What To Look For
Backwoods skiing, also called backcountry touring, is a hybrid of backcountry skiing, which is about pursuing steep lines, and cross-country skiing on open, gently rolling terrain. The skis also are a hybrid. Look for skis that have partial metal edges; if you want more downhill performance, choose full metal edges. The skis should be lighter, generally less than 5 pounds per pair. Waxless skis, which have a fishtail pattern under the boot pocket in the middle of the ski, are easier to use, but waxable skis, which use hard waxes to provide traction for uphill climbs, outperform waxless designs.
Common Pitfalls
Camber is an issue when choosing touring skis. Traditional cross country skis are double-cambered, meaning they have a sharp rise at the middle of the ski. This provides good kick and glide performance. Single-cambered skis are better for downhill performance, because more of the ski is in contact with the snow. The width of the ski depends mainly on the type of terrain you ski. If you ski where the powder is light and deep, skis between 80mm and 90mm provide more float when hiking off trail. On heavier, denser snow, narrower skis provide better maneuverability.
Where To Buy
You can buy backcountry touring skis at some specialty ski retailers as well as at many stores that cater to hiking and general outdoor recreation. Online retailers like Eastern Mountain Sports, REI and Backcountry also stock a good selection of backcountry touring gear.
Cost
Backcountry touring skis range in price between $200 and $400, as of 2010.
Comparison Shopping
Some popular models of backcountry touring skis include the Rossignol BC Positrack, which is $300 to $350 in 2010. Rossignol offers this ski in different widths, from 53mm to 90mm. Other good models include the Alpina X, which is $279 in 2010, and the Madshus Epoch MGV Omni, which is $310 in 2010.
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