With touring skis, you venture far off the beaten path. You're not dependent on where the lift takes you but where your legs carry you. An adventure through pristine nature. You tour up the mountain with your touring skis and ski down. When embarking on such an adventure, good preparation and the right equipment are essential. In the article below, we delve into what you need for touring skiing.
Venturing beyond the slopes comes with added risks. Knowledge of avalanches is a must! If you don't have this knowledge yourself, make sure you are with someone who does. It is wise to go with a guide who knows the conditions and the area. Additionally, having knowledge of your equipment is useful so that you can solve minor technical issues yourself.
In addition to knowledge, you also need the right equipment:
When touring, it's advisable to purchase special skis for this purpose. While you can mount a touring binding on almost any ski, it is not the ideal solution. A genuine touring ski is usually wider and provides more flotation for effortless gliding through deep snow. Moreover, it has a different profile to perform well both uphill and downhill.
We broadly distinguish three types of touring skis:
More information about these types of touring skis can be found in our buyer's guide for touring skis.
For touring skiing, you need touring bindings. These bindings have a walking (or touring) mode and a skiing mode. In the walking mode, your heel is free to allow you to walk uphill. When descending, you switch to skiing mode.
You can choose from three types of touring bindings: frame touring bindings, tech touring bindings, or hybrid tech bindings. The most suitable binding for your tour depends on what exactly you plan to do. You can find more information about this in our buyer's guide for touring skis.
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True touring ski boots are specifically designed for efficient uphill travel. Their skiing characteristics are secondary to their efficiency during ascents. That's why most people nowadays opt for freeride ski boots. They have a weight that falls between alpine and touring ski boots, with skiing features comparable to alpine boots. This way, you can comfortably ascend the mountain and still have a great boot for skiing.
For ascending with touring skis, you need climbing skins. These skins provide grip under your skis to prevent you from sliding backward on the mountain. Once you reach the summit, you remove the skins from your skis and store them.
View all climbing skins.
Touring poles are slightly different from regular ski poles:
View all touring poles.
Crampons, also known as "harscheisen", provide more grip on icy or steep slopes. You use crampons when climbing skins alone are no longer sufficient. Be aware that each ski binding has its crampons, and they are not interchangeable between bindings.
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While skiing on groomed slopes is possible, you will often find yourself off-piste. There is always the risk of an avalanche off-piste, so never go touring without proper avalanche gear. You need at least an avalanche transceiver (also known as a beacon), a shovel, and a probe. In addition, it is wise to have an avalanche airbag and a first aid kit with you.
For touring skiing, we recommend choosing technical apparel. This type of clothing keeps you warm and dry during physical activities. It is convenient to be able to adjust your clothing based on the temperature and your level of exertion. That is why we advise applying the three-layer system.
When you are far from the slopes, in 'the middle of nowhere', you are on your own. It is a fantastic adventure, but it requires thorough preparation. It's always handy to have some tools with you to solve minor technical issues. Think of a multitool, duct tape, and a ski or snowboard strap. The strap is intended to easily secure, bundle, or repair something.
