How to Choose Backcountry Skiing Gear-REI.com
By Don McManamy
Last updated: December 2009
In This Article
 Telemark and Randonee Skiing Defined
 Backcountry Skis
 Backcountry Boots
 Backcountry bindings
 Poles
 Climbing Skins
 Backcountry Safety Gear
 Telemark FAQs
One of the joys of backcountry skiing, also known as Alpine Touring (or simply AT) is that it can be
combined with other outdoor activities—such as backcountry winter camping, land navigation,
backpacking, mountaineering and of course downhill skiing—into a fun, athletically challenging and
exciting experience.
Telemark and Randonee Skiing Defined
While both styles are considered Alpine Touring (AT), there are differences…
Telemark skiing is a style of free-heel skiing mostly noted for the trademark drop-knee turn called the
“tele” turn. Sondre Nordheim founded and popularized this method during the mid 19th century while
living in the namesake Telemark County of Norway. The athletic challenge, fluid style and easy
adaptation to backcountry travel provide the fun and athletic challenge that attracts participants to the
sport. If want to access the back country and are a cross country skier comfortable with drop knee turns
or just adventurous and want to learn to the “ tele-turn”, Telemark skiing is for you.
Randonee skiing is a touring specific style that allows the skier to release their heels for mountain
ascents and cross country travel, and then lock their heels in for descents. Unlike telemark, it does not
require the participant to learn a different turning style such as the “tele-turn”. Like telemark, it does
require specific boots and bindings. If you are very comfortable with alpine skiing, don’t want to change
your turning style but want to access the back country, Randonee is for you.
Back country touring is a skiing tradition that offers you backcountry access, resort skiing excitement,
and a fantastic workout. Aside from the opportunity for adventure, you should know a little about the
gear you need to stay safe and have the most fun.
A good place to start outfitting yourself is with skis.
Skis for Backcountry…
Ski technology has evolved tremendously in recent years, and these changes have created great
similarities between alpine and backcountry skis. Thanks to this trend, most all-mountain alpine skis are
also quite suitable for backcountry skiers.
To get the right skis, first consider whether you intend primarily to be a backcountry touring skier or an
on-piste skier at a resort. Both skiing types require a ski that has “torsional stiffness.” This means that
the ski resists twisting forces along its length. Their differences:
 Skis for Backcountry touring should be as lightweight as possible. This greatly reduces fatigue
and increases efficiency when climbing hills
 Skis for On-piste (with occasional bashes through icy crud) benefits from a slightly heavier allmountain ski. This opens up a wide array of ski choices.
Which skis should you avoid? System skis (the term used for skis that come with integrated bindings)
are incompatible with backcountry boots and bindings; likewise, twin-tip skis are great in the park and
pipe but lack the torsional stiffness required for backcountry use. For a detailed look at ski design, check
out the REI Expert Advice article How to Choose Downhill Skis.
Shop REI’s selection of alpine, telemark and randonee skis.
Telemark Gear
Plastic Telemark Boots
Telemark boots are made specifically for telemark bindings. They cannot be used with alpine or
randoneé gear. They have a 75mm toe-bill which secures the boot into the front of the binding. Some
have the traditional 3-pin setup and all offer the unique ability to flex just after the toes. You need to
know which boots work with which bindings to make the proper gear selection.
The new standard for tele skiing is the all-plastic boot. Closely resembling alpine ski boots (with
ratcheting buckles and power straps), they provide similar ankle support. They differ from alpine boots
by having a toe bill, a toe baffle and a “tour mode” capability. The “baffle” is located just behind the toes
to offer the flexibility needed to perform a proper telemark turn. All ski boots are hinged at the ankle to
allow some flexibility; boots with a “Touring Mode” allow the boot to flex even more. This is
accomplished by adding a switch to release the ankle cuff when touring. This same mechanism restrains
the cuff to restore rigidity when skiing downhill. This ability means more efficient backcountry travel
and less fatigue. An added plus is how easy it is to walk when in tour mode, a great benefit when
running from the slopes to the resort lodge.
Pros: These are ideal for those who ski the same steep downhills as alpine skiers. If aggressive downhills
are your type of fun, these are the boots for you.
Cons: While many of these boots have 3-pin receivers and are compatible with pin-and-cable bindings,
they are generally too stiff for cross-country specific use.
<Show item 757990>
Shop REI’s selection of telemark boots.
Telemark Bindings
Just as telemark boots are specific to the sport, so are telemark bindings. Only telemark bindings offer
free-heel ability and telemark boot compatibility. There are 3 types of bindings, and telemark boots are
designed to work with them as a system.
Plate and Cable Bindings
This binding accepts almost any plastic telemark boot and is currently the standard. It has a pin-less
plate with a receiver that keeps the toe-bill in place while the cable and piston attach to the heel
providing forward pressure. Many plate-and-cable bindings come in a soft, medium (or mid) or stiff flex
that correspond to a skier’s type: Type 1 being beginner (soft flex), Type 2 for intermediates (mid flex)
and Type 3 for experts (stiff flex). These flex ratings are also represented in today’s standard telemark
boot. Get a boot with a stiffness rating that matches your binding.
