Everything You Need to Go Skiing

“Big but agile. Heavy but nimble. Predictable but fun.” That’s how one of our ski testers described the Mindbender 99Ti. K2 built it with a unique Y-shaped metal layer that’s simultaneously stiff and forgiving, which allows it to accommodate all conditions and styles of skiing.

You can drill a set of touring bindings onto any pair of skis, but if you’re going to hike instead of ride the chairlift, there are additional considerations you might make. How much your skis weigh is the primary one, and Faction’s Agent line, which is available in various widths, keeps that low without becoming brittle or twitchy. Because hey, you’re hiking up because you want to enjoy the ride down.

Line made the Blade to do one thing: turn. Its layup includes a bisected sheet of metal, which provides power and stability without hampering the ski’s ability to flex. That, combined with a shape characterized by a tight (95mm) waist and wide tip and tail make it a carving machine.

Comfort and performance are often mutually exclusive in ski boots, but that’s not the case with the Promachine. Nordica fused elements of its race-oriented boots with those of its all-mountain line to create a platform upon which skiers can build their ability without cramping up.

Like many touring boots, the Hoji Free is lighter than its alpine counterparts and includes a grippy tread, as well as the requisite tech inserts in the toe for touring binding compatibility. However, it stands apart with a proprietary lock system that simultaneously loosens the top buckle and puts the boot into walk mode with the flip of a lever.

Hybrid ski boots for resort and backcountry use have always been masters of neither. Not anymore. The Hawx Ultra Xtd is a perfect example, boasting compatibility with nearly all types of bindings, a walk mode that allows 54 degrees of motion, and the stiffness and performance you need for hot laps at the town hill. It’s heavier than touring-specific boots, but a few extra ounces make an easier pill to swallow than another $700 on a second pair for the resort.

A key characteristic of ski bindings is elastic travel, which refers to how far the binding can move before it releases. The thing to know about the Pivot is that it has a lot of that, making it one of the most secure alpine bindings available.

Dynafit’s ST Radical is a reliable, easy-to-use, lightweight touring binding. It weighs roughly 21 ounces and has an auto-aligning toe piece that’s easier to click into than some other backcountry bindings. Lighter bindings exist, but the ST Rotation makes up for those extra ounces with reliability and security.

With a transforming toe piece that switches from touring mode to downhill mode in seconds, the Shift is one of a rare few ski bindings that combines alpine and backcountry capabilities into one unit.

Salomon’s straightforward aluminum poles are affordable, lightweight, and include a self-releasing strap.

If you plan to backcountry ski, consider a set of poles that’s lighter and has an adjustable length — which you might want to adjust for hiking or skinning, or collapse entirely to strap them to your backpack.

Another thing you’ll need for ski touring is a set of reliable climbing skins. Stick these onto the bottom of your skis so that they can grip the snow on the walk to the summit, and then stash them in your pack or jacket pocket for the ride down. This set from Pomoca offers an ideal balance between grip and glide.

Protect your noggin with a helmet that includes MIPS, a safety technology that protects against impacts (most, if not all, crashes). This model from Giro is also size-adjustable and has a warm Polartec lining.

When it comes to goggles, skiers too often bargain budget for quality, but the best skis or boots won’t get you very far if you can’t see the snow beneath your feet. Sweet Protection’s Boondock comes with two lenses that are easy to interchange. Each one repels moisture and grime, resists scratches and enhances contrast so you can see every little detail, snow or shine.

Mittens beat gloves for warmth every time. The Baron maintains a high degree of dexterity too, plus it’s a lot cheaper than others made of leather and includes Gore-Tex liners.

The Alugator Ride 3.0 is big enough to move snow quickly and includes a sizeable D-shaped handle to help you maintain a firm grip while you do it. Additionally, its shaft provides a second hoe-style blade position for raking snow out of the way.

The QuickDraw comes in various lengths and is available in aluminum or carbon fiber. Each version features a fast deployment system that automatically locks into place.

BCA’s Tracker beacons are among the most widely used because their interface is so straightforward. The Tracker3 has three antennas for triangulating an avalanche victim’s location and a 50-meter range, plus a bright display that’s easy to read.

Ski packs are often too small or too technical, but the newly updated Descensionist walks the line. That’s mostly thanks to a roll-top construction that makes its 32-liter capacity feel smaller when you’re carrying a light load, but also because it offers multiple ways to carry skis or a snowboard, a dedicated backcountry gear pocket and a side-access zipper that makes it easy to reach that layer you stuffed at the bottom.

Evo’s boot backpack is slimmer than comparable bags but maintains enough space for your boots, helmet, goggles and other mountain essentials. Evo made it with a 900-denier ripstop and reinforced its bottom, so don’t worry about tossing it around.

Dakine’s most popular ski bag is incredibly versatile, with room for two pairs of skis. Or, pack one pair and there’s enough space (and a bag) for your boots, plus lots more gear.