Telemark Gear

Featured review by FromSagetoSnow

Lighter, faster, and easier to use than other poles, yet worries about durability linger. Despite the worries, I really like these poles.

Summary: From Black Diamond: "The aluminum compactor pole adjusts between popular pole lengths and uses an internal Kevlar cord to instantly break down to packable size and redeploys in a flash. One, rock solid, point of adjustment means you can keep moving instead of being the one always fiddling with your poles." I trek on my ski poles. Or maybe I should say that I ski on my trekking poles. Either way I use them all for both. I don't want to have a ton of single-purpose gear so these appealed to me as a possible do-it-all pole.

Read more: Black Diamond Compactor Ski Poles reviews (4)

Featured review by Peter1955

Light, tough, and cheap.

I find it a bit amusing that after many years, the traditional leaders in hiking poles, Leki and Komperdell, are finally coming out with locking systems for their poles based on the Black Diamond Flicklock system. We've all heard stories about the old twist-lock poles collapsing at the wrong moment, dumping someone in a puddle or causing a fall, and it's good to see other companies following BD's lead. I've had my latest pair of Black Diamond Expedition poles for about three or four years, and they're still going strong.

Read more: Black Diamond Expedition 3 reviews (3)

Reviewed by Zach D'Arbeloff

Absolute best binding for touring and performance. Easy switching between modes and resistance levels. Sturdy.

This is the perfect backcountry binding for the true telemarker.  First off, we have to start with the performance. The free release touring mode makes going up a cinch because you have zero resistance on your heel. It's very easy to switch between modes, you just use your pole and the ski can stay on. Once in ski mode, it skis like an aggressive alpine Tele binding. It is not quite as stiff as the Vice or the Hammerhead, but it is in the same range, and you really feel like you can put power into it.

Read more: TwentyTwo Designs Axl review (1)

Reviewed by Skygenie

The Whippet will give you added security in places where falling will have dire consequences. You have to know how to self-arrest for it to be useful. I recommend it for anyone that has ever wished they had, or actually had, an ice axe in their hand while skiing.

I started skiing with a Whippet two seasons ago and I really like it. I don't have crampons for my skis so this gives me a nice sense of security when skiing on hard snow. I've had a few unexpected falls/slides where I couldn't stop if I wanted to but each time there were no bad consequences. When skiing above cliffs or other hazards you don't want to fall into, the Whippet could make the difference between a good day and a bad day. Having a pick as part of your pole is far superior to trying to carry an ice axe with a pole or stowing the pole and just using the ice axe.

Read more: Black Diamond Whippet review (1)

Reviewed by BigRed

A smart, simple, and lightweight binding that tours well and can deliver sweet turns in reasonably friendly terrain and snow conditions. Step-in, pole-out convenience. Interchangeable flex plates for touring, climbing, and downhill add versatility but can be a bit fiddly.

  Meet Xplore Ever since I first ripped out the pin holes on a 75mm Nordic Norm boot in the first season of my telemark career (over 40 years ago!), I’ve been willing to try out just about any other backcountry boot-binding system that has come along. Within a year after doing my first telemark turns, I tried the short-lived 50 mm Trakker system , maybe the first binding to introduce ridges and grooves on the binding and boot, respectively, an innovation that was picked up by both Rottefella and Salomon in their revolutionary xc systems (NNN and SNS respectively).

Read more: Rottefella Xplore Backcountry Off-Track review (1)

Reviewed by BigRed

A high-end boot for the Rotteffella's new Xplore backcountry binding system. Torsionally rigid sole and ankle stiffeners for downhill performance. BOA lacing for easy entry and exit plus Xplore's step-in and-out functionality add up to a lot of convenience. A great choice for tours-for-turns type skiing, especially hut-to-hut with downhill fun on the side.

