Will this revolutionize the backcountry skiing world? When attached to your skis, climbing in the backcountry becomes a dream come true, and your speed skyrockets. What is the world's first electrically assisted ski mountaineering device, "E-SKIMO," developed in Switzerland?
What is "E-SKIMO"?
In January 2025, a Swiss company called E-Outdoor announced the E-SKIMO, the world's first ski that electrically assists you when climbing. From a distance, it looks like a short twin-tip ski, but on closer inspection, you can see that the toe and heel pieces of the bindings have protruding caterpillar-like structures, or conveyor belt-like structures. It appears that these are electrically powered to assist you in moving up and down snowy slopes
Looking back, many people were probably surprised when electric assist technology was introduced to bicycles and e-bikes appeared. The idea for "E-SKIMO" apparently came from e-bikes. It's certainly easy to imagine how amazing it would be if that were mounted on skis. However, just hearing about it makes it hard to imagine how this device works, but it seems true that wearing it will dramatically ease the climb of snowy mountains
The purpose of developing the "E-SKIMO," which is said to be "the world's first electrically assisted ski mountaineering device," is to make ski mountaineering (mountain skiing) easier and create an environment where more people can enjoy mountainous areas
The developer, E-Outdoor, has launched E-SKIMO with the mission of making ski mountaineering an easier, more exciting, and more inclusive sport. However, E-SKIMO is still in its infancy
In fact, it was just unveiled for the first time at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), one of the world's largest technology trade fairs held every January in Las Vegas, USA, from January 7th to 10th, 2025
According to E-SKIMO's Instagram, the event was well received
E-SKIMO's Structure and Features
So what exactly is "E-SKIMO"? Here's how this device helps you climb hills
Equipped with cutting-edge sensors and a 6-axis inertial platform, the motor intuitively and automatically activates when climbing hills, providing boost when needed and supporting the climb. It's hard to visualize what it's like, so let's take a look at the video of the actual vehicle on the official website
I see, the touring skis are equipped with Pintech bindings, which allow the heel to move up and down freely when climbing, allowing for efficient walking. This is assisted by an electric motor, so it feels like you're being pulled by electric power, allowing you to climb easily and quickly, even on steep slopes.
The advanced track system allows for smooth climbing, and the battery pack is lightweight and can be used for long periods of time. You won't have to worry about running out of charge even if you enjoy touring in the backcountry all day.
What about when you're skiing? It won't be the same as regular skis, but "when you're descending, it analyzes acceleration and slope data to assist you in your gliding." Again, it's a bit unknown what kind of gliding is possible without actually riding it
What will change? What will it do?
These numbers show that "E-SKIMO" may revolutionize climbing
● Up to 80% faster climbing speed:
You can move up to 80% faster in one hour of climbing (approximately 700m elevation gain, 4.7km/h, intermediate difficulty according to Swiss standards).
● Four times higher elevation gain capacity:
While conventional skis allow you to climb approximately 150m in an hour, E-SKIMO allows you to climb four times as much, at 700m.
● Reduced muscle strain:
Energy consumption during each step is reduced by approximately 30% (based on biomechanics research on ski mountaineering).
Future possibilities
E-SKIMO has partnered with major global ski brands and will likely continue to pursue versatility in the future. It has also announced a partnership with the TECNICA Group. It has not yet been revealed what kind of actions this will actually result in, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on the future direction of E-SKIMO
Information
E-Outdoor
https://e-skimo.swiss/