The Skialper buyer's guide

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Our team of experts has tested, measured and rated more than 400 products for you. Subscribe to access our ratings and unlock all the search filters: find your perfect gear.

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Not sure where to start?

If you’re new to the world of skimo or freeride and don’t know where to start with your ski setup, take our quiz to find out which gear is best for you. Answer honestly!

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2 minutes

Probably The most accurate ski test out there.

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Featured articles

Light

Spoiler

La Sportiva Kilo

We tested in preview the brand new La Sportiva Light skimo boot

Free

Spoiler

Atomic Bent Chetler 120

The Bent Chetler family gets a refresh: discover the new 120 model, developed for deep powder

Tour

Spoiler

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro

After years without modifications, Tecnica has finally unveiled the new generation of their Zero G Pro, the long-awaited upgrade to one of the market’s top-selling boot

Tour

Spoiler

Atomic Backland 102

The Atomic new ski designed for light freetouring

Tour

Spoiler

Ski Trab Neve 104

The widest-ever Ski Trab has been unveiled, the natural evolution of the choices made two seasons ago with the creation of the Neve with a 93 mm waist

Tour

Spoiler

DPS Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 94

The historic Pagoda range — the Salt Lake City-based manufacturer’s most touring-oriented lineup — has been completely renewed for the 2024/25 season

Tour

Spoiler

Majesty Superpatrol Carbon

Polish manufacturer introduces a new carbon line for technical touring

Light

Spoiler

Ski Trab Ortles Next 90

An easier, more playful iteration of the Ortles 90, courtesy of the torsion reinforcement wrap in basalt and glass fiber

Free

Spoiler

Atomic Backland 101 W

Atomic completely revamps the Backland FR line, updating all products for light freetoruing

Spoiler

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 28S

Released two years ago, it’s been hailed as a real revolution in terms of efficiency, and has been extensively tested

Instruction

Boot lab: flex test

Skialper's flex test of ski touring and freeride ski boots

Instruction

Our awards

A few words on our revamped awards

Intro

It’s not just about grip

Everything you need to know about skins

Intro

How women's skis, boots and bindings are changing

The future is here

Race

Intro

How race skis, boots and bindings are changing

Getting ready for the Olympics

Tour

Intro

The heart of the skimo world

How touring skis, boots and bindings are changing

Ski mountaineering

Race

Performance and lightness

Light

The ways of lightness

Tour

The heart of the skimo world

Free

Freedom of thought

Made for women

The future is here

Not sure where to start? Take our quiz to see which ski gear is best for you.

Find out now

What's missing in your setup?

