Here's All the Gear and Resources You Need to Plan a Splitboarding Trip

15.11.2024 - 09:37 / matadornetwork.com

Grab a seat at the bar in a locals’ hangout in any ski town the world over and you’ll encounter long, eloquent, and often exaggerated tales of life-changing backcountry trips. The storyteller, perhaps a rugged local with chunks of icicle still clinging to the lower tentacles of his disheveled beard, seems so cunning, so brave, and accomplished, that it’s near impossible not to desire a story of conquest to bring home to your local pub.

Backcountry touring isn’t all about steep lines and tall tales, though. It’s about thorough trip planning and constant progression. It’s about having proper backcountry snowboarding gear, being able to read an avalanche forecast, and not being too macho to pull the plug and head back to the trailhead when conditions look sketchy.

I’ve been riding in the backcountry for more than 20 years, embarking along the way on splitboard expeditions in Kyrgyzstan, northern British Columbia, and throughout my home state of Colorado. The more experience I gain, the more I appreciate the entire process — including the times when weather and conditions get in the way. Routing a backcountry tour is actually fun when everyone is on the same page. Planning for the trip is the perfect opportunity to get everyone together the night before, sip a hot toddy or two, and get organized.

First, you need the right splitboarding and backcountry snowboarding gear in order to get out in the backcountry safely and have a good time while you’re at it.

We hope you love the splitboarding and backcountry snowboarding gear we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Photo: lilking/Shutterstock

Touring on a snowboard requires a lot of specific backcountry snowboarding gear to help you both perform well and stay safe in the high country. Here’s all the splitboarding gear you need for a successful day in the backcountry.

This season I’ve made the switch to bibs from traditional ski pants. I opted for the Outdoor Research Hemispheres bibs. The bibs are lighter and more agile for ascending. I especially noticed increased flexibility at the waistline and appreciated not having to wear a belt or deal with saggy pants.

Over the past few seasons I’ve felt confident enough in my splitboarding ability and backcountry instincts to begin taking on bigger lines that I’d done before. These include steep couloirs, 14,000-foot peaks, and other areas where crossing rock outcroppings or traversing near to hazards like cornices, crevasses, and seracs, or moving up areas that are simply to steep to skin and therefore require bootpacking with mountaineering gear. If you’re ready to level up