Ski touring is an exhilarating way to travel in the mountains in the winter, but deciding which gear you need when starting can be daunting. The gear is quite complicated and geeky, there's lots of choice, and exactly how you'd like to tour determines the type of skis, boots and bindings that will be best for you. We divide ski tourers into three categories depending upon their priorities when going on a tour; Race, Efficient and Free-Rando, .
RACE tourers treat ski touring as above all a physical challenge, and want the lightest equipment to get up and down as fast as possible. Many will be competing in "Skimo" or ski-mountaineering races, where every gram counts.
These skiers prioritise speed over the quality of the downhill skiing experience. There are many in Andorra. They are often excellent skiers but are limited by their material when skiing downhill.
EFFICIENT tourers want reasonably light gear that's practical for skinning up and that will work well in the snow conditions and on the terrain they'll encounter going downhill.
This is the most appropriate gear for starting ski touring and the rest of this blog will cover EFFICIENT category skis. Most ski tourers of all levels of experience and ability will use Efficient category skis.
FREE RANDO tourers place more emphasis on downhill performance than uphill efficiency, and want wider skis for better flotation in powder and variable snow conditions, with heavier bindings with higher DIN release settings..
While many free rando skiers make long trips into the backcountry, the equipment is heavier and does require more effort to tour.
Touring skis have to fulfill several criteria. They need to be light so that skinning uphill is not unduly tiresome, with a sidecut (shape) that is reasonably straight so that the edges grip well when traversing icy slopes. (when traversing with skis with a pronounced "X" sidecut, one can find the ski touching the snow only at the tip and tail, not so stable...). Skis should have a balanced medium flex with reasonably easy turn initiation, so that turning is easy and not too physical.
They need to be strong, since no one wants a ski to snap half way through a tour. Ski construction design and materials have improved considerably over the last 10 years and many brands use carbon fibre and lightweight wood such as paulownia to create skis that are light, strong and ski well in all snow conditions.
One thing to note when buying skis is the width the metal edge. To save weight most touring skis have thinner edges than alpine skis. Some brands take this to extremes and use edges that are so thin that the ski will not survive too much contact with rocks. We think it's better to have a slightly heavier ski that's more robust and will last many years if used correctly, but it's worth checking edge width when choosing your touring skis.
Ski Width
Narrower skis are lighter and grip better on ice but are less stable in soft snow, while wider skis float better in powder and on spring snow but generally grip less well and are heavier.
A good touring ski has to perform in all snow conditions so we generally recommend that tourers start out with a ski between 80-90 mm wide at the waist, with 85-88 mm being ideal.
Ski Length
Touring skis need to be long enough to offer directional stability in variable off piste snow conditions, but short enough to be agile in technical terrain and to easily make conversions. When skinning uphill we change direction by making zig-zag turns or "conversions" that require lifting the ski up and swinging the leg around to the opposite side. Supple skiers will make conversions with skis that are equal to their height, but shorter skis are easier for conversions. Shorter skis will be more agile in narrow gullies and when skiing between trees, while longer skis are better at speed in open bowls. We generally recommend skis that are 10 cm less than skier's height, up to the skier's height, but not more.
Want to know more about ski design criteria? Take a peep at our blog Ski Geometry - Shape & Flex.
Which ski is good for me?
The following models are all good touring skis that will take you far into the mountains and back, climbing efficiently with good downhill performance. We have summarised each ski's characteristics. These are not necessarily criticisms, but a means to differentiate them from the others, so that depending upon your priorites you can better choose.
ARMADA LOCATOR 88 SKI
Armada's Locator touring series are latest generation touring skis with a modern shape and offer excellent performance. The Locator 88 is the narrowest in the series and a great all round touring ski.
ATOMIC BACKLAND 85 WOMEN SKI
The Atomic Backland 85 is a modern classic and excellent value for money. Available in both men's and women's versions, the Backland 85 combine accesibility for beginners and the performance required by experienced tourers.
BLIZZARD ZERO G 85 SKI
A light yet stiff ski that offers good downhill performance and a good choice for stronger skiers.
ZAG ADRET 85 LADY SKI
Zag's Adret has a loyal following amongst French ski tourers who appreciate it's versatility and good capabilities in all snow conditions.
BLACK CROWS MENTIS FREBIRD SKI
With only 80 mm underfoot the Mentis Freebird is Black Crow's narrowest touring ski, designed for the "fast & light" crowd. Requires a little more technique than the other skis listed here, but is a great choice if uphill speed is your thing and you are already a confident off piste skier.
SCOTT SUPERGUIDE 88 WOMEN SKI
A popular touring ski that offers superior downhill performance thanks to it's relatively stiff flex. Not as accessible for beginners as the Atomic Backland 85 and requires a more energetic skiing style which it repays with excellent stability at speed.
VOLKL RISE HIGH 88 SKI
A new ski for 2024, the Rise High 88 is designed for climbing rapidly while offering a wider platform than the Mentis Freebird. Very light and versatile both for climbing and the descent, more expensive than the other models.
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO CARBON 88 SKI
With a light carbon build and snappy flex, the Helio Carbon series are modern classics. The Helio Carbon 88 is the narrowest in the series and offers superior downhill performance. A good choice for stronger ski tourers looking for more performance.
K2 WAYBACK 89 W SKI
K2's Wayback skis combine accessibility with performance thanks to their very neutral character, making them popular with both beginners and advanced skiers.
ATOMIC BACKLAND 88 SKI
A new ski for 2024, the Backland 88 offers just a little more width and offers slightly higher soft snow performance than the Backland 85s. A very good all round touring ski.
BLACK CROWS OVA FREEBIRD SKI
Very popular. Light for efficient climbing, good downhill performance in all snow conditions.
KASTLE TX87 SKI
Slightly heavier than most models here, the TX87 offers superior downhill performance. 
ATOMIC BACKLAND 89 SKI
With almost the same shape as the Backland 88, the 89 is lighter and stiffer.This is the ideal ski for experienced skiers seeking to move fast and light in the mountains. 
We hope this article is useful but should you like help deciding what's best for you then get in touch, we're here to help.
We can send all this gear to Andorra, no problem. The best way to choose boots is to try them, so if you can come to our shop in Ax you can be sure to get the best fit and we can mould the boot liners for you.
We recommend buying skis and bindings using TP's Alpine Touring Package deals. Each package is chosen to offer compatible skis and bindings at the best possible price.
We mount bindings and trim skins to the shape of your skis free of charge, just tell us the make, model and mondopoint size of your touring boots.
Look forward to seeing you in the mountains!!
