Check out Off-Piste Magazine’s expert ski gear reviews including backcountry skis, tech bindings, avalanche beacons, avalanche safety gear, avalanche shovels, ski jackets, backcountry ski pants, ski packs, headlamps, AT ski boots, crampons, climbing skins and more. We use the gear we write up and the reviews here represent the best of the gear we have tested.
Spring Ski Mountaineering – Ski Crampons and Boot Crampons Guide The days grow long and the snow grows firm. When your timing is right, spring ski mountaineering offers fast uphill travel and silky smooth descents. Come spring, climbing skins can only get you so far, especially if you have your sights set on summits and couloirs. From firm boot packs… Read More
Patagonia Descensionist 32L Ski Pack A good ski pack keeps a low profile. It needs to store our avalanche safety gear and essential day trip supplies. But its presence should be subtle and fade away as we skin our way up or turn our way down the hill. The ideal ski pack size varies for everyone, but generally speaking, 30-40… Read More
We’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; climbing skins are one of the most underrated pieces of gear we use. Yet without skins, we can’t do what we do, climb up to ski down. Having used nearly every type of skin available over the years, I have a strong preference for momix skins – skins that use a… Read More
Backcountry Ski Pants Patagonia Snow Guide and Arc’teryx Rush FL You gotta get up to get down, and skinning uphill requires breathability in your outerwear. It’s easy enough to shed your ski shell when breaking trail, but your ski pants are a different story. As a result, backcountry ski pants need to vent, or better yet, be truly breathable. Waterproof-breathable… Read More
Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody – Active Insulation If you have not experienced the modern world of “active insulation,” it’s more than just marketing hype. It refers to an insulated jacket that maintains air permeability. In other words, it’s breathable. The idea behind active insulation is warmth across a wider spectrum of aerobic activity than a more traditional, less breathable jacket… Read More
La Sportiva Synchro AT Ski Boot It’s no secret that we spend more time climbing uphill than we do skiing down when backcountry skiing. Nonetheless, downhill performance remains high on the AT ski boot requirement list for most backcountry skiers. As a result, our boots need to walk the line between being lightweight and uphill-friendly while maintaining the ability to… Read More
Outdoor Research Deviator Hoodie – Breathable Warmth Balancing warmth, breathability and wind protection on the uptrack is easier to say than it is to do. Everyday presents its own weather conditions and demands, but the Outdoor Research Deviator Hoodie handles the job of climate control on the uptrack well by effectively wicking moisture and breathing to keep you dry, warm and… Read More
Leather Ski Gloves Put your skins on. Take your skins off. Buckle your boots. Loosen your boots. Fuss with your bindings. Open your pack. Eat a snack. Take a photo. A typical day in the backcountry asks a lot of our gloved hands – far more than a day at the resort. Good gloves for backcountry skiing need to be… Read More
Osprey SnowKit Duffel The joys of air travel for skiing – it’s a mix of anticipation for the adventure to come and the possibility that your gear may not arrive when you do. It only takes getting skunked on arrival without some piece of critical gear – like your boots or skins – once to appreciate the ability to carry… Read More
Defunkify – Enzyme-Based Detergent Review You know the drill. Pull a shirt out of your bag, drawer or off the pile on the floor and see if it passes the sniff test to wear another day. It seems like the older the layer, the lower the chance it will pass the test. Nothing develops it’s own special funk quite like… Read More
Rogers Pass – Uptracks, Bootpacks and Bushwhacks As winter approaches so does the trip planning. There is perhaps no other destination that offers better roadside access or more consistent snow conditions than Rogers Pass, British Columbia. The Rogers Pass backcountry is one of the largest and most accessible backcountry ski playgrounds on the planet. It lies between Revelstoke and Golden,… Read More
Adventure Map – Rogers Pass In our digital age with GPS enabled phones and Google Earth, one might ask who needs a traditional folding map? Well, when it comes to remote, mountainous places a hardcopy map still trumps electronics for those who know how to read them. Modern technology can be awesome, but a map is a multi-purpose planning, navigation… Read More
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ice Pack Summer is in full swing here in Hood River, and that means packing as many adventures into the week (or day) as possible. I have been testing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Ice Pack for the past couple of months and have attempted to put it through the full gamut of mountain adventures from day… Read More
Portable Chargers – Goal Zero Venture 30 The use of electronics in the backcountry is no longer the exception; it’s the norm. With apps like Gaia (GPS) and Avanet (snow study/tour planning/map), a phone becomes a worthy gps and map tool. As we rely more heavily on electronic devices for everything from communication to navigation and weather information, keeping them charged… Read More
Mountain Coloring Book for Outdoor People A wide variety of outdoor gear and related stuff comes across our desk over the course of a season, but this is the first time we’ve ever seen a coloring book. It’s a mountain coloring book to be specific. And, believe it or not, it’s worth a look. The Mountain Mix Coloring Book is… Read More
