Welcome to the home of the backcountry skiing blog from Off-Piste Magazine. Here we post backcountry ski gear reviews, feature stories and avalanche safety advice, plus ski news, events and more.
No matter how well your ski boots fit, taking them off at the end of the day always feels good. We all have our fave shoes to slip into after a day in our ski boots. Blundstones, Bogs, Sorels, or even comfy sneakers work, but I recently discovered a new favorite après-ski boot — XTRATUF Deck Boots, specifically the XTRATUF… Read More
Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski and outdoor industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This edition of Blown-In features recent avalanche activity, Black Diamond gets subpoenaed, the Hilaree Nelson Education Scholarship and the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Scholarship Award. Elevated… Read More
Tour Better Backcountry skiing is a balance of adventure, fitness and skills. The more you tour, the better your systems and the smoother the day. I surveyed a few ski pals for their favorite backcountry skiing tips and tricks. From planning and layering to gear maintenance and must-have items, here are our top 10 ski touring tips. #1. Read the… Read More
British Columbia is well-known for its legendary snowpack and deep, wide-ranging mountains. While places like Whistler and Revelstoke have well-deserved reputations for deep snow and expansive terrain, BC is home to numerous small, local ski hills that offer much more than the sum of their parts. Shames Mountain, outside of Terrace, BC, is one such place. Facing closure in 2008,… Read More
The Legacy of the Jackson Hole Air Force In the early 1980s, a group of dedicated skiers began pushing beyond the Jackson Hole Ski Resort boundaries in search of untracked powder snow and steep terrain. Their story is about ski bum culture, ski area policy and the rise of freeride skiing. Swift. Silent. Deep. is a 2009 ski film that… Read More
Everyone will agree that a warm, puffy jacket is required equipment for backcountry skiing. It’s your ticket to comfortable transitions and lightweight insurance for staying warm in the case of an emergency. When it comes to lightweight, packable warmth, nothing beats the natural insulation value of down. A high-loft down jacket creates warmth you can feel as soon as you pull… Read More
Voile straps embody Voile’s Simple, Solid, Backcountry mantra to the tee. Durable and versatile, Voile straps are oft-copied and never duplicated. The Voile formula is simply the most durable and functional of any similar product I have ever used. If you are not using Voile straps, you should be. And if you don’t know where the idea for Voile straps… Read More
If you are shopping for skier gifts, we have ideas to help! Here’s our annual list of the best skier gifts for your favorite backcountry skier. You can also check out our recommended gift ideas from last season. Check out our 2024 skier gift ideas. 1. North Drinkware Hand-Blown Glassware – $56 North Drinkware – From Mt. Baker to Mt… Read More
Greetings, weather nerds! Are you obsessing about ski season weather? Well, as forecast by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in August, a slowly developing La Niña is beginning to influence ski season conditions. NOAA just released the latest winter weather outlook for December 2024 through February 2025, with relevant ski season weather trends, including temperature and precipitation. This winter, NOAA… Read More
Measure twice. Buy once. Ski Boot Fitting Tips Whether you’re shopping for ski boots at your local ski shop or buying them online, knowing how to measure and size your foot, plus understanding how a boot should feel, are the first steps to getting the best boot fit. Buy boots that are too small, and you’re guaranteed cramped, sore feet…. Read More
Scarpa Launches New TX Pro Telemark Ski Boot Once a thriving sector in the ski market with a host of brands competing to push gear design and the sport, telemark skiing has taken a back seat to the rise of and innovation around lightweight alpine touring gear. Telemark binding innovation has slowed to a crawl, and the telemark ski boot… Read More
As mountain bike season and summer trail days wind down, it’s easy to put fire season in the rearview mirror, but for those of us who live in the West, the impact of wildfire is omnipresent. In northern California, climate change and 150 years of forest mismanagement have led to some of the most catastrophic wildfires in the state’s history—including… Read More
Ski and Outdoor Industry News Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski, outdoor and sometimes bike industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This week’s edition of Blown-In features AAC grants, Fjällräven, Peak Performance, La Niña, POW, Arc’teryx and leaf skiing. Fall 2024… Read More
Winter 2024-25 It’s never too early to start obsessing about winter weather forecasts and thinking about ski season. While tracking squirrel eating habits and noting the height of the Beargrass in your local ski stash may well be time-tested winter weather indicators, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), commonly known by its two opposing influences, El Niño and La Niña,… Read More
Climbing skins are required equipment for backcountry skiing cause you gotta get up to get down. While all climbing skins work on the same principle, skins vary by material (plush) type, tip and tail connection systems and also the depth or thickness of the plush. Choosing the best climbing skins for your ski touring needs depends on snow conditions, type… Read More
