Backcountry Skiing Reviews
We’ve tested the top brands: Salomon, K2, Arc’teryx, Helly Hansen, and The North Face.
BIC main photo
Credit: Jediah Porter
If you’ve graduated from shredding at the resort and are ready to start breaking trail, you’ll need to be as prepared as possible. Don’t fret, we've spent thousands of hours testing the top avalanche beacons and walkie talkies you’ll need for the backcountry. We’ve also bought and tested the top ski jackets, have a detailed comparison review of ski pants, and crammed our feet repeatedly to get you the best ski boots review on the web. Best backcountry skis? Of course, the best backcountry skis right here.
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Best Picks in Backcountry Skiing Reviews
Gaiters
Over the years, we've tested a dozen pairs of the top gaiters on the market to help you choose which ones to take on...
Splitboard Skins
Our expert team purchased and extensively tested 7 models of skins side by side to sort out the distinctions in key...
Avalanche Beacons
An avalanche beacon is an essential part of a backcountry ski kit. But which one is best for you? We purchased 10 of...
Climbing Skins
We have an enthusiastic, dialed team of climbing skin testers and draw on a thorough understanding of what is...
Backcountry Skis
We slogged, shredded, and sent on a deep list of 17 backcountry skis to deliver straight-shooting advice on the best...
Backcountry Ski Boots
We make thorough, authoritative comparisons of the best backcountry ski boots on the market. We have years of...
Alpine Touring (AT) Bindings
We thoroughly tested dozens of the best bindings on the market. Our team carefully compares and reports on our...
Avalanche Backpacks
We bought the best 13 avalanche airbag backpacks and tested them throughout several seasons in the backcountry. Our...
Backcountry Ski Poles
We purchased the 17 best backcountry ski poles currently available and tested them head-to-head. Whether you are a...
Splitboard Bindings
What's the best splitboard binding? We evaluated the market and purchased the top 7, testing them side by side to find...
Splitboards
Our testing takes place in the backcountry, by a team of talented experts; we then summarize our months of testing in...Backcountry Skiing Reviews Learning Center
How to Find Your Perfect Pair of Backcountry Touring Skis
All-mountain, powder touring, randonnee racing, touring, snowshoes - which fits your style of adventure? Here we help...
How to Choose Backcountry Ski Poles
Are you getting into backcountry skiing or snowboarding? Then you are probably wondering if backcountry ski poles are...
How To Choose an Avalanche Beacon
How do avalanche beacons work and what are the important features to consider? This article will explain the context...
How to Choose AT Bindings
Planning to spend time in the backcountry this season? Where do you start your in searching for the best pair of at...
How To Choose an Avalanche Airbag
What is an avalanche airbag, how do you choose one and how does it work? Below we look at the technology and point out...
How to Choose Backcountry Ski Boots
Backcountry ski boots bear the weight of a heavy task. Not only do they need to be lightweight and flexible on the up...Recent Product Reviews in Backcountry Skiing Reviews
Top Pick
Big Sky Skins Mohair Mix Persistence Review
The Big Sky Mohair Mix Persistence Skins are a lightweight offering from a small U.S. brand that is putting out some...
Best Buy
Voile Hyper Glide Review
The Voile Hyper Glide is not only a great value, but it is also just one of the best sets of climbing skins we have...
Editors' Choice
Pieps Pro IPS Review
The Pieps Pro IPS is a welcome upgrade to the Pieps lineup. Compared to other professional-level beacons we tested...
Editors' Choice
Mammut Barryvox S2 Review
In a game of minutes, seconds count, and the Mammut Barryvox S2 is one of the most capable beacons on the market. The...
Top Pick
Raide SB 30L Review
To be clear: The Raide SB 30L is not an avalanche airbag. The Safeback SBX system takes a different approach to...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Vega Review
The "four buckle" touring boot category has been dominated by a couple of other manufacturers for decades. La Sportiva...
