Safety Gear for Backcountry Skiing
Never leave home without your avalanche gear unless you plan on sticking to low angle terrain. Move on rock and ice safely with crampons, ice axes, and harnesses. Don't forget your helmet!
Shop by category
Need help choosing safety gear?
Check out our overview of safety gear to learn which crampons, ice axes, helmets, and avy gear makes the most sense for you.
Safety Gear Buying Guide
The Beal Escaper may challenge your sensibilities. The Escaper is clever design that allows a descending party to rig their rappel as a retrievable single line. Not only can you ditch the weight and bulk of the second rope, but in many cases the Escaper will allow you to carry a shorter, and thus, lighter rope because you will have eliminated the need to double your line through th..
$59.95
It is an undeniable fact that more is just better. More vegetables, mo' money*, more fiber, etc… With the “more is better” attitude in mind, the folks at Mammut designed a ridiculously versatile climbing rope in the Bluesign certified 8.7mm Alpine Sender Dry Rope. This triple-certified rope can act as a single, double, or twin rope providing unmatched all-season capability for wher..
$299.95
To reach those obscure peaks, the distant couloirs, and the reverently spoken-of far away glaciers, you'll need some rad gear. The folks down at Petzl have been churning out high-quality gear since before any of us here at Skimo Co snapped into our first infant-sized spandex race suits, and they have verifiably perfected the art of making truly rad gear. The astonishingly light Pet..
From $299.95
Improving upon the already excellent Rap Line II, the Rap Line Protect Pro Dry Cord is a ski mountaineer's dream, providing a weight-effective solution for tricky rappels. With its aramid and high-strength polyimide construction, weight is reduced over its forebear while cut resistance is increased when the rope is loaded. During day-to-day use, the rope has very low elongation val..
From $324.95
As a general rule, outdoorsy folks love themselves some good accessory cord. It doesn't even matter if they don't have anything they need to tie together-- the mere thought of a nice coil of new cord will entice even the most ascetic. Petzl has been the purveyors of fine ropes and cordage for many years, and their accessory cords have been substituted for shoelaces, keychains, tent..
From $0.36
Versatile, convenient and can save the day! Beal's accessory cord has as many uses as a caterpillar has legs. These smaller diameter options can be used for repairs, for hanging or attaching things to your pack or yourself, or as a small lasso for your cat. If you are looking for larger diameter cord for bigger, badder, better needs you can check out our Petzl Cords that start at 4..
From $0.12
The Laser Speed Light is another beautifully designed piece of kit from Petzl. It’s an ice screw comprised of a durable steel drill, a stout anodized aluminum tube, a compact aluminum hanger, and a foldable lever. The “LSL” represents a minimal weight impact for such a high level of insurance in the mountains. The aluminum tube is anodized for corrosion resistance which increases d..
$104.95
The Aero Lite Ice Screw from Blue Ice is a welcomed addition to any ski mountaineer's rack. Designed in the heart of Chamonix, these screws are some of the lightest ice screws on the market. A 13cm Aero Lite is significantly lighter than its Petzl Laser Speed Light counterpart. How is that possible? Both the shaft and hanger have been forged out of aluminum while the crank implemen..
$84.95
With the Mago 8 from Edelrid, friction reigns supreme, making it the ski mountaineer's dream when using skinnier ropes. With a geometry that provides various points to apply extra friction, you'll be treated to a device that easily handles 6 - 9.5 mm diameter ropes. With an aluminum construction and small pack size, you'll barely notice the Mago 8 dangling from your harness until t..
$35.95
We like simple gear because it’s easy to use with cold hands, in a daze of calorie-debt, or under the light of a headlamp. Petzl’s Reverso is a classic example of a simple piece of equipment that does its job and does it well. Capable of rappelling and belaying, the Reverso weighs only 57g. Deep V-shaped friction channels provide precise braking power on skinnier rope while also qu..