Alfa Free boot + Xplore binding = freedom + fun  The Norwegian outdoor footwear company Alfa was one of the first to produce ski boots compatible with the Rottefella’s new Xplore backcountry binding system. This review of the Free, Alfa’s top-of-the-line offering, goes along with my reviews of the Xplore binding and the Åsnes Rabb 68 ski, which I purchased together as a package deal. I have been test driving the system mainly in Bymarka, a big city forest park in Trondheim with a couple hundred kilometers of groomed xc ski trails and a lot of untracked space in between, including some quality powder stashes, but also on some forays into the Norwegian mountains.

Read more: Alfa Free A/P/S GTX review (1)

Reviewed by Josh C

Bottom Line: The Armada JJ is a really fun ski. It floats well at 115 underfoot, but with such early taper and rocker it has a really surfy feeling. It really can handle anything you toss at it. I highly recommend this ski to ANYONE who is looking at getting into rocker, who rides powder/crud at least 70% of the time, or who wants a sick backcountry jib ski!

Pros: "If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up." Seriously, they are probably the best 1 ski quiver ski that I have ever handled (for Snowbird/Alta that is). I don't like them quite as much as the Magic J (I like longer skis and the 185cm just isn't quite enough for me). They carve fine on groomers, better than many other rockered ski. They float and surf awesome in deep pow (not quite as well as some fatter offerings though), and they are stiff enough to handle crud without a problem.

Read more: Armada JJ review (1)

Reviewed by BigRed

A lightweight, short skin that integrates with Åsnes skis via dependable locking system. Gives a solid kick and moderate climbing power while still allowing some glide on easy terrain, at 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of a full-length skin. Small enough to fit a pair in a chest pocket. Ideal for hut-to-hut trips, and good skiers can take them to the summits.

As backcountry or mountaineering skis have gotten bigger, skins have followed along. My full-length skins for my biggest skis, G3 Finder 107s, weigh about 300 g each. Add that to the weight of boot, binding and ski (3.8 kg) and you’ve got 4.1 kg (9 lb) per foot to haul uphill with every step (the good news is that you can slide, not lift). Then that skin weight goes in your pack on the way down. For skiing steep slopes or in demanding snow, that is more or less necessary if you want to maximize the FQ (fun quotient)—fat skis perform better in a wide range of snow conditions, and for climbing and especially traversing on steep slopes, full skin coverage is needed to prevent backslipping.

Read more: Åsnes X-Skin 58mm Mohair review (1)

Reviewed by BigRed

A high-performance, lightweight, and wide mountain ski that tours well enough for hut-to-hut adventures and turns well enough for some summits on the side. Best in friendly snow conditions, but can handle some degree of crust and crud. Requires some driving rather than just riding in difficult snow.

Me and my Rabbs doing our swing  Here's the deal: you’re coming to Norway for a multiday hut-to-hut ski tour, with side trips to big slopes and summits, in late March or April when the mountain gods may offer up anything from fresh powder to creamed corn to nasty crust and ice. One pair of skis, boots, and bindings for the whole show. What’s your choice? I asked that question on a backcountry skier's forum and got suggestions ranging from old school leather boot/3-pin binding/skinny ski setups through to lightened-up plastic rando or tele boots and bindings on no-compromise fat skis with rocker.

Read more: Åsnes Rabb 68 review (1)

Reviewed by Second Gear

MSR has consistently made rock solid products, and this is no exception. The overall design may become the industry standard. The pole never slipped in height adjustment. The aircraft grade aluminum offered consistent stability. The pole offers a simple way to adjust height without fussing with clips, locks, and twists. The no catch triangular basket, solid construction, and ease of use will make these my go-to poles for my winter hiking and snowshoeing.

The TR-3 at first blush to me while attractive, seemed gimmicky. As I used these poles in various conditions on Mt. Rainier, the more I have come to find they are more than just a niche, cute product. First, I was impressed with how the minimalist packaging packed a ton of information onto the product card, plus, it stowed the instruction sheet neatly into the sandwich board.   Features: These poles are actually quite feature rich: What especially sets these poles apart is the adjustment system.

Read more: MSR Deploy TR-3 review (1)