How to Find Great Deals on Backcountry Ski Gear (Without Sacrificing Safety)
- Colton Barry
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
A First Tour, a Reality Check, and a Lesson in Smart Gear Choices
Last weekend, I picked up my uphill access pass at Steamboat Ski Resort, and on MLK Day I set out for my first uphill tour of the season.
I started from the base at 6:45 a.m., skinning upward in the quiet before the lifts started spinning. My goal was Four Points Lodge, with a hard turnaround time of 9:00 a.m. By the time I reached it, I had climbed roughly 2,700 vertical feet, moving from about 6,900 ft at the base to just over 9,600 ft near the top.
It was tough. Harder than I expected. My legs burned, my pacing wasn’t perfect, and there were moments where I seriously questioned whether this was an ambitious way to start the morning.
But it was also a blast.
What stood out most wasn’t just the climb—it was how well my gear performed. I was touring with Daymaker Touring Classics, paired with my existing alpine boots and bindings, a lightweight touring pack, adjustable poles, and climbing skins that held confidently even on steeper sections. Nothing felt sketchy. Nothing felt like a compromise. Everything just worked.
That morning reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time but hadn’t fully proven to myself until then:
You don’t need the newest or most expensive backcountry gear to get started.You need the right gear, chosen intentionally.
That experience is what inspired this guide.
Why This Guide Exists
Backcountry and uphill skiing have a reputation for being prohibitively expensive—and in many cases, that reputation is deserved. Touring boots, pin bindings, ultralight skis, avalanche safety gear…it adds up fast.
But after years of skiing, researching gear, and now putting a budget-conscious setup to work on a real climb, I’m convinced there’s a smarter way in.
This post breaks down how to find real deals on backcountry ski gear, where you can safely save money, where you absolutely shouldn’t, and how to build a setup that lets you focus on the climb, not your credit card bill.
1. Buy Used—But Only the Right Gear
Used gear can dramatically lower the cost of entry into the backcountry, but discretion matters.
Safe to Buy Used
These items generally have long lifespans and low safety risk when inspected:
Backcountry ski packs
Adjustable touring poles
Climbing skins (check glue and plush condition)
Avalanche shovels and probes
One of the most reliable places to find this kind of gear is GearTrade, where lightly used or demo gear often appears at steep discounts.
Buy New (No Exceptions)
Some equipment is too critical—or too personal—to gamble on:
Avalanche beacons (technology, battery health, and firmware matter)
Ski boots (fit, liner integrity, and shell fatigue are non-negotiable)
Rule of thumb: If failure could put your life at risk or instantly ruin your day, buy it new.
2. Shop Last-Year Models (They’re Basically the Same Gear)
Unlike electronics, ski gear rarely changes dramatically year to year. Most updates are cosmetic, not functional.
Best times to buy:
Late March–May: best mix of discounts and size availability
Summer: deepest discounts, fewer options
Brands that consistently offer strong value through previous-year models include:
Black Diamond (poles, probes, shovels)
Ortovox (avalanche safety kits)
Big Sky Mountain Products (high-value climbing skins)
If you’re paying full price in December, you’re paying for immediacy—not performance.
3. Don’t Assume You Need a Full Touring Setup
One of the biggest cost traps for new backcountry skiers is assuming you need pin bindings, touring boots, and ultralight skis from day one.
You don’t.
Touring adapters like Daymaker Classics allow you to:
Use your existing alpine boots and bindings
Save hundreds (or thousands) upfront
Retain familiar downhill performance
Keep binding safety standards intact
For many skiers—especially those doing resort uphill laps or testing touring for the first season—this approach makes far more sense than going all-in immediately.
4. Mix New and Used for Maximum Value
The most cost-effective setups are rarely all new or all used. A hybrid approach works best.
My Example Budget-Conscious Setup
Gear Category | Full Retail Price | What I Paid |
Touring Pack  | $180 | $120 |
Adjustable Poles  | $150 | $100 |
Skins + Touring Adapters  | $510 | $450 |
Beacon + Shovel + Probe  | $440 | $300 |
Total | ~$1,280 | ~$970 (24% savings) |
That’s over $300 saved and doesn't include the additional savings of not having to buy new skis, bindings, and boots. Overall, maybe not life-changing savings, but it's money better spent on avalanche education, travel, or simply more days on snow.
5. Don’t Sleep on Local Shops
Online deals get the spotlight, but local shops often offer:
Quiet discounts on last-year inventory
Demo fleet sell-offs
Honest, terrain-specific advice
Shops like Backcountry Wilderness Exchange thrive on consignment, community knowledge, and value—not hype. Supporting local shops also keeps real expertise alive in mountain towns.
6. The Mindset That Actually Saves You Money
After that Steamboat climb, one thing became very clear:
Familiar, reliable gear beats the lightest gear every time.
In real backcountry conditions:
Familiar boots outperform trendy boots
Reliability beats gram-counting
Experience matters more than equipment
The goal isn’t to look like a catalog model. It’s to move efficiently, ski confidently, and come home safely.
Final Takeaway: Spend Where It Counts
Backcountry skiing rewards patience, preparation, and thoughtful decision-making—gear buying included. I recognize that my savings aren't life-changing, but the point I want to get across is that by shopping intentionally, buying used strategically, and avoiding unnecessary upgrades, you can build a full setup for less than you might expect.
My first uphill tour at Steamboat wasn’t about chasing performance metrics or showing off gear. It was about learning what matters and realizing that smart choices beat expensive ones every time.
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