Cons: Will not carry heavy weight the best but better than most Dyneema packs. Best to pack light.

Not best for multiday trips

Internal avalanche rescue pocket

Hyperlight Headwall 55

Pros: Ultra lightweight, large space

Cons: Will not carry heavy weight all that well. Best to pack light.

Good for multiday trips

Hyperlight Crux 40

Pros: Ultra lightweight, great features

Cons: Only 40L. Will not carry heavy weight all that well. Best to pack light.

Not best for multiday trips.

Cilo Gear Ski Packs

Many options. They have a military-specific line – call them directly for access

Pros: Lightweight, functional.

Cons: Internal avalanche rescue pocket

Mystery Ranch Gallatin Peak 40

Pros: Functional, carries heavy weight like a pro and allows you to still move

Cons: Heavier

This one is tough.

Everyone has different feet and there are a lot of boot options.

Best to call around and interview shops that have boot fitters who will take measurements and recommend the best boot for you. Most places offer molding of the liners but this is only half the battle. Buy your boots from a ski shop that has a boot fitter, and that is their specific role.

A custom insole can and will go a long way.

If you are in the following areas I can highly recommend…

Jackson, WY: JH Boot room

Breckenridge, CO: A racers edge

• This shop mostly has race boots, If you already own a pair of boots, get a custom insole made here!

Don’t buy super cheap goggles. You will regret it.

Sunglasses are great, but at the resort and when it starts snowing sideways, you. are going to need a pair of goggles.

Smith Optics

• smith goggles are great in design. Being able to unclip the strap is more convenient than you might realize.

Poc

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You may want to consider the following set of lenses.

• 1x low-light lens (cloudy/flat light days)
• 1x dark lens (for really sunny days)
• 1x clear lens for night

Smith wildcats

Pit Vipers

Poc Devour

You want a pair of sunglasses that won’t fog up while touring. Recently, there has been an increase of sunglass-goggle crossovers. These things are great, you can change out the lenses just like you would on a pair of goggles.

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You may want to consider the following set of lenses.

• 1x low-light lens (cloudy/flat light days)
• 1x dark lens (for really sunny days)
• 1x clear lens for night

There are not many helmets out there that are multi-sport rated, look descent, and are lightweight

These helmets are rated for skiing and climbing, they are multi-rated. They have headlamp retention slots and goggle straps on the back. They are all very lightweight.

• Salomon Mtn Lab Helmet
• Scott Couloir Mtn Helmet
• Sweet protection Ascender MIPS
• Petzl SIROCCO

3 pairs recommended

1.) Mittens

• Norrona trollveggen Gore-Tex Pro Mittens
• BD ABSOLUTE MITTS
• OR Mt. Baker II GORE-TEX Mitts

2.)Warm gloves with good dexterity

• Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Gloves
• BD Guide Gloves
• REI Guide Glove
• Hardware store Kinco’s!

3.)Lighter weight gloves with very high dexterity

• Norrona lofoten Gore-Tex thermo100 short Gloves
• Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Lite Gloves
• BD Legend Gloves
• BD TORQUE GLOVES