Use this gear for your first backcountry trip this winter! ｜'23-24 Gear setup recommended by professional guides for BC beginners

Backcountry with long walks, climbs and gliding on pristine slopes. For those who have never been there, it is an unknown world, and there are many things that they do not know what to do with even a single tool. So, let's ask professional guides who have escorted many beginners on backcountry tours to tell us about their recommended gear setups for backcountry beginners.

*The term ``BC (backcountry) beginners'' here refers to beginners who have little or no experience with BC, but skiing techniques on the slopes are defined as ``beginners who can manage to control the board and get off on any slope by themselves.'' This course assumes that you are a skilled skier.

Kazuya Igarashi ｜Kagura Powder Station

Set up skis that are easy to operate even in powder and boots that are light and easy to hike

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

It is a setup with light bindings on a board that is easy to operate even in powder, and boots that are light and easy to hike.
The MINDBENDE 99Ti skis are not too fat and are buoyant in powder. The swing weight is also light, and it is easy to operate left and right even in powder. The KINGPIN10 is also highly reliable and reduces the overall weight underfoot.

There is a sense of security and stability of the heel hold at the time of gliding. The MINDBENDER120 boots are easy to put on and take off even at low temperatures. The weight is also very light at 1675g, which reduces fatigue during hiking. The range of motion is as wide as 50 degrees back and forth, allowing you to take a big step when hiking. In addition, it is easy to switch to alpine gliding with one touch. Flex 120 is also the hardness when gliding, giving you a supple yet secure altitude and stability.

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IDEA｜ Takahiro Ishizawa

This setup is perfect for BC beginners!

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

SKI: K2 | WAY BACK 106 (179cm)
BINDINGS: 22DESIGN | Axel
BOOTS: SCOTT | VOODOO
POLE: K2 | DISPATCH 120

The beginners are K2WAYBACK & SCOOT VOODOO & Axel. Light, soft, and easy to operate, WAY BACK is an excellent board that can be skated to suit all levels, from beginners to advanced skiers. The binding depends on your preference, but we recommend the cable type "Accel" and the NTN "Outlaw".

Vertical Land ｜ Yuki Ito

Beginners of BC should lighten their gear to reduce their handicap with those around them.

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

SKI:FACTION｜La Machine 3 Mega
BINDINGS:G3｜ion12
BOOTS:SCARPA｜Maestrale

If you are a BC beginner and are unsure about climbing (you have little mountain climbing experience or lack of physical strength), we recommend lightweight gear.
Whether you're wearing skis or carrying them, your body will be under stress that you don't usually experience. Lighten your gear to reduce your handicap with those around you. If you are worried about slipping, I recommend skis that are easy to maneuver in any snow quality or terrain.

If it is light, with a center of about 100-110 cm, and the length is about your height, and the tail is a little soft, it will be relatively easy to maneuver even in bad snow such as Monaca snow, and you can enjoy powder perfectly. With that in mind, the setup I'd like to introduce is...
SKI: 109cm center, thick enough to feel the floating feeling of powder while also providing solid edging.
It's light and has just the right amount of tension, making it easy to handle, and it's designed to be just right for having fun on BC like on the slopes. Binding: Of course it is lightweight, but it is also simple and has few problems.
Boots: The ankle has a wide range of motion, making it easier to climb in general, including on steep slopes, which beginners often struggle with.

Sometimes I see beginners who are at the mercy of over-spec gear and are unable to enjoy the backcountry itself. First, enjoy your day in the mountains with easy-to-use gear that matches your level.

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Kuroda Mountain Guide Office | Makoto Kuroda

First of all, create a setup that you can control so that you don't fall down.

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

SKI: VÖLKL | BLAZE106
BINDINGS: G3 | ion 10
BOOTS: SCARPA | Maestrale

VÖLKL's BLAZE10 is loose in a good way, and even if you're in the back position, it doesn't run suddenly, so you can ski with confidence even on bad snow.

