There are two essential components, education and gear. Reach for a Nordic touring/backcountry ski when you want to explore the hills and woods and not be bound to groomed trails. These skis can be used on groomed XC trails and especially off-trails. RSS. What Are Backcountry Skis? Single Camber, although much less common, can be found on some Metal-Edge Touring skis for backcountry use. Tired of liftlines? Backcountry skiing (sometimes called off-piste skiing) is any type of skiing done outside the patrolled boundaries of a ski area. by Jordan Tiernan. Nordic touring skis are metal edged with patterned base for uphill (think Madshus) and nordic skiing is what I call cross country (think skating or classic). At its most basic, it means you’re responsible for getting yourself up whatever you’re planning to carve, float or race down. SKI Magazine tested dozens of backcountry skis last spring, and these 11 are the best of the best for the coming ski season. Also pay attention to words like flex and torsional rigidity, particularly with skis that have a higher camber. So I know very little about skiing and have only skied about 3-4 times. someone’ AT skis and her waxless touring skis. AT gear keeps getting better and better at handling the down. ... Alpine Touring Backcountry Skiing Gear List Gear Review Glades Kingdom Trails Massachusetts Minuteman Trail Mountain Biking Mt. The backcountry ski is a perfect companion for skiing off the tracks, for longer day trips with a small backpack or even cabin trips.The skis in the backcountry range are made for accessing a lot of different terrains, built light and with metal edges. Ski touring, AT skiing, ski mountaineering, randonee … whatever you call it, getting into the backcountry on skis is becoming more and more popular. How do you choose between a backcountry ski and an on-mountain model? 8th October 2019. Best Backcountry (Touring) Skis 2019 – 2020 There's a huge variety of touring and backcountry skis out there. We get our heads around the best of them. Share. If you're looking for an excellent set of XC skis, I recommend the Fischer Spider 62's. Backcountry/alpine touring/ski mountaineering skis (the terms are used interchangeably) range from super-svelte trekking and ski-mountaineering styles focused primarily on uphill mobility, to more freeride-focused models that offer the same massive dimensions and innovative rocker profiles as the newest inbounds powder skis. If you’re looking for real freedom on skis you might be a candidate for backcountry cross-country skiing. Backcountry Ski Setup Advice. Updated November 2019, for the 2019-2020 winter season. The main type of skiing you plan to do is the first step to choosing your ski bindings. If you’re looking for real freedom on skis you might be a candidate for backcountry cross-country skiing. They ski amazing in any terrain on the resort or deep in the backcountry.