Want to get into ski touring or wondering what you actually need to bring? Here I show you what I wear on a ski tour, what always ends up in my backpack – and further down you’ll find my packing checklist.
Clothing for a ski tour
Most of you will know about layering – and in the mountains it’s super important. That way you can take off layers on the way up and quickly wrap up warm again at the summit.
Base layer
My absolute favourite is ski underwear made of merino wool: it dries super fast, keeps you really warm and stays fresh for much longer. For socks, it’s best to go for proper ski socks.
Mid layer & trousers
This depends on the temperature. If it’s not too cold, I usually wear a fleece jacket or a thinner technical jacket. When it gets colder, I already put on a down jacket . For trousers I either go for thin ski or snowboard trousers or special ski touring trousers – though those are often too thin for really cold days.
Head, hands & sun
For the ascent, a headband or cap and thinner gloves are a must for me. On day tours I wear sunglasses; on sunrise tours I only need goggles for the descent – and they wait in the backpack. And please: put on sunscreen before every tour – the sun in the mountains is often stronger than you think!
Your avalanche transceiver belongs on your body
Speaking of life savers: the avalanche transceiver (we call it a “Pieps”) is always worn directly on your body. You can lose your backpack in an avalanche – and then the device is of course useless if you’re lying somewhere else entirely.
And of course there’s no ski tour without ski gear: touring skis with skins, touring boots and poles have to come along.
What goes in the backpack?
No question: when you’re out in the backcountry, the avalanche safety kit always comes along – transceiver (on your body!), probe and shovel. Without this kit you simply have no business in the backcountry. Add a small first aid kit.
Also really important is a spare shirt – in a wet shirt you get cold much faster and catch a chill more easily. For the descent I bring a helmet, goggles (otherwise you’ll be blind on the way down, haha), warm gloves and a neck warmer . Finally I also pack a hardshell jacket and a down jacket, if I wasn’t already wearing it on the way up. I’d rather bring a bit too much than too little.
No fuel, no fun! Enough to drink and at least one bar should always come along. Even if the tour isn’t long – if you do get hungry or even hit low blood sugar, you’ll be glad of every bite.
My little extra tip: I always carry a small bag with mesh sheets for the skins . That way they don’t stick together and I can easily pull them apart next time.
Packing listOn your body for the ascent
- Merino wool ski underwear
- ski socks
- Avalanche transceiveralways wear it on your body
- Fleece or technical jacket
- down jacketwhen it’s very cold
- Ski or ski touring trousers
- Headband or cap
- Thin gloves
- Sunglasses & sunscreen
- Touring skis with skins, touring boots & poles
Packing listIn the backpack
- Avalanche probe & shovel
- first aid kit
- Spare shirt
- hardshell jacket
- down jacketif not already worn on the ascent
- helmet
- goggles
- Warm gloves & neck warmer
- Water or isotonic drink
- Snacks & bars
- Skin bag with mesh sheets
Stay safe!
If you don’t have much experience yet, it’s best to start with a tour on a groomed slope, to get a feel for ski touring and the gear. But careful: ski touring isn’t allowed on every slope!
Whether beginner or advanced – an avalanche course on backcountry hazards and what to do in an avalanche is always worth it – you never stop learning. Never go into the backcountry alone, always with at least one partner. And let someone know where you’re going – otherwise, in an emergency, the search becomes a search for a needle in a haystack.
I wish you lots of fun with this wonderful sport – let me know if I’ve forgotten anything! ♥️
Love,
Anna