As a reformulated version of the Attack, the Zero G Race ski has a great legacy. It remains a stiff racing plank with a traditional profile and superior edge hold. That’s surprising because Blizzard managed to shave about 100 grams off the weight, making it a superior uphill ski as well. Built with the same Carbon Drive construction found in the larger Zero G skis, the Race version..
Fall
If you’re on a quest for the Holy Grail of fast-and-light skis, you’ve found it in the Atomic Backland 86 UL. Light construction, tight radius, and high torsional strength make this ski a machine for the tightest ski mountaineering lines, and a sharp 3-degree side edge bevel provides unparalleled hold on the hardest of snow and ice. However, this ski is not confined to this role li..
Fall
Built with the same design philosophy as the MTN 96, the MTN 91 from Salomon is a friendly and approachable ski. However, with slightly less rocker and a narrower profile than its bigger sibling, it is a bit more optimized for firmer snow and spring conditions while still being fun in powder. Differentiating itself from the competition, the MTN 91 has a friendly and damp flex patte..
Fall
HEAD has historically been an alpine ski company, so it's no surprise that their touring ski lineup has strong downhill chops. What is a surprise is that they've managed to achieve this at weights that make us here at Skimo Co go, "Oh, tell me more!" The HEAD Crux 93 Pro is a versatile ski, made for everything from firm steeps up high, charging through the wide-open apron, to enjoy..
Fall
As the middle width in the Kastle touring ski stable, the TX94 is designed to be a do-it-all workhorse. At the figurative heart and literal tip of the TX94 is the distinct Hollowtech Evo insert, which reduces weight, absorbs vibration from terrible snow, and results in a high level of stability relative to its athletic weight. Found in virtually all skis Kastle has produced in rece..
Fall
If you've spent much time on the skin track recently, you've likely seen a pair (or two) of these bright red skis making their way uphill. And for good reason -- with the Camox Freebird, Black Crows created an icon of a touring ski that can serve as an all-around touring ski for nearly any skier in any environment. Equally happy billy-goating around steep terrain or making playful ..
Fall
With the Ridge 95, Dynafit set out to create a high-performance, easy-to-use ski for the discerning, speed-oriented backcountry skier. The goal was to make a ski that wasn't too light to ski aggressively on, but efficient enough for whatever long missions you might have in mind. Inspired by Dynafit's speed touring and racing heritage, it features the usual tip notch for quick trans..
Fall
With a heritage spanning over 100 years, Kastle has learned a thing or two when designing high-performance skis. With the TX 99, this technological prowess is on display. If you've seen Kastle skis in the wild, the first thing that likely would have drawn your attention is the colored and slightly transparent insert at the tip, which Kastle dubs "Hollowtech." This magical little in..
Fall
Replacing the M-Tour 99, the M-Tour 100 from Dynastar sports a revised shape that provides greater versatility across a wide array of conditions. The Hybrid Core 2.0 Light combines Poplar and PU materials to create a damp, durable, and stable ride. The progressive rocker in the tip and tail allows the ski to float in deeper snow while providing a maneuverable and intuitive feel in ..
Fall
While the Backland 98 will forever live on in our collective memories as a wonderful and versatile ski, the time has come for an even more wonderful and versatile ski to take its place, the Backland FR 101. With a few more millimeters of girth and the beveled HRZN Tech 3D Tip, the Backland FR 101 handles powder even better than the original. In addition to increased flotation, the ..
Fall
Taking the reigns from the ever-popular Backland 100, the Backland FR 102 from Atomic ushers in a new era for Atomic's flagship do-it-all ski. With a revamped construction, the Backland FR 102 features more wood with less fiberglass, metal, and resin, reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining a damp feel. Increasing the amount of rocker to 35% compared to 30% in years past, m..
Fall
Applying the concept of the Neve 93 to a wider design aimed at soft snow exploits, Ski Trab has created an exquisitely constructed freeride weapon that combines high-speed stability with playful maneuverability. With a low camber, an extended tip and tail rocker, a long sidecut, and a progressive mount point, the Neve 104 will pivot, slash, and straight-line down the gnarliest line..
