Build Your Own Backcountry Ski Repair Kit

January 16, 2023 in Features

Backcountry Ski Repair Kit – Pack Light or Go Big?

Have you ever had a gear failure in the field? Fortunately, modern backcountry ski gear is pretty robust stuff. I can count the number of significant gear failures I’ve experienced or witnessed on the one hand – and most of those were back in my dedicated telemark ski days. Nonetheless, a basic backcountry ski repair kit should make your packing list. Gear failure might not happen often, but it does happen — be it due to abuse, accident or simple wear and tear. A basic backcountry ski repair kit should be lightweight and compact. It’s also a good place to store essential emergency items like fire starter and an emergency blanket.

An Ounce of Prevention

Before assembling an extensive backcountry ski repair kit with one of everything, consider that a little preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your repair kit small. An annual gear inspection and some routine maintenance can stop many common gear issues before they ever happen. It’s about looking for wear, checking that screws are snug, and just generally being familiar with the status of your gear to avoid surprises. Consider the following checklist as an annual or pre-trip routine, and for a more comprehensive read, check out our full pre-season checklist for maintaining your gear.

1. Inspect boots. Look for wear and tear that could lead to failure. Tighten all fasteners and consider adding Loctite to anything that shows repeated loosening.
2. Inspect bindings. Check that binding mount screws are snug and tighten external screws as applicable. At a minimum, inspect your bindings annually, or make it routine and check ’em even whenever you wax your skis.
3. Inspect climbing skins. Look for deteriorating tail straps, blown rivets, glue issues and worn-out tip loops (read climbing skin care tips).
4. Check your backpack. Look for cracked buckles, smooth zipper function, frayed webbing and high-wear zones.

Common Repairs

What problems do you actually need to worry about being able to repair? The length of your ski day and type of objective are directly related to how robust a repair kit you need. Multi-day, remote settings require more serious backup supplies than a simple day tour or roadside attraction lap. Lots of inconsequential gear problems could go wrong, and you’d still be able to keep skiing or at least ski back to the hut or trailhead. Things like jackets, pants and pack zippers or a pack buckle could explode – even a boot buckle – and you’d likely be fine to continue skiing. Think about potential show stoppers – issues that could stop you from moving – problems with bindings, boot cuffs, boot walk mode mechanisms and climbing skins are what can really ruin a day.

The Basic (Everyday) Backcountry Ski Repair Kit

Less is more is my mantra, but it requires following the ounce of prevention advice above. My basic everyday repair kit is lightweight and only requires a small 4×6-inch zip pouch. It just lives in my ski pack alongside my shovel and probe. If I’m headed on a hut or road trip, I’ll throw a few additional items in my duffel.

Choose your repair kit supplies wisely. Think double-duty and do-it-all materials like duct tape, voile straps, paracord, zip ties, etc. Combined with a few gear-specifc items, you can MacGyver your way out of many problems. Here’s a list of the stuff I generally keep in my kit:

Multi-tool – Think pliers, a blade and the drivers to match your bindings. Read about our favorite multi-tools for skiers
Duct Tape – Wrap 12-20 inches around a lighter. Use the good stuff. Try Gorilla Tape
Binding screws – A few binding screws that match your set-up
Steel wool – Fills blown-out screw holes to make them usable again. It doesn’t take much.
Safety pins – Don’t let a blown zipper spoil your day. 3-4 safety pins to the rescue.
Paracord – 2mm paracord or spectra cord can do many things, like replace a skin tip loop. My homemade Rutschblock cord serves double duty here.
Zip ties – 4-5 small zip ties have a myriad of uses.
Boot parts – I have a Dynafit heel fitting (cannibalized from an old boot) and a homemade cuff rivet in my kit, too
Skin wax – a small block of Glop Stopper skin wax for those days when your skins (or your ski partner’s) clump up
Lighter – Always good for emergencies, and it makes a great tape holder
Firestarter – A piece of bicycle inner tube makes for a great fire starter – just cut off a six or eight-inch section of an old tube

For Multi-Day Trips, Consider Adding the following:

Tenacious Tape – Field repair a jacket or pant blowout like a pro with Tenacious Tape
Skin tip/tail clip – Pack an extra tip/tail clip. Black Diamond has lots of climbing skin parts
Hose clamps – Great for pole repair.
Bailing wire – Wire together blown boot cuff rivets or make a skin tip loop.
Pole basket – You’ll never know how much you need a basket until you don’t have one!
Emergency blanket – I’m talking about the lightest of Emergency blankets in case you have a long night.