The deeper you get, the more gear you need. It’s a rule of thumb that applies widely outdoors, especially in ski country. On the frontside of a resort you are never far from lodges, ski patrol and other skiers. If in trouble, help is nearby. When you drop off the backside, the exposure increases. There’s less infrastructure, fewer fellow skiers, the runs tend to be steeper and deeper and the avalanche danger increases—yep, even inbounds. That goes double for every foray outside the ski area boundaries. So while the right gear might make you more comfortable and proficient on the frontside, once you turn to the backside or the backcountry it can mean the difference between success and failure, possibly life and death.
But what is the right gear? That’s the question we want to help you answer with our Powder Buyer’s Guide. It’s as much a tip sheet as it is a roundup of the latest and greatest new gear. It should help you navigate a path through the complex choices of matching boots to bindings to skis, gearing up for safety and eventually dressing for success.
Gear up properly now, so you can ski more powder later. What more incentive do you need?
MATCHMAKER: HOW TO PICK YOUR SET-UP
FREERIDE • Salomon Strive • Head Kore • Stöcklii Stormrider
MOSTLY DOWN • K2 Dispatch • Marker Duke PT • Liberty Genesis Backcountry
UP AND DOWN • Marker Kingpin • Scott Freeguide Carbon • Dynafit Free
MOSTLY UP • Salomon Mtn • Atomic Backland Carbon UL • DPS R10
Osprey Sopris Pro • Arc’teryx Micon LiTRIC • Atomic Backland UL • Shred Flexi Back Protector Vest Zip
Daehlie Challenge 2.0 Jacket • Dissent Labs • Racer1927 Guide Pro M2 • Descente Mateo Jacket • Rab Khroma Kinetic Bib • Giro Tenaya Spherical / Tor Spherical • Baffin Yellowknife • Swany Lazer Mitt • Sweet Protection Igniter 2Vi • Auclair Blizzard • Hillsound FreeSteps6 • Helly Hansen Alpha / Alphelia Zero Fleece • Stellar Shell Jacket 2.0 • Flylow Magnum Pant • Trew Capow Jacket and Bib • Scarpa F1 GT • Xspex Versa • Patagonia Sugardown
Lange XT3 Tour Women • Tecnica Zero G Peak • Dyanafit TLT X • Black Crows Meta
