Thinking about trying out skiing this winter and looking for affordable ski boots? You've come to the right place! There are likely tons of ski boots on the shelves of the shop and while they all look similar, there are some distinct differences that are important when choosing the perfect boot for your new winter adventures.
Alpine Touring Boot. Alpine touring boots are designed specifically for backcountry skiing. AT boots offer the lightest and most efficient way to travel in the back country but are not designed for resort skiing. AT boots are packed with technology such as a walk mode allowing for a more efficient uphill skiing. AT boots also require a specialized pin binding. This boot is recommended for experienced backcountry skiing only.
Downhill Ski Boots.Downhill ski boots are the resort specialists. They are the most commonly used boot and are designed to offer the most controlled and comfortable ride down any resort slope. Downhill boots use a more traditional alpine binding with toe and heel pieces but cannot be used in a pin binding and are not recommended for backcountry excursions. This is the recommended boot for the average skier who is spending their day at purgatory and other resorts.
Hybrid Ski Boots. Hybrid ski boots are the mixture of Alpin Boots and Downhill boots. They offer a great way to blend resort skiing and backcountry skiing into one boot. Hybrid boots allow the integration of both pin bindings and alpine bindings. Hybrid boots are not as efficient uphill climbers as a true Alpine Touring boot and not as efficient as a Downhill boot when it comes to everyday resort skiing. This boot is recommended for experienced skiers who are spending time in both the backcountry and the resorts.
When it comes to outdoor sports, a quality jacket can make all the difference between comfort and misery. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, running, climbing, or simply out and about nature, a jacket serves as your first line of defense against the elements.
That said, there are a LOT of jackets out there, in different styles, materials, weights, and weather proofness. How do you know which is best for you? We put together this guide to help you sort out what jacket you need and when you should whip it out.
Keep in mind that these jackets can be ridiculously expensive, and buying a ski jacket, rain jacket, puffy, light puffy, and a wind jacket new can easily mean you run up a tab of $2,000 or more. What’s the solution? Qualityused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
It’s snowy and cold, but you want to get out. Downhill skiing is too expensive and backcountry skiing is too difficult. What’s a happy medium? Snowshoeing.
Think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow, but you can traipse across deep snow and go where there are no trails. You only need basic equipment to get started and it you have ever skied then you probably have most of it already. Here’s a primer on where to go and what to bring. Oh, and when it comes to gear, save money buy buying used gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
Maybe you’ve seen other telemarkers carving beautiful turns on the mountain, maybe you are looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to really work those quads–either way, getting into telemarking is fun and challenging.
Telemark skiing is a blend of Nordic and alpine skiing that combines the grace of cross-country with the thrill of downhill turns. Central to this style is the telemark binding, which allows the heel to lift, enabling a skier to lunge gracefully through turns.
Ready to pick up some telemark gear? Here’s some great news: Unlike downhill bindings, telemark bindings don’t get put on indemnified lists, meaning there is no set age at which they cannot be mounted. This meansbuying used telemark gear can be a great deal.