Pros: Compatible with any telemark boot. For those seeking the thrills of steep descents.
Cons: These bindings do not have a release feature and stay attached even when you fall.
<Show item 775753>
If you are a beginner or are just coming over from alpine skiing, you may desire the assurance of
releasable bindings. Some plate-and-cable binding models are releasable and feature DIN-like settings
and come complete with brakes to stop the ski when detached.
<Show item 757994>
3-pin and Cable Bindings
These are essentially a combination of the previous 2 bindings discussed above. With the constant
improvement in plate-and-cable bindings, the 3-pin and cable binding is seen less frequently these days.
It is most often used by experienced traditionalists who can do either backcountry touring or steep
descents. If you are seeking out a traditional experience, this might be the binding for you.
NTN Bindings (New Telemark Norm) and Boots
Currently manufactured by Rottefella alone, the NTN binding is the result of years of research and
development. These bindings are the first true “step in” style telemark binding. This means that you
can simply click in to your skis while standing, just like alpine skiers. Another similarity to alpine is that
there is not a right and a left ski binding, unlike all other telemark bindings. These bindings feature a
“din like” setting to ensure release during falls and have optional brakes as well as a touring bar, or heel
lift, for backcountry use.
NTN bindings feature a unique ability to transfer from ski to ski through the use of mounting plates.
You can purchase additional mounting plates for all your skis, mount the plates and simply attach the
binding to the plate. The most important feature of this new binding is its unprecedented control and
power transfer to the ski, making it ideal for wide powder skis
It is important to note that the NTN binding requires NTN specific boots. Only NTN boots work with this
new design and are currently manufactured by three companies; Scarpa, Garmont and Crispi. If you are
an experienced skier that wants maximum control, or own wide powder skis, this is the binding for you.
Pros: increased control, releasable and transferable from ski to ski with additional mounting plates
Cons: expensive, require NTN specific boots.
Shop REI’s selection of telemark bindings.
Randonee Gear
Randonee Boots
Randonee boots differ from alpine boots in their design, which can be described as a hybridization of an
alpine ski boot and a mountaineering boot, although providing the fully rigid support of both. Randonee
boots do not have toe baffles like telemark boots. Randonee boots also have thick rubber soles for
traction over terrain encountered while travelling the back country. This feature makes them an unsafe
choice for use with an alpine binding; however some types have interchangeable heel and toe plates for
use with alpine bindings.
Pros: very suitable for back country touring
Cons: heavier than other boots and some not compatible with alpine bindings.
Randonee bindings
Randonee bindings are similar to alpine bindings having step in capability, din settings and release
features. You won’t need to learn new turns or alter your skiing style in any way. The difference comes
when you are touring. In touring mode, randonee bindings function like alpine bindings detached at the
heel (imagine your alpine binding mounted to a slat of wood, and then attach the front of that slat of
wood to your ski with a hinge.) This ability allows the skier a larger range of motion to ascend hills and
move across terrain. When you’ve reached the summit, you click in your heel and ski. A randonee
binding is not designed to ski downhill in touring mode.
Pros: make alpine style skiing in the backcountry possible
Cons: heavier that most alpine bindings.
Binding Accessories
You can enhance the touring ability of back country bindings with a couple of attachments.
 Crampons attach to the ski binding underfoot to provide additional traction by biting into ice
and hard snow. They need to be removed before downhill skiing. Used in conjunction with
climbing skins (explained below), they enable you to access backcountry areas through hard
snow and ice.
 Heel lifts are attached to the heel plate of the binding system and are easily raised for climbing
and lowered for skiing. They allow you to ascend mountains more easily by providing an
elevated contact point to limit fatigue of your Achilles tendons and shin muscles.
Poles
The best poles for telemark skiing, especially if you intend to tour backcountry, are ones with
telescoping sections. These adjustable ski poles are essentially beefy trekking poles that have large snow
baskets near the base. Poles marketed as snowshoe poles are similar. Adjustable ski poles (they come in
2- and 3-section versions) are advantageous because they allow you to set the lengths necessary for
efficient cross-country travel and downhill use, as well as collapse for compact storage. Traditional onepiece alpine ski poles do not offer this flexibility. Just make sure that whatever poles you select are
strong, lightweight and come with snow baskets.
Shop REI’s selection of telescoping ski poles.
Climbing Skins
When backcountry touring, climbing are necessary to accomplish uphill travel. Originally made from
animal hides, skins today are made of synthetic materials. They have fake “hair” directed at oblique
backward angles to enable forward gliding while preventing backward sliding. They come in sizes to
match the length of your skis, but kits exist to custom fit your particular ski width and length. When you
reach your desired spot on the mountain they are removed to ski downhill. Watch the REI Expert Advice
video showing climbing skins application.
