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The 10 Best Gifts For Backcountry Skiers

Originally posted on Powder | By Max Ritter | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 11:30 AM ET

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We live in a good time when it comes to choosing gear to take in the high peaks for backcountry skiing. Long gone from the days of unreliable bindings, heavy skis, and gear that just didn’t quite work, we live in an era of gear that makes moving through the mountains easy, comfortable, safe, and most of all, really fun. There are high-performance touring boots that weigh in at a scant two pounds apiece, powerful skis that blend the best of both worlds (powder skiing and ultralight skimo gear), at-home training programs developed by top athletes and guides, and plenty of accessories and tools to make your next day of human-powered skiing truly awesome.

Looking for a gift for that person in your life who wont stop talking about their next hut trip, their next ski mountaineering objective, or what the best episode of The Fifty is? Or perhaps you’re the one who’s obsessed and you’re looking to get that person hooked like you? Whether you’re looking for a gift for a discerning ski mountaineer, powder-hungry backcountry freerider, or someone who just wants to get out on the skintrack with friends, here’s a list of ten of our favorite gift ideas for backcountry skiers.

La Sportiva Kilo Boots

The 1000-gram mark is kind of the holy grail for ultralight ski touring boots, where manufacturers have determined that the ultimate balance between weight (or lack thereof) and performance lies. Any lighter, and the design sacrifices stability, stiffness, and ski quality. Any heavier, and they become less efficient to walk in, which can make or break a big day in the high peaks. La Sportiva’s brand-new Kilo boot is an ultralight two-buckle boot that’s designed for the most demanding ski mountaineers. You probably guessed it, but it weighs a mere 1000 grams (2.2 pounds), putting it square among the lightest non-racing boots on the market.

The best part is that the Italian engineers at La Sportiva didn’t just design it to be light–they recognize a boot in this category still needs to ski well, and be able to drive bigger skis in demanding, technical terrain. The Grilamid construction and large power strap give the boot enough power, and the 70-degree range of motion will not impede your uphill stride. A neat internal feature is La Sportiva’s WarmSole insert provides extra insulation for extra cold conditions. If you’re looking to chase big lines in the high peaks this winter or spring, don’t sleep on the La Sportiva Kilo as your next light-and-fast ski mountaineering boot.

La Sportiva Tempo Ski

Lightweight boots will only get you so far if you don’t have appropriate skis to pair with them. Luckily, lightweight backcountry skis have come a long way since we were sliding around on super-chattery carbon boards that felt like they’d rattle your fillings out. La Sportiva’s newly updated Tempo ski is designed with light-and-fast missions in mind, whether it’s pre-work dawn patrol laps or big traverses in faraway ranges. A clever new construction saves 20 percent of the weight over the older version, while increasing dampness and edge grip, using D30 foam in the tip and tail.

At 103mm underfoot, the Tempo splits the difference between hard and soft-snow performance, and should offer enough float for everything but the absolute deepest days while the 18-meter radius maintains agility and power for technical steep skiing and variable conditions. The 179cm version tips the scales at 1450 grams–right in the window of what we’d call very light, but not too light.

Wolverine Two-Piece Snow Sticks

Long grip ski poles have been all the rage for the last few years, ever since some intrepid skiers returned from Chamonix, France with the first version of the venerable Batons D’Alain. Today, there’s plenty of other options out there that have taken the basic design and refined it to better suit the needs of backcountry skiers, athletes, and mountain guides. What’s the point of a long-grip pole, you might ask? Being able to quickly change up your grip while touring makes awkward traverses much more comfortable, choking up on your poles for sudden steep sections helps with balance, and the extended grip makes stashing your poles between your back and your pack for ropework, climbing, or other hands-on activities makes a huge difference in backcountry efficiency.

Revelstoke, British Columbia’s Wolverine Snow Products has taken the long-grip pole and perfected it through testing in the snowy peaks of Rogers Pass and beyond. The brand, founded by renowned mountain guide Joey Vosburgh and his friend Chris Payne, offers two- and three-piece adjustable models optimized for both backcountry skiers and splitboarders. Grab a pair of these and up your efficiency on the skintrack this winter.

Party Shirt International Sun Hoodie

Backcountry skiers can be a pretty serious bunch, endlessly debating things like the nuances of snowpack, the merits of obscure pieces of gear, or what the best way to fuel for 12-hour days in the mountains might be. Give them all a break and lighten the mood a little with a party shirt sun hoodie from our friends at Party Shirt International.

POWDER contributor Jack Stauss is the man behind the brand that first brought the technical party shirt to the ski and bike world, and they’ve expanded into offering sun hoodies with fun prints. Stay shaded and cool on hot spring ski missions with designs like Electric Feel, Pigeons Gone Wild, and Jungle Juice. It’s just skiing after all, so let’s keep it fun.

Garmin InReach Mini 2

Spend enough days in the backcountry, and things will eventually go south at some point–that’s why it’s vital to carry a reliable emergency communication device. Calling for help in the mountains can be really difficult, especially in remote places without phone service. Garmin’s tiny new InReach Mini 2 satellite communicator offers two-way messaging, an SOS button, and real-time location sharing via Garmin’s global satellite network. At 2x1x4 inches, it fits in any pocket, and will always be there when you need it in an emergency.