Selected by the editorial team

The best products tested and awarded by our team

151 Skis

See all

preview

Skis

Light

Atomic

Backland 85 W

Width Center: 84.5 mm

Weight: 1.130 g

preview

Skis

Light

Atomic

Backland 78 UL

Width Center: 79 mm

Weight: 850 g

preview

Skis

Light

Armada

Locator 88

Width Center: 88 mm

Weight: 1.125 g

preview

Skis

Free

DPS

Pagoda Tour 112

Width Center: 112 mm

Weight: 1.590 g

preview

Skis

Free

DPS

Lotus 117

Width Center: 117 mm

Weight: 1.950 g

preview

Skis

Light

Dynafit

Radical 88

Width Center: 88 mm

Weight: 1.300 g

tested

Skis

Tour

Ambin

Farinel

Width Center: 90 mm

Weight: 1.430 g

preview

Skis

Light

Elan

Lynx 82

Width Center: 82 mm

Weight: 1.240 g

See remaining

78 Boots

See all

PEOPLE

tested

Boots

Tour

Tecnica

Zero G Tour Pro

Buckles: 4

Weight: 1.320 g

SMART

tested

Boots

Tour

Scott

Cosmos Pro

Buckles: 3

Weight: 1.380 g

OF THE YEAR

GREEN

tested

Boots

Tour

Scarpa

Maestrale

Buckles: 3

Weight: 1.380 g

PRO

tested

Boots

Tour

Scarpa

4-Quattro XT

Buckles: 4

Weight: 1.500 g

tested

Boots

Tour

Nordica

Unlimited LT 130 Dyn

Buckles: 4

Weight: 1.480 g

tested

Boots

Tour

Lange

XT3 Tour Light 130 MV

Buckles: 4

Weight: 1.400 g

tested

Boots

Tour

La Sportiva

Vanguard

Buckles: 3

Weight: 1.490 g

tested

Boots

Tour

Dispatch Pro

Buckles: 4

Weight: 1.525 g

See remaining

48 Bindings

See all

preview

Bindings

Light

Grizzly

Olympic II

Type: full pin

Weight: 120 g

preview

Bindings

Race

Grizzly

GR 98 II

Type: full pin

Weight: 98 g

tested

Bindings

Race

Grizzly

GR 48

Type: full pin

Weight: 48 g

INNOVATION

tested

Bindings

Free

Ski Trab

TR1

Type: Hybrid pin

Weight: 685 g

preview

Bindings

Light

Tour

Ski Trab

Titan Vario.2 + Stopper

Type: full pin

Weight: 309 g

tested

Bindings

Race

Ski Trab

New Titan Gara WC + Stopper

Type: full pin

Weight: 160 g

tested

Bindings

Light

Tour

Plum

Pika

Type: full pin

Weight: 265 g

tested

Bindings

Light

Plum

Oazo 8

Type: full pin

Weight: 205 g

See remaining

39 Poles

See all

Poles

Free

Kang

Flax

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Race

Atomic

BCT Ultra QRS

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Tour

Atomic

BCT Touring Carbon SQS

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Free

Atomic

Backland FR SQS

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Light

Dynafit

Blacklight Pro

Type: fixed length

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Tour

Dynafit

Free Vario

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Tour

Dynafit

Tour Vario

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

Poles

Free

Scott

Pure Adjust SRS

Type: telescopic

Weight: N/A g

See remaining

20 Skins

See all

OF THE YEAR

Skins

Race

Light

Pomoca

Race

Material: mohair

Dry weight: 100 g

Skins

Free

Tour

Pomoca

Free 2.0

Material: nylon

Dry weight: 218 g

Skins

Free

Tour

Pomoca

Free Pro 2.0

Material: mohair

Dry weight: 180 g

Skins

Tour

Free

Pomoca

Climb 2.0

Material: mohair, nylon

Dry weight: 202 g

OF THE YEAR

Skins

Tour

Light

Pomoca

Climb Pro S-Glide

Material: mohair, nylon

Dry weight: 226 g

Skins

Tour

Pomoca

Climb Pro Mohair

Material: mohair

Dry weight: 234 g

Skins

Free

Tour

Montana

Montamix Adrenaline Fusiontec

Material: mohair, nylon

Dry weight: 224 g

Skins

Race

Montana

Montarace High Speed

Material: mohair

Dry weight: 222 g

See remaining

Last but not least...

Avalanche Transceivers

Shovels

Probes

Inside the brands

ATK Bindings

Just a stone's throw from the home of Ferrari, lies the birthplace of hi-tech bindings that have revolutionized modern ski mountaineering

Learn more

All you need to know

Explore our featured articles

Race

Intro

How race skis, boots and bindings are changing

Getting ready for the Olympics

Race

Intro

Skis: weight still matters

Performance first

Race

Intro

Race boots

More weight does not always mean better skiability

Race

Intro

Bindings: built around the brake

Absolute minimalism

Meet them all

Alpine guides, ski instructors, elite athletes. Heaps of skill and expertise. Add their immense passion into the mix, and you've got a dream team of testers.

Team

Meet them all

Daniele

Molineris

Alice

Russolo

editorial board

Davide

Terenzi

Photographer

editorial board

Nicola

Damonte

Photographer

editorial board

Matteo

Agreiter

Photographer

editorial board

Giovanni

Danieli

Photographer

editorial board

Federico

Ravassard

Photographer

editorial board

coordinator

Michele

Guarneri

Editorial team

The Skialper buyer's guide

Access all features

Not sure where to start?

Featured articles

La Sportiva Kilo

Atomic Bent Chetler 120

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro

Atomic Backland 102

Ski Trab Neve 104

DPS Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 94

Majesty Superpatrol Carbon

Ski Trab Ortles Next 90

Atomic Backland 101 W

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 28S

Boot lab: flex test

Our awards

It’s not just about grip

How women's skis, boots and bindings are changing

How race skis, boots and bindings are changing

The heart of the skimo world

Explore other styles

Ski mountaineering

What's missing in your setup?

Selected by the editorial team

Last but not least...

Inside the brands

Meet them all