Even in good snow, a board that is easier to operate will allow you to ski with more control and more fun. BLAZE106 is moderately light and moderately sturdy, making it easy to handle a variety of situations.

It is important to be able to race through deep snow and descend properly even on hard, steep slopes. Bindings are easy to wear, easy to walk in, and reasonably lightweight.

I recommend the G3 icon because it has been used in many areas for several years and has been used with confidence. There are very few beginners who can tell the difference in the performance of bindings in powder, so I think it's a good idea to choose one that has high walking performance for climbing, which is difficult for BC beginners. The binding focuses on operability. To be honest, I'm not good enough to notice the difference in powder even with a heel-holding structure, so I think the pin type is sufficient and is good because it reduces weight and trouble. The same goes for boots. You can't slide without walking, so the goal is to wear comfortable boots and get to the top of the slope without getting tired. Unlike the ski slopes, there are no patrols to help you, so it's important to ski without falling and control your speed at about 70%. It might be a good idea to get some more experience before wearing hard boots like laces. Maybe the boots could have been softer? I'm not going to be wearing laces, so they don't have to be that hard. Since the hinge is located low, it works well in walking mode and prevents your shoes from getting stiff. I bought it half a size larger than the one I use on the slopes. When it's cold, I get cold and it's not fun. Once you get used to it, larger boots are fine.

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CIRCLE GAME guide service ｜Shohei Sasaki

A selfish setup that doesn't want to compromise on sliding, but wants to be as light as possible

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

Things to keep in mind when choosing gear for BC beginners: First, although online shopping is convenient, I recommend purchasing at a ski shop whenever possible.

When it comes to ski boots, you'll inevitably end up with one that doesn't fit your feet properly, so I think it's a good idea to try on all the boots the store staff has selected for you and choose the one that fits you best. SALOMON's SHIFT PRO has a very good balance between gliding performance and lightness. It holds firmly and has a great sense of stability at high speeds and on icy snow conditions. You can also trust that we have never had any trouble switching modes. Of course, each brand and model of ski has a different sliding feel, but if you are using one for the first time, you may not know what kind of ski you prefer, so if the center width is around 110 mm, then the design and The best choice is the ski that appeals to you the most, including the price.

The nadurra is a wide model with a center width of 115mm, but the side curves of the ski are not too harsh, so the edge grip is firm and gives you a sense of security even when climbing or downhill on hard snow. I've been using KINGPIN for about 5 years now, and it's one of the gears I trust with no major problems. When you are not wearing boots, you must keep the toe piece down (the spring is compressed), and make sure to remove snow before changing modes, which are common to other companies' products. This should greatly reduce the risk of damage.

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BLUECLIFF | Michio Takimoto

If you choose a plate of 95 to 100 mm, it will be highly versatile.・Boots should be comfortable.

GEAR Set Up

SKI: ZAGSKIS | UBAC95
BINDINGS: FRITSCHI | VIPEC EVO12
BOOTS: SCARPA | Maestrale

Lightweight skis with a rocker shape are recommended. If you choose between 95 and 100 mm, you can handle even a certain amount of fresh snow, and you can ski comfortably in spring with light edge grip. FRITSCHI's VIPEC is a good choice as the bindings are easy to put on and take off, making it easy to switch between walking and sliding. The boots are 3-piece Maestrale. Recommended as it has a good balance of comfort and glide.

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COLOR SPORT CLUB ｜ Tomohiro Sagawa

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

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

Nice matching of domestic skis TONES SKI and Marker KINGPIN ensures reliability due to their quality.


For your first pair of skis, choose a model with excellent all-round performance. It is suitable for all types of snow, provides buoyancy, and is also required to provide gliding performance on compacted snow slopes. HANDS Light taste is recommended for BC beginners because it has a relatively reliable rigidity and a well-balanced torsion function, and has excellent rotationability in all situations. K2's MINDBENDER is also certified for quality.