Fall
Is your pragmatic side trying to convince you that today is a day for the svelte and narrow skis? Or, is your optimistic side trying to convince you that yesterday's 3 inches will actually feel more like 8, and therefore, wider skis are required? Not a huge fan of analysis paralysis, HEAD makes the decision easy with the Crux 105 Pro. Being plenty wide enough, the Crux 105 Pro can ..
Fall
Pivoty, slashy, and slarvy. These are all apt descriptors of the Tigard 107 from Dynafit. Building perhaps their most progressive and modern ski to date, Dynafit wanted the Tigard 107 to excel in powder while providing a damp ride for less-than-ideal snow, all while remaining nimble to ski in tight places with confidence. The generous rocker in the tip and tail provides excellent f..
Fall
As the replacement to the ever-popular Backland 107 W, the Backland FR 108 W from Atomic keeps the same hard skiing performance people have come to enjoy but with a more playful twist. Featuring deeper rocker lines than its forbear, the Backland FR 108 easily slashes through powder and allows you to shut things down on a moment's notice, which is sure to come in handy during "brush..
Fall
Following in the footsteps of the Backland 107, the Backland FR 109 from Atomic is designed for powder, yet, it has notable differences from its predecessor. While the Backland 107 had a distinctly "locked in" personality, the deep rocker lines and shape of the FR 109 give it a more playful and maneuverable personality. Ever conscious of the climate problems we are facing, Atomic u..
Fall
The topsheet of the La Sportiva Sorriso features surfers slashing and riding through big waves, and that's just the feeling this ski is designed to give you on snow. With an almost fully rockered shape ("almost-not-there-camber", as La Sportiva says), long turn radius, and remarkable compliance, the Sorriso can be made to turn in any direction on a dime. A super soft flex makes the..
Fall
Well.....it's finally happened. A ski has landed here at Skimo Co that breaks the 2000g glass ceiling in its longest length. The ski in question is the Draco Freebird from Black Crows, which can be seen taking flight under the couloir straight-lining madman himself, Nikolai Schirmer. Before saying what the ski is, let's first say what the ski isn't. The Draco Freebird is not light...
Fall
Whether used for training, demanding traverses, or far-out ski mountaineering objectives, the Stratos Hybrid from La Sportiva is up for the task. Borrowing the cuff from the ultra-high-end Stratos VI, the Stratos Hybrid sports an easy-to-use ski/walk mechanism that allows for refreshingly quick transitions and increased reliability when compared to La Sportiva legacy systems. Bushi..
Fall
As many are figuring out, light and skiable is a winning combination. With the Kilo, La Sportiva has created a boot for the ski mountaineer who desires to access far-out lines while still having enough boot to confidently navigate through whatever conditions present themselves. Being constructed entirely of Grilamid Bio-Based LF Carbon, a light and rigid material, the Kilo has a re..
Fall
While trickle-down economics may not be the most successful strategy for long-term economic success, trickle-down technology is. First introducing the venerable Hoji Lock system in their beefier offerings, Dynafit is now offering this game-changing technology in the women's Ridge boot. The benefit of this technology is twofold: First, it eliminates virtually any cuff play common in..
Fall
Skiing serious lines calls for a stiff upper lip -- or a stiff upper cuff. Regardless of the objective, the Women's HEAD Crux Boot is certainly up to the challenge. With years of experience making boots that have performed at the highest levels, HEAD is quite familiar with the kind of performance skiers expect of their boots. Throughout the Crux, the LYT Dynamic Frame connects the ..
Fall
The HEAD Crux Pro Boot might be having a bit of an identity crisis. Two buckles and a power strap on a stiff and supportive upper cuff are reminiscent of an alpine boot, but the tongueless construction and wave closure on the lower sit firmly in highly efficient touring boot territory. Drawing inspiration from various corners of the ski boot world, it's a very intentional design ch..
Fall
If you've read any of our other Ridge boot descriptions, you know by now that we are quite excited about this platform. Not only does it walk exceedingly well, it skis exceptionally well, boasting a high performance-to-weight ratio. Unlike its smaller sister, the women's Ridge Pro boot uses carbon fiber in the cuff instead of fiberglass, reducing weight and increasing stiffness. As..
