First Look: Raide Research 2026 TourTech Ski Touring Apparel

TourTech Shell Jacket

• Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL (men's) + XS, S, M, L (women's)
• Material: PFAS-free
• Weight: 385 g in size M
• Colors: 4 men's, 3 women's colors

TourTech Bibs

• Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL (men's) + XS, S, M, L (women's)
• Available Lengths: Short, Regular, Tall
• Material: PFAS-free
• Weight: 630 g in size M/reg
• Colors: 4 men's, 3 women's colors

TourTech Hybrid Hoody

• Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL (men's) + XS, S, M, L (women's)
• Material: PFAS-free
• Weight: 236 g in size M
• Colors: 3 men's, 2 women's colors

TourTech Baselayer Bottoms

• Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL (men's) + XS, S, M, L (women's)
• Material: PFAS-free
• Weight: 160 g in size M
• Color: black

Riding in the TourTech Kit

Purpose-built ski touring kits are nothing new in skiing, with brands realizing years ago that apparel needs for high-output backcountry travel are very different than what's necessary when riding lifts. Raide, however, is one of the few players in the game that's diving head-on into a particular niche of modern backcountry riding that I'll call "free-mo"–eg. big vert days to ski technical terrain in a freeride style. It's the kind of skiing that combines aspects of technical mountaineering, Euro-style speed touring, and good-old fashioned freeride skiing (skiing fast and jumping off stuff), that's become particularly popular in the Tetons, interior BC, the Wasatch and PNW.

In my experience, the TourTech kit squarely fits into that mold, with a minimalist yet extremely purposeful feature set, innovative use of materials, and a loose, freeride-inspired fit. I tested the four pieces in a Men's L size, and found the fit to be spot-on for what I'd like in the backcountry. It's loose, but not baggy (size up if you want a baggier look), and each piece integrates perfectly with the others.

The two most eye-catching additions to the line are the new TourTech Shell Jacket and the TourTech Hybrid Hoody midlayer. The shell definitely stands out in a crowded market of ski jackets with its focus on packability and breathability. There's no Gore-Tex, with designer Kyle Siegel instead opting to use PFAS-free proprietary DWR-coated fabric for the shell material (it's more breathable than Gore-Tex Pro, with a lower level of waterproofing). The pocket layout is super simple, with two large harness-compatible chest pockets, with a pass-through zipper inside allowing you to reach through the chest pocket to access something on your body (like a beacon). The right-side chest also features an interior mesh drop pocket for goggles or glasses.

A lot of ski shells fall are made out of very stiff fabrics, which help with durability and help the jacket hold its shape on the wearer's body–but that strongly affects how packable the shell becomes. Not a big deal on a resort-focused shell, but Siegel opted to use a much less stiff fabric for the The TourTech Shell Jacket. It also foregoes an integrated powder skirt, and bulky zippers and other adjustments. It is designed to roll up and compress into the hood, where the hood's bungee drawstring pulls out and secures the bundle. As someone who tends to only break out a shell when descending in the backcountry, I'm a huge fan of how easily packable this jacket is.

Meant to be worn on it's own or directly below the shell, the new TourTech Hybrid Hoody is one of the more interesting apparel pieces I've seen. The 1/2-zip hooded jacket is designed purely with high-output ski touring in mind, featuring light Polartec Alpha insulation on the chest, thumb loops on the elastic cuffs, and a thin low-profile hood. It integrates seamlessly with the TourTech bibs, and is meant to help combat back sweat when wearing a pack on the skintrack. There's a single chest pocket that interestingly enough contains a beacon anchor and sleeve (not sure why you'd want to wear a beacon in your mid-layer chest pocket, but it's a nice touch, I suppose).

The bibs are an evolution of the TourTech Bibs we reviewed last year. The fit hasn't noticeably changed, though I feel like they might have become slightly baggier. More noticeable, however, is the use of a new lower-profile belt and a full-length fly zipper that completely opens the front of the bibs, making them easier to get on and off (helpful when you're getting dressed in the dark in a tent or a mountain hut).

Finally, the new TourTech baselayer bottoms round out the collection. These are really interesting, given that they're more akin to runner's compression shorts than traditional insulated ski baselayers. Again, the vibe here is purposeful minimalism, and they are designed to be easily taken off without having to remove your bibs or boots–something I now wish every baselayer bottom did. That's such a cool feature for spring skiing, when you're freezing in the morning, but melting by the time the sun comes up. The 3/4 length bottoms that extend to just below your knee, with zippers along both sides (again focused on ease of putting on when in unorthodox backcountry sleeping arrangements), and a form-fitting fit. The synthetic bottoms are surprisingly warm and really remind me of a product like old-school Under Armour.

What type of skier is the Raide TourTech Apparel System best for?

Well, I think the answer to this should be fairly obvious. Raide has already found their niche in the ski world–hardcore backcountry skiers, guides, athletes, and anyone who wants to try to keep up with them. The TourTech Apparel System will prove to be an excellent choice for anyone who dreams about spending hours on the skintrack to ride technical lines, smash freeride pow laps, and stay as far away from chairlifts as possible. That being said, I actually think this would make a pretty sweet resort kit for the springtime, or anywhere without a lot of moisture. It trades hardcore waterproofing for extreme breathability in a pretty sweet-looking freeride inspired style.