What To Look For
Alpine touring skis are designed to allow you to ski in the backcountry. The best alpine touring skis balance downhill performance with ease of climbing uphill. Since you use alpine touring skis with climbing skins to ascend peaks to get your turns in, it's best to get a lighter pair of skis. Heavier skis like those used in downhill ski resorts are going to be too tiring for alpine touring setups.
Common Pitfalls
Novices to alpine touring gear often think that sidecut, and having a ski that turns easily, is most important. Experts however, prefer skis with a longer turning radius because the ski has less sidecut and more edge in contact with the snow. When you are skiing steep lines in the backcountry, especially if you are ski mountaineering, a ski that can hold an edge can be important for safe descents of radical lines. Look for skis with a turning radius over 20 meters.
Where To Buy
Alpine touring skis are usually sold at mountaineering and specialty ski shops. You can also buy them online from mountaineering stores such as REI, EMS, and Backcountry.com
Cost
Alpine touring skis typically cost between $600 and $1,400 (2010 prices).
Comparison Shopping
When it comes to a lightweight performance ski, the DPS Wailer ($1,199-$1,399, 2010 prices), is made with a lightweight wood core and carbon laminates, keeping the weight to around 7 pounds. The Wailer can be purchased in different widths between 95 and 110mm at the waist. Other popular AT skis include the Icelantic Pilgrim ($600) Black Diamond Verdict ($600) and Rossignol S3 Freeride ($700). Those looking for specialized mountaineering performance might choose the Dynafit Mustagh ATA Superlight ($530) or Ski Trab Stelvio Freeride ($650).
Insider Tips
Other features that come in useful are holes in the tips of the skis, which can be used to tie the skis together to form a sled in the event of an emergency, and a notch in the tail of the ski to accommodate a climbing skin attachment.
Width and length come down to personal preference. If you are skiing in the winter, a wider ski will help in deep powder. If spring corn is what you like to ski, a narrower ski will both save weight and be more maneuverable in tight trees and chutes.
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