Among these types of boots, they are very well balanced in terms of comfort from walk mode to ski mode and reliability in each part. From the feeling of putting your foot in to the feeling of gripping the snow surface with the entire sole of your foot, you can expect an even greater feeling of skiing. Whether it's skis, bindings, or boots, you want to choose products that are highly reliable and won't wear out. If you do that, I'm sure you'll continue to be one of my companions for many years to come.

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JUNRINA mountain service ｜ Jun Nagai

Sturdy skis that can handle a variety of snow conditions

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

In the backcountry, the snow quality changes drastically due to the effects of sunlight, wind, elevation difference between the top and bottom, and temperature, and you often encounter bad snow. Sturdy skis are needed to handle the diverse snow conditions. Polarve has very good edge grip in turns, so I recommend it.

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Infield ｜Toyokazu Nakano

Recommended setup for those who want to start telemark skiing

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

SKI: Blackdiamond | Heliocarbon 95
BINDINGS: 22DESIGNS | Outlaw X
BOOTS: SCARPA | TX Pro

We will introduce a setup that is easy to use even for beginners in telemark skiing. The board with a center width of 95mm can be used all-round from the slopes to the backcountry, so it is recommended for those who want to practice their skiing skills on the slopes while also going into the backcountry. Outlaw It is good as a first set or for those who want to use it in any situation.

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RIKI JAPOW GUIDE｜Riki Nakajima

Excellent setup for lightness, operability, and slip sensitivity

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

The length of the ski is about my height and the width is about 100cm.

For bindings, I personally recommend the TLT type, but I think the ST Rotarion (Dynafit) is more secure and easier to use. I think light boots are good for people who don't have physical strength. The best recommendation is All TRACK110 (Rossignol). The last width is wide, so you can wear it for a long time. The slip sensitivity is outstanding while providing lightness.

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Terui Daichi

The setup of the center 100mm level which is recommended as the first one

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

We recommend skis with a center 100mm range as the first ski, and can be used from the beginning of the season to the powder high season and the spring season.

Even if you buy a second or third board, the 100mm board will come in handy as an all-rounder. The binding is SHIFT. Unlike tech bindings, the binding doesn't stick to your feet when hiking, so it feels light, and the fulcrum is close to your toes, so it's easy.

When you slide, it becomes a step-in binding, so it has forward pressure and is highly recommended for tracking and safety. Hawks boots are not only light but also have thick inner boots and a high fit. Considering only the powder, I think that the flex does not have to be so hard at first.

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LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE | Kazuya Furuse

First of all, I want you to have a well-balanced all-around set including lightness

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

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

Can you ski both the slopes and BC with one ski?

What is the ratio in that case and whether you go by car or by train when you go skating? I can't really say what I recommend because it depends on the setup you have, but if you're going to focus on BC...I recommend this setup. When it comes to boots, we recommend other boots that fit your feet, but the important thing is not to completely deviate from the concept of skis, bindings, and boots. Don't get me wrong, you can have fun in BC even if you don't have BC gear. Gear developed specifically for BC is easier and more enjoyable. However, it is more important to actually experience BC skiing than to buy gear. At LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE, you can rent the above sets including stickers, and we also rent sets of tour bindings that can be used with your current boots, so please take advantage of them.

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KinTouN Backcountry Guide｜Kenichi Minegishi

For BC beginners, choose something that is easy to handle and slippery.

GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers

SKI: FOON SKIS | TYFOON 177
BINDINGS: FRITSCHI | Tekton 13
BOOTS: SCARPA | Quattro SL

We recommend skis with a waist size of 105-110 mm, not too thick or thin, and with a slightly soft flex that is not too long. For FOON SKIS, TYFOON 177 is recommended. As for the boots, SCARPA's Quattro SL are soft and easy to walk in, and they hold firmly in place when slipping, so I think they're easy to slip on. For the binding, we recommend FRITSCHI Tekton as it can be used for a long time.