So you get the idea in your mind that splitboard seems like good clean fun.
Then, it starts…you begin to roam the World Wide Web in search of your future splitboard setup.
Initial impressions are “Wow, that’s a shitload of gear…” and, well, that’s pretty accurate.
So what are the options, find a cheaper, second hand setup that might or might not offer a good first season?
Or maybe put on a suit, go to the bank and get that loan and buy the flashiest, best reviewed gear you can find.
All of this can work but from our own experience, trying first is the way to go before you start spending big.
Let’s just make a quick summary of what you might need on your 1st splitboarding trip into the backcountry.
Splitboard gear:
- Splitboard
- Boots
- Bindings
- Skins
- Poles
Avalanche kit:
- Beacon
- Shovel
- Probe
- Airbag equipped backpack (optional but highly recommended).
Check out our website for our rental service splitboard arsenal & avalanche kit and our complete ski touring setups.
First thing’s first, THE SPLITBOARD
They come in many shapes and sizes and, as with snowboards, experience is quite subjective and depends on each individual. That being said, if you are fairly familiar with your riding style and also the type of snow you prefer, choosing shouldn’t be too much work.
A good call is to be conservative when it comes to a specialized board, be it a flowy pow board or a vicious carver. What I mean is if you’re fairly new in the world of splitboarding and haven’t really been out or experienced that many scenarios try to find a decent all rounder. This way you can be versatile, ride in a wider range of conditions and gradually get a feel for what you enjoy the most.
Another aspect is ease of use on the uphill part of the day. (Most of the day, to be precise :D) This depends on the weight of the board but also the side hilling prowess.
For our rental services we offer a very solid all rounder, the Burton Flight Attendant Splitboard.
Split cheat sheet: Sidehilling is the practice of moving across a hill, parallel to the horizon, where one splitboard ski is higher than the other and the edges are used to maintain grip.
Here is a very useful article on choosing your split
BOOTS
So, in regards to the actual splitboard setup, the boots are the most subtle part of your gear.
Firstly, the fit is essential and you can find many sources online on how they should feel on the first try.
Here’s a quick “how to do list” when it comes to picking out your boots.
- there shouldn’t be any kind of pressure point on your foot.
- your toes should lightly touch the top end of the boot when you stand up and not touch when you bend your knees, as if you were in a riding stance.
- if splitboarding and backcountry riding is the goal, then a stiffer touring boot (or even hardboot) is key. This type of boot usually implies that it’s compatible with crampons, has good, grippy soles and is fairly durable in design.
BINDINGS
This is a long topic and geeking out about specs can become second nature. I would say, as a quick and safe tip, that for the novice splitboarder ease of use is the most important factor. From there on, the bigger the budget the lighter the binding. Luckily, the splitboarding world, being a fairly new sport, keeps evolving and gear gets techier and lighter every year.
Our own choice is the tried and tested Burton Hitchhiker, a reliable and easy to use binding, regardless of experience.
Check out this cool video showing the differences between some of the most popular binding technologies.
SKINS
Here we have several building materials, and no, there’s no skin so no “Silence of the Lambs” implications here. Depending on budget and technique you can opt for MOHAIR, NYLON or a blend of both.
Our weapon of choice is the Burton x G3 High Traction Splitboard Skins.
Check out some details about each material right here.
POLES
As secondary as you might consider these, well, you would be quite wrong.
They change the entire experience in regards to effort, balance and comfort. Adding to that, they will come in very handy when you’re transitioning and need to secure your backpack, or maybe test out the snowpack or even use them as a splint. (to secure a fractured limb)
Specs to check out are materials, weight, length and folding mechanism.
Opinions differ but from our own experience, poles tend to get quite a beating so if you’re not in budget heaven and can afford multiple pairs, we suggest a tougher but still easy to use option.
We have found exactly that plus comfort in the Black Diamond Expedition 3, a true work-horse.
AVALANCHE KIT
This is only a quick presentation of what an avy kit is and it’s use.
We strongly recommend constant research and taking avalanche courses on a yearly basis. These are essential skills if one wants to start riding in the backcountry.
Check out our AVY (avalanche) rental kits.
So our kit is made up of 3 mandatory items and 1 optional but extremely useful element.
First three are our traceiver, our shovel and our probe.
THE TRANCEIVER
There is a plethora of sites with detailed information on each type and brand of tranceiver so I’ll just talk about why we need it.
This device is ment to help the bearer either find a partner that’s been caught in an avalanche (who must also be wearing a beacon) or be found by the other members of the group.(whom obviously, also need to have their tranceivers). Learning to use it and constantly practicing with it is essential in order to have the skill set needed for an emergency.
The beacons we rent out are the Black Diamond Recon BT Beacon.
THE SHOVEL
Again, not to get too in depth because it’s a subject that should be thouroughly researched, I will just offer some basic info.
The shovel, in the case of a burial, alongside the rest of the AVY kit will be needed in order to dig through the snow as quick as possible.
Materials should be sturdy, this meaning metal, not plastic, and it should be easy to use and assemble.
Our preffered shovel is the Black Diamond Transfer 3, a very robust but portable option.
THE PROBE
The probe has various uses but the role it serves in the main 3 elements of the AVY kit is to precisely identify the location of a buried victim.
Once again, sturdiness is key since weaker materials might break in an emergency situation. Another aspect is length, this can vary but over 2.5m starts to make sense.
We use and have the Black Diamond Quickdraw Tour Probe 280 in our rental kits.
THE AVALANCHE (AIRBAG EQUIPPED) BACKPACK
This technology, alongside a few others (like the avalung) have had a major impact, both positive and negative on the backcountry sports world around the globe.
Positive in it’s incredible concept, technology and application but negative in the way these items have been perceived. The idea is that an airbag equipped backpack will better your chances of not being completely buried and just that. It will not prevent you from suffering trauma on the way down and it will absolutely not help you find other victims. This being said, we strongly recommend them, as along as they complete the mandatory avalanche kit (beacon, probe, shovel) and not substitute it!
Check out this very cool source and platform to start your backcountry education
So this is it, a fairly quick overlook on some of the basic pieces of gear you will be needing on your winter adventures.
Get in touch with us if you want to know more about our rental services or if you’re looking for your own gear and need some tips.