Most skiers have a couple of pairs of Touring gear in their collection, which they use for backcountry touring. In the backcountry, the snow and the weather can be unpredictable and often extreme, which means that your ski gear needs to be versatile and durable enough to tackle any situation. When you’re touring the backcountry, you usually don’t have a ski coach or a ski bellhop waiting at the bottom of the hill to help you with your ski gear, so you need to be able to handle all situations on your own. This is why most skiers choose to use touring skis in these conditions – they’re built for maxing out in the backcountry and are more durable than any other type of ski equipment. If you’re looking for a durable and reliable piece of equipment that can handle any condition, then look no further! In this article, we’ll tell you about how to size touring skis so you can hit the slopes in the exact right gear.
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Sizes And Shapes
Ski gear is typically categorized according to the length of the ski (the front part is called the nose and the part behind is called the tail), the width of the ski (it widens as it gets away from you), and the amount of rocker (it curves upwards towards the tip). This last one is important because the amount of rocker determines how responsive and easy it is to turn. To figure out the right size for your touring ski, use these formulas:
- Your weight x 2 for pushing
- Your weight x 1.7 for cruising
- Your weight x 1.3 for hitting the chairlift in the right gear
- Your weight x 1.1 for jumping
- Your weight x 1 for skiing backwards
- Your weight x 0.8 for skiing on a closed trail
- Your weight x 0.7 for skiing on an open trail
- Your weight x 0.6 for skiing during the day
- Your weight x 0.5 for skiing during the night
When choosing a touring ski, you have a couple of options as far as length goes. The first one is called a full-length ski, which is the traditional length for all types of skis (the nose is about as long as the whole length of the ski). The second option is the short-length ski, which offers the right balance between handling rough terrain and being able to cruise on groomed slopes. While the short-length ski isn’t the most comfortable for everyone, it’s the best choice for backcountry touring, which is mostly what you’ll be doing on smaller and mid-sized hills. If you are 6’3″ or taller, you’ll want to go for the full-length ski, as it will feel like you’re swimming instead of skiing. If you are 5’6″ or shorter, you can choose the short-length ski to keep your center of gravity low and let you have a better time on the slopes. If you are a large person and don’t want to feel too top-heavy on the slopes, then choose the short-length ski as well.
As for the width, wide-skis are designed for cruising on the high-speed chairlift but also for skiing on large glaciers. They are very stable when skiing over rough terrain but can get stuck when it comes to turning. Normal-width skis are suitable for all types of terrain and are great for beginners, intermediates, and experts alike. If you are planning to tour the backcountry a lot, then you should choose the wide-ski as it will be easier for you to turn and keep your balance while on the move. If you are looking for a piece of equipment that’s very stable while also being able to handle all types of terrain, then choose the normal-width ski instead.
As for the rocker, the flatter the better when it comes to the responsiveness of your ski. More rocker means faster and better skiing. However, when it comes to durability, the steeper the better. If you plan on touring a lot and tackling hard terrain, then go for the flat-tipped ski, as they are very durable and will last you a lifetime of skiing. On the other hand, if you are just looking for a weekend warrior or a beginner, then choose lightly-rocked skis, as they are much more forgiving than their steeper counterparts. The best tip here is to choose a ski that feels right to you, as it is the most important element in your skiing experience. With a little bit of research, you will be able to find the best gear for your needs and the conditions you are likely to face on the slopes.
Durability
After skiing a few hundred miles on a ski trail, you’ll realize how much wear and tear it gets and how important it is to find a durable ski. When it comes to the durability of a ski, there are various things that you need to keep in mind. The first is the tip-to-tail length (the longer the piece, the more durable it is). The second one is the number of joints (more joints means more durability). Third, make sure that the snow clearance is good (if you’re clearing a lot of snow with your ski, then it is more durable, as there is much less wear and tear on the exterior). Last, but not least, is the material the ski is made of (more traditional materials like wood and plastic are quite durable). To be more specific, a full-length ski is typically made of wood, a half-pipe of plastic, and metal ends; a wide-ski is typically made of wood, metal ends, and plastic; and a short-length ski is typically made of plastic and metal ends (usually the ends are metal because they are lighter and enable the ski to be more maneuverable). Regardless of the material, make sure that the part that is in contact with the snow is at least 70% covered in plastic or another type of protective material – the more exposed the better, as this is where most of the wear and tear occurs. On the flip side, if the snow is always falling off of your ski, then it means that you are cruising on extremely smooth and flat terrain, which also reduces the wear and tear on your ski significantly!
In addition to durability, many skiers are also looking for reliability when choosing a piece of winter outdoor equipment. For those who travel a lot for work and enjoy being able to bring their gear with them, reliability is a must (and not having something break down on you on a trip is also important – not to mention the replacement cost!). If you can find a piece of equipment that is in good condition and hasn’t seen too much use, then this should be your top priority because you won’t be plagued with problems like regular snowmobile riders are (the high speeds and powerful motors of the machines can cause a lot of wear and tear on the exterior). Make sure to purchase a travel cover for your bike, as this will protect it from the wind and the occasional snowflake, which can both cause damage. Also, be sure to invest in some ski boots that are in good condition (dull soles and dry warmth are what you’re looking for), along with some goggles (clear lenses will give you better vision while also preventing fogging up during cold weather conditions).
Besides durability and reliability, many skiers are also looking for efficiency when choosing a winter outdoor equipment piece. To be more specific, we are interested in how fast and easy it is to ski, how quiet it is when skiing, and how much power it takes to pull it down the slope. The first two are largely dependent on your body size and the amount of weight you’re carrying (bigger people will generally need larger gear to move faster while skiing), and the last one is directly proportional to the amount of rocker in your ski (a flatter ski will require less work to pull down the hill). In all three cases, going for a longer ski will increase your speed and help you navigate the terrain faster and more efficiently. On the other hand, a shorter ski will improve your quietness while on the slopes and decrease the amount of work you need to do to pull it down the hill (less power to generate means less noise while skiing).