Gear for your first backcountry adventure this winter! | Gear setup recommended by a pro guide for BC beginners in 2023-2024

Backcountry skiing involves long walks, climbs, and skiing on untouched, natural slopes. For those who have never been there, it's an unknown world, and there are many things you don't know, even when it comes to equipment. So, we asked professional guides who have escorted many beginners on backcountry tours to share their recommended gear setup for backcountry beginners

*The term "backcountry (BC) beginner" here refers to a beginner with little or no BC experience, but the skiing technique on the slopes is assumed to be "a skier at a level where they can somehow control their skis and descend any slope."

Kazuya Igarashi | Kagura Powder Station

A set of skis that are easy to handle even in powder and boots that are light and easy to hike with

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI:K2｜MINDBENDE 99Ti
BINDINGS: MARKER｜KINGPIN10
BOOTS:K2｜MINDBENDE 120

This setup features skis that are easy to maneuver in powder, lightweight bindings, and lightweight boots that are easy to hike with. The MINDBENDE 99Ti skis are not too thick and provide buoyancy in powder. The light swing weight makes it easy to maneuver side to side, even in powder.
The KINGPIN10 is highly reliable and reduces overall weight underfoot. The heel hold provides a secure and stable feel when skiing.

The MINDBENDER120 boots are easy to put on and take off, even in low temperatures. They are extremely light at 1675g, reducing fatigue when hiking. The wide 50-degree range of motion allows for larger steps when hiking. Switching to alpine skiing is also easy with a single touch. The 120 flex provides a supple yet reassuring height and stability when skiing.

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IDEA｜ Takahiro Ishizawa

This setup is perfect for BC beginners!

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

Skis: K2 | Way Back 106 (179cm)
Bindings: 22 Design | Accelerator
Boots: Scott | Voodoo
Poles: K2 | Dispatch 120

For beginners, the K2 Wayback, Scoot Voodoo, and Accel are the best. Lightweight, flexible, and easy to handle, the Wayback is an excellent board that can be used by beginners to advanced riders of all levels. Bindings depend on your preference, but we recommend the cable-type Accel and NTN Outlaw

Vertical Land ｜ Yuki Ito

Beginners to BC should lighten their gear to reduce the disadvantage to others

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

Ski: FACTION | La Machine 3 Mega
Bindings: G3 | ion12
Boots: SCARPA | Maestrale

For beginners to backcountry skiing who are nervous about climbing (those with little mountaineering experience or lack of stamina), we recommend lightweight gear. Whether wearing skis or carrying them, your body will be subjected to unusual strain. Lightweight gear will reduce your disadvantage compared to others.
For those who are nervous about skiing, skis that are easy to maneuver in any snow condition and terrain are recommended. Lightweight skis with a center length of about 100-110cm, a length roughly equivalent to your height, and a slightly softer tail make them relatively easy to maneuver in bad snow like monaka snow, and also allow for great powder fun. With

that in mind, we recommend the following setup:
Ski: 109cm center width, allowing for a floating feeling in powder while still providing solid edging. Lightweight with just the right amount of tension, they're easy to handle and perfectly designed for enjoying backcountry skiing like on the slopes.
Binding: Not only are they lightweight, but they're also simple and trouble-free.
Boots: They allow a wide ankle range of motion, making climbing easier overall, even on steep slopes, which are often difficult for backcountry skiing beginners.

We occasionally see beginners who are overwhelmed by the hassle of over-spec gear and lose the ability to enjoy the backcountry itself. Start with easy-to-use gear that suits your level and enjoy your day in the mountains.

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Kuroda Mountain Guide Office | Kuroda Makoto

First, set up a stable and controllable setup

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

Ski: VÖLKL | BLAZE106
Bindings: G3 | ion 10
Boots: SCARPA | Maestrale

VÖLKL's BLAZE10 has a nice, loose feel, and even if you're positioned far back, it doesn't suddenly slide, allowing you to ski with confidence even in bad snow. Even in good snow, boards that are easy to control allow you to ski boldly and have more fun.

The BLAZE106 is reasonably light and sturdy, making it easy to handle in a variety of conditions. It's important to be able to break through deep snow and descend hard, steep slopes.

