What size touring ski should I get?

Touring skis should be 5-15cm less than the skier's height.

Should touring skis be longer or shorter?

In general, we advise our customers to size alpine touring skis a bit shorter than a alpine resort ski. This helps reduce the overall setup weight for uphill travel and allows you to have more maneuverability while skiing in variable backcountry conditions.

How do you know what size backcountry skis to get?

Your height will be the mid-point of a 30-centimeter range of ski lengths. For example, a 5-foot 9-inch person is about 175 centimeters tall. Assuming nothing else, that individual should probably be seeking a ski somewhere in between 160 centimeters and 190 centimeters long.

How do you choose touring ski width?

If you are a classic ski tourer, choose a wide waist width of around 75-90mm. Soft skis with a short sidecut radius of around 15m will be easier to use and less demanding in the descents. Favor more rigid and straighter skis if you ski in the springtime, in couloirs or on steep terrain.

Should I size up or down skis?

The length of your ski depends on your height, weight, skiing style & ability. There isn't an exact formula for determining the right size but in general the proper ski length should be between your chin and the top of your head. For example, a skier that is 6' tall will want to look for a skis between 170 - 190 cm.

What is a good weight for a touring ski?

For everyday ski touring or ski mountaineering, I like to stay above 1400 grams for my skis. For me personally, 1500–1600 grams is a good target for a ski-mountaineering ski while a few hundred grams heavier tends to work well for mid-winter / powder touring.

Can you use freeride skis for touring?

Technically, you can use most any ski for backcountry touring as long as you have boots and bindings that allow you to lift your heels to walk (“skin”) uphill (with the help of climbing skins) and then to lock them back into the bindings for the descent.

Can you use touring skis on groomed trails?

Touring. Touring skis can be used on groomed or ungroomed trails. They are also known as “backcountry” skis because of how rugged they can be. Generally, these skis are longer, light in weight, and a little bit thicker in width to provide more stability to skiers who decide to take on ungroomed trails.

Can you downhill ski with touring skis?

Absolutely! In the last few years a lot has happened and our touring skis work very well on the slopes. Although you should adjust your speed in icy conditions, our touring skis basically react similar to alpine skis. This means that you don't have to adapt off-piste and you can simply keep your usual riding technique.

How do I choose a backcountry ski setup?

How to Choose a Backcountry Ski Setup

1. Think of your backcountry ski setup as an integrated system. ...
2. Pick a mid-weight ski. ...
3. Look for a 95- to 105-mm waist. ...
4. Stick with the length you're used to. ...
5. Consider your goals. ...
6. Pick a ski that's intuitive to use. ...
7. Look for traditional camber and early-rise tip. ...
8. Find boots that fit.

What are touring skis used for?

Known by terms such as Ski Touring, Alpine Touring, Ski Mountaineering, or Radonnée, these all involve the ability to climb uphill or traverse on skis or a split snowboard, then transition to downhill mode and ski or snowboard back down, even for multiple laps.

Are shorter skis easier to use?

Generally speaking, a shorter ski will be easier to maneuver and turn than longer skis. A shorter ski will be lighter and easier to control for new skiers. When learning to ski, the focus is on learning to get used to the feel of skis, stay in control downhill, and learn to make turns down the mountain.

How hard is ski touring?

Certainly, ski touring can be hard work, with a lot of effort needed on the uphill sections. However, the effort is well worth it: the thrill of making first tracks on a long descent, well away from the rest of the ski world with the wild splendour of the winter mountains all around.

What is the difference between touring and backcountry skis?

Backcountry skiing (more commonly used in the US) and ski touring (Europe) refer to “skiing in remote areas, not within ski area boundaries”, according to Wikipedia. Ski touring generally involves the use of skins, which are placed underneath skis to help on the uphill.

What is free touring ski?

Here in France we use the the “free touring” to mean: used some mechanical mean to get up to some point + some part human powered. You then obviously have to “free ride” down. The same type of terrain and ride down would be called either: -ski de randonnée/ski touring if 100% human powered.

What is the difference between touring and backcountry skiing?

Ski touring is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas. Touring is typically done off-piste and outside of ski resorts, and may extend over a period of more than one day. It is similar to backcountry skiing but excludes the use of a ski lift or transport.

Do you need special ski boots for touring?

When in "touring mode", which is the mode you switch them to when you want to walk uphill, the heel of the binding lifts up off the ski with your boot, while the toe stays attached by a hinge. Because they're basically just a normal binding, you don't need special boots to use them.

How much do DPS skis weigh?

13. DPS Skis Pagoda 112 RP ($1,299) Weight: 8 lbs. 1 oz.

Does weight matter for ski size?

Weight. Weight also plays a factor in deciding which skis you'll buy. A good rule of thumb is that, if you weigh less than the average for your height, you should opt for shorter skis. If you weigh more than average, you should opt for longer skis.

What happens if skis are too long?

TLDR; Longer skis have more stability and float better in snow, but they also have a larger turning radius. Shorter skis sacrifice stability (especially at speed) but are quick to respond and easier to make short sharp turns. Short skis turn faster but long skis go faster.

Can you ski if you are overweight?

There are no restrictions on an overweight body being able to ski for recreation, but, if you are way too obese, it would certainly affect your experience. The expert's advice that shedding a few pounds to gain the incredible recreational experience of skiing is worth a shot.