words: Mary T. Walsh
photos: Mike Basher
In order to enjoy the walk up as much as the ride down when traveling in the backcountry, having the right gear is paramount to reaching the peak. While the multi-purpose decks are undoubtedly exciting, when it comes to touring, what we often refer to as “accessories” are anything but peripheral, doing just as much heavy lifting as the splitboards themselves. It all works together when you’re out on a split mission, so we’ve gathered some of our favorite gear that we rely on for walking in the mountains (and riding down).
ARBOR SATORI SPLIT CAMBER
A split designed to go the distance that
has Bryan Iguchi’s stamp of approval for a stable acsent and fun-in-all-conditions ride down. The Satori Split is a precision machine designed for enjoyment.
sizes: 151, 154, 157
$849.95
ARBOR X KOHLA SPLITGRIP CLIMBING SKINS
For the perfect combination of grip and glide, Arbor partnered with Europe’s number one skin manufacturer, Kohla, to produce the SplitGrip Skins, made with a blend of mohair and nylon for flawless uphill performance.
$229.95
BURTON X BLACK DIAMOND COMPACTOR POLES
While holding metal sticks on a downhill is a thankfully foreign feeling, the extra purchase provided by these trekking poles is a welcome addition to any uphill walk. Plus, they easily collapse once it’s time to change over, even when temps and precip could cause other poles to get stuck.
$149.95
BURTON TOURIST BOOT
The reverse flex of the splitboard-specific Tourist makes the way up more comfortable, which allows the way down to be more fun. A highly technical liner locks in heel hold and keeps toes warm while also wicking sweat, a combination necessary for uphill strides.
$549.95
SMITH EMBARK
Smith has elevated the glacier glass with the Embark, a take on an alpine staple that provides clear ChromaPop vision and protects your eyes with removable, ventilated side shields. An attachable goggle-inspired strap keeps your glasses where you need them. As always, Smith has perfected the details and got your eyes completely covered.
$219
BURTON HITCHHIKER SPLITBOARD BINDINGS
If you’re going to spend hours walking uphill, make sure you’ve got your bindings dialed.
The brilliant minds at Burton and Spark R&D have achieved a combination of responsiveness and comfort via Spark R&D’s Tesla T1 system baseplate, Burton Hammockstrap technology, and a highback with negative forward lean adjustability. The result is a pair of bindings that will elevate your touring.
$489.95
BCA BEACON, PROBE, SHOVEL, PACK, AND RADIO
Beacon, probe, and shovel are the foundation of any backcountry travel, whether spring corn mission or mid-winter summit push. BCA has long been a leader in setting the stage for safety when out of bounds and it’s because even though they hope you won’t need them, their products perform when you do. Utilize the BC Link 2.0 Radio for safety and communication within your group, and shoulder the Stash 20 backpack, which provides ample storage and easy accessibility for everything you need while touring.
TRACKER 3+ AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER $349.95
STASH 20 BACKPACK $149.95
BC LINK 2.0 RADIO $189.95
STEALTH 240 CARBON AVALANCE PROBE $79.95
DOZER 2H SHOVEL $79.97
This article originally appeared in issue 19.1. Learn more about avalanche education and find out where to enroll in safety courses near you from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
