Having spent 15 years in product development myself, I’d always dreamed of building my own “Super Pack” for skiing. Kyle Siegel, a mechanical engineer with experience at SpaceX and The North Face, beat me to the punch by launching ultralight… The post Do Raide Research packs live up to the hype? appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

I’ve long been a shell guy when it comes to outerwear for ski touring but as I’ve picked up my pace on uphills and toured longer and longer into spring and summer, I’ve found myself searching for lighter layers that… The post Helly Hansen’s Odin Backcountry Softshell Kit Review appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

It was 2008 when I first slapped skins on a pair of skis, my dad’s ~210cm tele skis from the early 90’s. I also borrowed his old Patagonia anorak rain jacket that had seen about as many years as the… The post A Pullover Hardshell for Spring Tours? Trew’s Le Skieur Anorak appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

The differing styles of all the different ski tourers (tourists? Tourons?) is always interesting to me, running the gamut of the kitchen sink crew who, if needed, could live out of their touring pack in decadent luxury if the need… The post Packing for Skimo vs. Touring: What a Coach/Racer Carries appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

The Julbo Montebianco 2 offers great eye protection from intense sun. And fit with the Reactiv 1-3 High Contrast prescription lens; this is eyewear I can use from dawn to dusk. The post Julbo’s Montebianco 2 with the Reactiv 1-3 High Contrast lens: A Review appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

Now beyond cult-follower status, Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) remains a staple of the backpacking light crowd. Amongst the ski touring community, they have a following too. With the Headwall 55, they introduce their first ski-specific pack that is a great companion for overnighters and single-day tours. The post Questing with the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Headwall 55 appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

The Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight Parka is a piece to keep you toasty when the pace stalls out on the skinner, flying downhill on the descent, or an emergency bivy is required. The post Fast and Light and $: The Arc’teryx Alpha Lightweight Parka appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

Sometimes, we place a premium on roominess. In other situations, it's about minimizing weight, space, and some comfort. But in both instances, it's nice to stay dry. The Samaya 2.0 tent offers a significant step forward for lightweight, high-performance shelters in the high mountain environment. The post Samaya 2.0 Tent: A Review appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

The Kreuzspitze GT 2.0 binding comes in a weight-wise package (sub 200g for the basic unit) and adjustable release values. Click in and go. The post Click in and Go with the Kreuzspitze GT 2.0 Binding appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more

The glossy carbon weave is attractive. When carbon is employed, we pay a premium for lightness and stiffness: Dynafit's Blacklight ski boot doubles up with real-world stiffness and is a high-functioning boot for any mountain mission. The post For the Love of Carbon: Dynafit’s Blacklight Ski Boot appeared first on - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog ..read more