Gear Reviews

Ski Hardwear

Tools of the Trade

Despite considerable growth, backcountry skiing remains a small segment of the overall ski industry. Consequently, backcountry ski gear lags behind the best Alpine gear in both performance and safety—though this is changing.

If you're extremely sensitive to your boot-ski-binding system, you're going to have to make some compromises (unless you've got a helicopter on your payroll).

For now, Fritschi's Freeride bindings have evolved into a very reasonable choice, and new boots from Garmont and Scarpa are challenging the notion that you can't have both downhill performance and uphill climbing comfort.

Bindings:

Boots:

Poles:

Skis:

Accessories:

» back to Gear Index

SierraDescents Features