Fall
Designed by Hoji himself, the Ridge Pro boot is intended for the hardest chargers who want a boot with the best possible touring mannerisms. Because of its intended audience, the Ridge Pro is, quite stiff. While some may enjoy its stiffness, others, such as lighter skiers, may find it a bit too hard to flex. With the Ridge boot, Dynafit has kept the same excellent touring capabilit..
Fall
While its predecessor redefined what was possible with a 4 buckle touring boot, the latest generation of the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro aims to improve what was already an extremely impressive ratio of performance to weight. An overlapping shell design with Power Frame construction borrowed from Tecnica's lighter Zero G Peak series results in more direct lateral power transmission and..
Fall
The women's Zero G Pro Tour from Tecnica is for the badass ladies looking to cruise the skin track and crush descents, far from the trailhead. Unlike the older Scout, the range of motion has been increased to 60°, mostly in the forward plane, which allows easier articulation on steep skin tracks. Borrowing the Power Frame construction from the Zero G Peak series, Tecnica was able t..
Fall
Last year, SCARPA sent shockwaves through the free-touring world with the 4-Quattro XT, their collaboration with Bode Miller, which offered alpine-like performance in an exceedingly tourable platform. With a year of feedback under their belts, SCARPA is back at it with the Quattro Pro, which features reinforced parts for even better skiing and a more durable platform.
Compared t..
Fall
At long last, after years of whispers and rumors, SCARPA has unveiled the all-new TX Pro 2.0 Telemark Boot - and the wait was not in vain. Unlike its bulky forbear, the weight of the TX Pro 2.0 has been reduced such that it is comparable to modern freeride AT boots on the scale, helping your tired legs on an epic powder date. More impressively (and importantly), the TX Pro 2.0 boas..
Fall
Rejoice, for the revolution is upon us! After an inexpressible amount of anticipation, the redesigned SCARPA TX Pro 2.0 Women’s Telemark Boot has arrived! The first-ever telemark boot to match modern AT boots in terms of weight and cuff articulation, this boot is truly something to behold. The 62-degree range of motion is more than triple that of the previous TX Pro and the weight ..
Fall
The Plum World Cup binding is a premier race offering purposefully crafted to take you from the starting line to atop the winner's podium. Meeting all ISMF regulations, Plum designed a simple yet ingenious race brake that attaches in lieu of a crampon slot and is easily taken off if not required. Unlike most other race bindings, the brake is held up by the toe of the boot, meaning ..
Fall
The Plum Race 130 joins Plum's race-binding lineup as the big brother binding to the Race 120. In fact, the Race 130 is just a 120 with the titanium u-spring swapped out for a steel one. While this increases the weight by about 10 grams, it stiffens up the vertical release a smidge and allows Plum to offer the Race 130 at a lower price point. The Race 130 can be equipped with a cra..
Fall
In 1928, just outside Vienna, Austria, the company that would become Tyrolia introduced a touring binding onto the market: the original Almonte. It's been long enough that Tyrolia decided to forego a "Version 2" naming scheme here, concluding that it's unlikely these two products will be confused. A rare nod to the consumer intellect that we appreciate. Technology has come a long w..
Fall
With the V-Crest 10 LT, ATK has made an excellent entry-level binding that finds a compelling middle ground between price and performance. Like their other offerings, ATK includes the Elastic Response System, allowing the ski to flex naturally for consistent performance, both from the ski and binding. The Cam Release System helps minimize boot torsion for excellent power transfer w..
Fall
Proudly embracing its minimalism, the Seven Summits binding from Dynafit aims to provide skiers with a robust option that forgoes any unnecessary bells and whistles, at a competitive price. With a fully adjustable vertical and lateral release between 4-10, you get to dictate your preferred release value instead of being forced into a particular value by a u-spring. The toe piece ha..
Fall
Keep up with AT companions easily, dominate rolling terrain, customize your binding performance, and execute delicious telemark turns like never before with the Voile TTS Transit Telemark Binding. With cables that can be easily removed for climbing, the Voile TTS can weigh as little as 250 grams on the uphill, placing it on par with lean AT bindings. You can also leave the cables a..