$49.95
If terms like ultra-light, hot-forged, twin, single, and half rope get your wheels turning then we advise you to keep reading. If that did nothing for you then we suggest you look here for more inspiration. Weighing in at a scant 54g, the Petzl Verso is one of the lightest belay/rappel devices ever to grace this ski bum’s eyes. Designed for improved braking on skinnier ropes, the V..
$34.95
With the multitude of options for rappel devices, it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly what makes a device ideal for ski mountaineering purposes. In our eyes, a device has to be lightweight, functional, durable, and handle the skinny ropes often used on ski mountaineering objectives. Edelrid accomplished this with the Nano Jul device. Coming in at minimal weight, the Nano Jul ..
$44.95
Only Petzl could design an even slimmer, simpler yet truly well-crafted and elegant progress capture pulley in the wake of the famed Micro Traxion. Behold the Nano Traxion! This nifty piece of gear was seemingly created with weight-conscious ski mountaineers in mind by shaving off even more precious grams for an already extremely compact device. The Nano Traxion now provides users ..
$129.95
The Petzl Micro Traxion has become an essential piece of hardware for modern crevasse rescue methods. This little device can be expediently used to haul a victim out with less rigging than traditional systems. It accomplishes this via a lightweight, self-contained, progress-capture pulley which obviates the need for more complex pulley/prussic combos. If you fall into a crevasse yo..
$159.95
If you thought you had enough specialized devices to carry on your harness in glacial terrain, think again. As a constituent of the Crevasse Rescue Kit, the Petzl Partner is designed to be lightweight, compact, and extremely efficient, perfect for crevasse rescue scenarios. This efficiency also makes the Petzl Partner worth its weight in gold when hauling large loads, should you fi..
$69.95
The Tibloc is light and compact ascending tool that should always be in your pack if you’re carrying rope. It’s perfect for self-rescue in a crevasse and ascending a rappel that didn’t quite make it to the dance floor. Rather than carrying around a full-size ascender, just hook a carabiner through the hole and the angled directional teeth go to work. The body is made of corrosion r..
$69.95
If you’re looking to ascend a rope, Petzl’s got your back! The Ascension is an aptly named ascender that will quickly have you at the top looking for the fastest way down. With a wide, glove-friendly hand-slot and an ergonomically molded grip, you will not lose your grasp even on the coldest days. The toothed cam provides great grip and is self-cleaning to work with dirty or icy ro..
$99.95
The Edelrid Axiom Slider is a specialized carabiner for rigging and crevasse rescue work. It locks for security using Edelrid's slider system, which operates easily with your thumb or forefinger, even with gloves on. The main attraction of this carabiner is the built-in pulley, which reduces friction when building rescue systems, particularly helpful when extricating someone who ha..
Out Of Stock
The Petzl Attache is a pear-shaped carabiner designed for all things related to belaying. Thanks to the compact design and Screw Lock system, this carabiner is perfect for attaching to a belay device or running a Munter hitch. The H box section helps to reduce weight to a svelte 56 grams while the Keylock system reduces snagging. The lock system has a great visual indicator to tell..
$25.95
The CAMP Nimbus Lock is a compact, HMS-style carabiner that is well-suited for belaying and rappelling. CAMP was able to slim down a traditional pear-shaped carabiner while keeping the carabiner large enough to still fit a clove or munter hitch, providing versatility for all alpine exploits. The nose features CAMP's SphereLock construction, which prevents it from snagging on webbin..
$15.95
The Petzl Sm'D has much in common with its brethren: a modified "D" shape, manually locking gate that snaps closed reliably, and an aluminum body. The special characteristic that sets this carabiner apart is the small hole just below the gate on the body. This hole is specifically designed to tie a keeper sling for your Tibloc or Micro-Traxion, two valuable items that deserve the s..
$25.95
Black Diamond held no punches when cutting weight for their LiteForge Screwgate Carabiner-- they even removed the unnecessary letters in 'light'. Do you know how serious you have to be about 'light is right' to change the spelling of a word? It's been spelled 'light' since Old English was a commonly spoken language. Those folks over at BD really aren't messing around. Of course, li..