Scarpa Maestrale RS Review
Boots just keep getting better, and Scarpa is keeping up. The Maestrale RS goes uphill like the Rando race boots of 10...
Top Pick
Marker Duke PT 13 Review
This is the most downhill-optimized binding we have tested. Among all the others that come close, it is the most...
Editors' Choice
Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR Review
The Salomon MTN Summit 12 BR is an iterative improvement on the brand's more basic touring binding. Even though the...
Best Buy
K2 Wayback 106 Review
We've tested and enjoyed versions of the K2 Wayback for decades now. (K2 doesn't cop to it, but it is clear to our...
Movement Alp Tracks 98 Review
We had hoped that the Movement Alp Tracks 98 would be more like our perennial favorite (and, unfortunately, now...
Editors' Choice
Ortovox LiTRIC Freeride 28L Review
The Ortovox Litric Freeride 28L is an exceptional avalanche airbag pack that we like more and more with every use...
Editors' Choice
Spark R&D Arc Pro Review
The Spark R&D Arc Pro is our favorite binding yet. It is the winner of our Editors' Choice Award because of its...
Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Review
The proven Black Diamond Ascension Nylon skins might be the most widely used skins on the United States market. They...
Best Buy
Pomoca Climb 2.0 Review
Pomoca sells the Climb 2.0 as their budget offering. However, there are precious few compromises in this choice...
Karakoram Prime Nomad Review
The Karakoram Prime Nomad is designed for comfort and efficiency, making it an excellent option for all-mountain...
Top Pick
Venture Storm Review
The Venture Storm offers user-friendly performance due to its diligent and precise craftsmanship. This quality...
Prior Slasher Review
The Prior Slasher has a stunning powder inspired shape, yet it performs in firm snow. It's close to the gun in your...
G3 Splitboard LT Glide Review
The G3 Splitboard Glide LT is the brand's light and fast offering. It's a blended skin that utilizes a blend of 70%...
Editors' Choice
Mammut Barryvox 2 Review
The Mammut Barryvox 2 is super easy to use, which makes it perfect for folks new to the backcountry. While it's not as...
Editors' Choice
Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro Review
We've now tested many iterations of this boot, comparing it to dozens of the other best backcountry ski boots on the...
Editors' Choice
Scarpa F1 XT Review
Scarpa has slowly beefed up their race boots over time, resulting in the F1 XT – a boot from a skimo-race lineage...
Editors' Choice
ATK Raider 13 Evo Review
The ATK Raider 13 Evo is a highly functional, incredibly sturdy touring binding. Our test team doesn't ask that much...
Best Buy
Dynafit Speed Turn Review
For a long time, the Dynafit Speed Turn was synonymous with "backcountry ski binding." This is a proven, reliable...
Fischer Transalp 105 CTI Review
The Fischer Transalp 105 CTI is a great choice for the fit ski guide working in the snowy Intermountain ranges of...
Dynafit Blacklight 88 Review
The Dynafit Blacklight 88 is the specialized ski you want for hard-earned descents on steep, firm snow. This is what...
Top Pick
Atomic Backland 95 Review
The Atomic Backland 95 is what we would call a classic backcountry and ski mountaineering ski. It is narrower and...
DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 105 Review
We've long liked the Pagoda family of skis, and the DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 105 is a great reinvention of this classic...
WNDR Alpine Vital 98 Camber Review
The WNDR Alpine Vital 98 Camber is among the heavier backcountry skis we have tested in recent years. They are...
Cardiff Snowcraft Crane Enduro Review
The Cardiff Snowcraft Crane Enduro is unique in a few ways. First are the apparent design cues that separate them from...
Black Diamond Recon X Review
The Recon X offers an excellent combination of speed, accuracy, and ease of use, making it one of the most...
Black Diamond Guide BT Review
The Black Diamond Guide BT is one of the more advanced beacons we tested. It offers a fast processor speed and an...
Backcountry Access Tracker4 Review
The Backcountry Access Tracker4 is the latest in BCA's popular line of avalanche transceivers, offering several small...
