Cover photo courtesy of Hadley Hammer/Line Skis

We are here again, it was an incredible time when the ski season began. The snow is falling and the resort is opening. But as they become more popular and untracked powder becomes more and more scarce, we have also seen an increase in the number of park rats entering remote areas. As the demand for Alpine Touring (AT) equipment continues to grow, we want to ensure that you are well-informed and well-equipped, so we partnered with the international online retailer PRFO to select the most suitable equipment for out-of-bounds adventures.

Travel skis: When you start thinking about what to look for in travel gear, weight becomes an important factor. I strongly advocate that weight is not everything. The remote area (with all its powder) is an ideal place to line up for some new tricks, which is why we recommend that you try Bentchetler 100. The HRZN technology on the tip and tail helps you float (even when landing on switch) and its DuraCap sidewall will help you maintain your advantage in rough seas. Although it is not advertised as tourist skis, we also recommend Line Vision 98 and Line Vision 108, which provide rechargeable skis with THC structure, which are light in weight, and each ski is about 1600 grams.

TOURING Bindings: From Marker Kingpin to Atomic Shift, PFRO provides riders with options for finding pins and downhill performance when going uphill. Both options are compatible with AT boots and are lightweight, making you safer as a rider when going downhill.

AT BOOTS: If this is your first year in a remote area, investing in Alpine boots and Touring boots is not always the best choice. Boots like Dabello Men's Lupo AX 120 are an excellent crossover option for riders looking for technical accessories and boot walking modes without sacrificing downhill performance. Another good choice is Sammy Carlson's Full Tilt Ascendant, which is equipped with Full Tilt's Lightweight Evolution 3-Piece Shell and provides downhill performance with the help of Intuition's Tour Pro Wrap Liner.

AT ESSENTIALS: You will need more than AT skis, anchors, and boots, and usually, the list is daunting. With PFRO's extensive selection of travel leather or adjustable rods, you will not make the wrong choice. Whenever I pack a Backcountry backpack, the list that my brain naturally thinks of is "beacon, shovel, probe", and PFRO uses the Black Diamond Bundle, which contains all three items, to make this easy. Finally, whether you have equipment dysfunction (you never know), strap your skis to your backpack, or need to add extra items to your first aid kit, there won’t be too many ski straps.

Purchase beacons, shovels, probes, ski belts, etc.: https://www.prfo.com/collections/ski-alpine-touring-backcountry-tools

So you have it-everything you need in the sun, in addition to the backpack, there is also a skin tracking burrito to cheer you on. As a reminder, before venturing into remote areas, we always recommend that you receive an education from a local avalanche center, as well as partners and programs. Is there a gear problem? Comment below or contact PFRO experts

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