Bindings should be comfortable, easy to walk in, and reasonably lightweight. I recommend the G3 icon, having used it in many areas for several years and feeling confident. Since it's rare for beginners to notice the difference in binding performance in powder, I recommend choosing bindings with good walking performance for climbing, which is difficult for beginner BCs. When it comes to bindings, ease of use is key. To be honest, even if a design that holds the heel in place is designed, I'm not skilled enough to notice the difference in powder, so a pin-type binding is sufficient and reduces weight and trouble.

The same goes for boots. Since you can't ski without walking, my goal was to wear comfortable boots and stand on the slope without getting tired. Unlike the slopes, there are no patrols to help you, so the first priority was to ski without falling and control my speed about 70% of the time. I might wait until I had gained a bit more experience before buying stiffer boots like those for racing. Maybe the boots could have been a little softer? Since I'm not racing, they don't need to be that stiff. The hinge is low, so they work well in walking mode and don't get blisters. I bought them half a size larger than the ones I use on the slopes. It's cold and not fun. Once you get used to them, bigger boots are no problem.

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CIRCLE GAME guide service | Shohei Sasaki

I don't want to compromise on the glide, but I want it to be as light as possible

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI: Vector Glide | nadurra185
BINDINGS: Marker | KINGPIN m-werks12
BOOTS: SALOMON | SHIFT PRO 110

As for the important points and points to keep in mind when choosing gear for beginners to backcountry skiing, while online shopping is convenient, I recommend purchasing in person whenever possible. Ski boots inevitably have to fit your feet, so it's best to try on all the boots the store clerk recommends and choose the one that feels the most comfortable. SALOMON's SHIFT PRO offers an excellent balance of performance and lightness. Its firm grip provides excellent stability at high speeds and on icy snow. I've also never had any issues switching modes, which is a plus. While

each brand and model of skis offers a different feel, your first pair of skis likely won't tell you what kind of skis you like. Therefore, the best choice is to choose the skis that appeal to you most, including design and price, within the 110mm center width range.

The Nadurra is a wide model with a 115mm center width, but its side curve isn't too sharp, providing excellent edge grip and a sense of security, even when ascending or descending on hard snow. I've been using KINGPIN for about five years now, and it's one of my most trusted pieces of gear, with no major issues. If you follow the same rules as other companies' products, such as keeping the toe piece down (sprung compressed) when not wearing boots, and making sure to remove all snow before changing modes, you should be able to significantly reduce the risk of damage.

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BLUECLIFF｜Tomoo Takimoto

Choose boards between 95 and 100mm for versatility. Choose comfortable boots

GEAR Setup

Skis: ZAGSKIS | UBAC95
Bindings: Fritschi | VIPEC EVO12
Boots: Scarpa | Maestrale

Lightweight skis with a rocker shape are recommended. If you choose 95 to 100mm skis, you can handle a certain amount of fresh snow, and in spring skiing you can ski comfortably with light edge grip. FRITSCHI's VIPEC bindings are easy to put on and take off, and they make it easy to switch between walking and skiing. For boots, we recommend the three-piece Maestrale. They offer a good balance of comfort and gliding

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COLOR SPORT CLUB ｜ Tomohiro Sagawa

The first thing you should get is a model with excellent all-around performance

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI:TONES SKI｜HANDS Light taste
BINDINGS:Marker | KINGPIN13
BOOTS:K2｜MINDBENDER110

The perfect match between the Japanese-made TONES SKI and Marker KINGPIN skis ensures reliability through their quality. For your first pair of skis, choose a model with excellent all-around performance. You'll want a model that provides buoyancy for all snow conditions and also offers excellent glide performance on groomed runs. The HANDS Light Taste offers a relatively reliable stiffness with balanced torsion, providing excellent rotation in any situation, making it a recommended choice for beginners to backcountry skiing.


K2's MINDBENDER also boasts a proven track record of quality. Among boots of this type, it offers excellent balance, from comfort from walk mode to ski mode to reliable components. From the feel of putting on the skis to the sensation of your entire foot gripping the snow, you can expect an enhanced skiing experience.

Whether it's skis, bindings, or boots, you want to choose a product that's reliable and will last. This will ensure it remains a companion for years to come.

