Backcountry Safety and Equipment
When it comes to outdoor gear the golden rule is "Cheap, Light, Strong – Chose Two". Gear that is strong and light typically costs a bomb. Cheap gear is typically heavy and may be strong, but not necessarily. If you find something that is cheap, light and strong there is a good chance it’s stolen! One of the most common reasons for a gear upgrade is to get something that's lighter, so it pays to shop around and spend the extra cash the first time. When shopping for outdoor gear keep an eye out for the weight of the item - it will normally feature quite prominently.
Most backcountry skiers get more excited about new gear than they do after bagging a big line on the main range. With ever improving designs and functionality its hard not to get obsessed with tinkering and improving your setup. But it all costs money and unless you’ve ‘married well’ you can’t have it all immediately.
The current trend is to go light, which makes you much faster and means you can get out of trouble sooner and makes a trip more enjoyable. However, many still like to take the kitchen sink along and I must confess to being one of these people.
This section of the site provides information on the various equipment options available for accessing and enjoying the backcountry. I also provide a few tips on safety in the backcountry and trip planning. You can access the information by clicking on the links below:
Information on snow camping equipment can be found here: