Recommended Equipment

One of the most popular questions we get here at the Catamount Trail Association is: What type of equipment do I need? You’d think this would be an easy question to answer. 

What kind of equipment? Backcountry ski equipment! 

If only it were that simple…

The world of backcountry skiing can be a confusing one. This is because the phrase backcountry skiing can encompasses so many different types of activities. It doesn’t matter whether you use AT (alpine touring) or telemark equipment, a splitboard, XCD skis or skinny classic skis… all of these activities and types of gear fall under the backcountry umbrella.

Below we will cover recommended gear for the Catamount Trail, and for our backcountry zones. At the end we have included a list of additional items all backcountry users should consider having with them.

Recommended Ski Equipment For The Catamount Trail

In this section we will make some general equipment recommendations that would be appropriate for use on the Catamount Trail (CT), or other rolling backcountry ski trails where where downhill turns aren’t the primary objective.

Let’s further tighten up our constraints and pretend that we are shopping for someone who plans on skiing the CT from end-to-end. If attempting all 31 sections of the Catamount Trail you will encounter some areas that are pretty mellow and some are pretty challenging.  The recommendations below take all of this into consideration. 

Skis

For skis we would recommend one of the many medium-sized, metal-edged skis with a waxless base. These skis are often referred to as XCD (cross country downhill) skis and examples of this type of ski are the Madshus Epoch 68 or 78 , the Fischer S-bound 88 or 98, or the Rossignol BC 80 or 100. You can go slightly bigger or slightly smaller than the skis mentioned above, but as long as the skis have a metal edge and a waxless base you should be ok. Narrower skis with less shape will tour better, be faster on the flats, and easier to haul up the climbs. However, these skis typically sacrifice some downhill performance. The larger skis are more work on the uphills, but typically have more shape and are easier to control when headed downhill. The skis recommended above fall in the middle of the pack and provide a good mixture of touring and downhill performance perfect for tackling the variety of conditions and terrain found on the Catamount Trail. 

Boots

For boots we would recommend a lightweight 3-pin boot like the Rossignol BCX12, the Scarpa T4, or the Garmont Excursion. You could also use an NNN BC or SNS BC boot, but these setups are generally regarded as providing less control than 3 pin systems. Also, there is a much broader range of 3 pin compatible boots on the market. This means you could have one set of skis and bindings, but have a lightweight boot for touring on easier terrain and a heavier boot that offers more control when attempting something more challenging.  

Bindings

Here again we would recommend a 3-pin binding, specifically the Voile 3 Pin Cable or 3 Pin Hardwire. Both of these bindings can be used with or without the heel bail. So, if you crash and tear the pins out of your boot you can continue just using the cable. Or… if you break a cable you can hopefully still use the 3-pin toe piece to get out of the woods. This redundant retention system makes these bindings great for any backcountry outing. NNN BC and SNS BC bindings are also used with much success on the Catamount Trail. However, again this typically comes at the cost of some control… though they do tour very well. Regardless of which system you choose, always be sure to carefully inspect the condition of your bindings before a tour to reduce the potential for having a failure while out on the trail.

Climbing Skins

We would definitely recommend climbing skins for certain sections of the Catamount Trail. Climbing skins are accessories that go the bottoms of your skis to provide additional traction. There are sections with a significant amount of climbing and having climbing skins available for the steeper and more sustained aspects will help you move more quickly and efficiently by reducing the need to sidestep or herringbone. That said, climbing skins are not necessary for every section and if you are just starting out this is not something you will need right away.

Kicker Skins

Kicker skins are partial length skins that attach under the ski and run from just in front of the binding to slightly behind the boot. They are about as long as the waxless pattern on most no-wax skis. They do not provide nearly as much purchase on the way up, but they do offer more grip than most waxless patterns and they help maintain some glide. Kicker skins are great for rolling terrain and for someone willing to give up some grip in an effort to keep things light. Again this is another piece of equipment that isn’t necessary, but might warrant your consideration.

Recommended Equipment For Managed BC Zones

This section is for everyone interested in exploring our managed backcountry zones. These areas were developed primarily as downhill zones with a designated uphill route and a variety of downhill options. This section will be pretty brief as we’re not here to tell you one brand is better than another… just make some general recommendations so that you don’t show up with the wrong gear.

Skis/Splitboard/Boot/Bindings

At our managed zones, because making downhill turns is the name of the game any splitboard, telemark, or AT setup is going to be the way to go. Modern backcountry equipment is pretty incredible and there are a myriad of options out there. If you’re looking for a new setup we recommend visiting your local shop and working with them to identify the best setup to meet your needs.

Skins

No matter how you’re traveling, you’re going to need skins. Skins go on the bottom of your skis and provide grip so you can ascend a snowy slope. There are a lot of options out there, but we prefer skins that combine a mix of mohair and nylon fibers. These tend to offer the best combinations of grip, glide, durability, and price.

Gear That’s Not Recommended

We don’t recommend nordic or XCD gear at our managed zones. The typical ski setup you’d use on the Catamount Trail is not appropriate for use at our managed backcountry zones. We’re sure there are people out there that can shred on lightweight gear. However, in general you’ll have more fun and enjoy a lower risk of equipment failure and injury on heavier, downhill oriented equipment.

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Additional Items (Everyone)

Other items necessary for a day in the woods depend on the difficulty and length of the tour. Below is a list of all items you should consider bringing with you on a backcountry tour:

Hopefully this will help get you started. Please keep in mind that these are just guidelines. We want to you have fun and that means not suffering too much on the flat and uphill sections, and having enough control on the descents to avoid injury. Please take every equipment recommendation with a grain of salt, ask questions, talk to as many people as possible, and build your own opinions. Only you can decide what’s right for you.

Think Snow!