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JUNRINA mountain service | Jun Nagai

Solid skis for a variety of snow conditions

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI: Vector Glide | Polarve Light
BINDINGS: Marker | KINGPIN 13
BOOTS: ATOMIC | HAWX ULTRA XTD 120 GW

In the backcountry, snow conditions change dramatically due to sunlight, wind, elevation differences between the top and bottom, and temperature, so you often encounter bad snow. To handle a variety of snow conditions, you need a solid pair of skis. Polarve skis offer excellent edge grip for turns, so I highly recommend them

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Infield ｜Toyo Nakano

Recommended setup for those who want to start telemark skiing

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

Skis: Blackdiamond | Heliocarbon 95
Bindings: 22Designs | Outlaw X
Boots: Scarpa | TX Pro

We'll introduce a setup that's easy to use even for beginner telemark skiers. With a center width of 95mm, the skis are versatile enough to be used on the slopes and in the backcountry, so they're recommended for those who want to practice their skiing skills on the slopes while also exploring the backcountry. The Outlaw X bindings are easy to put on and take off, even for those new to telemark skiing, and they offer a seamless transition from cable bindings to NTN bindings. They're also a great first set, and a great choice for those who want to use them in any situation

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RIKI JAPOW GUIDE｜Riki Nakajima

A setup that is light, easy to operate, and has excellent sliding sensitivity

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI:ROSSIGNOL｜ESCAPER97 NANO
BINDINGS:DYNAFIT｜ST Rotarion
BOOTS:ROSSIGNOL｜All TRACK110

The skis are about the same length as your height and about 100cm wide. The ESCAPER97 NANO (Rossignol) are light and easy to use without sacrificing maneuverability. Personally, I recommend the TLT bindings, but the ST Rotarion (Dynafit) are more secure and easy to use.

Lighter boots are recommended for those with less stamina. My top pick is the All TRACK110 (Rossignol). The wide last makes them comfortable and easy to wear for long periods of time. They offer lightness while still providing excellent sliding feel.

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Terui Daichi

A recommended setup for your first lens, with a center of 100mm

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI:ATOMIC｜BACKLAND100
BINDINGS:ATOMIC｜SHIFT
BOOTS:ATOMIC｜HAWX URTLA XTD110

We recommend skis with a center of 100mm as your first pair, as they can be used from the beginning of the season through the high powder season and spring season. Even if you purchase your second or third pair of skis, 100mm skis will be useful as all-rounders.

The bindings are SHIFT., and when hiking, the bindings don't touch your feet like tech bindings, so they feel lighter, and the foothold for walking is closer to your toes, making them easier. When skiing, the bindings are step-in, so there's forward pressure, which provides excellent tracking and safety, and we recommend them.

Hawks boots are not only light, but also have thick inner boots and a great fit. If you're only considering powder, you don't need a very stiff flex at first.

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LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE | Furuse Kazuya

First of all, I want you to have a well-balanced set that is light and well-rounded

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

SKI: VÖLKL | BLAZE106
BINDINGS: MARKER | KINGPIN 10
BOOTS: DALBELLO | CABRIO LV FREE 120

Will you be using the same skis for both on-piste and backcountry skiing? Will you use the same skis for different purposes, and will you travel by car or train? It's hard to say what I recommend, as it depends on your current setup, but if you're going to be using backcountry skis primarily, I recommend this setup. I also recommend other boots that fit your feet, but the important thing is to stick to the concept of skis, bindings, and boots. Please

don't get me wrong: you can enjoy backcountry skiing even without backcountry gear. Gear specifically designed for backcountry skiing makes it easier and more enjoyable, though. However, rather than buying the gear, it's more important to actually try backcountry skiing. At LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE, we offer rentals of the above sets, including skins, as well as rental sets with touring bindings that can be used with your current boots, so please take advantage of these.

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KinTouN Backcountry Guide | Kenichi Minegishi

If you are a beginner, choose a BC that is easy to handle and slide easily

Gear Setup Recommended for Beginner BC Skiers

Skis: FOON SKIS | TYFOON 177
; Bindings: FRITSCHI | Tecton 13
; Boots: SCARPA | Quattro SL

For skis, we recommend a model with a waist of about 105-110mm, which is neither too wide nor too narrow, not too long, and a slightly softer flex. For FOON SKIS, we recommend the TYFOON 177. For boots, SCARPA Quattro SL is soft, making it easy to walk in and provides a firm hold when skiing, making it easy to ski. For bindings, we recommend FRITSCHI Tekton, as they last a long time