Shop REI’s selection of climbing skins. <link to “/category/4501556” >
Backcountry Safety Gear
Avalanches are a real threat in the backcountry. You should take the necessary precautions and, first
and foremost, not venture out when avalanche danger is high. You must have the right safety gear
including, but not limited to a transceiver, probe, shovel and a first-aid kit, with a RECCO reflector device
and an Avalung breathing device highly recommended as well. Critically, it cannot be stressed enough
that you must have the training and practice needed to properly use these items.
Here are the items that must be carried by each member of your party:
 Avalanche transceiver: In the event of an avalanche, it greatly increases the ability of a party to
find the close proximity of a buried member. Check out the REI Expert Advice article on How to
Choose an Avalanche Transceiver.
 Probe: Once a signal is broadcast by the transceiver, a probe pole is used to poke into the snow
to find the exact location of the victim.
 Shovel: A strong, lightweight snow shovel is used to dig the person out.
This process can take a bit of time, which is why you should have an Avalung as well. This snorkel-like
device is used to scrub carbon monoxide from the immediate breathable air, greatly extending the time
you can stay buried, providing precious extra minutes for rescue. The unit comes in a stand-alone
version, but is also integrated into certain backpacks.
RECCO reflectors are a great addition for snow enthusiasts frequenting resort back-bowl areas. This
passive reflector is generally sewn into selected winter garments. Many resorts have adopted this
system to help ski patrols locate avalanche victims.
Important: A RECCO reflector complements but does not replace an avalanche transceiver. You
should always carry an avalanche transceiver whether skiing at a resort back area or not.
Your first aid kit should reflect the specific needs of your trip with preparedness as the key
consideration. You should also look into taking a backcountry ski class and follow it up with good
literature.
Finally, never ski the backcountry alone—always bring a buddy. A group is better yet. More people mean
more help if something happens. Take turns watching your friends to ensure that each reaches a predetermined destination. The best way to stay safe is to know where trouble is, how to avoid it and how
to minimize injuries if encountered. Following these safety guidelines goes a long way to ensure your
trips will be fun and exciting.
Getting Started
In taking up backcountry skiing, I’ve had quite a few spills and thrills. My first run was on a bunny slope
and lasted at least 2 hours. However, it was just 3-1/2 weeks later that I was stopped by a ski patrol
member and told to slow it down. I gleefully thanked him for his unwitting complement! Still, no one
can throw a “yard sale” (ski slang for crashing and ejecting skis, poles and anything else in every possible
direction as you tumble) like I can.
Along the way I’ve asked, and been asked, a lot of questions. Here are some that I’ve found to be
common.
Backcountry Skiing FAQs
Q: What is telemark skiing and why is it called that?
A: Telemark skiing is a form of Nordic or “free heel” skiing. It is noted for its trademark drop-knee
turning style in which the uphill ski is drawn under the body by bending the leg, forcing the back knee
down while the downhill ski is left forward. It is called telemark because it was originated in the the
county of Telemark by Norwegian Sondre Nordheim.
Q: What skis are best suited for on-piste telemark skiing?
A: Virtually any all-mountain alpine ski is designed with torsional rigidity, meaning it resists twisting
along its length. This makes it suitable for on-piste (groomed run) tele skiing. The exceptions are system
skis (those with integrated alpine bindings) or park-specific skis (twin tip styles) which are not suitable
for on-piste use.
Q: What skis are best suited for backcountry touring?
A: Like skis for on-piste, a good off-piste (backcountry) touring ski also has torsional rigidity but is lighter
weight for more efficient travelling. Freestyle skis (twin tips) and systems skis (those with integrated
binding systems) aren’t suitable for backcountry uses.
Q: What should I look for in a telemark binding? Which is best for my ability level?
A: Skiers are rated as levels 1, 2 or 3 with 1 representing beginners and 3 as experts. The stiffer the
binding the more of an expert the skier, therefore a soft flex binding would be appropriate for
beginners, mid or medium stiff for intermediates and stiff for exerts. There are some releasable
telemark bindings on the market today and many beginners may prefer this type.
Q: What are climbing skins?
A: A climbing skin is a synthetic skin (originally animal skin) used to provide traction when climbing
uphill. It resists backward motion and is removed to ski downhill. It is available in specific sizes to fit your
skis or can be cut from a kit. They are widely available at REI or other gear suppliers.
Q: What are the differences in boots?
A: Backcountry boots come with thicker rubberized soles that allow for traction over the terrain
encountered in the backcountry.
Q: How do backcountry bindings differ from alpine bindings?
A: Backcountry bindings allow the free up-and-down movement of the heel by the specific design of the
binding.
Q: Do I have to ski differently to become a Randonee Skier?
A: No, randonee skiing uses the same turn as alpine, the only difference is when you ascend hills or
travel across terrain. This similarity makes for an easy transition from alpine skiing.