The new Garmin InReach Mini 2 builds on the success of the benchmark Inreach Mini device with some clever functionality updates and extended battery life. It now charges using the widely-adopted USB C standard, has a larger display, and syncs to your phone via the Garmin Explore app. It requires a Garmin subscription to work properly (available in different tiers to fit your needs). Add an extra layer of safety in the backcountry this winter and carry a Garmin InReach Mini 2!

Leatherman Skeletool CX

Sometimes, your gear breaks in the backcountry. It’s as unavoidable as high pressure weather windows and long approaches in the spring. Carrying the right multitool in your pack is a surefire way to make sure as benign as a misadjusted binding or broken boot buckle doesn’t turn into an emergency. Leatherman, perhaps the best known name in the multitool world, offers one of the lightest EDC tools out there that has all the features you need for backcountry skiing, and nothing more.

Weighing in at 141 grams (5 oz.), and at a mere 4 inches long, the Leatherman Skeletool CX is a minimalist’s dream. With heavy duty pliers and wire cutters, a 2.6-inch blade, a bottle opener, and a bit driver (with #1 and #2 Philips bits, plus ¼” and 3/16” flathead bits), this tool should be able to help you MacGyver just about any backcountry gear failure back to health.

Patagonia Snowdrifter 30L Pack

Patagonia has long led the game when it comes creating excellent technical backcountry packs, whether they’re designed for technical ski mountaineering (check out our review of the new Patagonia Descensionist 37L Pack) or for good old-fashioned powder skiing, like the new Snowdrifter 30L. This smaller 30-liter pack is the perfect size for short tours or sidecountry missions. We even found that the back panel zipper opening makes this a great small camera pack for anyone who’s out shooting photo or video on the mountain.

With thoughtful but minimalist features like a top load and back panel access to the main compartment, vertical or diagonal ski carry, plus a separate avalanche safety tool pocket and twin hip belt zipper pockets, this takes the standard backcountry touring pack and elevates into something that will simply disappear on your back. It’s comfortable, it’s very light, and it has all the right features (and nothing more).

Samsara Experience Basecamp Subscription

The training world is chock full of options for athletes looking to get a competitive edge, but one thing that Samsara Experience founder and IFMGA Guide Zahan “Z” Billimoria found it was lacking was high-performance training for mountain athletes that lead busy lives outside the high peaks. That’s where Samsara’s training philosophy comes in–it’s cutting edge strength, conditioning, and mobility training designed to be done in the comfort of your own home with minimal easily accessible equipment, on your own time. Z and his team of coaches offer everything from customized training plans for specific objectives (like climbing the Grand Teton, running a trail race, or going on a backcountry skiing expedition) to one-on-one coaching, to a world-class library of training videos through Samsara’s Basecamp platform.

Hate the gym? This fall, Samsara debuted a 12-week training program for backcountry skiers that promises to deliver game-changing fitness with training exercises you can do on your living room carpet. The new Big Mountain Training program is designed for any athlete (and used by everyone from dads looking to keep up with their kids, to TGR film stars prepping their bodies for the next segment), and is accessible with an affordable monthly subscription. Samsara even offers a no-commitment free weeklong trial. All the gear in the world won’t get you up the mountain if your fitness isn’t up to par, so get yourself into backcountry shape with this awesome new training platform. With various plans starting at $39/month, it's cheaper than most gyms.

OnX Backcountry App Subscription

With every backcountry skier’s favorite app FATMAP getting shut down this year, it’s been tough working finding a replacement for the 3D-mapping tool that provided high-res winter images of mountain ranges. Luckily, a few other apps have stepped in to fill the void, and we’re convinced that OnX Backcountry is the best of the bunch for its high-res imagery, user interface, and backcountry skiing-specific features like slope angle shading, land ownership overlays, and user-uploaded routes.

The app works on both mobile and desktop, and requires an annual subscription for access to features like offline maps, recent imagery, and more. Luckily, the Annual Elite subscription is currently available for 70 percent off, at just $30 a year. Can we call that the ultimate stocking stuffer?

MTN Sense Online Avalanche Course

Want to brush up on avalanche safety from the comfort of your own home? While this won’t necessarily replace the hands-on experience you’ll receive from a traditional class, the MTN Sense Avalanche Safety Course offers a few key advantages to traditional AIARE or AAI Rec 1 avalanche safety courses. First off, it’s self-paced, so you can take it any time you want, from the comfort of your couch. Second, lead instructor and IFMGA guide Mark Smiley has developed the curriculum to specifically address the needs of modern backcountry skiers. Want to learn how to stay safe while looking to ski the best snow? This one's for you. Smiley is also a big advocate of community building and direct mentorship and will work directly with you to help you grow as a skier.

Whether you’re new to the sport, or a seasoned backcountry skier looking to brush up on some safety skills, the MTN Sense course has something for everyone–plus plenty of humor, real-world skill development, and the ability to grow into the rest of the MTN Sense curriculum, like the Beyond Level 1 course or the Ski Mountaineering Course. Give the gift of knowledge–you’ll get a better backcountry partner out of it, Smiley promises.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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