$14.95
The weight of a wire-gate with the function of a traditional spring-gate? Sounds great! Petzl’s new Ange L (L for Large) weighs in at a svelte 34g with a seriously impressive 22kn major axis breaking strength. This is primarily due to the H-profile shaping. However, none of this matters if the gear doesn’t function properly. Luckily, the Ange is also incredibly well designed for sm..
$19.95
Much like how a photon is a coalesced packet of magnetic and electric fields, the CAMP Photon Wire Carabiner is a combination of intelligent design, ease of use, and smart construction in a light package. One of the lightest carabiners out there, CAMP achieved the low weight by tweaking the geometry to require less material for the same strength, meaning they don't have to shrink t..
$8.95
You can never have too many Nanos. Especially if you’re the type to litter the mountain with biners. The 22 is a revamped version of the classic CAMP Nano carabiner, which set the standard for lightweight functionality. The new version has a refined gate for easier clipping and a deeper basket for holding the rope position. CAMP also managed to increase the open-gate strength while..
$7.95
The Mini Link is an ultralight stainless steel oval that is good for rigging rappels. The ovals are only 5cm x 2.5cm in size and weigh 21 grams (0.7 ounces) each. Perfect for ensuring a smooth rope pull-down without weighing down your pack with hardware. The Mini Links are made with 5mm thick stainless steel and rated with a 25kN (5620 lbf) breaking strength. Not CE certified...
$9.95
Everybody drops their keys, phone, or wallet on a near-daily basis (if not, you're probably from the same planet as Elon Musk). Usually, the consequences of this mistake go as far as muttering 'silly me' under your breath, bending over to pick up your dropped possessions, and continuing on with your day. However, you'll pay a steeper price (pun intended) than that if you drop your ..
$19.95
It's well known that the Blue Ice Aero Lite ice screws help you levitate up ice climbs, thanks in part to their three-toothed design. However, it's equally well known that those teeth don't play nice with clothes or other soft goods. Should you lose the original protective cap that comes with each screw, grab a few more to keep your clothes intact when they have to share space with..
$17.95
Whether you need to cover a spike, pick, or adze, Blue Ice has you covered. As an added benefit, we happen to quite like the Blue colors.
Spike Protector - Works well for axes that have a dedicated spike, such as the Akila.
Pick/Adze Protector - Best option to cover the Ice axes that have an adze and spike, such as the Hummingbird or Falk.
Pick Protector - Best option for ..
From $6.95
Some advantages of protecting the pointy ends of your ice axe include: 1) Preventing damage to your snow tools, 2) Preventing damage to all other gear within close proximity of your snow tools, and 3) Preventing damage to your body. These thermoplastic doodads come in safety orange, so they can be easily spotted at the bottom of your pack. They also come with nifty closures, so the..
$14.95
Like anything made by Petzl’s master craftspeople, the Trigrest weds functionality with simplicity. Compatible with Petzl Ice Axes such as the Ride, Gully and Sum’tec, the Trigrest is a pommel intended to enhance swing grip, preventing whoopsy-daisies that could see an axe careening out of your hand into a lurking bergschrund. The nylon and steel construction has a super solid feel..
$26.95
When you need a little more "oomph" in the steeps, add some mass to your axe! Specially designed to fit the Sum'Tec, Gully, and most other Petzl ice axes, these pick weights are low profile and have a secure connection. The tapered shape lends itself to slotting nicely into cracks in rock, so they won't be in your way even on moderate mixed climbing terrain. Sold as a 65 gram set f..
$59.95
A simple 4 gram (0.1 ounce) piece of rubber could save a much more expensive pack or jacket. Slide the protector on the spike of your CAMP ice axe for some peace of mind. Verified to fit the CAMP Corsa Nanotech axe...
$5.95
Blue Ice’s Harfang crampons are splendidly lightweight, with a minimum of excess parts. However, should you need a replacement, these parts will do the trick. All parts are sold in pairs and compatible with the Harfang crampon series.
ABS Anti-Balling System - TPU plastic plates secure using Phillips screws to the front, secondary, and rear rails to prevent dangerous snow buildu..
