Skiing News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Vintage Backcountry Skiing Gear From the Pages of POWDER Magazine

Originally posted on Powder | By Max Ritter | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 12:00 PM ET

They might not admit it, but there's no denying that skiers were way gnarlier back in the '70s and '80s, especially when it came to pioneering lines far beyond the reaches of ski resorts. Since skiing's infancy, backcountry skiing has always been a part of the sport, with skiers seeking solitude, a good uphill workout, untouched snow, and the rush of dropping into the unknown.

Looking through the pages of vintage issues of POWDER Magazine, it's clear that backcountry skiing has come a long way. These days, we're lucky enough to ski on gear that not only won't kill us but also keeps us warm, dry, and makes skiing up and downhill pretty darn easy. However, things weren't always that way. Modern ski touring bindings didn't emerge until 1990, thanks to the innovation of Fritz Barthel.

Boots with reasonable walk modes weren't really a part of skiing until much more recently, arguably within the last 10 years. Furthermore, avalanche safety equipment and snow science have evolved in leaps and bounds since the '70s, thanks to lessons largely learned the hard way.

POWDER's Dave Moe Drops in on Sketchy Telemark Gear

As many modern-day backcountry skiers already know, traveling uphill and across mountains on your skis is only possible with a free heel. Until the invention of ski touring bindings, the only option was old-school telemark gear. That meant free-heel skiing on long straight skis with soft boots.

In 1982's Vol. 11, Issue 2, POWDER showcased some of the premier gear of the time, including bindings like the Rottefella Master with upgradeable "heel locators" that allowed for a semblance of control.

Huge Backpacks and Heavy Gear

One thing I'm really thankful for in our current era is the fact that most of our equipment has become extremely small and light. These days, it's rare that I leave the house for ski tour with a bag that weighs more than 20 pounds, fully loaded. Back in the day, that would have been a wild fantasy if you wanted to carry enough food, water, and safety equipment to make it through a day, let alone a multi-day ski expedition. There are some excellent photos of skiers absolutely slogging in the archive pages.

The Vibes Were Always Immaculate

Backcountry skiing, while sometimes very serious, is mostly about having fun. I mean, why bother hoofing it up huge mountains if you're not going to enjoy it? There's definitely a thread here with modern backcountry skiers taking a cue from the '70s with loud shirts and basecamp.

The First Gore-Tex Advertisement in POWDER

An absolute must for backcountry skiers today, waterproof and breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex weren't always a part of the sport. The first ad for Gore-Tex appeared in the POWDER pages in 1978, hawking a "microporous polymeric film." These days, the expanded PTFE insides have been replaced by more environmentally friendly PFAS-free materials, but the basic premise is the same.

An Early Avalanche Beacon

Today, avalanche beacons are widely used as part of a backcountry skier's kit. However, back in the early 1980s, few skiers used these. It wasn't until 1986 that the international standard 457 kHz frequency was introduced, meaning all beacons can send and receive each other's signals.

In 1980, POWDER ran an ad for the Ramer Echo 1, one of the first mass-produced beacons. It worked with small headphones to allow the rescuer to listen to the analog signal as it got louder as the rescuer approached the buried victim. The 60-foot range is pretty scary, compared to the nearly 70-meter range enjoyed by today's beacons.

Some of the First Ski Touring Bindings

Ski touring bindings have come a LONG way, perhaps evolving more than any other piece of backcountry skiing gear. Today, we have bindings that weigh less than an iPhone and allow you to tour uphill and shred back down. Back in 1978, Ramer (again!) first introduced a frame-style binding that allowed skiers to unlock their heels for uphill travel. The only problem? It didn't release in the fall.

Also, can we talk about what a flex from Bill Wilson on this same page in the letters to the editor?

Ski Alpinism Boots

When an ad claims "enthusiastic acceptance by many top professionals," the product had better be good! I have no idea how Fabiano's "ski alpinism" boot actually performed back in 1981, but it actually looks quite similar to modern ski touring boots like the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, which features an unlockable cuff and a rockered sole to allow for easy uphill walking.

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

More must-reads: