Our tips on clothing and equipment to bring for a skitouring experience or tour.
This list is the result of years of experience gained by our staff in the activities we offer. In addition to being a valuable help for preparing your backpack or making any necessary purchases before departure, it includes the clothing, equipment and materials required to participate in our tours.
If you do not have all the items listed, please inform the guide who will accompany you or contact our offices. We will be happy to find the best solution together before departure, allowing you to enjoy the excursion worry-free!
Basic clothing and equipment for 1-day skitouring experiences
- Safety kit (Avalanche transceiver/ARTVA, shovel, and probe)
- 30-liter backpack (with rain cover)
- Ski touring or snowboard boots
- Ski touring skis or splitboard
- Poles with large baskets (for snowboarders, foldable/telescopic ones are better; they can be useful for flat sections)
- Climbing skins
- Ski crampons (harscheisen for skis or splitboard)
- Lightweight ski touring helmet
- Shell jacket with waterproof hood and wind-stopper
- Packable down jacket
- Water-repellent long pants (even better if with integrated gaiters)
- Short or long thermal leggings (if cold temperatures and/or wind are expected)
- Softshell or Fleece
- Breathable base layer T-shirt (plus a spare one in the backpack)
- Long-sleeved thermal shirt
- Technical socks
- Buff or neck warmer
- Warm hat or under-helmet balaclava
- Category 4 sunglasses for the ascent
- Ski goggles for the descent
- Heavy gloves for the descent
- Lightweight gloves for the ascent
- Water bottle (to be filled with water or electrolyte drinks) or a 1-liter thermos for hot tea
- Snacks (we recommend dried fruit, energy bars, gels, and chocolate)
- First aid kit (not essential as your guide will always be equipped with one)
- Gaiters (if not integrated into the pants)
- Headlamp (if departure in the dark is expected)
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Multipurpose knife and/or repair kit (multitools, cable ties, duct tape, any spare parts)
For advanced-level activity or tours on glaciers
- Harness
- Ice axe
- Aluminum crampons compatible with ski touring or splitboarding boots
- Additional specific technical equipment for the outing (ice screws, carabiners, descender, glacier rope, Kevlar cords and slings, or a longe for belaying at anchors, etc.); if necessary, this will be agreed upon directly with your Mountain Guide before departure.
Variation for multi-day excursions
If staying overnight in a mountain hut, we recommend keeping both the weight and volume of your overall luggage to a minimum.
- 35-40 liter backpack (with rain cover)
- Extra base layers and/or technical shirts
- Extra underwear
- Extra technical socks
- Extra snacks
- Waterproof bag for dirty clothes or waste
- Warm pants or leggings for the evening
- Towel (microfiber recommended)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- ID document
- Phone charger
- Sleeping bag liner (mandatory, usually available for purchase at the hut)
- Earplugs / sleep mask
- Extra cash for payments at the mountain hut