From $17.95
Snap a cable on your Cramp-ins? Manage to lose a hook? Pick up a replacement or backup spare parts for your Dynafit Cramp-Ins here.
Cramp-In Cable - The cable connecting the toe and heel pieces of the Cramp-In crampon. Sold individually.
Cramp-In Hook - The metal hook at the front of the crampon that attaches to the front of the boot. Sold individually.
Cramp-In Adapter fo..
From $19.95
Ortovox turned heads when it released the Diract Voice Beacon… but only when instructed to do so. You see, the Diract Voice Beacon is the first of its kind - a fully functional avalanche transceiver that aids in search mode by giving clear and concise audio directions, in addition to the usual visual display. The Ortovox Diract Voice Lite Rescue Set combines this unique beacon with..
$439.95 $399.95
With the updated Plume TS 2.0 shovel, Arva has yet again given us the gift of heavy-duty performance in a light-duty package. With a square-stock, telescoping 7075 aluminum shaft, the Plume TS 2.0 is built tough for daily use by demanding backcountry users. Arva also increased the effective surface area of this iteration, giving you 550 cm2 of blade surface area to expedite snow re..
$114.95
If the tower of Babel had been buried in an avalanche, Ortovox's fluent-in-9-languages Focus Voice Beacon would have been up to the task of guiding the rescue. After five seasons of abuse, Ortovox is offering an upgrade to the Diract Voice. Voluble as ever, the Focus Voice still provides you with calm, clear, concise audible directions as you navigate a stressful beacon search. But..
$399.95
When it comes to avalanche rescue and safety, time is essential, and gear should reflect that priority. With the Focus Pro Beacon's patented voice navigation, you receive clear verbal instructions during every phase of the search. The Focus Pro also offers greater search strip widths, 80m to other brands and 90m for Ortovox to Ortovox beacons. A secondary 'Avalanche Switching' mode..
$499.95
Ortovox has compiled a compelling avalanche safety kit that offers great value and performance. It includes the patented Focus Voice beacon, offering easy-to-follow voice commands during the search phase and excellent range at 80m. The 240cm probe is quick to deploy, lightweight, and very packable. The Pro Light shovel features a telescoping handle and a hardened aluminum shovel bl..
$529.95
It has been said that under adverse conditions, simplicity is safety. Ortovox's Alu 240 Light Probe is a simple, reliable probe that's quick to deploy, sturdy in the hand, and light enough for long days in the backcountry. Featuring a durable 7075 T6 aluminum shaft and an aramid tensioning system, Ortovox gave this probe exactly what it needed and nothing more. The 11mm shaft split..
$59.95
Classic black bungee cord for replacing worn-out skin tips. 3/16" is slightly thicker than most stock race tip kits for better durability. 1/8" is similar to most existing race tip assemblies. You might also need a touch more length if tying knots as a washer stopper over stock cord.
One foot of cord is about right for one skin tip replacement, giving yourself room to work.
P..
From $0.70
The CAMP Trigger Lock is a great addition to the Corsa Alpine Ice Axe. A simple yet effective pommel, the Trigger Lock provides a better handhold for swinging while also being able to quickly move out of the way for plunging the axe via the quick-adjust lever. Made from nylon composite with steel fastening hardware, it provides a durable rest at only 18 grams. This lightweight addi..
$25.95
Are you weight-conscious, but hoping to avoid the falsetto squeak from a puckering rappel because of a harness that squeezes between the kneeses? The Blue Ice Choucas Pro provides! With just a 50-gram penalty over the thong-like Choucas Light, the Pro version adds a little bit more cush in the tush, balancing durability in a still shockingly trim package (ahem - harness, that is). ..
$129.95
After years in the sport, many of us have a quiver of skis, a quiver of boots, and a quiver of layers to cover every conceivable set of conditions. But do yourself (and your domestic partner) a favor: save the expense and clutter of a crampon quiver, opting instead for the lightweight, technically capable, do-just-about-anything Petzl Leopard Hybrid crampon. Petzl's upgrade to the ..
$239.95
Showing 97 to 144 of 150