Esquí de Travesía

Alpine Touring is the most efficient way to travel in the mountains in winter. Also known as “randonnée” (from the French), or Skimo (from Ski Mountaineering) or just “AT skiing” alpine touring is more and more popular every winter as skiers search for a more natural mountain experience. Dramatic improvements in ski, boot and binding designs have made alpine touring equipment much lighter, safer and reliable. There is a vast choice of gear depending upon your style of touring. Ultralight gear for skimo competitions and fitness training, all-round kit for traditional touring and fat touring skis for “free-rando” skiing in deep snow. Within the TP team we have tourers of every style and our experience ensures that we can suggest the best gear for your needs. We also stock a huge range of off-piste safety gear, binding accessories, helmets, poles, skins and backpacks.

As passionate ski tourers ourselves, we stock a full range of equipment and accessories for ski touring. See the following links for more information on this gear.

Alpine Touring Skis: Lightweight skis for backcountry travel, touring skis have the flex and shape to cope with the variety of snow conditions we encounter in the mountains.
Alpine Touring Bindings: In walk or climb mode, these bindings allow the boot heel to lift up so that you can ascend with climbing skins on the skis. Once at the top the heel is locked down, so that you can ski down, just like resort alpine bindings. There are two main types of bindings, plate bindings and insert or "tech" bindings. Insert bindings connect to the boot toe by two spring levers with "pins" that connect  to metal inserts in the boot toe. This allows the boot to articulate when climbing. For downhill mode most insert bindings have two forward pointing pins that connect to the heel of the boot. Plate bindings are heavier and have a plate that is articulated under the boot toe. In walk mode the binding lifts up with the boot, in descent mode the plate is locked to the ski.
See our Alpine Touring Bindings page for more information.
Alpine Touring Boots: These look similar to downhill alpine ski boots but have several differences. They have to be much lighter to allow practical travel in the mountains. To climb efficiently alpine touring boots have an upper cuff that articulates forward and backward so that the skier's leg has freedom to walk normally. Once at the top you can block the cuff, close the buckles and you're ready to ski down. There are several different categories of alpine touring boots. Skimo competitors need the lightest possible boots, while most tourers will require a boot that allows efficient climbing combined with a reasonable level of downhill control. Free touring skiers with wider powder skis will use heavier stiffer boots that require more effort when climbing, but supply superior downhill control.
Climbing Skins: These attach to the base the ski to let you climb up snowy slopes. Called "skins" since these were originally made from seal skins, nowadays skins are made with a mohair or synthetic nylon plush.
Ski Touring Poles: Just like alpine ski poles, these give support and stability when descending, but just as importantly, they give power and stability when climbing. Telescopic poles can be adjusted for length, so that you can use a longer pole when climbing, then shorten the poles for the descent. Skimo racers and some tourers prefer fixed length poles, which are lighter, and can be stiffer and stronger.
Ski Binding Accessories: Many race and lightweight touring bindings don't have ski brakes, so you should use safety leashes to avoid losing them should you take a tumble.
On steeper slopes and hard snow climbing skins won't supply enough grip. Ski crampons clip onto the bindings and provide grip and stability when needed. We also stock a wide range of parts and spare parts, from adjustment plates, ski brakes to drill bits for mounting bindings at home.
Ski Packs. A dedicated ski backpacks has enough volume to carry the essentials when touring, with straps to carry the skis when needed. Most packs have several compartments, to carry safety equipment, goggles, food and additional clothing. We stock a wide range of packs, with packs of every size, whether you're just out for the afternoon or heading off on an expedition.
Avalanche Air Bags. These backpacks packs come complete with battery operated airbags, designed to prevent burial should you be avalanched. The advantage of battery operated air bags is that they are safer when travelling, can be recharged at home and many models have batteries allowing more than one inflation between charges.
Offpiste Safety Equipment: Whenever you go touring, however easy or short the route, there are three items you should always have with you - an avalanche transceiver, a probe and a shovel.
Avalanche Transceivers: In "transmit" or "send" mode these transit a signal so that you can be found should you be buried in an avalanche. In "search" mode these look for transcievers and display their position relative to you, so you can locate the buried skier. Whether you have a simple model, or a more advanced models that can be used to search for several buried people, it's vitally important that you know how to use the transceiver. It's well worth taking a course to gain the skills required to use the transceiver, probe and shovel, and then practice often with your ski buddies.
Avalanche Probes: Having located the (approximate) position of the buried skier, avalanche probes are used to try and find the exact position.
Snow Shovels: Once the buried person is located, one needs to uncover them. Snow shovels are strong aluminium shovel especially desiged to enable you to rescue the victim as fast as possible.
Efficient digging requires experience and strength.
Snow Saws: These lightweight saws can be useful when many situations, from analysing the snowpack, building an igloo or shelter, or removing snow to enter a snowed-over hut.
Snow Study Equipment: These allow you to study the snowpack and estimate the likely avalanche risk. Rutschblock cords, thermometers, crystal cards, slope meters, magnifying glasses and more.
Crevasse Rescue: Crevasses are a constant danger when skiing glaciers. Should you or your fellow skiers be unlucky to fall in a crevasse, crevasse rescue gear will allow you to extricate them.
Survival Blankets: These lightweight aluminium blankets reflect the body's heat and help keep you warm in emergency situations.
Snow & Ice Protection: Touring on steeper terrain can require harnesses and snow and ice protection - ice screws and snow anchors.
Ski Helmets: Ski touring helmets are lightweight, with lots of breathability so that they're comfortable when climbing, and offer good protection when skiing. Recommended.
Snow Goggles: These protect your eyes even in the fiercest conditions. Different category and colour lenses provide more or less UV protection and increase contrast so you can see the terrain better.
Sunglasses: It's essential to protect your eyes from bright light and high UV at altitude and in snowy conditions. We carry sunglasses designed specifically for these conditions, that look as good as they protect you.
Ski Gloves: From thin breathable gloves while skinning up to warm protective gloves for the downhill, our gloves will keep your hands warm and dry in all the conditions you'll encounter while touring.