Fall
With its reasonable weight, full-featured personality, and competitive cost, the Crest series from ATK has been a smart choice for many getting into backcountry skiing. Further distilled and refined, ATK has made thoughtful updates and improvements to the Crest 10 that build upon this already-proven platform. Compared to its predecessor, the updated Crest binding utilizes two heel ..
Fall
Designed with the same DNA as the now ubiquitous and revered Raider line, the Raider 10 SL from ATK is a light(er) fully featured binding that isn't afraid of rowdy descents. Similar to the Raider models, the SL features a hard-charging heel piece, complete with elastic travel, two magnetic heel risers, and an ability to independently adjust vertical and lateral release values, whi..
Fall
Are you looking for a simple, durable, all-around ski touring binding? Do you want brakes, magnetic risers, elastic heel travel, and a fully adjustable release without unnecessary weight? Would you like to adorn your skis with hints of polished aluminum, steel, and fine Italian metallurgy?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, the RT 11 Evo may be for you. This bind..
Fall
While the regular Raider bindings were already known for having a high performance-to-weight ratio, the Raider SL 12 from ATK truly exemplifies this principle. Utilizing the same tried and true heel piece of the Raider line, the Raider SL 12 has all the features of a modern fully featured binding: Elastic travel, two heel risers thoughtfully secured using magnets, adjustable releas..
Fall
With the many challenges inherent in ski touring, the last thing you want your kid to face is a hard-to-use binding, especially when it's cold, the snow is flying, and they're running on a few hours of sleep. Purposely made for children, the Dynafit Youngstar binding promises ease of use, safety, and performance. Unlike their previous junior binding, Dynafit has taken great care to..
Fall
As we've journeyed away from the archaic days when frame bindings reigned supreme, many have found that light doesn't necessarily equate to total compromise. For those who count grams, value durability, and enjoy a fully featured binding, the Raider SL 14 from ATK may fit the bill. Built with the same heel piece as many others in the iconic Raider series, you'll be treated to elast..
Fall
Featuring several improvements over the first Shift, the Atomic Shift2 MN 10 binding from Atomic is a welcome upgrade. The toe wings and lever have been reinforced with more material to increase durability, and the brake lever has been similarly strengthened to better keep the brakes locked up for climbing. The new AFD with an aluminum Power Block sees upgrades in micro-adjustabili..
Fall
Despite the appearance of the name, the Salomon Shift2 is no binding for squares. With an all-in-one design, the Shift2 (read: Shift Two) allows transitions without having to take parts on and off of your bindings, allowing you to quickly switch your pin binding into a fully-fledged alpine binding without juggling around extra toe pieces. This establishes the Shift2 as the quintess..
Fall
If you aren't in the mood to trim climbing skins and just purchased a pair of Kastle skis, you're in the right place. Using the same platform as the Tour Explore skins from Pomoca, you'll be treated to a durable and packable skin made of 70% mohair and 30% nylon. Optimized for grip, these skins will be ideal companions for the days when the skin track is too slippery for its own go..
Fall
Utilizing the same magical formula as the Kohla Vertical Mixmohair, the Dynastar Precut Skins are made to excel in all backcountry conditions. Employing the smartly formulated Smart Glue, you'll be treated to reliable adhesion in Montana winters and during the annual spring corn harvest alike. Best of all, the Smart Glue is easy to manipulate and pull apart, even in brutally cold t..
Fall
Perfectly cut to match the sidecut of your Black Crows touring ski, the Pilus Super Light Skins from Black Crows offer a great combination of glide and grip for all your mountain adventures. A thin waterproof membrane in the skin protects the glue and keeps it sticky for multiple laps, all day long. The plush is a durable mohair/nylon blend that is suitable for all conditions, and ..
Fall
Based on the Kohla Vertical Mixmohair, the HEAD Precut Skins are made for day-in / day-out use. Using the Smart Glue adhesive, you'll be greeted with reliable adhesion whether you are touring in brutally cold Montana winters or getting some spring laps in the PNW. Unlike other glues, the Smart Glue is easy to handle and pull apart, even in cold temperatures. The 65% mohair and 35% ..
Fall