Arva Neo BT Pro Review
The Arva Neo Pro BT is a pro-level beacon for the price of a mid-level model. No other beacon at this price point...
Best Buy
Backcountry Access Tracker S Review
The Backcountry Access Tracker S is a slightly paired-down, less expensive version of the mega-popular Tracker3. It's...
Best Buy
Arva Switch Ride 18L & Tour 32L Review
The Arva Switch Ride 18L & Tour 32L is a reasonably affordable, two-in-one modular pack system. The carbon...
Top Pick
Scott Patrol E2 30L Review
The Scott Patrol E2 30L avalanche airbag hits the mark with a good sized backpack for a variety of missions in the...
Top Pick
Backcountry Access Float E2 25L Review
The BCA Float E2 25L is a high-performing avalanche airbag pack that is particularly well-suited for all different...
Top Pick
Dynafit TLT X Review
The Dynafit TLT X is the latest flagship model in a long line of uphill-oriented ski boots. Dynafit has pushed...
Top Pick
Salomon QST Echo 106 Review
The Salomon QST Echo 106 is a high-performance downhill ski for fit humans powering their own ascents and descents. It...
G3 Ion 12 Review
The Ion family of bindings from this Canadian innovator is a proven dynasty now. In some ways, the Ion bindings are...
Plum Race 99 Review
The Plum R99 is tiny, beautiful, simple, clever, and light. That is high praise. For advanced backcountry skiers in...
Top Pick
Dynafit Superlite 150 Review
The Dynafit Superlite 150 is the lightest binding we know of with adjustable release. It includes design cues drawn...
ATK Haute Route 10 Review
The basic design of the ATK Haute Route 10 has been around and available for a long time. Only in recent years, with...
ATK Trofeo Review
The ATK Trofeo follows what is proving to be a pretty "standard" formula for sturdy skimo race bindings. Across all...
Fritschi Xenic 10 Review
The Fritschi Xenic 10 is a lightweight, full-function touring binding with some innovative performance attributes...
Marker Alpinist Review
For its all-around functionality at a stellar weight, the Marker Alpinist wins our highest honor, as it's a binding we...
ATK Crest 10 Review
The ATK Crest 10 is a lightweight, basic, nearly-full-function ski touring, backcountry skiing, and ski mountaineering...
Atomic Backland Ultimate Review
The Atomic Backland Ultimate is their entry to the skimo race boot category. It is also one of the few race-class...
Dynafit Radical Pro Review
The Radical Pro is Dynafit's latest "flagship" downhill oriented touring ski boot. We really wanted to love this boot...
Contour Hybrid Mohair Review
Contour's Hybrid Mohair skins bring the unique glue that we have tested for a long time to a full, easy-gliding mohair...
Kohla Freeride Review
The Kohla Freeride brings mostly excellent construction and design attributes. The only real drawback, and it is...
Dynafit Mezzalama Review
The Dynafit Mezzalama is a real step up from skimo race boots but much more friendly on the uphill and through...
Editors' Choice
Blizzard Zero G 105 Review
In all conditions, all seasons, and beneath virtually all skiers, the Blizzard Zero G 105 is above adequate. In the...
Black Diamond Helio Carbon 115 Review
The Black Diamond Helio 115 is a good choice for anyone pondering a powder-specialist touring ski. It balances weight...
Elan Ripstick 106 Review
The Elan Ripstick 106 is about as heavy as it gets before we consider a ski too heavy for self-propelled backcountry...
Black Crows Camox Freebird Review
The Camox Freebird from Black Crows is right in the mix with the best backcountry skis on the market. The Camox is...
Ortovox Diract Voice Review
The Ortovox Diract Voice is a decent all-around beacon with an unprecedented feature: it "talks" to its user, offering...
G3 Splitboard+ Grip Review
The G3 Splitboard+ Grip skins share the same platform as the G3 Splitboard+ Universal. The platform has very...